[Deathwatch] Ong Teng Cheong, Singapore's first elected president, 66

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Former Singapore President Dies 

Fri Feb 8, 6:16 PM ET 

SINGAPORE (AP) - Ong Teng Cheong, Singapore's first elected president,
died Friday, according to news reports. He was 66.

Ong died in his home after being discharged from the hospital last
week, Channel News Asia reported. No cause of death was given but Ong
had suffered from lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system.

Ong publicly acknowledged his illness in 1992 when he served as
Singapore's deputy prime minister. The cancer was then thought in
remission.

Ong served a six-year term as president between 1993 and 1999. He chose
not to run for a second term after his party, Singapore's ruling
People's Action Party, announced it would not back him, citing concerns
about his health.

Ong was trained as an architect and served the government as minister
of communications, minister of culture, minister of labor and deputy
prime minister.

He also had been secretary-general of the National Trades Union
Congress.

Ong was a confidante of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and always
traveled to China with the government leader because of his command of
Chinese dialects.

After leaving government, Ong returned to the architectural firm he
established with his late wife, Ling Siew May.