Ling thanks Dr M, wants Cabinet's PKFZ minutes declassified

Ling thanks Dr M, wants Cabinet's PKFZ minutes declassified

All Roads in Malaysia leads to a paradise called Kerala

Mahathir and Ling

Malaysia Chronicle

UPDATED In an attempt to best defend himself against cheating charges, former Transport minister Ling Liong Sik has asked for Cabinet papers including the minutes of meetings related to the Port Klang Free Zone to be declassified.

His lawyers have also sought to transfer the case from the Putrajaya sessions court to the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

“Ling needs the Cabinet papers to clear his name. If the Cabinet minutes are declassified, it would make his job much easier,” PKR strategic director Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

"But the chances of that happening may not be that high. However, he can still verbally expose all those who were also pulling the strings behind the scenes and let the government explain."

Thank you, Dr M

Meanwhile, Ling told reporters he was thankful to former premier Mahathir Mohamad who has said he would testify for the former MCA president if asked to.

Ling being helped down the stairs by his son

"Thank you very much. That is very generous! He was chairing the Cabinet meeting then. I'm being charged with cheating the whole Cabinet, including him. So all those witnesses are very important. If they were cheated, then I'm guilty. If they were not cheated, then there is a trial," ," Ling told reporters on Friday.

He also declined to comment when asked by reporters if he could have been a scapegoats for other government leaders in the PKFZ debacle.

On July 30, in a move that stunned the nation especially the Chinese community, Ling was arrested and charged under Section 418 of the Penal Code for misleading the Cabinet between Sept 25 and Nov 6, 2002, into agreeing to buy 999.5 acres of land on Pulau Indah for the PKFZ project at a price of RM25psf on a deferred payment method for a 15-year period, at a 7.5 interest rate.

According to the charge sheets, Ling did not tell the Cabinet the Finance Ministry had already valued the land at RM25psf inclusive of compounded interest, which would have saved the government a whopping RM720 million.

The charge carries a maximum seven years’ jail or a fine, or both, upon conviction. Ling also faces an alternative charge, under Section 417, of cheating the government by misleading the Cabinet on the land acquisition for the same project. Under the alternative charge, he is liable to a jail term of up to five years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

The 67-year old Ling is one of the most prominent politicians to be nabbed in recent years. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail of RM1 million. The next mention date has been fixed on November 30.

Who is next?

The PKFZ is the Malaysian government's biggest port investment and was mooted during Mahathir's administration. It is also the biggest flop in a long list of failed or ailing government-projects that have been slammed by anti-corruption activists through the years.

One of the worst financial debacles

PKFZ began in the early 2000s at an original budget of RM1.9 billion, but this has ballooned multiple folds due to glaring mismanagement and alleged graft. Its auditor has warned that if its debt is not revamped, interest charges alone could boost the final bill to RM12.5billion.

An investigation into the financial debacle has shown that the project's massive cost overruns were due to high-level corruption. PKFZ overseer PKA blames Kuala Dimensi for the problems and is suing it for RM1.4 biliion. Kuala Dimensi is controlled by Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing, whom many in the political circles regard as being a "money bag" for Umno.

Meanwhile, Ling's lawyer Wong Kian Kheong told the court the defense needed the Cabinet papers and minutes to build their case. Currently, the documents are guarded under the Official Secrets Act 1972.

He also asked for permission to interview witnesses in the presence of the Investigating Officer.

"We need to declassify the documents in order to prepare the necessary defence arguments. I am applying for an early mention date as my client is a retired minister. He has also been a long-serving public servant," Wong told a packed court room.

There is widespread speculation that more arrests will follow Ling's but so far no 'big fish' has been hauled in by Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration.

However, reliable sources told Malaysia Chronicle that after Hari Raya, at least one more prominent former leader will be arrested - this time from Najib's own Umno party.








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Selangor Sultan suspends Ling’s, OC Phang’s titles

How about the Datuk whose my Ding ( dick ) a Ling was shown to everyone on DVD ?
Tak malu ka ? Lagi Datuk , phui !

UPDATED @ 01:06:13 PM 01-09-2010

By Debra Chong

September 01, 2010

Dr Ling still retains use of his federally-awarded Tunship. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Sep 1 — The Sultan of Selangor has suspended the state titles awarded to former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and ex-Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager Datin Paduka OC Phang pending the conclusion of their ongoing court cases over their roles in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.

The decision to suspend their datukships was made after consultation with the Dewan di-Raja Selangor on August 19, the state secretary said in a statement today.

Dr Ling was awarded the Darjah Kebesaran Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Selangor (DPMS) which carries the title “Dato’” in 1992, while Phang was granted the Darjah Kebesaran Dato’ Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (DSSA) with the title “Datin Paduka” nine years ago.

However, Dr Ling, who was awarded the Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM) by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong in 2004, will still be able to use his “Tun” title.

The suspension of the titles will be reviewed after their respective court judgments and if they are acquitted of their charges, the statement added.

Dr Ling, 66, was charged under Sections 418 and 417 of the Penal Code on July 29 with cheating the government by misleading the Cabinet, then helmed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the land acquisition for the PKFZ project in Klang.

The PKFZ project was mooted during his term as transport minister and the cost of the project, initially estimated at less than RM2 billion, more than doubled to RM4.6 billion by 2007.

The total bill for the project is expected to swell to as much as RM12.5 billion due to interest costs from deferred payments, if the trans-shipment hub fails to perform.

If convicted, Dr Ling faces up to seven years in jail and a fine.

Phang, 63, was charged last December with three counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM254.85 million over the PKFZ scandal between October 1, 2004, and May 9, 2006.

If convicted, she faces a maximum of 20 years’ jail and liability of a fine for each charge.

Her trial, which was scheduled to start on August 25, has been delayed to October 26 at the Klang Sessions Court following the defence’s request for more time to study newly submitted documents.

'Is there no honour among thieving friends?'

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:53

By Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz

COMMENT Former Transport Minister Ling Liong Sik was charged in court yesterday. It sent shocks through the MCA. MCA must now feel betrayed.

After all Ling was one of us - us being one of more important leaders of the Barisan Nsional in those halcyon days.

Indeed, Ling was PM of Malaysia for a few hours when Dr Mahathir Mohamad was partyless for the “few hours” when old Umno was deregistered and a new Umno was being formed.

What if Ling had at the time said “go and fly kite. Saya PM sekarang. You orang keluar BN”?

So, personally for Ling – this must feel like a betrayal. He must be feeling most betrayed.

There was one piece of news however that attracted my attention. It was s statement in his charge sheet.

According to the charge sheet, the Finance Ministry had already valued the land at RM25psf - inclusive of compounded interest - and this fact was withheld from the Cabinet by the accused.

(NB: Ling was charged under Section 418 of the Penal Code with misleading the Cabinet between Sept 25 and Nov 6, 2002, into agreeing to purchase 999.5 acres of land on Pulau Indah for a project, now known as PKFZ, at a price of RM25psf on a deferred payment basis for a 15-year period, at a 7.5 percent interest rate. The cumulative interest paid would total RM720 million at the end of the repayment period. He was also offered an alternative charge, under Section 417 of the Penal Code, for the same offence.)

Expect to be stabbed

I am not sure how a Cabinet meeting is conducted. Usually in an exco meeting for example, all papers would be prepared by the secretary to that meeting.

For a Dewan Undangan Negeri (state assembly), the papers are prepared by the MMK secretary, who is the secretary to the exco, usually a state administrative officer.

I am thinking, the principle must be the same- files and papers prepared by the Cabinet secretary.

That being the case, a copy of the file note containing the valuation price of the land must be in all the files.

Unless, the file for the PKFZ topic for that day was prepared by Ling alone and that the only information for decision that fateful day, came from Ling alone. That would be highly unusual.

Unusual because at all material time, the Finance Minister at that time, had in his possession all information about the land to be bought by PKFZ.

He would make this information available to all Cabinet members at that meeting. Or in preceding meetings.

The Finance Minister would have spotted the blatant discrepancy unless he went along with Ling. Other alert members would have spotted it too.

All Cabinet members liable too?

All Cabinet members present at that meeting at that time would now have to discover that particular document provided by whoever it was at that time, from his/her own personal files, and produce them in court. So all you SUSK (private secretaries) prepare to look for the file of that meeting for your minister.

This means everyone at that meeting on the day Ling presented his notes would have to appear before court to testify. Now everyone will stab Ling.

If the only paper informing the value of the land came from Ling, then everyone was deceived.

Or did everyone agree in unison with the facts presented by Ling. It would be interesting also to know, whether the Finance Minister then, who had the real information, went along with Ling. Or did he object?

If the entire Cabinet agreed with Ling despite having the real facts, then the entire Cabinet is vicariously liable. Ling is now feeling, most betrayed. Is there is no honour among thieving friends?

(Note: Ling is the second MCA president to be charged. The first was Tan Koon Swan)

Liong Sik- PKFZ: A huge gamble for Najib,all trails lead to Dr M

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

There is no getting away from it. However you look at the Port Klang Free Zone debacle, all trails go back to former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who was also the finance minister.

Did Ling cheat the Cabinet or did the Cabinet cheat Malaysians?

Raja Petra Kamarudin, Malaysia Today

Former Transport Minister and MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik has denied that he conned the Cabinet about what transpired in the PKFZ matter. The crux of the whole matter is was the Cabinet in the know and did the Cabinet endorse whatever was going on or was Liong Sik acting alone without the Cabinet’s knowledge? Let the Cabinet Papers tell the story.

Dr Ling denies cheating Govt over PKFZ scandal

Former Transport Minister and MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik has become the highest-ranking person yet to be charged with cheating the Government over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal and he pleaded not guilty.
The party stalwart — the fifth person to be charged over the PKFZ saga — is out on a RM1mil bail after appearing at the Sessions Court here yesterday.
Accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Ena Ling and sons Hee Leong and Hee Keat, Dr Ling later told reporters that he had faith in the country’s judicial system.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said he was shocked by the charge, but expressed confidence that Dr Ling would get a fair trial. -- The Star

THE CHARGE: That you, between Sept 25 and Nov 6, 2002, at Level 4 of the Prime Minister’s Office in Bangunan Perdana Putra, cheated the Govern­ment by deceiving the Cabinet into approving a land purchase in Pulau Indah....

AND WHAT THE CABINET PAPERS REVEAL

Touching 'untouchable' Tun reveals MCA's irrelevance

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:03

By Stephanie Sta Maria

KUALA LUMPUR: In the not too distant past, Tuns and MCA presidents were considered untouchable by the long arms of the law.

But this changed yesterday, and with it, said former MCA vice-president Chua Jui Ming, the death knell has been sounded for the second-largest party in Barisan Nasional.

Chua, who is now with PKR, was commenting on the decision to charge former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik, who bears the highest honofiric title in the country.

He was charged in the Sessions Court under Sections 417 and 418 of the Penal Code in connection with the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, and could land in jail if convicted.

The incident sent shockwaves down many a powerful spine, and Chua said it was “blindingly clear” that the Chinese party had outlived its purpose for Umno.

read more here

While I have my opinion about this issue having its inpact about MCA , the message is very clear though I might not agree fully with what Jimmy has to say , the message is your karma eventually catches up with your doing . You cannot escape from this fact that those who live by the sword dies by the sword .
Not everyone in MCA is an angel neither are they devils , so are the DAP and the PKR . Everyone will pay their debts , but it seems lately they will now have to pay their debts within these few years rather than carried forward to their next generation or to the next life .

On the other hand , big wigs like the Mamakutty guy have escaped this current dragnet . They will still have to answer to the almighty when the time comes . His image is already going down the drain the more he opens his big mouth . I used to admire him , but No more , in fact I have grown to strongly dislike his racist chants .

The 2002 Cabinet cannot be faulted as what the RCI idiot is suggesting and echoed by his son , Dennis the menace. He should know that as being an opposition MP for so long that UMNO stood for Under Mahathir No Opposition , that includes decision taken by him and implemented by the various Ministers which he has full knowledge of . In other words No Cabinet minister has the guts to say no to the MahaFiraun . Ask Jimmy as he was a Minister at that time .

Eventually since all the Political Parties in Malaysia are infected by diseased politicians , the best course of thinking for the Rakyat in the coming GE would be to vote for the BEST candidate , whoever he may be or whichever Party they may be from including independents. Vote for the guy rather than for the Party . Get rid of all the diseased politicians from the BN and from the PR . Get rid of all the clowns , all the corrupted , all the warlords with self vested interests from all the parties .

We can have a mixed Govt , at least we know they are the best , or clean and work for the Rakyat . This is my hope .

Ling , FATHER OF TRIADISM IN MCA
29 Jul 2003 2:47am

Amid the tribute paid to Dr. Ling Liong Sik by MCA following his involuntary abdication of the party presidency, little did the public know that the former party president was to be blamed for opening the floodgate to allow the infiltration of triads into the party.

Prior to Ling’s tenure, triad elements did exist in the party but flexed no political muscle as to influence the party’s destiny. In other words, they merely existed as individuals and were not being brought into the party systematically on large scale as it is today.

Now that the party is embroiled in the scandal of triad infiltration with the new president Ong Ka Ting implicated. The focus of public attention seems to have centred on the notorious triad king-pin Ong King Ee, nicknamed Jackie Chan only as he is now on the nationwide police alert for arrest. But there are those who had made their way into the rank and file of the party at the behest of certain party leaders with the intention of wresting control of the party delegate-ship at various levels which would ultimately determine the future leadership of MCA.

Following the influx of triads into the party in recent years, intimidation among party members has been on the rise alarmingly. The youth fracas in the Youth Annual Assembly on 3-8-01 has drawn much publicity glare as it was deemed unprecedented in the party history. By and large, people might have realized that the fracas was premeditated but not by the youth chief Ong Tee Keat and the Assembly speaker (ie: the presiding officer of the Assembly) as were alleged by the veteran committee commissioned by Dr. Ling. But little were they aware that the premeditation of the fracas had in fact been reported to him as the then president by Hang Chin Peng, the present vice chairman of MCA National Youth and Loh Seng Kok, the political secretary to Dr.Ling.( now Chua Soi Lek's machai ) The latter was said to have given tacit approval by keeping silent over the fracas premeditation.

On the induction of Ong King Ee (nicknamed “ Jackie Chan” ) into the party, the leadership though may argue that it is near impossible for them to have knowledge of all members’ background, the fact remains that both Ling and his successor Ong Ka Ting had prior knowledge of his involvement and connection in the underworld even after the triad kingpin was released from the Simpang Renggam detention camp.

Not only was King Ee inducted into MCA with their full blessing, the former was also allowed to form a new branch under his own stewardship with full liberty to recruit triad members into the branch. Of all those branches purportedly infiltrated by triads at the behest of Ling and his cronies, notably Ka Ting, Wan Thor Boey and Gurney Drive MCA branches deserve a full scrutiny of their members.The guy responsible for introducing Jacky and his group of followers into the Party was a guy named Loo Guan Leong who ran a coffee shop called Cafe 35 located along Fettes Rd . Several meetings were held in that cafe . Loo an ex - teacher was formerly a Gerakan member who was despised by them as he was a trouble maker in the party . Today he is the Secretary of the Bukit Bendera Division and still boasts he has underworld followings in the division .

Behind the semblance of innocence put up by Ling and his cronies, they were quick to justify to the top BN leadership their induction of triads into MCA by saying that the existence of triad elements in ethnic Chinese partisan politics has long been unavoidable. To them, by wooing the triads into the fold of MCA is to deprive the opposition parties, notably DAP, of the triads’ support. They could easily cite Penang as a classic example in the 1999 general election in which the swing of support of the triads was said to have contributed enormously to the success of MCA and BN in certain DAP stronghold..

This would explain why the triad kingpin was seen to have been milling around Ling and Ka Ting in the by-election campaign of Indera Kayangan in early 2002. MCA, having been represented in the Home Ministry by a deputy minister, has had no moral ground to disclaim responsibility on the matter. On the other hand, BN is likely to accept MCA’s justification out of political expediency.

Nevertheless, BN should not forget it is now playing with a double edged sword. Hardly three years ago (Aug 2000), the same group of triads, namely Sio Sam Ong (Three Little Emperors) were also deployed by the partisan bosses in the Lunas by-election (state seat in Kedah), but with an entirely differing agenda. Instead of ensuring victory for BN through delivery of ethnic Chinese votes, the gang headed by King Ee (or better known as “Jackie Chan) was deployed to intimidate the ethnic Chinese voters to vote against BN, with the sole aim of embarrassing Chua Jui Meng who was then heading the Kedah MCA. The kingpin’s henchmen never attempted to hide the truth that the said move was directed by Dr. Ling through Ka Ting with the knowledge of Chor Chee Heung, the former Deputy Home Minister from Alor Setar, Kedah . ( ex- PKA Chairman and now Minister of Housing ).

While Dr.Ling was honored as the “Father Of Development Of TAR College”, perhaps it would be more relevant to accord to him another unprecedented yet unrivalled title: “Father Of Triadism In MCA” which serves to commemorate his inaugural massive induction of triad members into the party.

MCA in shock over Dr Ling’s PKFZ charge

Shocked ! Well , I am not shocked , we welcome it nevertheless . We have been hoping for this happen for quite sometime now . There are some more sharks to be caught within these two weeks and the big killer whale to be hauled up . Wonder whether they have the guts to harpoon the killer whale .


By Clara Chooi

July 29, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 – Today’s prosecution of Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik over his role in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal, has sent shockwaves through the MCA, leaving party leaders stuttering in response.

MCA’s usually calm and collected president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek himself appeared shaken by the news and admitted that it was unexpected.

“MCA leaders are shocked by this,” he told reporters who surrounded him for a response after he opened the Perak MCA Youth convention at the state liaison body’s headquarters in Ipoh.

He added, however, that he was confident that Dr Ling, 66, who had served as the party’s president from 1986 to 2003, would be given a fair trial.

When contacted later in the evening, MCA secretary-general and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha fell silent for several moments when informed of the news.

When asked if he was surprised, Kong said: “Of course I am. Why do you only call me when there is bad news?”

He added that he was “concerned” about Dr Ling’s prosecution, especially since the latter was a prominent figure in the MCA.

Dr Ling was slapped with charges under Section 418 and alternatively, under Section 417 of the Penal Code, for an offence concerning land valuation.

Section 418 concerns “cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may be thereby caused to a person whose interest the offender is bound to protect” and Section 417 concerns the punishment for cheating.

If convicted under Section 418, Dr Ling faces a maximum jail term of seven years, or a fine, or both, and if convicted under Section 417, he faces a lesser sentence of five years jail, or fine or both.

He claimed trial to the charges and the case has been fixed for mention on September 3.

Dr Ling, believed to be the first Tun in the country to face such prosecution, is the most influential personality to date to be brought to book over the controversial PKFZ scandal.

When contacted, many MCA leaders chose to keep mum over the issue, pleading for more time to study the charges before issuing any comment.

MCA vice-president Datuk Donald Lim told The Malaysian Insider that the matter should only be addressed by the president.

“I would rather not comment. I just heard about it too,” he said.

A fellow vice-president Gan Ping Sieu also declined comment but chose instead to seek information from The Malaysian Insider over the details of the charges against Dr Ling.

“What did they involve? What were the specific charges,” he asked, before saying that he would need more time before speaking on it.

Another vice-president Datuk Chor Chee Heung told The Malaysian Insider that careless comments on such a shocking piece of news should not be made.

“I barely just heard about it myself. I do not know the details, so it would be unfair to make any comment for now. It is a big issue,” he pointed out.

Other MCA leaders could not be reached via the telephone.

On micro-blogging site Twitter, MCA Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong, who is usually active, was uncharacteristically quiet. His last post was at about 4pm, on an unrelated matter.

MCA presidential council member Chua Tee Yong tweeted that the PKFZ case needed transparency if the government wanted to revive the people’s trust in them.

“Give a chance 2 clear d air instd of guessg and hypthosg,” he said in his tweet.

The PKFZ project, Malaysia’s biggest port investment, was initially kickstarted in the early 2000 with a budget of RM1.8 billion.

The amount ballooned, however, allegedly due to mismanagement and corruption, and is estimated to likely cost a whopping RM12.5 billion now, including interest charges.

PKFZ scandal: Ex-transport minister Ling charged

The shark finally caught !

Former transport minister Ling Liong Sik is today charged at the Kajang Sessions Court over his involvement in the multi-billion ringgit Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.

Ling, 67, who is also former MCA president, is by far the most prominent politician to be nabbed in recent years.

Two charges under Section 417 and 418 of the Penal Code for cheating were read out to Ling, who pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin set bail at RM1 million and mention has been fixed for Sept 3.

Ling appeared in court at 4.45pm accompanied by his wife Ena and two sons. He proceeded to sit in the dock. Ling, wore a purple-stripe shirt and a pair of sandals, looked expressionless.

He is the second MCA president to take the dock after Tan Koon Suan.

Earlier today, rumours of a very important personality (VIP) to be charged have sent dozens of journalists, included those from foreign wire services, camping at the court complex early this morning.

Most of them gathered at the lobby and main entrance of the courthouse. while a couple have stationed themselves in and outside the courtroom.

At 4pm, attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail and three DPPs, including head of prosecution Tun Abdul Majid Hamzah, arrived in court without speaking to the journalists. The other two were Manoj Kurup and Dzulkifli Ahmad.

More to come?

Last November, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had recommended in its report on the PKFZ controversy that former transport minister Chan Kong Choy and former Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager OC Phang be probed for CBT (criminal breach of trust).

This was over the wrongful issuance of three letters of support by Chan and three letters of undertaking by Phang without Finance Ministry approval.

PAC said that it was informed by the attorney-general that the letters were implicitly a form of guarantee from the government to ensure that there would be allocations for PKA to enable it to meet its obligations under the development agreement.

PKFZ, a commercial and industrial project south of the capital, was conceived as a RM1.82 billion venture constructed over 1,000 acres.

However costs are now expected to balloon to RM12.5 billion, making the affair one of the country's biggest financial scandals and a major embarrassment for the government.

Probes into the project's financial records since then have revealed instances of corruption, cases of conflict of interest as well as breach of trust.

Ling is one of the very rare top politicians in Malaysia to be charged with corruption.

In 2004, former land and cooperative development minister Kasitah Gaddam was charged in the Sessions Court with corrupt practice and cheating, the first cabinet member to be charged with such crimes. He was freed by the court without his defence being called last year.

Before Kasitah, former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is now opposition leader, was the other prominent politician charged with corruption. He was sentenced to six-year jail in 1999.

Another top politician who was charged for corruption was the late Harun Idris, the Selangor menteri besar from 1964 to 1976.

He was slapped with a six-year jail sentence but served three years behind bar before being pardoned by the king in 1981 on the advice of then new prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Down Memory Lane

Amid The Hype Of Salutation: Liong Sik’s Record Revisited
29 Jul 2003 2:31am

On 26-7-2003, an elaborate salutation to Dr. Ling Liong Sik was held by MCA in its unprecedented tribute to the former party president. Does it mean that Dr. Ling whose public image was badly battered stands out as the greatest MCA president the Chinese party has ever had by the community standard?

STRATEGIST OR VILLAIN ?
Salutation to Dr. Ling Liong Sik, the immediate past president of MCA by his protégé-led party leadership would be glaringly incomplete without revisiting some of his past mistakes of grave magnitude, if not resurrecting his skeletons from the closet.

To the party members and public, it was Ling who dismembered the gigantic party investment arm, Multi-Purpose Holding Bhd in the name of raising fund to save the MCA Headquarters Building. It was also Ling’s initiative in subverting the party’s political culture through usurping the democratic rights of the delegates. Over the past 17 long years, each and every party poll was more or less single-handedly dictated by him in the name of practicing “menu politics” (ie: only pre-endorsed candidates sanctioned by the president are deemed winnable.) His party agenda, though always be trumpeted as never ending by Ling himself, was nevertheless comparable to that of any recreational clubs where fund raising and sing-along (karaoke) activities were the order of the day.

His loyalists and cronies have been portraying him as the master strategist in the party ever since he managed to thwart Lee Kim Sai’s bid to challenge him in the 1990 party poll. In the 1990’s, education was made his key selling point. Public donations were solicited nationwide time and again in the name of enlarging the capacities of TAR College as well as extending its wings to the various states. But to-date, no proper audited accounts had ever been produced for public scrutiny. To the party insiders, particularly the federal leaders, such information was equally unavailable and inaccessible, thus shrouding the public funds concerned with much secrecy.

BENEVOLENT OR UNSCRUPULOUS ?
Over the past 17 years under his stewardship, the way MCA had been handling public funds left much to be desired. The Langkawi Project which was Ling’s brainchild is just one of the many well remembered examples where no transparency had ever been practiced. At our hindsight, we notice that he had been habitually exploiting education as a tool to solicit funds from the public, particularly the Chinese community which is well known for its generosity to any form of educational development. Unfortunately such virtue has apparently been misplaced as it is not in the ethnic Chinese norms to demand transparency for monetary accounts related to public funds which are supposedly meant for a good cause.

In the late 1990’s, the outbreak of Nipah virus-related epidemic again gave rise to another opportunity which was later fully exploited by Ling to solicit public donation in the name of humanitarian aid. This Nipah-fund account had repeatedly been queried by the public, including the opposition party DAP as well as the family members of the epidemic victims who were said to be the targeted beneficiaries. Upon public query, Ling argued that the funds would be channeled to the party women’s wing headed by his female crony Ng Yen Yen for conducting “retraining courses ”for the victims’ widows. In other words, no cash had ever been dispensed to the victims’ families as was intended to.

The issue was unfortunately quick to be eclipsed by another public row over the long outstanding controversy on the Chang Ming Thien Foundation for the higher education following the public outburst by the MCA youth chief Ong Tee Keat in October 2000.

Tee Keat is known for his firebrand character and as a leading critic of Ling in the party. However his public remarks to remind the party on the necessity of practicing full transparency in handling the long outstanding issue was somewhat relatively mild. He was seen as having tampered his words with a mere “reminder” to the party so as the said controversy would not be exploited by the opposition parties in the impending general election. Nevertheless, that did not seem to have spared him from the party disciplinary action instituted by the then president (Dr. Ling Liong Sik) himself.

To Liong Sik and his party loyalists, the issue is now closed with all the allegations debunked following the release of an audited account. He reiterated that the initial principal sum of RM10m is intact and currently the total interest accrued stands at about RM 800,000. But much to their chagrin, this figure has been under fire and disputed by various quarters as the Foundation announced in Nov 1980 is estimated to have accrued a total interest of not less than RM30m based on the contemporary bank interest rates through the past two decades.

BEHIND THE MASK
Of course, all this could easily be attributed to the party decision in the name of collective responsibility. However, Ling Liong Sik was totally vulnerable, if not devastated when he was openly challenged by his former proxy Dato’ Soh Chee Wen. After having been a fugitive for about three years, Soh returned to the country in May 2002 and that marked the beginning of Ling’s nightmare.

Ling Liong Sik, now being revered and accorded salutation by the party, could never erase the fact that he had been repeatedly called “a liar” by Soh with substantiated allegations of corruption, heavy business involvement and leaking classified state information to foreign investors in the midst of deal making. Despite having been challenged openly by Soh to bring the latter to the court of laws in addition of instituting party disciplinary actions against him, Liong Sik had however been silent on such tirade. He merely dismissed this as his personal matters disregarding the magnitude of devastation and embarrassment caused to the party.

On this, a party veteran lamented that it was Liong Sik who deserved the disciplinary axe as the damage he caused to the party image is unprecedented. However, under the present MCA constitution, such disciplinary action could only be initiated by the president himself. ”Had Liong Sik been guilt-conscious, he would have relinquished his presidency long time ago,” said the veteran when contacted.