Editing Lim Kit Siang

{{Short description|Malaysian politician}}
{{Use Malaysian English|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{family name hatnote|[[Lin (surname)|Lim (林)]]|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox MP
| honorific_prefix    = [[Malay styles and titles#Honorary styles|Yang Berbahagia]] [[Malay styles and titles#Tan Sri|Tan Sri]] [[Malay styles and titles#State titles|Dato' Seri Utama]]
| name                = Lim Kit Siang
| native_name         = {{nobold|林吉祥}}
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=MYS|size=100|PSM|DUPN}}
| image               = Lim Kit Siang cropped.jpg
| imagesize           = 
| caption             = Lim in 2013
| office              = [[Leader of the Opposition (Malaysia)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| monarch             = {{unbulleted list|[[Sirajuddin of Perlis|Sirajuddin]]|[[Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin|Mizan Zainal Abidin]]}}
| primeminister       = [[Abdullah Ahmad Badawi]]
| term_start          = 21 March 2004
| term_end            = 8 March 2008
| predecessor         = [[Abdul Hadi Awang]]
| successor           = [[Wan Azizah Wan Ismail]]
| monarch1            = {{Collapsible list
  |framestyle=border:none; padding:0; 
  |title=''See list''
  |1=[[Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah|Abdul Halim]] |2=[[Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan|Yahya Petra]] |3=[[Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang|Ahmad Shah]] |4=[[Iskandar of Johor|Iskandar]] |5=[[Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak|Azlan Shah]] |6=[[Tuanku Ja'afar of Negeri Sembilan|Ja'afar]] |7=[[Sultan Salahuddin of Selangor|Salahuddin]]
}}
| primeminister1      = {{unbulleted list|[[Abdul Razak Hussein]]|[[Hussein Onn]]|[[Mahathir Mohamad]]}}
| term_start1         = 5 November 1975
| term_end1           = 29 November 1999
| predecessor1        = Edmund Langgu Anak Saga
| successor1          = [[Fadzil Noor]]
| monarch2            = Abdul Halim
| primeminister2      = Abdul Razak Hussein
| term_start2         = 17 April 1973
| term_end2           = 24 August 1974
| predecessor2        = [[Asri Muda|Mohamed Asri Muda]]
| successor2          = [[James Wong (politician)|James Wong]]
| office3             = 2nd National Chairman of the<br />[[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|Democratic Action Party]]
| 3blankname3         = Secretary-General
| 3namedata3          = [[Kerk Kim Hock]]
| term_start3         = 3 December 1999
| term_end3           = 4 September 2004
| predecessor3        = [[Chen Man Hin]]
| successor3          = [[Karpal Singh]]
| office4             = 3rd Secretary-General of the<br /> [[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|Democratic Action Party]]
| 4blankname4         = National Chairman
| 4namedata4          = Chen Man Hin
| term_start4         = 1 October 1970
| term_end4           = 3 December 1999
| predecessor4        = [[Fan Yew Teng]] (acting)
| successor4          = Kerk Kim Hock
{{collapsed infobox section begin|Federal parliamentary seats|last=yes}}
{{Infobox officeholder|embed=yes
| constituency_MP5    = {{Pseat|Iskandar Puteri}}
| parliament5         = Malaysian
| term_start5         = 9 May 2018
| term_end5           = 19 November 2022
| predecessor5        = ''Constituency established''
| successor5          = [[Liew Chin Tong]] 
| constituency_MP6    = {{Pseat|Gelang Patah}}
| parliament6         = Malaysian
| term_start6         = 6 May 2013
| term_end6           = 9 May 2018
| predecessor6        = [[Tan Ah Eng]] 
| successor6          = ''Constituency abolished''
| constituency_MP7    = {{Pseat|Ipoh Timor}}
| parliament7         = Malaysian
| term_start7         = 21 March 2004
| term_end7           = 5 May 2013
| predecessor7        = Thong Fah Chong 
| successor7          = [[Su Keong Siong|Thomas Su Keong Siong]] 
| constituency_MP8    = {{Pseat|Tanjong}}
| parliament8         = Malaysian
| term_start8         = 3 August 1986
| term_end8           = 29 November 1999
| predecessor8        = [[Koh Tsu Koon]] 
| successor8          = [[Chow Kon Yeow]] 
| constituency_MP9    = {{Pseat|Petaling}}
| parliament9         = Malaysian
| term_start9         = 8 July 1978
| term_end9           = 26 April 1982
| predecessor9        = Oh Keng Seng 
| successor9          = Yeoh Poh San 
| constituency_MP10   = {{Pseat|Kota Melaka}}
| parliament10        = Malaysian
| term_start10        = 26 April 1982
| term_end10          = 3 August 1986
| predecessor10       = Chan Teck Chan 
| successor10         = [[Lim Guan Eng]] 
| term_start11        = 24 August 1974
| term_end11          = 8 July 1978
| predecessor11       = ''Constituency established''
| successor11         = Chan Teck Chan 
| constituency_MP12   = {{Pseat|Bandar Malacca}}
| parliament12        = Malaysian
| term_start12        = 10 May 1969
| term_end12          = 24 August 1974*
| predecessor12       = Tan Kee Gak 
| successor12         = ''Constituency abolished''
{{collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{collapsed infobox section begin|State parliamentary seats|last=yes}}
{{Infobox officeholder|embed=yes
| constituency_AM13   = [[Padang Kota (state constituency)|Padang Kota]]
| assembly13          = Penang State Legislative
| term_start13        = 20 October 1990
| term_end13          = 24 April 1995
| predecessor13       = [[Lim Chong Eu]] 
| successor13         = [[Teng Chang Yeow]] 
| constituency_AM14   = Kampong Kolam
| assembly14          = Penang State Legislative
| term_start14        = 3 August 1986
| term_end14          = 20 October 1990
| predecessor14       = Wong Hoong Keat 
| successor14         = Cheah Teik Hoe 
| constituency_AM15   = Kubu
| assembly15          = Malacca State Legislative
| term_start15        = 1974
| term_end15          = 1982
| predecessor15       = ''Constituency established'' 
| successor15         = Yong Wee Yook
{{collapsed infobox section end}}}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1941|2|20|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Batu Pahat (town)|Batu Pahat]], [[Johor]], [[Unfederated Malay States]] (now [[Malaysia]])
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Action Party]] (DAP)
| otherparty          = {{unbulleted list|[[Gagasan Rakyat]] (GR)<br />(1990–1996)|[[Barisan Alternatif]] (BA)<br />(1998–2004)|[[Pakatan Rakyat]] (PR)<br />(2008–2015)|[[Pakatan Harapan]] (PH)<br />(since 2015)}}
| spouse              = {{married|Neo Yoke Tee|1960}}
| children            = 4 (including [[Lim Guan Eng|Guan Eng]] and [[Lim Hui Ying|Hui Ying]])
| website             = {{URL|http://limkitsiang.com/}}
| education           = 
| footnotes           = <nowiki>*</nowiki>Parliament suspended from [[13 May incident#State of emergency|13 May 1969 to 20 February 1971]]
}}

'''Lim Kit Siang''' ({{zh|c=林吉祥|p=Lín Jíxiáng|poj=Lîm Kiat-siâng}}; born 20 February 1941) is a retired [[Malaysian people|Malaysian]] [[politician]]. Having held the position for a total of 29 years on three separate occasions, he is the longest-serving [[Leader of the Opposition (Malaysia)|leader of the opposition]], as well [[List of longest-serving members of the Malaysian Parliament|the second longest-serving member of parliament]] in Malaysia. He was also the former secretary-general and national chairman of the [[Democratic Action Party]] (DAP), a component party of the [[Pakatan Harapan]] coalition, leading it through eight general elections.

==Early life and education==
Lim was born on 20 February 1941 at [[Batu Pahat (town)|Batu Pahat]], [[Johor]], [[British Malaya]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Leifer |first1=Michael |title=Dictionary of the Modern Politics of Southeast Asia |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1135129385 |pages=166 |edition=3rd (revised)}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Ooi |first1=Kee Beng |title=The Right TO Differ: A Biographical Sketch of Lim Kit Siang |date=2011 |publisher=Research for Social Advancement |isbn=9789675942068 |pages=3 }}</ref> His father was from Qinying Village, while his mother was from Zhangtang Village, both located in [[Dongshan County]], [[Zhangzhou]], [[Fujian]], in [[China]]. The youngest of four children, Lim's parents gave their eldest daughter to a farmer in Qinying for adoption before immigrating to Malaya and giving birth to Lim. He had one sister and two brothers. Lim visited his ancestral village of Qinying for the first time in November 2008, meeting his brother-in-law.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 November 2008 |title=與家人福建尋根‧冠英"還鄉"百感交集 |url=http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/91953?tid=43 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220005513/http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/91953?tid=43 |archive-date=20 February 2012 |work=[[Sin Chew Daily]]}}</ref>

Lim spent two years studying at a Mandarin-language night school before transferring to [[Batu Pahat High School]], graduating with 5 As in his [[Senior Cambridge|Cambridge School Certificate of Education]] examination. Lim was admitted to the [[English College Johore Bahru]] to continue his [[sixth form]] studies but dropped out after two months to marry his wife, Neo Yok Tee, at the age of 19. The pair had met when they were 15 but their marriage was not approved by Lim's parents, who had wanted him to become a doctor, and disowned him.<ref name=Bold>{{Cite book |last=Kee |first=Thuan Chye |title=Lim Kit Siang. Volume 1: None but the Bold |date=2021 |publisher=Landmark Books |isbn=978-981-18-2203-2 |location=Singapore}}</ref>

He gained employment teaching English at the Senai Chinese Primary School before working as a reporter for [[The Straits Times]] and [[Mediacorp#Radio Singapore|Singapore Radio]] in Singapore, where he would live until 1965.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 November 2018 |title=新旧对照: 林吉祥与柔佛 |url=http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/1813071 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609164507/http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/1813071 |archive-date=9 June 2019 |access-date=4 July 2022 |work=[[Sin Chew Daily]]}}</ref> During this time, he became the secretary-general of the Singapore National Union of Journalists at the age of 22 and came into contact with [[Devan Nair]], then head of the [[National Trades Union Congress]].<ref name=Bold></ref>

He pursued a legal education his at [[London University]], earning a [[Bachelor of Laws]] (LL.B), and was called to the bar at [[Lincoln's Inn]] in 1977.<ref name=Bold></ref>

==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>

==Personal life==
He is married with 4 children.<ref name=biodata>[http://limkitsiang.com/biodata.htm Lim Kit Siang: Biodata]</ref> He is the father of [[Lim Guan Eng]], the incumbent national chairman of the Democratic Action Party, as well as [[Lim Hui Ying]], the [[Deputy Minister of Finance (Malaysia)|Deputy Minister of Finance]].

==Election results==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ '''[[Dewan Rakyat|Parliament of Malaysia]]'''
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|Candidate
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!|Ballots cast
!|Majority
!|Turnout
|-
|rowspan=2|[[1969 Malaysian general election|1969]]
|rowspan=2|'''P086 [[Bandar Malacca (federal constituency)|Bandar Malacca]]'''
|rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|rowspan=2| {{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|rowspan=2 align="right" |'''18,562'''
|rowspan=2|'''60.80%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Koh Kim Leng  ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|MCA]])
|align="right" |7,346
|24.06%
|rowspan=2|31,484
|rowspan=2|11,216
|rowspan=2|73.77%
|-
|bgcolor={{party color|Parti Rakyat Malaysia}} |
|[[Hasnul Abdul Hadi]] ([[Parti Rakyat Malaysia|PSRM]])
|align="right" |4,621
|15.14%
|-
|rowspan=3|[[1974 Malaysian general election|1974]]
|rowspan=3|'''P098 [[Kota Melaka (federal constituency)|Kota Melaka]]'''
|rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|rowspan=3|{{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|rowspan=3 align="right" |'''17,664'''
|rowspan=3|'''51.93%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Loh Kee Peng ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|MCA]])
|align="right" |13,460
|39.57%
|rowspan=3|34,738
|rowspan=3|4,204
|rowspan=3|74.53%
|-
|bgcolor={{party color|Parti Rakyat Malaysia}} |
|Thum Kim Kui ([[Parti Rakyat Malaysia|PSRM]])
|align="right" |2,165
|align="right" |6.36%
|-
|{{Party shading/PEKEMAS}} |
|Lee Kou Ming ([[Parti Keadilan Masyarakat Malaysia|PEKEMAS]])
|align="right" |726
|align="right" |2.13%
|-
|[[1978 Malaysian general election|1978]]
|'''P081 [[Petaling (federal constituency)|Petaling]]'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|align="right" |'''41,017'''
|'''62.83%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Yeoh Poh San ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|MCA]])
|align="right" |24,263
|37.17%
|90,611
|16,754
|74.59%
|-
|[[1982 Malaysian general election|1982]]
|'''P098 [[Kota Melaka (federal constituency)|Kota Melaka]]'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|align="right" |'''29,310'''
|'''54.51%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Chan Teck Chan ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|MCA]])
|align="right" |24,459
|45.49%
|54,914
|4,851
|78.56%
|-
|[[1986 Malaysian general election|1986]]
|rowspan=2|'''P045 [[Tanjong (federal constituency)|Tanjong]]'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|align="right" |'''27,611'''
|'''63.43%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|[[Koh Tsu Koon]] ([[Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia|Gerakan]])
|align="right" |15,921
|36.57%
|44,463
|11,690
|73.32%
|-
|[[1990 Malaysian general election|1990]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|align="right" |'''30,954'''
|'''69.66%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Boey Weng Keat ([[Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia|Gerakan]])
|align="right" |13,485
|30.34%
|45,392
|17,469
|74.55%
|-
|rowspan=2|[[1995 Malaysian general election|1995]]
|rowspan=2|'''P048 [[Tanjong (federal constituency)|Tanjong]]'''
|rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|rowspan=2|{{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|rowspan=2 align="right" |'''25,622'''
|rowspan=2|'''56.75%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Oh Keng Seng ([[Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia|Gerakan]])
|align="right" |18,727
|41.48%
|rowspan=2|45,971
|rowspan=2|6,895
|rowspan=2|72.57%
|-
|{{party shading/green}} |
|Khor Gark Kim ([[Parti Bersatu Sabah|PBS]])
|align="right" |800
|align="right" |1.77%
|-
|[[1999 Malaysian general election|1999]]
|P047 [[Bukit Bendera (federal constituency)|Bukit Bendera]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|{{nowrap|Lim Kit Siang}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|DAP]])
|align="right" |24,176
|49.50%
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Chia Kwang Chye'''}} ([[Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia|'''Gerakan''']])
|align="right" |'''24,280'''
|'''49.72%'''
|49,887
|104
|71.67%
|-
|[[2004 Malaysian general election|2004]]
|rowspan=2|'''P064 [[Ipoh Timor (federal constituency)|Ipoh Timor]]'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|align="right" |'''28,851'''
|'''60.20%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Thong Fah Chong ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|MCA]])
|align="right" |19,077
|39.80%
|49,175
|9,774
|67.06%
|-
|[[2008 Malaysian general election|2008]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|align="right" |'''37,364'''
|'''70.12%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Liew Mun Hon ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|MCA]])
|align="right" |15,422
|28.94%
|53,994
|21,942
|70.45%
|-
|[[2013 Malaysian general election|2013]]
|'''P162 [[Gelang Patah (federal constituency)|Gelang Patah]]'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|align="right" |'''54,284'''
|'''57.74%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|[[Abdul Ghani Othman]] ([[United Malays National Organisation|UMNO]])
|align="right" |39,522
|42.04%
|95,071
|14,762
|89.08%
|-
| [[2018 Malaysian general election|2018]]
| '''P162 [[Iskandar Puteri (federal constituency)|Iskandar Puteri]]'''
|{{Party shading/Keadilan}}| 
|{{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
| align=right|'''80,726'''
| '''69.24%'''
| {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|[[Jason Teoh|Jason Teoh Sew Hock]] ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|MCA]])
| align=right|35,862
|30.76% 
|118,779
|44,864
|85.90%
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ '''[[Selangor State Legislative Assembly]]'''
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|Candidate
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!|Ballots cast
!|Majority
!|Turnout
|-
|rowspan=2|[[1968 Serdang by-election|1968]]
|rowspan=2|'''N17 [[Serdang (Selangor state constituency)|Serdang]]'''
|rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|rowspan=2|{{nowrap|Lim Kit Siang}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|DAP]])
|rowspan=2 align="right" |5,928
|rowspan=2|42.98%
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Thuan Paik Phok'''}} ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|'''MCA''']])
|align="right" |'''6,535'''
|'''47.38%'''
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|607
|rowspan=2|
|-
|bgcolor={{party color|Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia}} |
|Tan Han Swee ([[Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia|Gerakan]])
|align="right" |1,330
|align="right" |9.64%
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ '''[[Malacca State Legislative Assembly]]'''
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|Candidate
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!|Ballots cast
!|Majority
!|Turnout
|-
|rowspan=3|[[1974 Malaysian general election|1974]]
|rowspan=4|'''N18 Kubu'''
|rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|rowspan=3|{{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|rowspan=3 align="right" |'''4,746'''
|rowspan=3|'''61.18%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Sivapunniam Krishnasamy ([[Malaysian Indian Congress|MIC]])
|align="right" |1,881
|24.25%
|rowspan=3|7,961
|rowspan=3|2,865
|rowspan=3|81.85%
|-
|{{Party shading/PEKEMAS}} |
|Tan Giap Seng ([[Parti Keadilan Masyarakat Malaysia|PEKEMAS]])
|align="right" |697
|align=right|8.99%
|-
|bgcolor={{party color|Parti Rakyat Malaysia}} |
|Thum Kui Kim ([[Parti Rakyat Malaysia|PSRM]])
|align="right" |433
|align=right|5.58%
|-
|[[1978 Malaysian general election|1978]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
|align="right" |
|
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|
|align="right" |
|
|12,739
|4,649
|
|-
|rowspan=2|[[1982 Malaysian general election|1982]]
|rowspan=2|'''N20 [[Bandar Hilir (state constituency)|Bandar Hilir]]'''
|rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
|rowspan=2|{{nowrap|Lim Kit Siang}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|DAP]])
|rowspan=2 align="right" |3,384
|rowspan=2|
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|{{nowrap|'''[[Gan Boon Leong]]'''}} ([[Malaysian Chinese Association|'''MCA''']])
|align="right" |'''6,447'''
|
|rowspan=2|10,050
|rowspan=2|3,063
|rowspan=2|77.9%
|-
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |
|Lee Ching Sen ([[independent politician|IND]])
|align="right"| 44
|
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ '''[[Penang State Legislative Assembly]]'''
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|Candidate
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!|Ballots cast
!|Majority
!|Turnout
|-
| [[1986 Malaysian general election|1986]]
| '''N24 Kampong Kolam'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
| {{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
| align="right" | '''8,900'''
| '''63.07%'''
| {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
| Tham Soon Seong ([[Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia|Gerakan]]) 
| align="right" | 5,211
| 36.93%
| 14,391
| 3,689
| 73.49%
|-
| [[1990 Malaysian general election|1990]]
| '''N22 [[Padang Kota (state constituency)|Padang Kota]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
| {{nowrap|'''Lim Kit Siang'''}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|'''DAP''']])
| align="right" | '''6,317'''
| '''52.96%'''
| {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
| [[Lim Chong Eu]] ([[Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia|Gerakan]])
| align="right" | 5,611
| 47.04%
| 12,221
| 706
| 72.14%
|-
| [[1995 Malaysian general election|1995]]
| '''N19 [[Tanjong Bunga (state constituency)|Tanjong Bunga]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
| {{nowrap|Lim Kit Siang}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|DAP]])
| align="right" | 5,384
| 29.15%
| {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | 
| {{nowrap|'''[[Koh Tsu Koon]]'''}} ([[Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia|'''Gerakan''']])
| align="right" | '''13,087'''
| '''70.85%'''
| 18,815
| 7,703
| 77.68%
|-
| [[1999 Malaysian general election|1999]]
| '''N21 [[Kebun Bunga (state constituency)|Kebun Bunga]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} |
| {{nowrap|Lim Kit Siang}} ([[Democratic Action Party (Malaysia)|DAP]])
| align="right" | 5,142
| 37.11%
| {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
| {{nowrap|'''Teng Hock Nan'''}} ([[Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia|'''Gerakan''']])
| align="right" | '''8,551'''
| '''61.72%'''
| 14,195
| 3,409
| 68.67%
|}

==Honours==
===Honours of Malaysia===
* {{Flag|Malaysia}} :
** [[File:Order_of_Loyalty_to_the_Crown_of_Malaysia_-_PSM.svg|50px]] Commander of the [[Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia#Commander|Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia]] (PSM) – '''Tan Sri''' (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-05 |title=Just call me Kit, says DAP veteran after receiving 'Tan Sri' title |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/06/05/just-call-me-kit-says-dap-veteran-after-receiving-tan-sri-title |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=FMT |language=en}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Penang}}
** [[File:MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Knight Grand Commander - DUPN (present).png|50px]] Knight Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Defender of State#Knight Grand Commander|Order of the Defender of State]] (DUPN) – '''Dato' Seri Utama''' (2024)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/07/26/dap-veteran-lim-kit-siang-leads-penang-governors-birthday-honours-list/145072|title=DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang leads Penang governor's birthday honours list|website=www.malaymail.com}}</ref>

== Timeline ==
{{columns-list|colwidth=50em|
* 1941: Born in Batu Pahat, Johor, British Malaya
* 1966: National Organising Secretary of the DAP (1966 to 1969).
* 1969: Elected Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka (1969–1974);
** Promoted to Secretary-General of DAP;
** Detained under the Internal Security Act for 18 months.
* 1974: Elected Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka, and State Assemblyman for Kubu, Melaka (1974–1978).
* 1978: Elected Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya (1978–1982);
* 1979: Convicted of five charges under Official Secrets Act for exposing an arms deal between the government and a Swiss company.
* 1982: Elected Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka (1982–1986).
* 1986: Elected Member of Parliament for Tanjong, and State Assemblyman for Kampong Kolam, Penang (1986–1989).
* 1990: Elected State Assemblyman for Padang Kota, Penang (1990 -1995).
* 1999: Lost the election;
** Elected Chairman of DAP.
* 2004: Elected Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timur, led the opposition in parliament;
** Led the party's parliamentary caucus in the newly created position of Chairman of the Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission.
* 2008: Incumbent and re-elected as Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timur.
** Post of Leader of Opposition succeeded by Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
* 2013: Contested in Gelang Patah Parliament Seat against [[List of Menteris Besar of Johor|Menteri Besar of Johor]] [[Abdul Ghani Othman]], and won.
* 2018: Elected Member of Parliament for Iskandar Puteri.
* 2022: Retired from politics.
* 2023: Bestowed with the honorific title of Tan Sri during the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s formal 64th birthday celebrations. 
}}

==Books==
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
# ''Time Bombs in Malaysia'' (1978)
# ''DAP and Labour Issues'' (1978)
# ''Malaysia in the Dangerous 80s'' (1982)
# ''Constitutional Crisis in Malaysia'' (1983)
# ''This Day in the Last 18 Months'' (1983)
# ''The BMF Scandal'' (1984)
# ''[[Harris Salleh]] – Politics & [[Morality]]'' (1984)
# ''[[Human rights]] In Malaysia'' (1985)
# ''Malaysia – Crisis of Identity'' (1986)
# ''BMF – The [[Scandal]] Of Scandals'' (1986)
# ''The North-South Highway Scandal'' (1987)
# ''Prelude To Operation Lalang'' (1990)
# ''The Dirtiest [[Elections in Malaysia|General Elections]] In The History of Malaysia'' (1991)
# ''Selected Speeches & Press Statements – Vol. I'' (1991)
# ''[[Samy Vellu]] and MAIKA Scandal'' (1992)
# ''Battle For Democracy'' (1992)
# ''Vijandran [[Pornographic movie|Pornographic]] [[Videotape]] Scandal II'' (1992)
# ''The Highland Tower Tragedy'' (1994)
# ''Pendedahan Skandal Kewangan – Siapa Petualang FELCRA?'' (1994)
# ''Land Acquisition Act – Abuses, Injustices, Reform'' (1994)
# ''I.T. For All'' (1997)
# ''[[Cyber law|Cyberlaws]] in Malaysia'' (1997)
# ''Economic & [[Currency crisis|Financial Crisis]]'' (1998)
# ''Political & [[Economic system|Economic]] Crisis in Malaysia'' (1998)
# ''The Budget That Was Never Passed'' (1999)
# ''Constitutional Case of the Millennium'' (2000)
# ''BA & [[Islam]]ic State'' (2001)
# ''No To 929'' (2002)
# ''DAP'' (2004)
}}

==Notes and references==
<references />

===Other references===
* Pillai, M.G.G. (1 November 2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20071013161748/http://www.malaysia-today.net/columns/pillai/2005/11/did-lee-kuan-yew-want-singapore.htm "Did Lee Kuan Yew want Singapore ejected from Malaysia?"]. ''Malaysia Today''.

==External links==
* [http://www.limkitsiang.com Official website]
* [http://dapmalaysia.org Official Website for DAP Malaysia]

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|my}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Tan Kee Gak]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Dewan Rakyat]]<br />for [[Bandar Malacca]]|years=1969–1974}}
{{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}}
|-
{{s-new|constituency}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Dewan Rakyat]]<br />for [[Kota Melaka (federal constituency)|Kota Melaka]]|years=1974–1978}}
{{s-aft|after=Chan Teck Chan}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Oh Keng Sang}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Dewan Rakyat]]<br />for [[Petaling (federal constituency)|Petaling]]|years=1978–1982}}
{{s-aft|after=Yeoh Poh San}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Chan Teck Chan}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Dewan Rakyat]]<br />for [[Kota Melaka (federal constituency)|Kota Melaka]]|years=1982–1986}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Lim Guan Eng]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Koh Tsu Koon]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Dewan Rakyat]]<br />for [[Tanjong (federal constituency)|Tanjong]]|years=1986–1999}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Chow Kon Yeow]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Thong Fah Thong}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Dewan Rakyat]]<br />for [[Ipoh Timor]]|years=2004–2013}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Thomas Su Keong Siong]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Tan Ah Eng]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Dewan Rakyat]]<br />for [[Gelang Patah (federal constituency)|Gelang Patah]]|years=2013–2018}}
{{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}}
|-
{{s-new|constituency}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Dewan Rakyat]]<br />for [[Iskandar Puteri (federal constituency)|Iskandar Puteri]]|years=2018–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Liew Chin Tong]]}}
|-
{{s-parl}}
{{s-new|constituency}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Malacca State Legislative Assembly]]<br />for Kubu|years=1974–1982}}
{{s-aft|after=Yong Wee Yook}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Wong Hoong Keat}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Penang State Legislative Assembly]]<br />for Kampong Kolam|years=1986–1990}}
{{s-aft|after=Cheah Teik Hoe}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Lim Chong Eu]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Penang State Legislative Assembly]]<br />for [[Padang Kota (state constituency)|Padang Kota]]|years=1990–1995}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Teng Chang Yeow]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-new|office}}
{{s-ttl|title=National Organising Secretary of the [[Democratic Action Party]]|years=1966–1969}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Fan Yew Teng]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Fan Yew Teng]] (acting)}}
{{s-ttl|title=Secretary-General of the [[Democratic Action Party]]|years=1969–1999}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Kerk Kim Hock]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Chen Man Hin]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=National Chairman of the [[Democratic Action Party]]|years=1999–2004}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Karpal Singh]]}}
|-
{{s-new|office|rows=3}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission of the [[Democratic Action Party]]|years=2004–2022}}
{{s-non|reason=Position abolished}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=Parliamentary Leader of the [[Democratic Action Party]]|years=2008–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Anthony Loke]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=Mentor of the [[Democratic Action Party]]|years=2022}}
{{s-non|reason=Position abolished}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Asri Muda|Mohamed Asri Muda]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Opposition (Malaysia)|Leader of the Opposition]]|years=1973–1974}}
{{s-aft|after=[[James Wong (politician)|James Wong]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Edmund Langgu Saga}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Opposition (Malaysia)|Leader of the Opposition]]|years=1975–1999}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Fadzil Noor]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Abdul Hadi Awang]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Opposition (Malaysia)|Leader of the Opposition]]|years=2004–2008}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Wan Azizah Wan Ismail]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Leaders of the Opposition (Malaysia)}}
{{Johor-FedRep}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Malaysia|Biography|Politics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lim, Kit Siang}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Lim family|Lim Kit Siang]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Batu Pahat]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Hokkien descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian politicians of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:20th-century Malaysian lawyers]]
[[Category:Recipients of Malaysian royal pardons]]
[[Category:Asian democratic socialists]]
[[Category:Democratic Action Party (Malaysia) politicians]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition (Malaysia)]]
[[Category:Members of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Members of the Penang State Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Members of Lincoln's Inn]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of State of Penang]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1971–1974]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1974–1978]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1978–1982]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1982–1986]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1986–1990]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1990–1995]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 1995–1999]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 2004–2008]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 2008–2013]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 2013–2018]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 2018–2022]]