Tag: University of Malaya

The life story of Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik: Part 10

World stage :  Chinese president Jiang Zemin (left ) and Dr Ling.

The life story of Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik as told to journalist Foong Pek Yee shortly after his retirement from active politics in 2003.

Dr Ling was the fourth generation of the Ling family, with a history dated back to Sitiawan, Perak in then Malaya in 1903.

A medical doctor by training, he went on to become the longest serving Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) president and the longest serving Transport Minister (1986-2003)  in Malaysian history.

By Foong Pek Yee

foongpekyee@gmail.com

Sept 18, 2026

 

January 1958 and I left home for the first time.

I gained admission to the Federal Military College (renamed Royal Military College (RMC) in January 1958.

College life was fun; with many new friends, lots of games to play and academic work was never a problem.

Good foundation : A healthy and sporty Dr Ling during his RMC days.

There was no memory of any difficulties staying in a multi-ethnic environment.

Probably it was because I had studied in King Edward VII School, Taiping which was also a multi- ethnic school with Malays, Chinese and Indians mixing together, playing together and studying together.

Most of all, I believed what did me the most good  was the mix of educational and military curriculum.

Destined to lead: Dr Ling is a champion in debates during his RMC days.

Till today, my time management is excellent.

I am still always on time. I still plan my whole day’s activities, full week’s activities and so on.

And the spirit and encouragement to excel was pervasive throughout the college and the results were testimony.

“We learned from our peers, appreciated good leadership qualities of our prefects, sportsmen, scholars, our house masters, teachers etc.”

All these attributes I picked up became even more evident by the time I was sent to the Outward Bound School, about 18 months after I first joined college.

A heart for the people: A medical  doctor by training, Dr Ling travelled far and wide to meet the people in his quest to bring development to them.

 Remember a patriot :  Dr Ling went on to become an outstanding politician and Cabinet Minister. He and MCA members during one of his visits to Malaysia’s  retired first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman (seated).

I emerged with an Honours award ( Course No. 45, 1959).

Upon my return from Outward Bound School,  I was made a senior boy (prefect).

One other thing that I appreciated very deeply during college days was the school motto “Serve to Lead”.

It was ingrained into my mind that you have to serve before you deserve leadership.

Leadership by example: Dr Ling was very active on the ground, leading MCA grassroots leaders to mingle with the community and find ways to improve their livelihood.

The harder you work, the more deserving you are of a chance to lead.

“If you are not a good follower and a good server, it is very unlikely that you will ever be a good leader.”

My memories of university life in Singapore was a repeat of my active life at college.

It was fun , it was active, it was serious when you needed to be serious, and I made it to become University Singapore Students Union (USSU) president and graduated as a doctor.

When you are active and adventurous, you will face many challenges.

You learn from your challenges.

At very difficult point, there are various options.

“You can move forward, you can move laterally, but always remember that retreat is also an option.”

Life after university as a doctor, as a politician was also a carry over of my life in college and in university; active, curious,  willing to try, willing to serve and never relishing a dull moment.

Throughout my adult life,  the  word  – crisis – had a tremendous impact on the way I conducted myself.

It was the understanding of the word “crisis” in Mandarin ” wei ji”

The word  “wei” is the short form for danger or “wei sian”.

And “ji” is the short form for opportunity or “ji hui”.

As such, a crisis, when handled properly, skillfully, carefully can result in an opportunity.

The outcome can be otherwise if a crisis is mishandled or handled carelessly, shoddily , irresponsibly or hastily.

My advice to a lot of my colleagues in my adult life is, in the face of a crisis, always:

* Keep calm

  • Keep cool
  • Be humble
  • Be willing to consult those who are more experienced, those who are more knowledgeable and those who have gone through the same or similar crisis before.

If you can follow all these steps diligently,  the chances are you will overcome the crisis, and most of all, present you with a new opportunity.

Photos: Credit to a publication titled A Tribute to…Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik from his colleagues and friends in the Alumni Association of the King Edward VII College of Medicine and the Faculties of Medicine in the University of Malaya and the University of Singapore.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication titled The life story of Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission from the journalist Foong Pek Yee.

 

 

 

The life story of Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik : Part 5

 

A major milestone: Dr Ling with his mother during his graduation as a medical doctor in University of Singapore in Singapore early 1967.

The life story of Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik as told to journalist Foong Pek Yee shortly after his retirement from active politics in 2003.

Dr Ling was the fourth generation of the Ling family, with a history dated back to Sitiawan , Perak in then Malaya in 1903.

A medical doctor by training, he went on to become the longest serving Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) president and the longest serving Transport Minister (1986- 2003) in Malaysian history.

By Foong Pek Yee

foongpekyee@gmail.com

Sept 18, 2026

It was mother’s wish for me to become a medical doctor.

But I was interested in forestry.

As a very outdoor person, I certainly love nature and this could be the reason for wanting to do forestry.

Infact the Royal Military College (RMC) had offered me a scholarship to do a course in naval and aircraft.

While I had a good time at RMC, I decided that three years of military experience was enough.

I decided to follow mother’s wish.

After all it was also a good thing as I would be doing a service in every sense.

That was in 1961 when I packed my bags and off to Singapore to do medicine in then University of Malaya in Singapore.  (The university changed its name to University of Singapore in Singapore in January 1962).

I entered straight into second year  medicine.

Looking back, I am glad that mother had guided me at this crucial point in life – choosing my career.

Having to mix with a big bunch of first and second year students who were mostly bright students from Malaysia and Singapore’s Raffles College did cause me a little anxiety at the beginning.

I was the second youngest among the 120 students in the class – a good mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian.

I was born on Sept 18, 1943 while the youngest student was born in January 1944,

The first term saw me studying very hard.

I stayed in Dunearn Road Hostel in Bukit Timah while the General Hospital was in Tiong Baru.

A few of us got together to hire a car to ferry us to and fro.

It was a Morris Minor used as a private taxi for medical students.

My first term results were quite good, and this had given me the confidence to continue working hard.

But it was certainly not all work and no play for me.

I was back to my active lifestyle, playing rugby, football and tennis.

When I returned for my second term by train, I took my Vespa scooter along.

I bought it for $900 using the salary from my part – time teaching at Clifford Secondary School in Taiping.

I taught for three months while waiting for my Higher School Certificate (HSC) results.

I taught Mathematics and got paid $370 a month.

Everything went on fine until my third term when I was injured and hospitalized for 21 days.

I was badly injured while playing rugby in an inter hostel match.

A player, A. Sundaraj,  lifted his knee against my neck, resulting in cerebral concussion.

I was rushed to the Singapore General Hospital in an ambulance.

I remember getting a lot of visitors.

I told them not to inform my mother.

But she somehow found out and came to see me in Singapore.

Guess when you are young, you do not fear much.

The pressure on my brain took time to recede after I recovered from the concussion.

My memory was also affected temporary, recalling formulas was slow.

I went to see the Medical Faculty Dean, Dr Thambi Pillay, and told him that I don’t think I can sit for the exam.

He said : “Don’t worry, just go and sit for the exam.”

I passed the exam.

And I was back to rugby not long after.

I passed my third year,  a crucial year for medical students.

It was our “first graduation” and they will not kick you out from university after you passed your third year.

After my third year, mother bought me a car, a Morris Minor, for $2,400.

With $200 monthly pocket money, I could go for supper, drinking, dating and pump petrol.

I also bought a fridge to put my beer.

As University of Singapore Students Union (USSU) with then Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew

It was in 1964 when I got elected as  USSU president.

Described as Singapore’s crucial years then, the Singapore government under Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew then was going all out to impose restrictions on student activities.

We saw this as infringement on academic freedom despite the government describing it as a form of “consultation”.

To us, the university is a pillar of idealism and our autonomy must be safeguarded.

The crisis had resulted in the vice chancellor having to leave after he stood firm that the state should not interfere.

The student union went to demonstrate outside Lee Kuan Yew’s office in City Hall.

About 10  of us were invited into Lee Kuan Yew’s office.

Lee Kuan Yew asked me : ” Ling Liong Sik, why are you creating so many problems in Singapore?”

I must admit that we as students were no match  to this very shrewd politician.

Together with Lee Kuan Yew, we issued a joint statement during the meeting, only to find out later that the statement was tantamount to going against our union’s mission.

We took responsibility for that – all resigned to pave the way for fresh elections.

They somehow voted me back to helm the union.

Different ideology was a divide between students.

There were more leftists or barisan socialists than democratic socialists who leaned towards the right wing.

“Many leftists went to jail in the run up to Singapore’s independence in August 1965,

” I was attending an international student conference in Christchurch, New Zealand when I received a telex on operations to arrest students in Nanyang University.

“I cut short my trip and returned to Singapore to handle the situation.”

In the morning of Aug 9, 1965, Lee Kuan Yew went on air to announce the official separation of Singapore from Malaysia, and he was in tears.

We watched the historical event in campus.

It was a night to remember after taking part in a play titled “The moon is less bright”.

Acting together with Dr Goh Poh Seng, a medical practitioner in Singapore who was famous in performing arts was indeed a privilege.

That was in 1965.

But I lost my judgement as I was driving back to my hostel and crashed my car on to a lamp post.

Shaken by the impact and with  a cut on my head, I somehow managed to crawl out of the car.

The Maxwell Police Station was just across the road!

After the accident, I bought a Volvo 121 for $4,200 with the money I earned from part time teaching during my term breaks in Taiping.

The car registration number was SP1324.

I took it back to Malaysia upon my graduation  and changed the registration to PF 6017.

I graduated early 1967.

I was held back for six months because I failed O&G (obstetrics and gynaecology) .

I must admit that my attendance for lectures was quite haphazard at times.

Later I found out that the professor in charge found out that I was absent most of the time.

“Overseas again Sonny Ling? How did you find O&G in New Zealand?” he asked as I confidently walked into the exam hall.

I was a very active person and always keen to learn and experience new things and make friends with people.

I met  Mr Lim, a Hainanese who worked in a hotel before he became the hostel warden.

He introduced me to horse racing and taught me how to make a cocktail in a bar.

As a small town boy, I had never seen horse racing before.

I lost $50 in the horse racing.

“It was very painful and that was my first and last gamble.”

Photo: Credit to a publication titled A Tribute to…Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik from his colleagues and friends in the Alumni Association of the King Edward VII College of Medicine and the Faculties of Medicine of the University of Malaya  and the University of Singapore.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication titled The life story of Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission from the journalist Foong Pek Yee.