Whether MCA elder leader Dr Ling Liong Sik will be punished for attending one of the global Bersih 4 rallies will be decided by party president Liow Tiong Lai and the MCA top leadership.

This is according to MCA vice-president Chua Tee Yong, who was asked about Ling's presence at one of the rallies by Global Bersih in Perth, Australia, last Saturday.

"In terms of whether any action will be taken against Tun (Ling), it will be decided by the party or its president, not by me," Chua told journalists at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

Chua said he was at a loss as to why Ling would join the Bersih 4 protest.

"Everyone has his or her own reason to attend the Bersih 4 rally. Some to fight for cleaner elections, some maybe they don't like PAS, some attend in the hope of toppling the prime minister.

"There are all sorts of personal factors, so I cannot guess why Tun attended the rally. I don't know why he attended," said Chua ( photo ).

He also declined to comment on the heavy turnout by the Chinese community at the Bersih 4 protest in Kuala Lumpur last weekend.

The rally attended by Ling in Perth was one of more than 70 rallies held by the Malaysian diaspora across the globe in solidarity with the Kuala Lumpur rally.

Ling's presence confirmed by his wife

Some participants at the Perth protest had spotted Ling and took photographs with him, which subsequently went viral on the social media.

Liong Sik's wife, Erna Ling, later confirmed her husband's presence, adding that she herself had attended the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur.

Bersih 4 called for reforms in the country as well as the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

On another matter, asked whether the Malay-centric project "Low Yat 2" has been started, Chua said he has no idea about it.

"So far I have not heard that the project has been approved. The latest MCA meeting also did not discuss about it, so I don't know (the progress of Low Yat 2)," he said.

Chua said the Low Yat 2 project must take into account whether there are economic benefits as well as the feasibility.

"I think no problem if we want carry out business to help the bumiputera. But at the same time, we cannot dismiss opportunities for the other races.

"Business based on one race may not be good for Malaysia economically, so it is best if opportunities are open to all races," he added.

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