Penang Gov T Gerakan Commemorate Lim Chong Eu

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Today, Penang celebrates the 100th birthday of the late second chief minister Lim Chong Eu (above)
The state government has lined up several activities, including a book launch to commemorate the day and pay homage to Chong Eu's contributions to Penang
Gerakan, the party he founded in 1968 after quitting MCA, has named its building on Jalan Macalister as Wisma Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu
State Gerakan liaison chairperson Oh Tong Keong, when contacted, said Chong Eu had made tremendous contributions to the party, to all races, to Penang and to the country
"I hope that future generations will not forget Chong Eu's selfless dedication. Without him, there would be no Penang and Malaysia today," Oh told Malaysiakini
"Chong Eu is a legend in my heart. He was English-educated, but he went deep into the war to practice medicine and saved thousands of lives during the Second World War in China," added Oh, who is Gerakan deputy chief
"After World War II, he came back to Malaysia and founded Gerakan on March 24, 1968
"He successfully came to power in Penang in 1969. Under his leadership, Penang changed from a poor and old fishing village to the Silicon Valley of the East," Oh (photo, below) said
"Under his leadership, Penang was also a bright Pearl of the Orient."The state government, through Penang Institute, will commemorate Chong Eu's centenary birthday later this year with the launch of a book titled "Lim Chong Eu - From Free Port to Modern Economy: Economic Development and Social Change in Penang, 1969 to 1990”
There will also be accompanying forums and discussions to honour his contributions to the state
Chong Eu's centenary birthday coincides with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC)
Described as one of the "most illustrious sons" of Penang, Chong Eu attended Penang Free School and obtained his degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, on a King’s Scholarship
"He was elected as the second chief minister of Penang during the first change of government in the state back in 1969 and for the next 21 years when he was in power, he brought much development to Penang," Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today
"Chong Eu retired from public office after the 1990 general election," Chow added
He died on Nov 24, 2010, at his home in Hillside, Tanjung Bungah. A state funeral was held to honour him.Chow recalled that in 1969, at the height of mass unemployment, Chong Eu pioneered job-led growth through export-oriented industrialisation of Penang, which provided many with jobs and upward mobility
"Half a century later, as Malaysia faces economic challenges as a result of the trade war between the United States and China, Penang can take a leaf from the job-led growth strategy pursued by Chong Eu and the PDC 50 years ago," Chow added. - Mkini

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