During the March 8 general election campaign, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang repeatedly said that it may very well be his final bid for Parliament, hinting that retirement was in order.

However, judging by the overwhelming mandate he received from party grassroots to retain his post as a central executive committee (CEC) member, party members are not ready to let him go.

anwar ibrahim sodomy allegation saiful bukhari azlan first day in court 070808 lim kit siang 01 Lim polled 624 votes from more than 700 eligible voters. This is the first time that the party’s most recognisable face has achieved such results.

"I wasn’t even focusing on the party elections. It was a pleasant surprise," he said when met at the sidelines of the DAP 15 th party congress today.

Lim, 67, said he had expected to poll lower due to unpopular decisions during his long stint as the party secretary-general and then chairperson.

"I don’t flinch from making unpopular decisions as long as it is for the good of society. This is not a popularity contest," he said.

Asked about his talk of retirement during the general election campaign, Lim said he had intended to retire should there be no significant changes to the political landscape.

"At the time, I said that unless we can achieve political change, such as denying Barisan Nasional a two-third majority, I would be retiring. But we have achieved our goal," added the politician, who has contested for Parliament 10 consecutive times since 1969.

No dynasty in DAP

Factoring in the current political landscape and the mandate given by the party grassroots, Lim said that he was compelled to serve the party for a longer period.

"My intention of retirement has been made a lot more difficult," he added with a grin.

Though he does not have a specific post in the CEC, Lim said he would help the party leadership, led by his son and secretary-general Guan Eng, in achieving its goals.

He however brushed off possible accusations that the party would be dominated by one family since Guan Eng polled second highest in the CEC.

"If the party is ruled by a father-son pair and no one else is allowed to have their say, then we won’t see the liveliness and progress our party has today," he said.

Lim said that the delegates were free to vote in their choice and had done so based on merit.