Former President Ong Teng Cheong, Singapore's first Elected President, died at 8.14 pm local time, Friday, 8 February 2002, at the age of 66.

Mr Ong leaves behind his two sons, Ong Tze Guan and Ong Tze Boon, two daughters-in-law and a grandson.

Mr Ong Teng Cheong's political career spanned 21 years.

He was Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, before he resigned to become Elected President in 1993.

Born in 1936, Mr Ong was educated at Chinese High, and studied architecture in Australia.

He went on to study town planning in the United Kingdom on a Colombo Plan scholarship.

On his return to Singapore, he was talent spotted by the People's Action Party which fielded him in Kim Keat in the 1972 General Election.

His first political appointment came just 3 years later when he was made Senior Minister of State for Communications.

And it was as Communications Minister that Mr Ong pushed for the development of the MRT system, the largest construction project in Singapore's history.

His next challenge came on the labour front, when he became NTUC Secretary-General in 1983.

Mr Ong was diagnosed with lymphoma-cancer of the lymphatic system in 1992.

But this did not dampen his desire to continue serving.

He became Singapore's first Elected President a year later, and it was a presidency marked by many charitable projects, which touched the lives of many Singaporeans.

Mr Ong stepped down as President at the age of 63.