2006 general election, Ling contested the seat of Bukit Panjang. He won 22.8% of the votes, losing to the PAP's Teo Ho Pin who gained 77.2%. During the election campaign, he was threatened with a defamation lawsuit by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as a result of an article published in the SDP's party newspaper. On 24 April 2006, Ling said that he would not apologise as he did not know about the article until it had been published. However he eventually agreed to a settlement and issued an apology for the publication of the article. Ling retired from politics in 2007. Personal life Ling was married to Toh Siew Ing and had three sons. Death Ling suffered from chronic lung disease and had trouble swallowing. After surgery to insert a feeding tube into his abdomen. he contracted pneumonia and died on 30 April 2021 at age 85. His funeral wake was held at Singapore Casket in Lavender Street on the following day and his cremation was at Mandai Crematorium on 4 May 2021. References 1930s births Year of birth uncertain 2021 deaths Anglo-Chinese School alumni Members of the Parliament of Singapore Singapore Democratic Party politicians Singaporean people of Chinese descent