Singapore's Former President Passes Away

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, February 09, 2002

Singapore's Former President Passes Away

Ong Teng Cheong, former President of Singapore, died at 8:14 p.m. (12:14 GMT) Friday at the age of 66, said a local media.

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Ong Teng Cheong, former President of Singapore, died at 8:14 p.m. (12:14 GMT) Friday at the age of 66, said a local media.

Ong, Singapore's first elected president, was member of parliament, cabinet minister and deputy prime minister before he resigned to become elected president in 1993, Channelnewsasia, a leading local TV station, said on its website.

His first political appointment came in 1975, when he was made senior minister of state for communications, it said.

Ong was diagnosed with lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system in 1992, and was admitted to the National University Hospital on January 21, a day before his 66th birthday, for a two-week long stay, said the TV report.

He was discharged from the hospital earlier this week, when the traditional Chinese New Year was drawing near, it said.

He stepped down as president three year ago, it added.

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