Editing Lim Kit Siang (section)

==Political career==
Upon the separation of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965, Devan Nair, who was also the member of parliament for [[Bungsar  (federal constituency)|Bungsar]] in Malaysia, left Singapore to return to the Malaysian capital city of [[Kuala Lumpur]] and offered Lim a position as his political secretary, which he accepted. A founding member of Nair's new Democratic Action Party, he was made the editor of the party's publication; ''The Rocket'',<ref name=Bold></ref> and appointed National Organising Secretary in 1966.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biodata of Lim Kit Siang |url=https://dapmalaysia.org/biografi/biodata-of-lim-kit-siang/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=DAP Malaysia |language=en-US}}</ref>

Lim was elected the member of parliament for [[Bandar Malacca]] in the [[1969 Malaysian general election]], which saw substantial gains made by multi-racial opposition parties such as the DAP. The results of the election and subsequent reaction led to the [[13 May incident]], a [[Sectarian violence|racial riot]] in Kuala Lumpur. Lim was named by the government as a suspected instigator arrested under the [[Internal Security Act 1960|Internal Security Act]], which allowed for indefinite detainment. Upon hearing the news of his impending arrest, Lim had initially fled to Singapore but returned on 15 May. He was denied access to a lawyer or his family for the first of two months he was held in solitary confinement, and Lim claimed the authorities tried to break him down psychologically. He was only freed on 1 October 1970 after 16 months.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-04-13 |title=Malaysia revives indefinite jail raising fears of repression |url=https://apnews.com/article/-----acc93749c12345a88e4f6b432f22b95b |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=AP News |language=en-US}}</ref>

His election as a member of parliament for Bandar Malacca was initially held to be void because of the ineligibility of an election agent who had previously failed to discharge his duties from standing for election in the future.{{Clarify|date=July 2024}} The [[Prime Minister of Malaysia]], [[Abdul Razak Hussein]], moved a motion in Parliament to prevent Lim from serving as an MP, granting him instead a period of time to request a royal pardon from the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] (King). After receiving a royal pardon, Lim was allowed to retain his seat.<ref name="election snafu">Rahman, Rashid A. (1994). ''The Conduct of Elections in Malaysia'', pp. 204–205. Kuala Lumpur: Berita Publishing. {{ISBN|967-969-331-7}}.</ref>

In 1979, he was convicted of five charges under the Official Secrets Act for exposing an arms deal between the Malaysian government and a Swiss company.

He led the party as secretary-general until 1999 when he was elected party chairman, succeeding [[Chen Man Hin]]. In 2004, he refused re-appointment as the chairman and [[Karpal Singh]] was elected to replace him. Lim was then elected to an advisory role as the leader of a newly created body called the "Policy and Strategic Planning Commission". His son, [[Lim Guan Eng]], became secretary-general of the party during this time.

After winning a parliamentary seat from Ipoh Timor during the [[2004 Malaysian general election|2004 general election]], which also saw his party clinching the most seats of any opposition party, Lim became the [[Opposition (parliamentary)|Parliamentary Opposition Leader]].

Lim contested and won in the constituency of [[Gelang Patah (federal constituency)|Gelang Patah]] against Barisan Nasional heavyweight and former [[Menteri Besar of Johor]] [[Abdul Ghani Othman]] in the [[2013 Malaysian general election|2013 general election]].

On 22 October 2015, Lim was suspended for six months from parliament for insulting the speaker, [[Pandikar Amin Mulia]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sivanandam |first=Hemananthani |date=2015-10-22 |title=Dewan suspends Kit Siang for six months |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/10/22/parliament-lim-kit-siang-suspended-six-months |access-date= 28 June 2020 |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chie |first=Kow Gah |date=2015-10-22 |title=Kit Siang suspended six months, BN MPs wave goodbye |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/316706 |access-date=28 June 2020 |website=Malaysiakini}}</ref> Earlier, he had stated that Pandikar was abusing his powers by ruling that the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) could not continue its ongoing investigation into [[1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal]] (1MDB) due to the transfer of four PAC members to the Cabinet. Pandikar had insisted that Lim apologize and withdraw his statement against him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-22 |title=Parliament suspends Kit Siang six months for insulting Speaker |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/10/107147/parliament-suspends-kit-siang-six-months-insulting-speaker |website=New Straits Times}}</ref> However, Lim did not apologise or retract his remarks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=PALANSAMY |first=YISWAREE |date=2015-10-22 |title=Kit Siang suspended six months from Parliament |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2015/10/22/kit-siang-suspended-six-months-from-parliament/991449 |access-date=28 June 2020 |website=Malay Mail |language=en}}</ref>

Over the course of his parliamentary career, Lim has represented eight federal constituencies.

* [[Bandar Malacca (federal constituency)|Bandar Malacca]], Melaka (1969–1974)
* [[Kota Melaka (federal constituency)|Kota Melaka]], Melaka (1974–1978)
* [[Petaling (federal constituency)|Petaling]], Selangor (1978–1982)
* [[Kota Melaka (federal constituency)|Kota Melaka]], Melaka (1982–1986)
* [[Tanjong (federal constituency)|Tanjong]], Penang (1986–1999)
* [[Ipoh Timor (federal constituency)|Ipoh Timor]], Perak (2004–2013)
* [[Gelang Patah (federal constituency)|Gelang Patah]], Johor (2013-2018)
* [[Iskandar Puteri (federal constituency)|Iskandar Puteri]], Johor (2018-2022)

Lim has also served as a state assemblyman in [[Melaka]] and [[Penang]] during the following periods: Kubu, Melaka (1974–1982); Kampong Kolam, Penang (1986–1990); and Padang Kota, Penang (1990–1995).

=== Leader of the opposition ===
Lim was leader of the opposition for 18 months from January 1973 to July 1974, succeeding [[Asri Muda]], and again from November 1975 to November 1999, before being losing his seat in the [[1999 Malaysian general election|1999 general election]]. He became opposition leader again from March 2004 to March 2008.

=== Retirement ===
Lim announced his retirement from politics on 20 March 2022, citing old age.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tong |first=Geraldine |date=2022-03-20 |title=Kit Siang announces retirement from politics |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/615117 |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=Malaysiakini}}</ref> Newly elected Democratic Action Party secretary-general [[Anthony Loke]] had originally intended to appoint him as the party's "mentor",<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 20, 2022 |title=Loke elected new DAP secretary-general |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/03/20/loke-elected-new-dap-secretary-general/ |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=Free Malaysia Today}}</ref> but Lim declined the position.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 April 2022 |title=Kit Siang turns down offer to be DAP mentor|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/04/13/kit-siang-turns-down-offer-to-be-dap-mentor|access-date=24 April 2022 |website=The Star (Malaysia)}}</ref>