Farewell, Tan Sri Sir Peter Lim

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Sir Peter Lim Leong Seng, a colossus in his time, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Oct 26, 2017. He was 101.

The man who was the first Malaysian-born Comptroller General of the Inland Revenue Board and a Knight of the Order of St Gregory the Great (Vatican) was a quiet, unassuming man. He lived an exemplary life as a Catholic and was devoted to his family, community and country.

“This is a celebration of life. That is why the clergy is vested in red,” Archbishop Julian Leow explained to the congregation in his opening remarks at the funeral of Tan Sri Sir Lim on Oct 30 at the Church of the Holy Rosary.

“We are gathered here this morning to celebrate the life of Tan Sri Sir Peter Lim Leong Seng. We celebrate because he has lived a full life — 101 years of faithful service to family, community and country.

“And today, we want to honour his memory as father, father-in-law, grandfather, boss, colleague, companion along this journey of life.

Up to two years ago, he was still serving the archdiocese. Even last week, he still came to the office (Archdiocesan Finance).

Today, we want to celebrate his life. We want to acknowledge all that Tan Sri Sir Lim has done for this country of ours and for the Archdiocese in particular. I am sure you are aware of his service in the Inland Revenue Board and the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese.

I have known him a little better in the past three years. I have noticed that Tan Sri was always present at every funeral of a priest or religious brother or sister. You could always find him in the front pew, praying. I am sure he does that for his BEC and parish.

Today, we want to seek his intercession as we believe he is now with God in heaven. He is now receiving the just reward for his long life on earth.

Tan Sri did not have any illnesses — serious or otherwise. He was in relatively perfect health. He led a very disciplined life in terms of his diet (only three meals a day and no snacking in between meals), his daily routine of exercise, prayer and family life. He can put some of us to shame.

His passing leaves a vacuum in our lives. We will miss his care for the staff, his concern for each and every one that he met and the soft spot he had for the sick and dying in Assunta Hospital, Hospis, Sri Seronok, all these institutions that he served and continued to hold close to his heart.

We salute him just as the scouts from Stella Maris School saluted him at the entrance.

We pray that Our Heavenly Father will look mercifully on him and receive Sir Peter into his heavenly abode. May we too follow his example and continue to serve without counting the cost: to continue caring for the dying, the elderly, the sick and those that need assistance.

May his legacy continue to shine brightly in the lives of his family and in our lives. We, who have known him personally, hope to follow his good example, in the different institutions that he has left behind.”

The Church of the Holy Rosary was packed with clergy, religious and laity who came to bid farewell to this great man. Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam led the final commendation at the Mass.

Tan Sri Sir Lim was laid to rest at the Cheras Christian Cemetery. Cardinal Soter Fernandez led the prayers at the cemetery.

In the eulogy, Sebastian Aw Ing-Zer, Tan Sri Sir Peter Lim Leong Seng’s grandson said, “I want to remember the man so filled with love that he would do anything for his family and friends, whose love touched us all throughout his life and, in doing so, we are here today to celebrate his life.

“That’s the man I want to remember. Not just the man who accomplished so much, that his five foot frame cast a much longer shadow, but the man who laughed, and cried and hoped and feared. I want to remember and celebrate my grandfather: a great man, but also so much more.

A loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Tan Sri Sir Peter Lim suffered enormous losses in his personal life with the death of his second son, Francis more than 10 years ago, the death of his grandson Geordie Lim a little later and his wife Puan Sri Rosa Chou in 2013. He now leaves behind two sons, a daughter, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren to mourn his loss.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online