Former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik today came to the defence of BN ministers who had threatened to resign, should the controversial hudud bill be passed in Parliament.

Ling said it was wrong to table such a motion because hudud could not be applied to a multiethnic society.

“Certain quarters see (the ministers' move to quit) as threats. So what? (If the bill is) wrong, it is wrong. There's nothing to be scared about (if the ministers want to resign),” Ling told reporters after attending an event at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Sungai Long, Kajang.

He was responding to a question on the threats by MCA president Liow Tiong Lai, Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong and MIC president Dr S Subramaniam to resign from the cabinet should the motion on the Private Member's Bill be passed in the Dewan Rakyat.

The bill, submitted by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, was given priority over other government matters.

Ling praised the BN component parties for taking a strong stand against the bill.

“I see that MCA, Gerakan and MIC have come out very strongly against it. I think they are doing the right thing,” he said.

However, he declined to comment whether the hudud issue would have an impact on the coming Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections.

“I have retired from politics,” he said.

However, the statement by the ministers to resign was criticised by Umno information chief Annuar Musa, who urged them not to over-react.

Meanwhile, Ling announced that the Malaysia Mental Literacy Movement will be organising 12th Malaysia Festival of the Mind competitions 2016.

The dates and venues of the competition are: July 16 and 17, Utar Kampar campus, Perak; July 23 and 24 July, TAR Universiti College, Penang branch; and Nov 4, 5 and 6, Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIECC).