Former Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik was conferred national honour with the procession for his hearse starting at 10.30am today from his house at the Tropicana Golf and Country Resort.

His coffin, draped with the Malaysian flag, was carried by members of the Malaysian Armed Forces into the hearse, which led the procession.

The procession passed by the Menara PGRM, where the Gerakan party headquarters is located, en route to the Cheras Crematorium.

About 1,000 people turned up at his residence to pay their final respects.

Other than family members and friends, Gerakan president and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dr Koh Tsu Koon, Gerakan vice-presidents Mah Siew Keong and Senator A Kohilan Pillay also took part in the procession.

Also present to give their last respects today were Singapore Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and several Singapore High Commission representatives in Malaysia.

Earlier, his son, who is also Gerakan Youth chief, Lim Si Pin, in his eulogy said he regarded his late father as “A great and extraordinary man”.

“For example, he started to plan a large trademark for Gerakan, month to month, to bring the proud icon for all Gerakan members, and he made it,” he said.

Si Pin said several big dreams of his father had been achieved including the building of Menara PGRM and Dewan Wawasan.

Recalling past memory, Si Pin told those present that the late Dr Lim was once known as the ‘Crazy Doctor’.

“All his patients remember him as a doctor who always did not charge any service fee from them,” he said.

Dr Lim, who was a cabinet minister for 22 years, breathed his last surrounded by family members in his bedroom at 5.13pm on Saturday at the age of 73.

Because of his huge deeds in the development of the nation, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on Sunday agreed that a national honour be given to Dr Lim before his remains were cremated.

Dr Lim, who held the post of energy, water and telecommunications minister from 2004 to 2008, is survived by his wife Wong Yoon Chuan and three children.  

- Bernama