Former MCA president Ling Liong Sik and his son Ling Hee Leong have been cleared by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) of any improprieties relating a RM1.2 billion in corporate acquisitions in 1997.

At a close-door meeting with DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang this morning, ACA deputy director of investigations Ahmad Mandus and head of general investigations R Rathakirushnan were said to have confirmed that the two Lings did not commit any offences from the six-year investigation into the matter.

"The ACA has said that there has been no offences disclosed. I was told that the investigation had been completed six months ago," Lim told reporters outside the ACA headquarters in Putrajaya.

Lim's meeting with the officials was in relation to several reports that he had filed since 1997 calling for investigations into whether Ling had improperly used his influence as the MCA chief and cabinet minister to secure mega-loans for his son's business ventures with businessman Soh Chee Wen.

Hee Leong, who was then 27 years old, startled the corporate world when he bought a number of key companies with Soh's help.