Lim Swee Aun

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Lim (林).
Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dr.
Lim Swee Aun
PMN JP
林瑞安
Lim Swee Aun (1966)
Vice-President of the Malaysian Chinese Association
In office
1959–1962
MajorityChinese
Malaysian Minister of Commerce & Industry
In office
10 October 1962 – 3 June 1969
Preceded byKhir Johari
Minister of Health and Social Welfare
In office
1 August 1962 – 10 October 1962
Preceded byAbdul Aziz Ishak
Succeeded byAbdul Rahman Talib (as Minister of Health)
Personal details
Born(1915-09-01)1 September 1915
Malayan Chinese Association (MCA)
SpousePuan Sri Quek Eng Lan (郭英兰)
RelationsSon of Lim Tee Hooi
Children2 daughters and 2 sons
ResidenceTaiping, Perak
Alma materKing Edward VII School (Taiping)
OccupationMedical Practitioner Malaysian Government Minister

Tan Sri Dr. Lim Swee Aun (Chinese: 林瑞安; pinyin: Lín Ruì'ān; 1 September 1915 – 13 August 1977) was a Malaysian Chinese politician from the Malaysian Chinese Association, and a Cabinet
member.

Early life

The eldest son of Lim Tee Hooi and Foong Cheong Ngan, Swee Aun was born on 1 September 1915 in Taiping, Perak and educated at the King Edward VII School (Taiping). He was a keen Rugby player and played for the school in the 1930s.[1] Swee Aun with Yahayaudin, Sulaiman and Harun were the first to be awarded colours.

College years

In June 1932, Swee Aun joined the King Edward VII College of Medicine, in

Raffles College to form the University of Malaya) at the age of 16 years. He was a brilliant scholar and gained Distinction in Anatomy in the 2nd Professional Examination, an honour he shared with his classmate Quek Eng Lan (whom he subsequently married on 22 August 1938). He was awarded a scholarship
for this achievement. In the Final examination in 1938, Swee Aun obtained Distinction in Medicine and Materia Medica and was awarded the much coveted Lim Boon Keng Medal.

While in College, he was also a great sportsman. He was Captain of the Singapore All Blues Rugby Team in 1935 which won the Trophy for Pan-Malayan Interstate Rugby Matches.

Early working days

Lim Swee Aun completed his

Leprosarium before moving to Ipoh General Hospital and to Taiping, Perak
, his hometown in 1940.

The War Years

In December 1941, war came and Taiping experienced the 1st bomb on 8 December. The main attack from the

father-in-law) rambutan estate in Bukit Timah, Singapore
.

Lim Swee Aun stayed on in Taiping

Singaporeans were returned to Malaya. Lim Swee Aun and his family travelled in a cattle wagon
, taking 4 days and 3 nights to reach Taiping.

Japanese Occupation 1942-1945

Dr. Lim Swee Aun worked for Dr. Tan Chen Leng in Taiping. During the occupation period, Lim Swee Aun secretly supplied medicine to the

British Government
through Malcolm McDonald.

British Military Administration (BMA)

After the

communist
activities. He often treated his patients for free when they could not afford it.

Political career

He was a founder and Life member of the Malaysian Chinese Association in Taiping. In 1959, Lim Swee Aun became a member of Parliament when he won the seat of Larut Selatan. He was appointed Minister of Health in 1962 and later in the year he became Minister of Commerce and Industry.[citation needed]

Industrialisation

Lim Swee Aun's responsibility as minister was to industrialise the country. He encouraged

Joint Ventures but stood firm on the 51% Malaysian participation.[citation needed
] Industrial estates were established throughout the country from Perlis in the north to Johore in the south.

The seeds of what was to become a major industry in Malaysia were sown by the then Malaysian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Lim Swee Aun, in 1963. On his way to the

Proton (carmaker)) was incorporated (7 May 1983), and Malaysia's first locally built car, the Proton Saga, was launched on 9 July 1985.[2]

Formation of Malaysia Agreement 1963

Lim Swee Aun was involved in the final rounds of negotiations on the

Tun Abdul Razak, Tan Siew Sin and Dr Lim Swee Aun (Minister for Commerce).[3]
The function of Mr. Tan and Dr. Lim was in Sir Geofroy Tory's view, to restrain Tun Razak from making undue concessions. Agreement was reached on the main points of issue on 5 July and only then did Tunku himself leave for London.[4] Dr. Lim was one of the signatories of the Agreement Relating to Malaysia (1963).[5]

The Debate on Malaysian Solidarity 1965

Chinese Malaysians
—referring to them as kaum pendatang or immigrants—of being lodgers (orang tumpangan), abusing the hospitality of the Malays who were the "masters of the house".
This provoked a response from Cabinet member Swee Aun, who insisted "we are co-owners, not lodgers, not guests."[6][7]
Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in his speech at the Malaysia Solidarity Convention on 6 June 1965 congratulated Lim Swee Aun for his courage in saying it.[8]

Timeline

  • 1915 Sep Born, Taiping, Perak, Malaya
  • 1938 Graduated Licentiate of Medicine & Surgery
  • 1948-1950 Nominated Taiping Town Council
  • 1949 Jan Justice of Peace, Perak
  • 1953-1955 Member Perak State legislative Council
  • 1959 Aug Elected Member of Parliament Larut Selatan
  • 1962 Aug Appointed Minister of Health
  • 1962 Oct Appointed Minister of Commerce & Industry
  • 1963 Mar Attended ECAFE Conference in Manila
  • 1963 Jun Took active part in Malaysia negotiations in London
  • 1963 Nov Charman, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, Kuala Lumpur
  • 1964 Nov Leader Malaysian delegation to Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference Trinidad, Jamaica
  • 1965 Mar Leader Malaysian delegation to ECAFE, New Zealand

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

References

  1. ^ C. K. Loh (2006) "The History of Rugby in King Edward VII School, Taiping". The Taiping Edwardians. 12 October 2006.
    http://www.edwardians.com.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=20. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  2. ^ Eli Solomon (2005) "Six years to assembling cars in Peninsular 1963-1968". Asian Automotive Archives - A Malaysian Perspective.
    "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  3. ISBN 0-11-290581-1
    .
  4. ISBN 0-11-290581-1
    .
  5. ^ File:Agreement Relating to Malaysia between UK, N. Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore.djvu.
  6. ISBN 981-204-983-5
    .
  7. ISBN 981-05-3865-0
    .
  8. ^ Lee, Kuan Yew (1965). Speech at The Malaysian Soladirity Convention at the National Theatre on 6 June 1965. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Retrieved 4 October 2010
  9. ^ a b "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Retrieved 7 February 2021.
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