A Name That Opens Doors
PETALING JAYA: Former Johor assemblyman Lim Eng Guan has lost count of how many times he has been asked the same question about his name when handing out his calling card.
A Coincidence
They ask him: “Are you related to Guan Eng?” and his answer has always been the same — a smile and a polite “No”. Despite sharing the same surname, Eng Guan and Guan Eng are not related.
The Name That Launched a Thousand Questions
Sometimes, people even mistake me for Guan Eng outright. They ask, “Are you Guan Eng?” But I don’t mind. I’m happy being associated with a party chief,” he told FMT. The 46-year-old, who served as the Bekok assemblyman from 2013 to 2018, is a board member of the Johor Port Authority and an ordinary DAP member from the Bukit Gambir branch in the state.
In the Shadow of a Famous Namesake
In this year’s DAP central executive committee (CEC) election, his name appears right before Guan Eng’s at No 28 on the candidate list — a coincidence that has not gone unnoticed.
A Name That Opens Doors
Eng Guan, who joined DAP 25 years ago, admits that sharing a similar name as the party’s former secretary-general has its perks. “People remember me more easily because of it,” he said, adding his name has given him social and political visibility within DAP. But Eng Guan’s dedication to DAP goes beyond being just a familiar name. It dates back to the early 1990s.
A Lifetime of Devotion
As a 13-year-old, he fondly remembers the party’s Bukit Gambir branch office as his “playground”, where he spent countless hours exploring its compound. He insists his passion for the party was entirely his own — uninfluenced by his parents or his famous namesake.
A Second Chance
Now making his second attempt at securing a spot on the CEC, Eng Guan first contested in the previous term but lost. Despite the years of mistaken identity, Eng Guan and Guan Eng are acquainted. He said they first met in 2012 at a DAP event in Labis, Johor, and he has exchanged pleasantries with him ever since. “He’s a good friend,” he said of the party stalwart.
Conclusion
Lim Eng Guan’s story is a testament to the power of dedication and perseverance. Despite the challenges that come with sharing a name with a prominent figure, he has carved out his own path within the Democratic Action Party (DAP). His passion for the party and its ideals has driven him to participate in the CEC election, and we can expect to see more of him in the years to come.
FAQs
Q: What is Lim Eng Guan’s current role in the DAP?
A: He is a board member of the Johor Port Authority and an ordinary DAP member from the Bukit Gambir branch in the state.
Q: How did Lim Eng Guan get his start in politics?
A: He joined DAP 25 years ago, and his passion for the party dates back to the early 1990s.
Q: What is Lim Eng Guan’s stance on the CEC election?
A: He is making his second attempt at securing a spot on the CEC, having previously contested in the previous term but lost.