Description
LIM KIT SIANG, 37, Parliamentary Opposition Leader 1973-74 and 1975-78. Secretary-General of Democratic Action Party (DAP). First elected Member of Parliament for Malacca Town in 1969. Re-elected to Parliament in 1974 and also elected to Malacca State Assembly for Kubu seat.
Elected MP for Petaling with a 16,000 majority in 1978 general elections and returned again as Malacca State Assemblyman for Kubu. Educated at Batu Pahat High School, Johore. Worked as teacher and journalist before full involvement in politics in the DAP. Editor of Rocket, DAP party journal, and National Organising Secretary from birth of DAP in 1966 till May 1969 general elections, when DAP won 13 Parliamentary and 31 State Assembly seats.
Detained under the Internal Security Act without trial from May 1969 October 1970. While in detention in Muar, started law studies as external student of London University. Awarded LL.B. (Honours) by London University in August 1976, admitted into Lincoln's Inn in November 1976 and completed the British Bar Finals in May 1977 with Honours through self-study. Awaiting call to Malaysian Bar.
Outspoken critic of National Front Government in Parliament, State Assembly and university forums, especially against class exploitation, corruption, human rights violations, government maladminis- tration and abuses of power. Exposed the mass Malacca Hospital deaths in early 1973 because of breakdown of autoclave-sterilisation plant and the mass infant deaths in late 1974; brought to Parliamentary attention the reasons for the hunger strike by Batu Gajah political detainees in early 1974 and a host of other official misdeeds.
Arrested in April 1978 and charged with five counts under Official Secrets Act which carry a total maximum of 31 years jail for raising inside and outside Parliament in 1976 the Royal Malaysian Navy purchase of four Swedish-made SPICA-M fast strike crafts concerning the price and the suitability of the crafts, Effected a reduction in the price of the four Fast Strike Crafts by 89 million.
ISBN:TIMEBOMBINMAL
