Ong Teng Cheong
Source: Wikipedia: Ong Teng Cheong
Statesmanship & Statesmen • Historical Archive • 🇸🇬 Straits Settlements • 1 views

Ong Teng Cheong 🇸🇬

王鼎昌
["First Elected President of Singapore", "Architect", "Labour Leader"]
Born Jan 22, 1936 🇸🇬 Singapore, Straits Settlements
Passed Away Feb 08, 2002 Singapore, Singapore
Lifespan 66 years old
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Notice / Correction
"The people have entrusted us with their future; we must guard their wealth and dignity with fearlessness."

Archival Overview

First directly elected President of Singapore, architect, and labor movement leader who championed the construction of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway system.

Biographical Record

Trained as an architect at the University of Adelaide and town planner at the University of Liverpool, Ong Teng Cheong (1936–2002) entered politics in 1972. As Minister for Communications, he fiercely advocated for building the MRT against financial skepticism, transforming Singapore into a global model of public transit.

As Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Ong championed workers' rights, famously sanctioning a strike in 1986 without cabinet approval to protect mistreated workers. In 1993, he made history as Singapore's first directly elected President, serving as a scrupulous guardian of national reserves.

Key Life Milestones

1987

Inauguration of the Singapore MRT

Realized his visionary master plan with the opening of Singapore's world-class rapid subway system.

1993

First Directly Elected President of Singapore

Elected head of state in Singapore's historic inaugural direct presidential election.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Mandai Crematorium Memorial
Singapore, Singapore
GPS: 1.4239, 103.8117
View on Memory Atlas
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