(Oct 29): Datuk Seri Najib Razak has filed a defamation suit against former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik over remarks on the prime minister’s handling of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.

The prime minister's lawyer, Datuk Hafarizam Harun, in a text message to The Malaysian Insider said the suit was filed in the Kuala Lumpur High Court registry yesterday.

Yesterday the lawyer told reporters that he was going to ask for an appointment with Najib and hoped to get it in a day or two to ask for instructions whether to proceed or not.

Meanwhile, Dr Ling's counsel Ranjit Singh told The Malaysian Insider that he had not received any formal notification from Najib's lawyers whether the suit was filed.

Earlier this month, Dr Ling was reported to have agreed with his former boss, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, that Najib had “taken the people’s money and put it in his own personal accounts”.

“I agree with (Dr) Mahathir. Because he (Najib) has taken people’s money and put it in his own personal accounts,” Dr Ling was quoted as saying at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Following the remarks, law firm Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak issued a letter of demand on behalf of Najib to Dr Ling at his residence.

The letter dated Oct 5 demanded an unreserved apology and compensation within seven days, failing which legal action would be instituted.

But Dr Ling’s lawyers said their client stood by his statement.

Dr Ling yesterday asked why Najib was taking a long time to decide whether to sue him, The Star reported. But he said he was a patient man and would wait.

“I am still waiting. I’m a very patient man. Don’t rush, wait for it. “I’m also surprised why he is taking so long (to take legal action), but I will remain patient,” he told The Star.

Najib is being investigated after US daily The Wall Street Journal reported in July that US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) was transferred into his personal bank accounts two months before the 2013 general election.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said the money was a donation from a Middle Easterner.

The prime minister has also denied using public money, including from 1MDB, for personal benefit, though questions have been raised on the source and purpose of the – The Malaysian Insider