VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

'I was shocked and saddened to hear that Chit Chung had a heart attack and died this morning. What a grievous loss for you, your children and for Singapore.

As a Member of Parliament, he made valuable contributions in his five terms of office since he was fielded as an MP in September 1988 when I was prime minister and secretary-general of the PAP.

I have lost a good friend.'

MINISTER MENTOR LEE KUAN YEW, in a condolence letter to Dr Ong's wife, Mrs Elizabeth Ong

TREASURED FRIEND

'Chit Chung took a close interest in foreign affairs and was always helpful to diplomats and ministry officials...We entered politics together in 1988, never expecting that we would be serving so many years. I treasured his friendship and his advice as a friend and a colleague.'

FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGE YEO

GRASSROOTS LEADER

'Chit Chung's sudden passing is a personal loss to all of us who knew him. He had a way of bringing people from all walks of life into the grassroots and making them feel like one big family. He went out of his way to help me when I joined politics, and each time we met, he would give me wise advice.'

FINANCE MINISTER THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, MP for Jurong GRC

KEEN DEBATER

'I knew Chit Chung from the University of Singapore...He had a strong interest in defence and foreign policy and was prepared to debate these issues, even before he entered politics.'

MR BARRY DESKER, dean of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

SAVVY POLITICIAN

'He's politically savvy. He knows how to handle cases like misunderstandings between grassroots leaders and residents' brickbats.'

MR MICHAEL PEK, senior constituency manager for Bukit Batok