Ling's arrest: Chua okay with not being informed
MCA president Chua Soi Lek has declined to confirm talk that he is unhappy about being kept in the dark until the eleventh hour about charges against party comrade Ling Liong Sik.
MCA president Chua Soi Lek has declined to confirm talk that he is unhappy about being kept in the dark until the eleventh hour about charges against party comrade Ling Liong Sik.
Chua (left), who is in Penang for the state MCA annual general meeting, however said that the former transport minister and MCA president was not above the law.
Chua, the former health minister, added that it was good if the judiciary can stay independent.
“It’s not true (that I am unhappy), nobody is above the law and nobody will be informed about it,” he told reporters at a press conference after officiating the AGM at the Vistana Hotel.
"We did not expect Ling to get special treatment. Everything should follow the normal course,” he added.
He was quick to add, “Anyway, a person remains innocent until proven guilty”.
About 600 delegates and party leaders attended the AGM, including tourism minister and MCA vice-president Ng Yen Yen, Penang party advisor Koay Kar Huah and national Youth chairperson Wee Ka Siong.
No prior knowledge
On Thursday, Chua expressed shock when reporters informed him that Ling was being charged in the Putrajaya Sessions Court, saying he had no prior knowledge.
Chu says that MCA leaders believe that Ling will get a fair trial under the country's laws.
Ling (left), 67, is charged with cheating the Malaysian government by misleading the Cabinet on the land acquisition for the scandal-ridden Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) mega distribution hub project.
Then transport minister - of 14 years, from January 1986 to May 2000 - Ling pleaded not guilty to the principal charge as well as an alternative charge under Section 418 and Section 417 of the Penal Code.
On another matter, Chua also responded to DAP chairperson Karpal Singh’s proposal that the death penalty be imposed for child rapists.
Chua concurred that stiffer penalties be imposed for such crimes, to show “zero tolerance” against child rape and others crimes against children.
“However, we have to study what kind of punishment is more appropriate,” he added.
