Dr Ling yet to respond to Najib's demand - Lawyer

Former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik has yet to officially respond to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's demand for an apology and to retract an alleged defamatory remark against him.

Lawyer Datuk Hafarizam Harun, representing Najib, said Dr Ling had until this Sunday to do so.

"We will wait for the seven-day period is over. I am confident Dr Ling will respond (to the demand)," he said when met at the Jalan Duta Court Complex here today.

The prime minister, had on Oct 5, instructed his lawyer to take action and demand an apology from Dr Ling for allegedly calling for his removal.

Dr Ling's remark was published in an English news portal, Malay Mail online, on Oct 3 with the title 'MCA's Liong Sik Joins Call For Najib's Ouster For allegedly Putting People's Money in His Own Pocket'.

READ: 'I won't apologise to Najib' - Dr Ling

A letter of demand was served to Dr Ling at his house in Bukit Damansara on that day by the law firm of Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak on behalf of Najib in his personal capacity and among others, it demanded that the former transport minister apologise within seven days.