Ling How Doong

The Honourable Ling How Doong
林孝谆
Chairman of the Singapore Democratic Party
In office 1984–2007
Preceded by	Fok Tai Loy
Succeeded by	Gandhi Ambalam
Member of Parliament for Bukit Gombak SMC
In office 31 August 1991 – 2 January 1997
Preceded by	Dr. Seet Ai Mee
Succeeded by	Ang Mong Seng
Majority	654 (2.8%)
Personal details
Born	1934 Singapore, Straits Settlements
Political party	Singapore Democratic Party (1984-2007)
Profession	Lawyer

Ling How Doong (simplified Chinese: 林孝谆; traditional Chinese: 林孝諄; pinyin: Lín Xiào Zhūn; born 1934) is a politician and lawyer from Singapore. A member of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Bukit Gombak from 1991 to 1997.

Ling was the Chairman of the SDP in 1991 when, in a surprise result, he defeated the incumbent MP from the governing People's Action Party (PAP), Dr Seet Ai Mee, to win the constituency of Bukit Gombak at the general election. Ling won 51.4% of the votes in the constituency to Dr Seet's 48.6%. Ling was one of three SDP MPs to be elected – with the party's leader Chiam See Tong retaining his seat in Potong Pasir, and Cheo Chai Chen winning in Nee Soon Central. The leader of the Workers' Party, Low Thia Khiang, was also elected in Hougang, giving the opposition parties a total of four seats. At the previous election, Chiam had been the only opposition MP to win a seat, so the results were seen as a significant success for the opposition.

In 1994, the SDP appointed Ling to take over from Chiam as the party's parliamentary leader after Chiam fell out with the rest of the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC). Chiam resigned as the party's Secretary-General and was replaced by Dr Chee Soon Juan. After he publicly criticised them, the CEC attempted to expel Chiam from the party (which would have forced him to vacate his parliamentary seat), but he won a court case to prevent them from doing so on procedural grounds.

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