Lim contested in the
2006 general election as part of a six-member
People's Action Party (PAP) team for the
Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC). The team then led by
Minister for Health Khaw Boon Wan, won over 76% of the votes. Lim was appointed to the
Public Accounts Committee and chairman for the Transport Government Parliamentary Committee. During the
2011 general election, the Canberra division was carved out from Sembawang GRC to form part of the newly created
Nee Soon GRC. Lim then contested as part of a five-member PAP team for Nee Soon GRC. The PAP team, led by the
Minister for Law K. Shanmugam, won over 58% of the votes. Lim was appointed to the Public Petitions Committee. Lim was also appointed as a member of the Finance and Trade & Industry Government Parliamentary Committee. Subsequently, Lim became Chairman of the Defence and Foreign Affairs Government Parliamentary Committee. During an interview with
Lianhe Zaobao in May 2011, Lim commented that Singapore's ministers need to have a high salary to maintain dignity when talking to CEOs or the CEOs may not be receptive to the ministers' suggestion or proposals. The comments created a outcry and Lim defended himself saying a balance point is needed. During the
2015 general election, the Canberra division was moved back to Sembawang GRC. As a result, Lim contested Sembawang GRC again as part of a five-member PAP team led by
Minister for National Development Khaw. The team won over 72% of the votes. Lim was appointed to the Public Accounts Committee During the
2020 general election, Lim successfully defended his seat in Sembawang GRC as part of a five-member team led by
Minister for Education Ong Ye Kung. The PAP team defeated the team by
National Solidarity Party with 67.29% of the popular vote. Prior to the
2025 Singaporean general election, on 13 April 2025, Ong announced that Lim will retire from politics. Lim cited that he wanted to spend time with his family. == Personal life ==