While top MCA leaders have left former party president Ling Liong Sik out in the cold, Segambut MCA has lauded Ling’s defiance against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

This is over Najib's defamation suit against Ling who had raised the discovery of RM2.6 billion in the prime minister’s personal bank accounts.

“Segambut MCA respects Ling’s comments as a concerned MCA honorary life member.

“Ling has since issued a press release stating that he will not apologise and stood by the remarks he made.

“Segambut MCA division applauds the courage of Ling and respects his decision,” it said in a statement today posted on its Facebook page.

In contrast, MCA’s central leadership had dismissed the suit as a private matter between Ling and Najib.

'Why pick on Ling, not others?'

Segambut MCA also questioned why was Ling being targeted, pointing out that the allegation was also reported by the Wall Street Journal and Sarawak Report .

“Why has the prime minister only singled out Ling with legal action and not the others?” it said.

Najib had threatened to sue Wall Street Journal but has yet to follow through.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had confirmed the deposits of RM2.6 billion in Najib’s personal bank account but said the amount was not from state-owned 1MDB.

Najib had denied taking public funds for personal gain while his supporters claim the money was a “donation” from the Middle East.

Segambut MCA said it also supported the Oct 6 statement by the Conference of Rulers to expedite the investigations into 1MDB.

“The quicker this 1MDB issue is resolved, we can move on to focus on more urgent matters such as the economy, social relations, and good governance,” it said.

The MCA division said that it was also against racism be it from the opposition or BN component parties.

“We believe that as citizens of Malaysia, we need to speak up without fear or favour on issues which affect the nation and not just when it affects our own race,” it said.