{{Short description|Malaysian politician (born 1948)}} {{family name hatnote|Sim (沈)|lang=Chinese}} {{BLP sources|date=August 2014}} {{Use British English|date=July 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Sim Tong Him | honorific_suffix = | native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hans|沈同钦}}}} | image = | caption = | constituency_MP = Kota Melaka | parliament = Malaysian | term_start = 8 March 2008 | term_end = 9 May 2018 | predecessor = Wong Nai Chee <br> (BN–MCA) | successor = Khoo Poay Tiong <br> (PH–DAP) | majority = 11,390 (2008) <br> 20,746 (2013) | office2 = | term_start2 = | term_end2 = | constituency_AM2 = | assembly2 = | predecessor2 = | successor2 = | constituency_AM4 = Bandar Hilir | assembly4 = Malacca State Legislative | term_start4 = 25 April 1995 | term_end4 = 21 April 2004 | predecessor4 = Gan Boon Leong <br> (BN–MCA) | successor4 = Goh Leong San <br> (PR–DAP) | majority4 = 1,516 (1995) <br> 2,064 (1999) | constituency_AM5 = Tranquerah (Tengkera) | assembly5 = Malacca State Legislative | term_start5 = 1986 | term_end5 = 1995 | predecessor5 = N/A | successor5 = Goh Leong San <br> (BA–DAP) | majority5 = 1,988 (1986) <br> 3,135 (1990) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1948|9|8}} | birth_place = Malacca, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia) | death_date = | death_place = | citizenship = Malaysian | party = Independent (2018–present) <br> Democratic Action Party (DAP) (1982–2018) | occupation = Politician | relations = | spouse = | children = 3 | website = {{URL|https://www.facebook.com/SimTongHimchenTongQin/}} | footnotes = }} '''Sim Tong Him''' ({{lang-zh|t=沈同欽|s=沈同钦|p=Shěn Tóngqīn|poj=Sím Tông-khim}}; born 8 September 1948) is a Malaysian politician. He is the former Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka, Malacca for two terms from 2008 to 2018. Presently Sim is an independent politician after his resignation from Democratic Action Party (DAP) in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parlimen.gov.my/profile-ahli.html?uweb=dr&id=3222|title=Maklumat Ahli Parlimen : YB Tuan Sim Tong Him |work=Parlimen Malaysia|language=Malay|accessdate=10 August 2014}}</ref>
==Background== Sim is a relative of the prominent Malaysian Chinese educationist Datuk Sim Mow Yu.<ref name="background">{{Cite news | author = Tan Sze Ming | title = Malaysian Representatives alpha : Sim Tong Him | publisher = #MyMP UndiMsia! Sinar Project | date = 11 April 2013 | url = https://reps.sinarproject.org/mp/sim-tong-him | accessdate = 15 November 2017}}</ref>
==Political career== Sim joined the DAP in 1982.<ref name="background"/> He contested the state constituency of Tranquerah, Malacca and won twice in 1986 general election and 1990 general election to become its assemblyman from 1986 to 1995 before switching to contest the state seat of Bandar Hilir, Malacca in 1995 general election and won again in the 1999 general election thus became its assemblyman from 1995 until 2004. In the 2004 general election, Sim contested the state seat of Ayer Keroh but lost.
Sim had been the DAP state chairman for Malacca until succeeded by Goh Leong San after a hotly contested internal state election on 19 December 2005, which also saw DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and his wife Betty Chew get the lowest number of votes out of 15 candidates, thus causing Chew to lose her seat on the Malacca DAP committee entirely.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2005%2F12%2F19%2Fnation%2F12907765|title=Guan Eng and wife voted out of Malacca DAP committee|work=The Star|date=19 December 2005|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref>
However he was chosen by DAP to contest the Kota Melaka parliamentary seat in the 2008 general election but he won by beating predecessor Wong Nai Chee of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) with a majority 11,390 vote and retained it again in the 2013 general election by beating Yee Kok Wah of MCA with a majority 20,746 vote. But on the 20 April nomination day of the election, beside registering as DAP official candidate to defend his Kota Melaka parliamentary seat, Sim made a surprise commotion by also registering to contest the Kota Laksamana state seat too but as an Independent against DAP candidate concurrently, causing DAP to initially expel him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2013/04/20/ge13-sim-tong-him-sacked-by-dap-for-contesting-as-an--independent/|title=GE13: Sim Tong Him sacked by DAP for contesting as an independent|work=The Star|date=20 April 2013|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref> But only two days later on 22 April he announced his withdrawal as the state seat of Kota Laksamana Independent candidate to fully back the DAP candidate, Lai Keun Ban, instead and to focus to continue defend the Kota Melaka parliamentary seat under the DAP.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2013/04/22/ge13-daps-sim-tong-him-withdraws-as-independent-candidate-for-kota-laksamana/ |title=GE13: DAP's Sim Tong Him withdraws as Independent candidate for Kota Laksamana |work=The Star|date=22 April 2013|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref> As preparation for the voting day on 5 May already done by the Election Commission (EC),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/227562|title=EC: Okay for Sim to contest as independent as well|author=Hafiz Yatim|work=Malaysiakini|date=21 April 2013|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref> thus his candidacy still appeared on the ballots and managed to get 1,242 votes that finish last among three candidates and still had his deposit forfeited in the election.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/ge13-chinese-press-sim-true-blue-dap-man|title=#GE13* Chinese Press:Sim a true blue DAP man|work=The Edge Markets |date=22 April 2013|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref>
On 17 September 2015, a doctor from Malacca who is also the Bukit Palah DAP branch chairman, Dr Wong Fort Pin, successfully sued Sim and Goh for defamation and won RM300,000 in damages.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/09/17/doc-wins-suit-against-two-malacca-dap-leaders/|title=Doc wins suit against two Malacca DAP leaders|work=The Star (Malaysia)|date=17 September 2005|accessdate=4 April 2016}}</ref> Both Sim and Goh party membership was suspended for one-year suspension on 16 February 2016, reportedly for disparaging the party.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/03/135580/former-dap-chief-goh-leong-san-declared-independent|title=Former DAP chief Goh Leong San declared an independent|work=The Star (Malaysia)|date=28 March 2016|accessdate=4 April 2016}}</ref>
On 12 February 2017, Sim, along with three other DAP Malacca state assemblymen namely Goh (Duyong), Lim Jack Wong (Bachang) and Chin Choong Seong (Kesidang) announced their resignation from the party to be Independent, citing lack of trust in DAP leadership.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/kota-melaka-mp-three-state-reps-leave-dap|title=Kota Melaka MP, three state reps leave DAP|work=The Malay Mail|date=12 February 2017|accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> They formed the 'Justice League' to contest in the 2018 general election (GE14) as independent candidates using the key as their common symbol.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/01/07/four-ex-dap-reps-form-justice-league|title=Four ex-DAP reps to form 'Justice League'|author=Kong See Hoh|work=The Sun Daily|date=7 January 2018|accessdate=21 April 2018|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107203936/http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/01/07/four-ex-dap-reps-form-justice-league|archivedate=7 January 2018}}</ref> Sim contested the Kota Laksamana state seat whereas Goh will go for both parliamentary (Kota Malacca) and state seat (Kesidang). Lim and Chin will contest the Ayer Keroh and Bandar Hilir state seats respectively.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/04/19/former-dap-malacca-leaders-form-justice-league|title=Former DAP Malacca leaders form Justice league|author=Kong See Hoh|work=The Sun Daily|date=19 April 2018|accessdate=21 April 2018}}</ref> In the GE14, Sim officially contested first time as independent candidate for the state seat of Kota Laksamana but lost.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/02/02/independent-mp-predicts-massive-win-for-bn-in-melaka|title=Independent MP predicts massive win for BN in Melaka|author=Soo Wern Jun|work=Free Malaysia Today|date=2 February 2018|access-date=21 April 2018}}</ref>
==Election results== {| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%" |+ Malacca State Legislative Assembly<ref name="election results">{{cite web|url=http://semak.spr.gov.my/spr/laporan/5_KedudukanAkhir.php|title=Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri|publisher=Election Commission of Malaysia|language=Malay|accessdate=11 July 2010}} Percentage figures based on total turnout.</ref><ref name="undiinfo">{{Cite web | title = Malaysia General Election | work = undiinfo Malaysian Election Data | publisher = Malaysiakini | url = http://undi.info/# | accessdate = 4 February 2017}} Results only available from the 2004 election.</ref><ref name="GE14 results">{{cite web|url=https://keputusan.spr.gov.my/|title=SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE - 14|publisher=Election Commission of Malaysia |language=Malay|accessdate=17 May 2018}} Percentage figures based on total turnout.</ref><ref name="The Star GE14">{{cite web|url=https://election.thestar.com.my/|title=The Star Online GE14|work=The Star|accessdate=24 May 2018}} Percentage figures based on total turnout.</ref> !|Year !|Constituency !colspan=2|Candidate !|Votes !|Pct !colspan=2|Opponent(s) !|Votes !|Pct !|Ballots cast !|Majority !|Turnout |- |rowspan=2|1986 |rowspan=4| '''N13 Tranquerah''' |rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | |rowspan=2|{{nowrap|'''Sim Tong Him'''}} ('''DAP''') |rowspan=2 align="right" |'''8,267''' |rowspan=2|'''55.17%''' | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Ng Peng Hong @ Ng Peng Hay (MCA) |align="right" |6,279 |41.90% |rowspan=2|14,984 |rowspan=2|1,988 |rowspan=2|77.76% |- |{{Party shading/green}} | |Thei Niu Kim (PPPM) |align="right" |104 |align=right|0.69% |- |rowspan=2|1990 |rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | |rowspan=2|{{nowrap|'''Sim Tong Him'''}} ('''DAP''') |rowspan=2 align="right" |'''9,142''' |rowspan=2|'''57.86%''' | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Khoo Heng Peng (MCA) |align="right" |6,007 |38.02% |rowspan=2|15,799 |rowspan=2|3,135 |rowspan=2|78.02% |- |{{Party shading/Independent}} | |Loo Kin (IND) |align="right" |374 |align=right|2.37% |- |1995 |rowspan=2|'''N18 Bandar Hilir''' | {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | |{{nowrap|'''Sim Tong Him'''}} ('''DAP''') |align="right" |'''6,445''' |'''54.98%''' | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Boon Ah Soo (MCA) |align="right" |4,929 |42.05% |11,722 |1,516 |75.18% |- |1999 | {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | |{{nowrap|'''Sim Tong Him'''}} ('''DAP''') |align="right" |'''6,835''' |'''57.65%''' | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Ng Peng Ann (MCA) |align="right" |4,771 |40.24% |11,855 |2,064 |74.69% |- |2004 |'''N16 Ayer Keroh''' | {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | |{{nowrap|Sim Tong Him}} (DAP) |align="right" |6,562 |39.41% | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |'''Seah Kwi Tong''' ('''MCA''') |align="right" |'''9,549''' |'''57.36%''' |16,649 |2,987 |80.12% |- |rowspan=2|2013 |rowspan=4|'''N20 Kota Laksamana''' |rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Independent}} | |rowspan=2|{{nowrap|Sim Tong Him}} (IND){{ref label|2013|A|A}} |rowspan=2 align="right" |1,242 |rowspan=2 align="right" |7.35% | {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | |{{nowrap|'''Lai Keun Ban'''}} ('''DAP''') |align="right" |'''11,969''' |'''70.85%''' |rowspan=2|16,893 |rowspan=2|8,507 |rowspan=2|86% |- | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Chiw Tiang Chai (MyPPP) |align="right" |3,462 |20.49% |- |rowspan=2|2018 |rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Independent}} | |rowspan=2|{{nowrap|Sim Tong Him}} (IND){{ref label|2018|B|B}} |rowspan=2 align="right" |517 |rowspan=2 align="right" |1.7% |{{Party shading/Keadilan}} | |'''Low Chee Leong''' ('''DAP''') |align="right" |'''20,181''' |'''67.40%''' |rowspan=2|24,952 |rowspan=2|16,173 |rowspan=2|83.30% |- | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Melvin Chua Kew Wei (MCA) |align="right" |4,008 |13.4% |} {{note label|2013|A|A}} Sim who surprisingly registered as an Independent candidate on nomination day but withdrew later to support DAP named candidate, still had his candidacy appeared on the EC voting ballot officially. <br> {{note label|2018|B|B}} Sim and three others MLA who had quit DAP Malacca earlier, had formed the 'Justice League' informal Independent bloc and contested as Independent candidates using the key symbol.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%" |+ Parliament of Malaysia<ref name="election results"/><ref name="undiinfo"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://resultpru13.spr.gov.my/module/keputusan/paparan/paparan_laporan.php|title=KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13|work=Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum|publisher=Election Commission of Malaysia |language=Malay|accessdate=24 March 2017}}</ref> !|Year !|Constituency !colspan=2|Candidate !|Votes !|Pct !colspan=2|Opponent(s) !|Votes !|Pct !|Ballots cast !|Majority !|Turnout |- |2008 |rowspan=2|'''P138 Kota Melaka''' | {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | |{{nowrap|'''Sim Tong Him'''}} ('''DAP''') |align="right" |'''38,640''' |'''57.26%''' | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Wong Nai Chee (MCA) |align="right" |27,250 |40.38% |67,479 |11,390 |79.57% |- |2013 | {{Party shading/Democratic Action Party}} | |{{nowrap|'''Sim Tong Him'''}} ('''DAP''') |align="right" |'''49,521''' |'''62.17%''' | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Yee Kok Wah (MCA) |align="right" |28,775 |36.13% |79,651 |20,746 |86.30% |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{YouTube|q1GPqcDlI2s|Mr. Sim debating in Parliament}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sim, Tong Him}} Category:1948 births Category:Malaysian people of Chinese descent Category:Living people Category:Malaysian politicians of Chinese descent Category:Independent politicians in Malaysia Category:Former Democratic Action Party (Malaysia) politicians Category:Members of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly Category:Malaysian people of Hokkien descent Category:Leaders of the opposition in the Malacca State Legislative Assembly Category:Malaysian MPs 2008–2013 Category:Malaysian MPs 2013–2018