GERAKAN leader Dr Goh Cheng Teik, a former deputy minister in the Hussein Onn and first Dr Mahathir Mohamad cabinets, died yesterday at 75.

The former Nibong Tebal MP is survived by wife Winnie Goh, three children and four grandchildren.

Long-time family friend Phee Boon Poh, who is Penang welfare exco, said Goh was “a statesman, not a politician”.

“He was a very nice man…one of the good guys. He was also my mentor,” the DAP man told The Malaysian Insight tonight.

Phee said Goh was born in what is now called Jalan New Ferry in Butterworth, Bagan. Phee is also from Butterworth.

“When he was young, my father helped him with his education. When he became involved in politics, he helped show me the ropes.

“When he came back to contest a state seat and became the Penang local government exco after the 1990 general election, I was an opposition backbencher in the state at the time.”

Phee said DAP had got stronger in Penang in the late 1980s and there were concerns in BN that then chief minister Dr Lim Chong Eu’s position was under threat. 

He said Goh was sent back to Penang, just in case Dr Lim lost his state seat in the polls.

“Despite being on opposing sides, he continued to help me solve many issues in my area at the time. For the following term, he went back to federal, but we kept in touch.”

Phee said after the 2008 political tsunami swept through Penang and the Gerakan-led Barisan Nasional government fell to a DAP-led opposition pact; Goh did not become a stranger, even though he was once a vice-president of the party.

“He gave me advice on becoming a state executive councillor when I was appointed.

“We continued to keep in touch all these years. He shared his views on current issues with me, right up until the beginning of the year when his health started to fail,” Phee said.

After leaving politics, Goh – a Harvard University graduate – went back to academia. He was adjunct professor of Sunway University.

His wake services will be held at the Paul Miki Room of St Francis Xavier Church on Jalan Gasing in Petaling Jaya at 8pm tomorrow and Wednesday. 

Funeral service will be at 2pm at the main church hall on Thursday.

He will be buried at the Nilai Memorial Park. – March 18, 2019.