failing to gain enough support. He retired from politics in 1996. Controversies Lee was outspoken on a number of sensitive issues, such as questioning the Malaysian New Economic Policy and the political dominance of the Malays. In particular, in early November 1986, the Selangor MCA of which he was its head, passed a resolution in its annual convention calling on the government to review the Sedition Act and to make it an offence to refer or call any of the country's three major races as immigrants or pendatang. The resolution, which stated that Malaysia's three major races originated from other countries and that none of them should brand the others as immigrants and claim themselves to be natives. This was interpreted as challenging the bumiputra status of the Malays, which led to calls for his sacking by members of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), and the withdrawal of his datukship by the Sultan of Selangor (later restored). He also joined a protest rally with the opposition then; Democratic Action Party (DAP) objecting to the appointments of senior assistants and supervisors without qualifications in Mandarin in Chinese primary schools. The events precipitated the Operation Lalang in 1987 whereby over a hundred politicians and activists were detained, and Lee left for Australia for a few months. Death After suffering from a stroke since October 2018, Lee died on 24 November 2019 at 12.30 a.m. at family home in Jalan Setia Bakti, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. His remains were buried at Xiao En Memorial Park, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. Election results Honours : Medal of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PPN) (1974) Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2000) : (revoked on 23 October 1987) Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (DPMS) – Dato' (1979, revoked on 23 October 1987 and reinstated on 8 March 1990) References External links Lee Kim Sai at Malaysia Factbook 1937 births 2019 deaths People from Selangor Malaysian people of Hakka descent Malaysian politicians of Chinese descent Malaysian Chinese Association politicians Members of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly Members of the Dewan Rakyat Health ministers of Malaysia Government ministers of Malaysia Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia 21st-century Malaysian politicians Knights Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor Medallists of the Order of the Defender of