the industry players to buck up and provide the services as promised to the people and be up to par, he had brought further development to the information and communication technology by ensuring better services from the telcos, the sprouting of the content industry and many more. He successfully restructured the water industry of the country. Retirement On 2 September 2005 at the Gerakan 35th Annual National Delegates Conference dinner, Dr. Lim announced that he would be retiring as president on 8 April 2007, which was also his 68th birthday. Lim retired from his Cabinet post shortly before the 2008 general election. He avowed to no longer comment on issues of the Party unless he was asked by the press. But he has in turn disregarded it and commented on a wide range of issues regarding the party, including the succession of the Penang Chief Minister position, and the ousting of a party member that was working under the new opposition state government. These actions have drawn the ire of many within the party that is seeing his meddling in party affairs a cause in the continual deterioration of the party's support. Wawasan Open University (WOU) appointed Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik as its second chancellor on 9 May 2011 to succeed the Late Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu. Death After being plagued by illness for more than a year, Tun Dr. Lim Keng Yaik died peacefully on Saturday afternoon, 22 December 2012, surrounded by his family at his home in Tropicana, Petaling Jaya, he was 73. He was given a state funeral by the federal government to honour his decades of immense contributions to the country as he was one of the longest-serving ministers in the country and a highly revered statesman by the public. Election results Honours Honours of Malaysia : Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) - Tun (2008) : Commander of the Order of Cura Si Manja Kini (PCM) (1976) Knight of the Order of Cura Si Manja Kini (DPCM) – Dato' (1981) Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (SPMP) - Dato' Seri (1989) : Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DGPN) - Dato' Seri (1997) : Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) - Dato' Sri (2005) : Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order