MCA president Wee Ka Siong confirmed Ling’s death, Bernama reported.

Ling, the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) chancellor, held several positions in government and last served as transport minister from 1986 to 2003, during which time he also helmed MCA.

Ling briefly served as acting prime minister for about two weeks in 1988 following the deregistration of Umno after an internal leadership dispute escalated into a legal challenge over the party’s validity.

The Kuala Kangsar native received his primary education at King Edward VII School in Taiping and later attended the Royal Military College in Sungai Besi.

He went to the University of Singapore, where he obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 1966.

Ling began his medical career at Penang General Hospital from 1966 to 1968 before establishing a private practice in Butterworth, which he ran from 1968 to 1975.

He launched his political career in 1968 when he joined MCA, becoming a central committee member in 1974.

He won the Mata Kuching (now Bagan) parliamentary seat in 1974, holding it for two more terms.

He served as deputy information minister (1976-1982), deputy finance minister (1982-1984) and deputy education minister (1985-1986) before being appointed the transport minister in 1986, succeeding Chong Hon Nyan, who retired.

He was elected the Labis MP in 1986, a seat he held for four terms.

In his biography on the UTAR website, the university said Ling played a pivotal role in its foundation in 2002 after he successfully secured land from the Perak government for its Kampar campus.

Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil expressed his condolences over Ling’s passing, saying he had made significant contributions to the nation’s development.

“His dedication, leadership, and commitment to the government will always be remembered and will continue to inspire future generations,” the communications minister said in a Facebook post.

“May his wife and family be granted strength and resilience in facing this loss.”