MCA chief and Transport Minister Ling Liong Sik today dismissed the claim for payment made against him for a debt amounting to about RM150 million as "false and incorrect".

The claim filed by fugitive businessman Soh Chee Wen yesterday through his lawyers Krish Maniam & Co. also named as respondents Ling's son Hee Leong and wife Carol Ong Lee Choo and a company owned by the couple, Linksun Avenue ("[#1] Ling asked to pay back RM150 million 'debt'[/#] ", June 13).

The notice said that Soh sold six million Autoway Holdings shares which he owned and the money raised was used by Linksun Avenue to buy some 162 million shares of Berjaya Industrial (now known as Rekapacific).

According to a report by Sin Chew Jit Poh's website, Ling confirmed that he had received the notice of demand yesterday.

"Yes, I received a letter from a law firm. What I want to say is, I have nothing to do with the company, and the allegation made by the letter is false and incorrect," Ling told the press after attending the Cabinet meeting.

The notice said that failure to repay within two weeks would result in a legal suit by Soh against them.

"I could not understand, if what was alleged by Soh Chee Wen happened four years ago, why (he) choose to disclose it three or four days before the MCA general assembly ?"Ling said.

The MCA assembly will be held at Wisma MCA on Saturday, and it is believed this latest development pertaining to Soh's claim against Ling would be raised by some delegates.

According to MCA sources, members aligned with deputy MCA president Lim Ah Lek and vice-president Chan Kong Choy are likely to query Ling on the claim by Soh (once active in MCA politics) and whether if had any connections with his recent "resignation as transport minister" decision.

EDITOR'S NOTE: With reference to malaysiakini's report yesterday "Ling asked to pay back RM150 million 'debt'" , Legal firm Krish Maniam & Co this evening informed us by email that the copies of the notices faxed to us did not originate from its office as reported. Malaysiakini apologises for this oversight.