He is the current chancellor and former chairman of the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR).[4] UTAR's Dewan Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik is named in honour after him.[5]
In 27 October 2015, Prime Minister Najib Razak is suing Ling Liong Sik for allegedly implying that he had misused public fund for his personal interests.[6] In 22 May 2018, Najib has withdrawn his defamation suit against Ling Liong Sik over the alleged misuse of public funds.[7]
He is also one of the most influential Chinese politicians in contemporary Malaysia. He played a significant role in Malaysian politics during his tenure.
Ling Liong Sik joined the MCA in 1968.[8] In 1974, he was elected as Member of Parliament for Mata Kuching, Penang and become a Central Committee member of the party in the same year. He successfully reelected in 1978 and 1982. In 1986, Ling Liong Sik move to Labis parliamentary seat in Johor and elected Member of Parliament of the seat. He also subsequently successfully defended his position in the 1990, 1995 and 1999 general elections. He was elected in 1986 as the sixth President of the MCA, replacing Tan Koon Swan; he held this position for almost 17 years until his retirement in 2003.
Ling Liong Sik first appointed as Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Federal Territories. Later, Deputy Minister of Information, Deputy Minister of Finance and Deputy Minister of Education. On 7 January 1986, he was appointed Minister of Transport until his retirement on 23 May 2003.
Acting Prime Minister
In 1988, Ling was briefly the acting Prime Minister from 4 to 16 February 1988, due to an internal struggle between different factions in UMNO, leading to a legal challenge and the deregistration of UMNO.[9]
Post political career
UTAR chancellor
On 18 January 2017, Ling Liong Sik was installed as University Tunku Abdul Rahman's (UTAR) first chancellor during the university's 24th convocation ceremony.[10]
On 27 October 2015, Prime Minister Najib Razak has filed a suit against Ling Liong Sik for allegedly defaming him. Ling Liong Sik had made remarks in an article entitled "MCA's Liong Sik joins call for Najib's ouster for allegedly putting people's money in his own pocket" which were published in the Malay Mail online portal. Ling Liong Sik was quoted saying in the article that he agreed with former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's demands for Najib to resign, claiming that Najib "has taken people's money and put it in his own personal accounts".[11]
On 13 January 2016, Najib said Ling Liong Sik did not act as a bona fide "elder statesman". In his reply to Ling's defence and counter-claim against his suit for defamation, Najib said Ling had acted recklessly and with mala fide (bad intention) to tarnish his image and reputation.[12]
In 18 February 2016, Ling Liong Sik spared no bullets in his latest attack on Prime Minister Najib Razak. According to Ling, there is nothing wrong with UMNO and BN.[13]
It is only Najib and (the prime minister's wife) Rosmah.
We remove Najib and Rosmah, the country will return to normal. Peace, stability and progress will return to Malaysia.
On 18 July 2016, The High Court in Kuala Lumpur dismissed former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's affidavit in support of Ling Liong Sik's application to strike out Najib's suit. In her decision made in chambers, Justice Nor Bee Ariffin considered the affidavit filed by Mahathir as hearsay.[14]
On 23 December 2016, The High Court fixed March 23, 2017, to decide on an application by Ling Liong Sik to strike out a suit filed against him by Najib.[15]
On 22 February 2017, the court deferred a decision on the application, on the grounds that Najib could sue in his capacity as a public official.[16]
On 8 January 2018, The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has postponed the hearing of the defamation suit brought by Najib against Ling Liong Sik. According to Najib's lawyer Nor Emelia Iszeham , the court has yet to dispose of Ling's application to strike out the suit, filed in February 2016, which will push the hearing to April 2018.[17]
On 16 March 2018, Ling Liong Sik has failed to strike out the suit filed by Najib. Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Justice Nor Bee Arifin said the matter should go on trial to see whether Najib has the legal standing in the suit.[18]
On 22 May 2018, Najib has withdrawn his defamation suit against Ling Liong Sik over the alleged misuse of public funds. Ling's lawyer Ranjit Singh told reporters after meeting High Court judicial commissioner Goon Siew Chye in chambers that Najib decided to withdraw the suit against his client and the court ordered him to pay a RM25,000 in costs.[19][20]
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