the ruling Barisan Nasional after winning the Penang State Government in 1969. Chief Minister of Penang Lim served as Chief Minister of Penang from 1969 to 1990. The iconic projects that emerged during Lim's rule included the 66-storey KOMTAR administrative tower and commercial complex, and the 13.5 km Penang Bridge. When it was topped-off, KOMTAR was for some time the tallest building in Asia, and the Penang Bridge one of the longest in the world. Lim is best known for overseeing the emergence of Penang's Free Trade Zone (FTZ) – later renamed Free Industrial Zone – which evolved into one of Asia's most powerful electronics hubs. In the Malaysian General Elections of October 1990, a crisis occurred when Lim, serving as the chief minister, lost his state seat and Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) had fewer seats than UMNO in the Penang State Assembly. A crisis was averted when Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik, the then president of Gerakan, was able to convince the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to allow an ethnic Chinese to continue on in the role of the Chief Minister. Retirement and death Lim had retired from politics and was concentrating on business. He was at the time chairman and advisor for several large corporations. In 2007, Lim was named founding chancellor of Wawasan Open University. In late October 2010, he was admitted to the Penang Hospital after suffering a stroke. He later died on Wednesday, 24 November 2010 at his home in Hillside, Tanjung Bungah at about 9 pm. On Thursday, 25 November 2010, he was given a state funeral. The Penang state flag was flown at half-mast from 25 to 28 November for 4 days as a mark of respect. His body was cremated at Batu Gantung Crematorium on Sunday, 28 November 2010. Honours Honours of Malaysia : Recipient of the Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Sliver) (PPM) (1965) Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) – Tun (1991) : Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DUPN) – Dato' Seri Utama (1990) : Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DA) – Datuk Amar (1996) Places named after him The 17.84 km Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (Federal Route 3113) comprising Jelutong Expressway and Bayan Lepas Expressway was renamed after him on 7 December 2010. Other memorials included