KUALA LUMPUR: Present Barisan Nasional leaders should look to the late Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik as a prime example of how to build political stability and strength, says Khairy Jamaluddin.
The former Cabinet minister said the legacy of unity championed by the former MCA president is a model that today's politicians should emulate.
"I hope the political stability and strength achieved then — brought about in part by Tun Ling — can serve as an example for Barisan leaders today," he told reporters here on Tuesday (April 7).
Expressing his heartfelt condolences to Dr Ling’s wife, Toh Puan Ong Ee Nah, her family, and the extended MCA family, Khairy paid tribute to the late leader's immense contributions to the nation.
"The late Ling Liong Sik was a highly respected Malaysian statesman. One of his most significant political contributions was the political stability that we deeply value, which emerged in the 1980s and 1990s," he said.
Khairy noted that during this era, Barisan was formidable, which paved the way for Malaysia's rapid economic expansion.
"That stability was the result of close cooperation between MCA under his leadership, Umno, and other component parties within Barisan," he added.
His remarks on Barisan come following his recent application to rejoin Umno. Khairy, a former Umno Youth chief and former Rembau MP, was sacked from the party in January 2023.
Dr Ling passed away peacefully on Saturday (April 4) at the age of 82. He served as MCA president from 1986 to 2003 and was Malaysia's transport minister during the same period.
