Dear Tze Guan

My wife and I are deeply saddened by the demise of your beloved father.

Teng Cheong was a generous friend. We met him and your late mother often, socially. We remember fondly the many dinners they hosted in your house when you and Tze Boon were still young.

Your father was a courageous man, at work and in his personal life. He held fast to his beliefs and ideals, and was never daunted by opposing views or difficult odds. He was also stoical. After he was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1992, he determined to go on as normally as he could, and live life to the full. He refused to let his illness stand in the way of his duties to his family or to the nation. He earned the respect and sympathy
of Singaporeans through the dignity with which he bore his illness, as well as his grief when your mother passed away.

Teng Cheong had a distinguished political career. He was elected in 1972 in Kim Keat constituency. He served as a Member of Parliament until 1993 when he resigned to stand in Singapore's first Presidential elections.

Appointed as Senior Minister of State for Communications in 1975, Teng Cheong went on to become Minister in the Ministries of Communications, Culture and Labour. He was Deputy Prime Minister from 1985 to 1993. He was also Chairman of the PAP from 1981 to 1993, and Secretary-General of the NTUC from 1983 to 1993. In the NTUC, he helped to rally the union ground, and win the support of workers for painful but necessary measures, especially the wage restraint policy and CPF cut in the 1985 recession. The PAP, NTUC, MRT, workers, labour-management relations, unions' co-operatives and recreational facilities, the arts, charities, all have benefited from his vision and hard work.

Teng Cheong was a key member of the team of second generation Ministers who succeeded the Old Guard. We worked well together. He was fully supportive of me as a colleague and as Prime Minister. I shall always remember his comradeship.

As the first elected President, Teng Cheong had to work the new two-key system of safeguarding our reserves and key appointments in the public sector. We had no precedents to fall back on. When issues arose, we did not always hold the same views, as was to be expected because of our different responsibilities under the Constitution. But Teng Cheong applied himself diligently and worked with the Government to come up with the rules and procedures. His efforts helped to put the two-key system through its
paces, and made the job of future Presidents that much easier.

During his term as President, Teng Cheong also contributed to the renovation of the Istana. An experienced architect, he had a good eye for form, design, colour and details. He gave valuable inputs to the team which oversaw the renovations of the Istana. We used to joke that the Government had his architectural services for free.

Though Teng Cheong's achievements were many, it was his personal qualities that I will remember best. He was a devoted family man, upright, caring and gracious. He was a Confucianist scholar, a mandarin, a righteous and accomplished man.

Singapore has lost a fine son, a national leader who devoted much of his life to public service.

My wife and I send you and your family our heartfelt condolences. We share your loss.

Yours sincerely
GOH CHOK TONG