SINGAPORE - Radio DJ and host Glenn Ong has resigned from MediaCorp after 19 years with the company. His departure is just as surprising as that of his former colleague Mark Van Cuylenburg, who quit the company less than two weeks ago.
The duo had hosted Class 95FM's The Morning Express for 10 years, before Ong got a new partner, Joe Augustin, in 2013. Van Cuylenburg, better known as The Flying Dutchman, then went on to host The Gold Breakfast Show on Gold 90.5FM with Vernetta Lopez.
Ong has been on leave and off the air since early last month.
In a statement from MediaCorp Radio on Friday announcing his resignation, he is quoted as saying: "After 19 years at the top of the Class, it's time for me to take a break! I'd like to pursue more sleep, travel and go for MMA workouts every day! I've never liked saying goodbye so I won't!"
He did not respond to The Straits Times' calls and messages on his mobile phone.
Van Cuylenburg had said he was quitting radio to focus on his business ventures, which include an events company and a bar in Bintan opening in March.
Ong, 45, made his debut at the company, then called Radio Corporation of Singapore, in early 1995, on pop music station 987FM, then called Perfect 10.
He joined Class 95FM eight years later, in 2003. His last stint was co-hosting popular English station Class 95FM's Morning Express show with Augustin.
In the most recent Nielsen Radio Diary Survey, Class 95FM was ranked the most listened to English radio station in Singapore, with a listenership of 15.9 per cent.
Ong is best known for his frank views and no-holds-barred personality, and his tenure on radio has been marked with several controversies. In 2001, he and his then co-host, Rod Monteiro, were suspended for two weeks after listeners complained about the sexual content on their then Perfect 10 morning show Five Guys And A Girl.
Formerly married to ex-colleagues and fellow radio DJs Jamie Yeo and the late Kate Reyes, he is currently engaged to Class 95FM DJ and television host Jean Danker.
In the MediaCorp statement, the company's vice president of English Programming (Music), Radio, Ms Georgina Chang, says: "We're disappointed to see Glenn leave, but understand his decision and wish him all the best for the future."
