A democracy award was launched in Sydney last night with DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang becoming its inaugural recipient.

The New Malaysia Democracy Award (Anugerah Demokrasi Malaysia Baru), the brainchild of Sydney Bersih, came in the form of a red-and-white painting by Australian Aboriginal artist Sharon Smith.

It was presented to Lim by Sydney Bersih chairperson Mathuri Santhi-Morgan and secretary Jason Goh at a sell-out forum at the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts entitled 'Looking for New Malaysia 61 Years After Merdeka'.

Read more: Kit Siang: M'sia is secular, no doubt about it

“We created the New Malaysia Democracy Award to mark the beginning of a new chapter for Malaysia.

“Its purpose is to acknowledge and honour dedicated Malaysian figures who have consistently and selflessly worked towards the promotion of democracy in our country,” Goh said.

As Santhi-Morgan presented the award, with an inscription dedicated to the DAP stalwart, Goh raised his voice over a wildly cheering crowd to say: “It is important to us that Lim be the first recipient of this special recognition.

“We celebrate and support the virtues of his half-century service to Malaysia's parliamentary democracy, his sacrifices for nation-building and his political magnanimity.

“Saudara Lim stands tallest among Malaysian leaders today.”

This morning, Goh said Bersih Sydney was confident that figures such as Lim will continue to inspire a new generation of leaders.

“We look forward to awarding more champions of democracy in the years to come,” he said.