PETALING JAYA: The softer, romantic aspect of DAP strongman Lim Guan Eng shone by means of throughout his 18-month stint on the Kamunting detention centre below the Internal Security Act (ISA) from October 1987, because the long-distance courtship together with his then girlfriend was put to the take a look at.
In the newly-released second quantity of his father’s biography, “Lim Kit Siang – Malaysian First” by author Kee Thuan Chye, the DAP chairman spoke of writing 300 letters to Betty Chew as he fought to preserve their then six-month-old relationship.
Guan Eng was amongst greater than 100 politicians and activists, together with his father Kit Siang, who had been detained below the ISA in a safety operation by the police, codenamed Operasi Lalang, when Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister.
Although Chew was from a poor household she had labored laborious to acquire a authorities scholarship to research mass communications, which earned his admiration.
Lim, who was then Kota Melaka MP, stated it was an opportunity assembly at The Star newspaper’s Melaka workplace that introduced him and Betty collectively. They had been launched by Star correspondent M Veera Pandiyan when the DAP man visited to share a press assertion.
“(Betty) was an intern with Utusan Malaysia however she got here to my workplace virtually each night to discover out what tales she may need missed,” Veera stated.
“Betty was a handsome woman and after I launched her to Guan Eng, I might see he was smitten. After that, he got here round each now and then to submit press statements, nevertheless it was extra of an excuse to see her.”
Guan Eng stated {that a} relationship together with her raised the query of whether or not she would have the option to take the strain if he had been ever to go to jail.
It was whereas in Kamunting that he requested Chew by means of considered one of his sisters if she was prepared to proceed after their circumstances modified together with his detention. To his delight, Chew declared she would anticipate him.
“That was after I knew she might take the strain,” he stated.
Guan Eng was launched in 1989 and the couple tied the knot the identical 12 months. They have 4 youngsters – three boys and a lady.
