CONDOLENCE TO PRESIDENT ONG TENG CHEONG AND FAMILY

The Prime Minister (Mr Goh Chok Tong): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That this House expresses its deep sympathy and condolence to President Ong Teng Cheong and his family on the loss of his wife, Mrs Ong-Ling Siew May.

When President Ong first learnt of his wife's colon cancer in January 1997, I can imagine his shock and dismay. He himself had been diagnosed with low-grade lymphoma in November 1992. To have one person in the family stricken with cancer was bad enough. To have both husband and wife suffering from it was indeed a cruel blow.

But President Ong and his wife took the news calmly and stoically. As President Ong told me several times, life must go on. Both he and his wife decided to live as normal lives as they could. They shut out their ailments from their minds, and immersed themselves in their work.

The prognosis for Mrs Ong's cancer was poor. But she fought on, with the support of her husband and family. She was one courageous lady. Over the past two and a half years, she went in and out of hospitals, both in Singapore and the United States. She underwent repeated major surgery, and received chemotherapy and radiation treatment. But she took everything in her stride, and kept to her normal heavy schedule of her own architect's work and her duties as the First Lady. When her friends fell ill, she would visit and comfort them. She kept to herself her own condition, and the pain she suffered as the disease progressed.

Mrs Ong was brave until the end. Her last public engagement was the President's Charity Ball on 9th July. My wife and I called on her and the President in hospital on Sunday, 18th July. We knew that her illness was in its last stages. She was in obvious discomfort. Yet she received us with her ready smile, and chatted in good spirit.

Mrs Ong chaired the boards of Nanyang Girls' High and Nanyang Primary School. When we talked about Nanyang Girls' High School, her eyes lit up immediately. The new school buildings at Linden Drive had just been completed. She spoke with pride about the new campus, and was delighted when I commented on its beautiful facade and distinctive features. We had such a lively conversation that for a moment, we forgot that she was not well. She even talked about her next project, to redevelop the Nanyang Primary School.

Mrs Ong was the architect for the new campus of Nanyang Girls' High School, as well as several other projects for the school. I was glad to read in the Zaobao that Mrs Ong had donated her architectural fees from these projects to the school.

Mrs Ong was also deeply involved in charitable work. She supported many fund raising projects for various charities each year. She was also patron of several civic and charitable organisations, including the Children's Charities and Girl Guides Association.

Many of us knew Mrs Ong Teng Cheong long before she became the First Lady. She was an unfailingly gracious hostess and a friend. My wife and I, and many of us here, have enjoyed her hospitality at her home. We will all miss her.

Mr Speaker, Sir, President Ong Teng Cheong was a member of this House from 1972 till 1993 when he resigned to stand for election as President. We all know him well. He has lost a dear wife. Our hearts go to him and his family in their moment of grief. We offer them our sincere condolences. Even though the untimely passing of Mrs Ong has left a big void for the family, we hope that they will draw some comfort and strength from our sympathy and support.

On behalf of the people, the Government and this House, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the President and his family on their bereavement.

I propose that the House observe a two-minute silence as a mark of our respect for the late First Lady after others have spoken and the motion is passed.

Question proposed.

Mr Speaker: I propose to adjourn the sitting at approximately 2.30 pm to allow hon. Members to attend the funeral of Mrs Ong. I, therefore, ask hon. Members who intend to speak on the motion to bear this in mind.

The Minister without Portfolio (Mr Lim Boon Heng): Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the motion moved by the Prime Minister. And in doing so, I speak on behalf of the NTUC, all union members and workers.

Many unionists got to know Mrs Ong when Mr Ong Teng Cheong was the Secretary-General of the NTUC. Our unionists were encouraged by the quiet support she gave to the labour movement and were touched by her warmth and hospitality. It came naturally to her as she herself had a difficult life in her younger days. The empathy she felt for the lower income came naturally.

She provided a good role model for all workers. Everyone knows she was hardworking and diligent, and strove to excel in her work. She had also been a good role model for all female Singaporeans - a good mother, a good housekeeper, a successful career woman who still found time to support her husband in his public service. We also know that she had a soft spot for the disadvantaged through the support she gave to many charities.

Sir, we all share the family's loss.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Dr Ow Chin Hock): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the motion standing in the name of the Prime Minister.

My wife and I have known the President and Mrs Ong for more than 20 years. We feel that Mrs Ong was a strong, courageous, gracious, optimistic, frank and sincere lady. She was a compassionate person ( ). She would go all out and put in her wholehearted efforts to do whatever she thought she ought to do for the nation and society, without any consideration for her personal gains or losses. Whenever she had any view and feeling on any issue, except for major national issues, she would unreservedly express her opinion on the matter in a straight-forward manner.

Even with her illness, she steadfastly discharged her duties as the First Lady without any hesitation. The First Lady herself was enthusiastically involved in charity and attached great importance to educational and cultural work. She took the initiative and actively participated in many cultural, educational and charitable activities.

With more than two decades of association with her, of course, we have many fond memories of her. Many of our conversations with her are deeply embedded in our minds. I would like to mention just two recent events.

The first event was two years ago, at an informal lunch with President Ong, my wife asked Mrs Ong about her illness. She just briefly mentioned about the condition of her health, and then pinched my wife's hand and said in one simple sentence, "Just like this" ( ) to end this part of the conversation. However, when touched on the subject of raising funds for the construction of the new premises for Nanyang Girls' High School, she was full of zeal and enthusiasm. My wife and I once again appreciated the very style in which President Ong and Mrs Ong conducted themselves in life, and that is, to suffer in silence their own pain but to devote themselves enthusiastically to the cause of public interest.

The second event was in July last year when I went with the delegation to accompany President Ong and Mrs Ong to Liverpool. At the convocation ceremony of the Liverpool University, when President Ong was conferred the honorary doctorate degree, I noticed that Mrs Ong appeared to be full of thoughts and feelings. Subsequently, she shared with me some memories of the days she spent looking after her husband and children in Liverpool. From the conversation, I felt her deep love and devotion to President Ong and the children.

The First Lady has departed. She has lived through a full life with little or no regret. For the nation, for the family, for society, she has made many great contributions. Her love remains with us. I believe if, at all, she has any anxiety, it would be the impact of her departure on her husband, President Ong, because over the past three decades, she had been a pillar of great strength supporting President Ong. I would urge President Ong to restrain his grief and take care of his health ( ). With the support of his friends from various quarters, I hope that President Ong would be able to overcome the impact of this bereavement. I also hope that after the death of their beloved mother, Tze Guan and Tze Boon would be even more resolute in the development of their careers, and spend more time with their father so as to console the soul of their mother.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock (Ayer Rajah): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the motion moved by our Prime Minister.

Like him, I share the President's grief for the loss of his wife. The President told me a moving tale of his wife when she attended the Charity Ball function. He said she sat through the night function with no signs of any problem. It was a long night and she patiently and courageously went about her duties as the First Lady. But beneath the strong composure, was a woman in severe and excruciating pain. It was only when she reached home that she collapsed in pain. She must be very strong to have gone through this and I am sure she must have put up such a strong front in the course of her duty as the First Lady. She had always stood by the President. She carried her duty as the First Lady with the courage very few can match.

Mr Speaker, Sir, my condolence to our President and his family.

Mr Tay Beng Chuan (Nominated Member): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the First Lady, Madam Ling Siew May, passed away on 30th July 1999. The business community felt a great loss in the passing away of the First Lady. On behalf of the business community, I would like to convey our deepest sympathy and condolence to President Ong.

Having read the life story of Mrs Ong, I was greatly touched. Mrs Ong was an exemplary model of an Asian woman cultivated under traditional Asian culture and values. Her contribution to family, business, society and the nation was the pride of womenfolk in Singapore, and the pride of the people of Singapore. Allow me to raise the following five points to illustrate the greatness of the First Lady:

First, she was very hardworking and dedicated. She went through severe hardship in her younger days. After spending an unhappy childhood in an orphanage, she travelled across the ocean to Singapore at the tender age of 11 to study. All the problems in coping with a very different language and living environment did not overwhelm her. Instead, it inspired her to cultivate in herself a fighting spirit. She overcame the difficulties in learning English and the other subjects, and successfully completed her secondary and high school studies. Eventually she went overseas to study in Australia and became the first Asian girl to graduate from the Faculty of Architecture in the University. At a time when the society was still very conservative, as a female and a Chinese-educated student, she overcame many difficulties and went on courageously to achieve academic success. This spirit of enduring hardship and self-reliance is worthy of our emulation.

Secondly, she was a good wife and a good mother, diligent and thrifty. In the family, she was a good wife and a good mother, devoting herself body and soul to look after her husband and her children and creating a warm home for them. This enabled the President to concentrate on his work without having to worry about things at home. The two sons could devote themselves to their studies to become useful citizens of society. The First Lady must be given due credit for the great success achieved by the President and the two sons today. During President Ong's term of office as Minister and subsequently as the President, Mrs Ong was always at his side, silently giving him all the support. Her cordial smile, her gracious and elegant demeanour, her simple outfit gave people the feeling of being very approachable and respectable.

Thirdly, she was devoted to her duty and enthusiastic in her work. The First Lady was the most reliable partner of her husband's career. When her husband was holding the ministerial position, she took over the bulk of workload in their architectural firm. After her husband was elevated to the high office of Presidency, her official duties became even more busy and heavy. Yet, she did not drop her responsibility in the architectural work. She divided her time and energy on both her public and private career, attending to each and every aspect of life with great success. Her spirit of love for work and devotion to duties is something that is worthy of our admiration and praise.

Fourthly, her passion for her alma mater and society. The First Lady's love for her alma mater is well known to everyone. She had made the reconstruction of Nanyang Girls' High School her lifelong aspiration. Besides her passion for her alma mater, she was also deeply concerned with education, charity, welfare of women and children, as well as the latest situation and development of culture and the arts in Singapore, giving them her wholehearted support. The female nature of love, kind-heartedness, patience and concern for others was manifestly revealed in the person of the First Lady.

Fifthly, her courage and unyielding fight against her illness. Two and a half years ago, she was diagnosed to have suffered from cancer, but she exercised tremendous perseverance to battle against her illness. She showed no sign of being dispirited or depressed. She carried on discharging her duties as the First Lady, greeting the people with her usual smile, receiving foreign dignitaries, and even went on overseas trips with the President. From her smile, we could see a strong and courageous woman who loved life and work and was full of fighting spirit, battling against her illness. She had not been overwhelmed by her disease but continued to live, and lived bravely. These noble qualities had shaped a superlatively unique image of the First Lady.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the First Lady devoted her whole life to her family, society and the nation. She worked steadfastly and silently all the way until the end of her life. She was the epitome of the virtues of Asian women.

The physical body is finite, but the spirit lives on eternally. The love that the First Lady has left behind will stay forever. Her smile, demeanour, integrity, noble moral character and poise will always remain in the minds of the people of Singapore.

Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the business community, I fully support the motion standing in the name of the Prime Minister.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed) (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I did not know the First Lady, Mrs Ong, well, but well enough to say that Mrs Ong was a mother, a professional, an entrepreneur and a First Lady who was determined, strong-willed and full of benevolence. When I was Editor of Berita Harian, and covering the former Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew's visit to China in 1980, President Ong and Mrs Ong were in the delegation. I saw Mrs Ong then as someone who was gentle, gracious and caring. Mrs Ong was very concerned about our needs and welfare, especially for the reporters who were covering the visit. Singapore has lost a First Lady who was full of dedication and one with the true spirit of being a Singaporean. May her soul rest in peace.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the motion moved by the Prime Minister.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise, on behalf of the Party and the other Member and myself in this House, to say that we support whatever has been said by the Prime Minister. And on behalf of the Party and us, we extend our condolences to the family of Mrs Ong.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, I rise in support of the motion.

The first time I met the First Lady was when my wife and I were invited to the Istana to have a popiah party. She was very gracious, a woman without airs and easily approachable. I read in the papers that she carried out her duties very bravely and courageously. No one would know, by looking at her calm and dignified surface, that she was internally in great pain and discomfort. I read also in the papers that President Ong knew the First Lady when he was in school and they courted and carried on their courtship into the university days and I believe when they came back to Singapore, they worked together. They were very close and I believe that they must have been a very loving couple and, therefore, it must have been a great loss to the President on the untimely death of his beloved wife.

I extend my deep sympathy and condolences to the President and his family.

Mr R. Sinnakaruppan (Kreta Ayer-Tanglin): Sir, I join the Prime Minister and the Members of this House to express my deep sympathy and condolences to President Ong and his family on the loss of his wife, Mrs Ong.

Mrs Ong, whom I have known for the past eight years, was indeed an outstanding person, an outstanding First Lady, who in her own quiet ways has won the hearts of Singaporeans. Those of us who know her personally, know her for her kind and gentle ways in which she carried herself. She had won admiration and respect for her simple and humble personality.

Sir, I had the privilege of attending a number of receptions and dinners hosted by the President and the First Lady. At these occasions, she was always an excellent hostess who went out of her way to show her concern and care for the guests, in fact, every guest. She would be deeply missed.

Singaporeans have also come to know her as a brave and courageous person who had carried out her duties as First Lady, despite her illness. Her smile, an infectious smile, often gave away little clue of her physical condition and often made us believe that she was feeling better.

During the past weekend, at several of my constituency functions, many grassroots leaders, residents and even children had expressed words of sympathy and sorrow at her sudden demise. One resident who was emotional said that she felt as if she had lost a member of her family. Such are the feelings of Singaporeans.

Many Indian Singaporeans and Indian organisations have also expressed their grief and sorrow at the passing of Mrs Ong. They share the sorrow of President Ong, his family and the nation. The Hindu Endowments Board plans to hold special prayers in memory of Mrs Ong at its four temples tonight. Many Hindu devotees are expected to join in in the prayers.

Singaporeans from all walks of life, different races and religions feel the loss with great sorrow. It is this emotional bind that bonds us as one people. Mrs Ong will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by us all.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence (Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam): Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate.

My family and I have known Siew May for over 20 years since I entered politics in 1979. We always found her to be kind and gracious and considerate in the concern for others. Siew May was a brave woman. My wife and I last saw her on 20th July when she was in hospital having a blood transfusion. She was sitting on a couch holding a pillow, speaking to her grandson. She spoke animatedly about family matters and preparations for the opening of the Nanyang Girls' High School. She was at that time in pain but she showed no signs of it and conducted herself cheerfully and as graciously as ever.

In the work for education, particularly for the Nanyang Girls' High School, for charity, in the way she carried herself and lived her life, Siew May was a model for many women in Singapore. Her passing away is a sad loss, not only for the President and his family, but for the whole nation.

Sir, I support the motion.

The Senior Minister of State for the Environment (Encik Sidek bin Saniff) (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, every living thing has to pass away. But that has many ways and, according to a Malay idiom, when a tiger dies, it leaves behind its stripes but for us human beings, we will leave behind our good name and respect. Khairil Anwar, a poet, said that one's legacy remains even after it has passed away. I believe all these idioms can make ourselves understand about Mrs Ong who has passed away.

Like the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Tony Tan, my family and I have known her since I was appointed the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications and Culture. I was the Parliamentary Secretary to President Ong who was at that time the Minister for both the Ministries, and what has been said in this House by my colleagues is true. For my wife and I, whenever we had special meetings with her at Istana or at other places, we always talked about the future, our children, their experiences in National Service and what we have done for them. President Ong and the First Lady have given us strength when we have to perform our duties during a period of certainty and uncertainty. Her departure has left an impact on the people - the students, the workers, as has been said by Mr Lim Boon Heng and including those who are unable to come close to her but have seen her from far away - who have found her departure as a loss. And that is what I feel about her contribution to the prosperity of Singapore. Just like the Malay idiom that says that when a tiger dies, it will leave behind its stripes but when a human being dies he will leave behind his honour and respect. That is the actual meaning of death and whether we die at the age of 30, 40 or 50 years old, is secondary. The important thing is that we have made our life meaningful in many ways, like contributing to our society. My family and I feel this loss and we are grateful that we have got friends who are older whom we treat like our sisters and brothers.

I fully express my condolences to President Ong and his family, as stated by the Prime Minister just now.

Dr Lee Tsao Yuan (Nominated Member): Sir, I wholeheartedly support the Prime Minister's motion.

First, like the speakers before me, our hearts do go out to President Ong and his family during this time of their bereavement. Second, and perhaps more importantly, I think this motion finds resonance all across Singapore because we can see how many Singaporeans from all walks of life, regardless of race, gender, age - how they have actually flocked to attend the wake because they respected and cared for the First Lady.

Mr Bernard Chen (West Coast): Sir, I would like to support the motion by the Prime Minister and on behalf of my fellow GPC Chairmen and the Members extend our deepest condolences to the President and his family on the untimely demise of the First Lady.

There is much truth in the statement that behind every successful man is a supportive woman. The President's long and illustrious career spans the private and public sectors, in political office, culminating in the present high office of President. Throughout the past 36 years, the First Lady had been most supportive of her husband. She continued to lead the architectural business of the family when her husband became a Minister in the Government. As a loving mother, she brought up the family of two sons, not to mention looking after her husband when he himself fell sick. As First Lady, she had done much, more than a fair share of charity work, and lent her personal support to a host of social services. It would have been difficult enough to juggle these three jobs when one is healthy. It would be too much to expect the First Lady to continue doing them when she herself was stricken with cancer two and a half years ago. To the amazement of all Singaporeans, the First Lady took her illness in her stride. She worked tirelessly until almost to the end. Her positive attitude to life, living it to the full, and making a full contribution to her family and Singapore, despite daunting odds, deserves our full admiration and our thanks.

We will all miss her as she had touched our lives in one way or another. We will all have warm memories of the good that she has done for Singapore directly and through her husband. My own wish is that with time, the President will come to terms with the loss of his loved one in the comfort that the First Lady in her time, had made contributions to Singapore that he would be very proud of and we will all remember. May the good Lord continue to look after the President and his family and help them to overcome the grief during these difficult times.

Mr Shriniwas Rai (Nominated Member): Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity.

Sir, I share the sentiments of the Prime Minister and the other Members of this House. The loss of the First Lady has been a loss to the whole country. The loss to the President and his family is irreparable. The First Lady, in her lifetime, had contributed to the country and to the community, especially her contribution to education would be a living testimony.

During the last few days, people from all walks of life have gone to the President's house to pay their last respect. We pray that President Ong will find fortitude in the days to come.

Sir, I end my speech by quoting from Bhagavad Gita which says, the body leaves the world but the soul lives on. In a few hours, the mortal remain of the First Lady will leave this world. But her good deeds will live with us. We in this House pray for the President and his family. May God grant them strength to overcome the present grief. The President's loss is the loss to the whole country.

Mr Goh Chok Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank Members who have spoken and joined me in expressing our condolences and support to the President and his family. The Members who have spoken represent a whole spectrum of the House - backbenchers, frontbenchers, the opposition as well as the NMPs. I note that, if not for the constraint of time, more Members of Parliament would have joined us in expressing our condolences to the President and the family. We all share a sentiment which I have expressed earlier on this sad occasion.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this House expresses its deep sympathy and condolence to President Ong Teng Cheong and his family on the loss of his wife, Mrs Ong-Ling Siew May.

Mr Speaker: As a mark of respect to the late Mrs Ong Teng Cheong, the House will now rise to observe a 2-minute silence.

The House rose and paid respect.