Businessman Soh Chee Wen (photo) today denounced his former political mentor, MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik, as a "liar" for repeatedly denying previous business links between the duo.

He accused Ling, who is also transport minister, of having abused his position to conduct business deals between 1996 and 1997.

The businessman, who is facing a commercial crime trial, cited Linksun Avenue Sdn Bhd's acquisition of Berjaya Industrial Bhd in late 1996 as an example.

"He (Ling) was involved from Day One, namely taking part in planning, negotiations and later business meetings to look for projects. We had meetings in his house and his ministry office. Yes, Ling used his ministry premises and facilities to conduct his businesses," he told a press conference at the Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel in Selangor.

Linksun Avenue was owned by Ling's eldest son Hee Leong who made a meteoric rise in the corporate world when he acquired Berjaya Industrial (later renamed Rekapacific Bhd) from business tycoon Vincent Tan for RM1.2 billion.

Soh said this afternoon's revelation was just "the beginning of a series of actions to clear my name and let the public know the truth".

Hard evidence

Asked if he had documents to back his accusation, he replied: "I am tempted to ask him (Ling) to challenge me but I would urge him to think carefully before he rebuts anything I said today.

"I would not have said these things, knowing how powerful a minister can be, if I have nothing to back my allegations."

He said more details would be revealed in court when he re-files a suit against Ling, Hee Leong, Hee Leong's wife Carol Ong Lee Choo and Linksun Avenue, for RM149 million before Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb 1.

However, Soh said he would not mind ceasing his "actions", including the law suit, if Ling agrees to pay back the money.

"I have no wish to make it into personal vendetta," he stressed.

He said the money would be useful for him to rebuild his business as well as settle part of his debts that amount to over RM200 million.

The original law suit was filed in June 2000 by Soh's lawyers after he failed to recover the money, said to have been raised from the sales of his six million shares in Autoway Holdings to facilitate Linksun Avenue's purchase of Berjaya Industrial.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed the case on Sept 25, 2001 since Soh, who was charged a year before with defrauding a now defunct stockbroking firm of RM490 million, had fled the country.

He returned to face his charge last May. If found guilty, he will be fined not less than RM1 million or jailed for up to 10 years or both.

Final straw

Asked what prompted this afternoon's press conference, Soh said it was Ling's statement last week that he has won all the court cases against him in recent years because these were (based on) lies.

"He effectively called me a liar. That was the final straw, I am obliged to respond. He did not win the cases because he was innocent. The cases were struck out because of technicalities," Soh said.

"But he has mistaken my silence for weakness. There comes a time when the stone-throwing must stop."

Soh denied that his statement was in relation to the year-long factional fight within MCA.

"I don't stand to gain or lose anything if Ling steps down as a minister or MCA chief. It is totally irrelevant to me if he continues his tenure in the posts... I have no wish to be dragged into the MCA leadership struggle," he said.

Soh explained that his business relationship started with Ling (photo) when they reached an agreement in 1996.

"It was a strategic alliance he would groom me up politically and in return, I would help him build a business empire which he can step into when he eventually retires, which he said would take place in 2002.

"As a side-thought, he asked me to groom his son in the business world. Then it was times of clouds, angels and roses. I linked Ling and his son to top businessmen in Hong Kong, Singapore, and London," said the former MCA central committee member.

Last week, Ling who has been MCA chief and a minister for 17 years, said he had submitted an undated resignation letter to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad last August.

Mahathir later said he has yet to decide the appropriate time to let Ling step down from his cabinet post.