The lawyer representing former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik today said his firm has already notified Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's lawyers yesterday that their client would not be apologising for his alleged remark that the PM had pocketed the people's money.

Lawyer Ranjit Singh told Malaysiakini that they facsimiled Ling's official response yesterday to Najib's lawyers at the firm of Hafarizam Wan Aisha and Mubarak.

"Ling has refused to apologise and it is up to PM to sue," said Ranjit when asked as to the contents of the fax sent.

"I will call Hafarizam's law firm to clarify the confusion on his (Hafarizam's) claim that Ling has apparently not officially responded," he said.

Ranjit added that his firm had in fact called Hafarizam's law firm yesterday to confirm receipt of the fax which they did.

Najib's lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun said earlier today they would wait for the seven-day notice period to expire before deciding whether to file a defamation suit against Ling.

"I think this is only right and proper for us to wait until after the seven days.

"This is because he or his lawyers have yet to respond to us officially. Maybe he w‎ill respond to us today or on Monday. Let us wait for it in black-and-white for it to be official," the Umno lawyer added.

Furthermore, Hafarizam ( photo ) said, he has yet to get further instructions from his client.

He said this when met after a case involving a suit by PKR against Najib, BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, 1MDB and the Election Commission at the Jalan Duta Court Complex in Kuala Lumpur today.

Najib issued a letter of demand to Ling (photo) on Monday, following his call to the PM to resign .

Ling's position is being seen as in support of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has made similar calls.

Ling accepts Najib's challenge

Najib wants the former MCA president to apologise, within seven days.

Ling stood by his statement and has said he would not apologise ‎.

The former transport minister, who took part in the Bersih 4 event in Perth, Australia, in August, said he was "extremely surprised" by the legal letter.

"I say to the prime minister, if you choose to sue me, I will defend myself. In all humility, I accept your challenge. I look forward to seeing the PM take the witness stand, as no doubt he would do if he says his reputation is at stake.

"I want to reiterate that I stand by what I said. I will not apologise," Ling said on Wednesday.