Alexei Kosygin vs Lim Guan Eng

Kosygin became Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Premier) in October 1964 after Khrushchev's ouster. He served as head of government for 16 years, overseeing the Soviet economy and foreign policy during the Brezhnev era.

Kosygin launched economic reforms in September 1965 aimed at decentralizing the Soviet economy. The reforms gave enterprises more autonomy, reduced central planning, and introduced profit incentives, but were largely abandoned by the early 1970s due to bureaucratic resistance.

Kosygin supported the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968, which crushed the Prague Spring reforms. He participated in negotiations with Czechoslovak leaders, justifying the intervention as necessary to preserve socialism in the Eastern Bloc.

Kosygin resigned as Premier in October 1980 due to declining health. He was replaced by Nikolai Tikhonov, ending his 16-year tenure as head of the Soviet government. He died two months later, on December 18, 1980.

Lim Guan Eng was elected Secretary-General of the DAP, a major opposition party in Malaysia. This position made him a key leader in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, leading the party through a period of electoral gains and increased influence.

Following the 2008 general election, Lim Guan Eng became Chief Minister of Penang, leading the first opposition state government in Malaysia. His administration focused on transparency, anti-corruption, and economic development, transforming Penang into a high-tech hub.

After the historic 2018 general election victory of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, Lim Guan Eng was appointed Minister of Finance. He oversaw fiscal reforms, including the introduction of the Sales and Services Tax and efforts to reduce national debt.

Lim Guan Eng was acquitted of corruption charges related to the purchase of a bungalow, which had been a major political issue. The acquittal removed a legal barrier to his political career and was seen as a vindication by his supporters.