In a somber announcement, Lim Kean Chye, a stalwart advocate for Malaysian independence, had breathed his final breath on Wednesday night, his family conveyed.
Lim’s daughter, Lim Miao Yiong, disclosed that he peacefully breathed his last at his residence during the late hours of Wednesday. She emphasized that her father’s preference for simplicity would be honored, as no funeral, wake, or formal ceremony is scheduled. Instead, a private cremation will be conducted in the presence of immediate family members.
“There will not be a funeral, a wake, or any ceremony because my father did not like fuss so it will be a private cremation with close family members,” she told MalayMail.
Having received a pacemaker implant ten years prior, the centenarian had experienced a decline in his well-being in recent days.
Attributing his passing to old age, his daughter stated, “His strength was already waning, which is why I returned ten days ago.”
Separately, lawyer Cecil Rajendra confirmed Lim’s demise, mentioning that he had contracted Covid-19. However, he clarified that Lim’s demise cannot be solely attributed to the virus, as his overall health had already been fragile due to various pre-existing conditions.
Who is Lim Kean Chye?
The former statesman was a founding member of the Malayan Democratic Union, which waged a struggle for the independence of Malaya and Singapore from British colonial rule.
His father was a Cambridge-educated lawyer, Lim Cheng Ean, who held a legislative councillor position in the 1930s.
Having received his education at the University of Cambridge, Lim Kean Chye was a distinguished lawyer who played a prominent role in the “left-wing” political movement and served as a member of the All-Malaya Council of Joint Action (AMCJA).
In 1947, he contributed to the drafting of the People’s Constitutional Proposals for Malaya, which formed the bedrock for the attainment of independence.
Survived by his wife, daughters Miao Ling and Miao Yiong, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, Lim Kean Chye leaves behind a cherished legacy.
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