Malaysia mourns death of former transport minister Ling Liong Sik at 82

Ling Liong Sik waves to his supporters during the MCA Extraordinary General Meeting on June 24, 2001.

Photo: AP Former Malaysian transport minister Ling Liong Sik died on Saturday.

He was 82.

Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) president Wee Ka Siong confirmed the news to Bernama when contacted on Saturday. “We received the sad news of Tun Dr Ling’s passing today.

Further details will be announced from time to time,” he said.

Ling’s death was also conveyed in a message sent to the trustees of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, where he served as chancellor.

In a statement to The Star on Saturday, Wee said the country was bidding farewell to “an extraordinary son of Malaysia” whose life was defined by resilience, intellect and an unwavering sense of duty.

Ling was raised by his mother after his father’s early death, instilling in him a deep sense of filial piety and compassion that later shaped his lifelong commitment to public service, Wee said.

Then MCA president Ling Liong Sik, (left) and prime minister Mahathir Mohamad thank supporters during the 48th MCA annual general assembly in Kuala Lumpur on August 4, 2001.

Photo: AP Born in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, the MCA’s honorary life president served as transport minister from 1986 to 2003.

Before this, he held the positions of deputy information minister, deputy finance minister and deputy education minister.

As transport minister, he was instrumental in modernising the country’s ports, including transforming Port Klang into a global transshipment hub, and developing the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Ling graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Singapore.

He began his career as a medical officer at Penang General Hospital before entering politics by joining MCA in 1968. “As he once reflected, while medicine heals one life at a time, public service has the power to uplift millions.

It was this conviction that propelled him into politics, a journey that would leave an indelible mark on our nation,” Wee said.

Ling was elected as the Member of Parliament for Mata Kuching in 1974 and defended the seat in the next two general elections (1978 and 1982) before winning the Labis parliamentary constituency in 1986, a seat he held for four terms.

His most enduring legacy, however, was in education, Wee said. “He firmly believed that education was the pathway to dignity, progress and opportunity.

Under his leadership, educational development became a central pillar of MCA’s mission.” Univer

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