PETALING JAYA: With the passing of Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Malaysia has lost a well-loved towering figure, say MCA leaders.
They remember the former party president as a calm yet visionary statesman whose leadership helped shape Malaysia’s transport infrastructure and expand educational opportunities for generations of students.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said Dr Ling was known for his composure and wisdom even under intense pressure.
“He was calm all the time despite the pressure that came with leadership. He rarely showed emotion and was always polite and soft-spoken. Reporters who used to cover him would know this too,” he said in his tribute to Dr Ling.
Dr Ling spoke sparingly but always with purpose, focusing on key points rather than lengthy remarks, he said when contacted yesterday.
As transport minister, he said Dr Ling played a key role in modernising Malaysia’s logistics and aviation sectors, helping elevate the country’s ports and airports to international standards.
“He understood transportation not just as infrastructure, but as an economic driver. Under his leadership, airport development surged and the sector became far more competitive,” he said.
Dr Ling was also remembered for introducing road-safety measures, including the adoption of the third brake light in vehicles – a move Dr Wee described as reflecting his forward-thinking approach.
Beyond transport, he said, Dr Ling devoted much of his political career to education.
He was deeply involved in the expansion of Tunku Abdul Rahman College – now known as Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology – with new campuses established across the country during the 1990s.
“He also led efforts to establish Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, which was approved in 2001 and launched the following year.
“That required tremendous effort and determination. Education was something he truly believed could uplift society.
“Today, we bid farewell to a towering statesman and an extraordinary son of Malaysia,” Dr Wee said.
Party deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon described Dr Ling as a leader whose political life reflected perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges.
“He spent decades navigating complex political realities while working to balance national development with the interests of the Chinese community,” he said.
Dr Mah noted that Dr Ling played a key role in modernising Malaysia’s transport system, particularly through efforts to strengthen port and logistics networks that helped position Port Klang as a regional maritime hub.
“His policies may appear broad in scope, but they had a deep impact on Malaysia’s competitiveness and on the daily lives of the people,” he added.
MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon described Dr Ling as “a giant in the hearts of many”, recalling how his leadership helped steady the party during a period of internal divisions.
“At the core of his legacy was an unwavering belief in education,” he said, noting that his role in strengthening TAR institutions helped open doors for generations of Malaysians.
Chong also recalled a brief encounter with Dr Ling in 2013 at a Chinese New Year gathering in Klang.
“Though we had barely met before, he spotted me across the room, called me over and addressed me by name.
“That was the kind of mind he had – sharp, attentive and extraordinary,” he said.
