A life that shaped both community and country

In fond remembrance: Dr Ling at the launch of the UTAR Caring Community 2016 campaign. In remembering him, we are reminded not only of a political leader but also of a builder – of institutions, opportunities and of collective effort. – Picture courtesy of Sin Chew

I ATTENDED Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik’s wake not just as an academic staff member of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) but also as a Malaysian Chinese reflecting on a life that shaped both community and country.

For many young Malaysians, Dr Ling does not belong to their political era. Even for those of us trained in political science, he is often remembered as part of the “Mahathir 1.0” period, alongside Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun S. Samy Vellu, forming the backbone of the Barisan Nasional leadership in the 1990s.