In lieutenant-general Johnny Lim’s eyes, true patriotism and unity are not only forged in grand speeches and military parades but also in quiet moments shared and support given in the most painful moments.
For him it is also very personal. When he lost his wife Gloria almost two years ago, and in her final days at the hospital, it was friends of all races and faiths, medical professionals, and fellow patients, who became his pillar of strength.
“I had just lost my beautiful wife. It was one of my darkest hours and I was deeply depressed,” he told FMT.
Two months after her death, Lim walked back into the hospital to say thank you — his heart still heavy but also certain that that was what she would have wanted.
Unknown to him, a surprise was in store for him. “A doctor had set up an inspiration corner made with a picture of us there to inspire other patients not to give up,” he recalled.
Lim said it opened his eyes to the reality that no matter how deep one’s darkest hour or how heavy one’s heart is, there will always be light, because there are good Malaysians everywhere and their kindness will find a way to touch your heart.
“I think that is what unity and patriotism is all about,” he said.
Staid in the face of derision
Social media buzzed and headlines followed the announcement of Lim’s promotion in June, 2025, and Malaysians of every creed and colour celebrated the milestone.
But along with the praise also came much criticism.
What should have been a purely celebratory moment for trailblazers like him became the fodder that fed racial and religious differences.
Lim’s promotion to lieutenant-general, making him the first ethnic Chinese to achieve that rank in the Malaysian armed forces’s 92-year history, also became a subject for political debate. But he remains unfazed.
“My promotion is not what some people make of it, that I got it because of money or influence,” he said.
“No, I’d like to believe I earned it. I’m qualified and capable of holding this rank and the armed forces has entrusted me with it,” he said.
He said that while the promotion was a professional milestone, at the personal level it was also a moment he could have shared with his wife.
He even credited her for his rise up the ranks. “It felt like a divine blessing (from her),” he said.
Lim expressed hopes that he would not be the last to set such records. “I believe others can achieve the same if they work hard and perform well,” he said.
Call for unity
Lim noted that in an increasingly divisive world, it is understandable that many may not share his sentiments about the country, patriotism and nation-building.
He said many Malaysians are becoming more hesitant to celebrate the nation’s successes, a reluctance that has manifested quite clearly on social media.
“There are 36 million people in Malaysia. Everybody has problems, even netizens, but you cannot deny that you were born here and given privileges such as education and healthcare.
“If you cannot be patriotic, then be a good citizen. That means having discipline, being civic-minded and not being selfish,” he said, firm in his belief that without national unity and patriotism, the country cannot prosper.
