Ong Eng Guan

Ong Eng Guan
王永元
Ong in 1959
Minister for National Development
In office
5 June 1959 – 20 June 1960
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byAbdul Hamid bin Haji Jumat (as Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing)
Succeeded byToh Chin Chye (acting)
Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Hong Lim
In office
30 May 1959 – 23 June 1965
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byLee Khoon Choy
Majority11.2% (1,277)
Personal details
Born1925 (1925)
Malacca, Straits Settlements
Died2008 (age 82–83)
Singapore
NationalitySingaporean
Political partyUnited People's Party (1961–1965)
Other political
affiliations		People's Action Party (1954–1960)
ProfessionAccountant
In this Chinese name, the family name is Ong.

Ong Eng Guan[a] (1925–2008) was a Singaporean politician and an early member of the People's Action Party (PAP). A charismatic and forceful orator fluent in Chinese, Ong became widely respected within the Chinese-speaking community, particularly for his strong anti-communist stance and ability to connect with the grassroots. He first entered politics through the City Council of Singapore, where he made history by becoming the first and only elected mayor of Singapore following the 1957 City Council election. His tenure as mayor earned him a reputation for being bold and outspoken, characteristics that set him apart in the early years of self-government. In 1959, after the PAP's victory in the general election, Ong was appointed Minister for National Development in Singapore's first fully elected government.

Despite his early successes, Ong's relationship with the PAP leadership soon deteriorated due to differences in political style and personal conflicts. In 1960, he was dismissed from the cabinet and the party. Ong and went on to form his own political party in 1961, the United People's Party (UPP). The move underscored his determination to remain an influential political figure outside the dominant PAP framework. Although he retained significant personal popularity especially among segments of the Chinese electorate, his break with the ruling party limited his long-term political prospects. Nevertheless, Ong was a notable figure in Singapore's early political development, having played a key role in the formative years of the nation's self-governance.

Early life and education

Ong was born in Malacca, Straits Settlements, in 1925 and spent 25 years living in Batu Pahat, Johor, where he received a dual-track education in both an English government school and a private Chinese school.[1][2] He later pursued higher education in Australia, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a diploma in public administration from the University of Melbourne. Ong arrived in Singapore in 1954 and established an accountancy firm.

Political career

In July 1955, Ong was elected into PAP's Central Executive Committee (CEC) as the treasurer.[1][3] Ong contested the Hong Lim Constituency in the 1957 Singapore City Council election and was elected with around 83 percent of the votes. As PAP won the most seats with 13 against Liberal Socialist Party's seven seats, PAP was offered the mayoralty and Ong was nominated as the mayor by PAP, becoming the first and only elected mayor of Singapore.[4]

Ong, although firmly anti-communist, held a strong anti-colonial stance which often placed him at odds with the British authorities. His fiery rhetoric and confrontational style made City Council meetings highly popular among the public, with sessions frequently described as a form of entertainment due to his dramatic speeches and challenges to colonial policies. From December 1957 until April 1959, Ong led the City Council until he was told to resign as mayor to stand in Singapore's first fully elected Legislative Assembly election in the Hong Lim Constituency.[4]

His influence and popularity among the Chinese community positioned him as a significant political figure during the transitional years of self-governance.

Internal vote for prime minister

See also: 1959 PAP prime ministerial election

In the 1959 general election, the PAP secured control of the Legislative Assembly, triggering a reported internal contest within the party leadership. With no formal process to select a prime minister-elect, a vote was allegedly held between Ong and Lee Kuan Yew, resulting in a tie. Party chairman Toh Chin Chye was said to have cast the deciding vote in favour of Lee.[5][6] While Toh and another party member later confirmed this account, Lee and several others denied it. Ong was appointed as Singapore's first Minister for National Development in Lee's Cabinet.[7] With the appointment, Ong moved all the powers and duties of the City Council to the Ministry of National Development[7] but tensions soon emerged between him and the rest of the Cabinet, especially over the decision to abolish the City Council.

In June 1960, during a PAP conference, Ong submitted 16 resolutions to the CEC criticising the leadership, resulting in his dismissal from the cabinet.[8][9] Ong was later expelled from the party on 29 July 1960.[10] S. V. Lingam and Ng Teng Kian were also expelled at the same time for aiding and abetting Ong against the party.[10]

Post–PAP

On 29 December 1960, Ong resigned from the Legislative Assembly, compelling the government to call a by-election.[11] He contested as an independent candidate and won, defeating PAP's Jek Yeun Thong despite the party's leadership actively campaigning for Jek. Ong's victory highlighted his enduring popularity. That same year, he founded the United People's Party (UPP), positioning it as an alternative to the PAP.[12][13] However, in the 1963 general election, the UPP secured only one seat out of the 46 it contested, which was won by Ong himself at Hong Lim. Two years later, in June 1965, Ong resigned from the Legislative Assembly and withdrew from political life, citing the infrequent sittings of the legislature as his reason for retirement.[14]

Post-politics and death

After his retirement from politics in 1965, Ong led a largely private and non-political life, withdrawing from the public eye. Little is documented about his activities or personal affairs during this period. Ong passed away in 2008 at the age of 83.[15][16]

Notes

  1. ^ Chinese: 王永元; pinyin: Wáng Yǒngyuán

References

  1. ^ a b Petir (1957). People’s Action Party [Microfilm no.: NL 9312].
  2. ^ Yap, Sonny; Lim, Richard; Leong, Weng K. (2010). Men in White: The Untold Story of Singapore's Ruling Political Party. Straits Times Press. p. 136. ISBN 9789814266512.
  3. ^ "The PAP bosses". The Straits Times. 12 July 1955. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Choice between Jek and Ong". The Straits Times. 29 April 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 17 July 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. ^ Yap, Lim & Leong 2010, p. 181.
  6. ^ Yap, Lim & Leong 2010, p. 182.
  7. ^ a b "LEE'S CABINET: This is it". The Straits Times. 6 June 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 17 July 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ "Ong: The Full Story". The Straits Times. 21 June 1960. p. 1.
  9. ^ "Ong Eng Guan Shock". The Straits Times. 20 June 1960. p. 1.
  10. ^ a b "Ong; PAP's final act". The Straits Times. 29 July 1960. p. 1. Retrieved 17 July 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  11. ^ "Choice between Jek and Ong". The Straits Times. 29 April 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 17 July 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  12. ^ "Eng Guan forms a new party". The Straits Times. 19 June 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. ^ "Permits for seven local societies". The Singapore Free Press. 26 July 1961. p. 4. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  14. ^ "Mr. Ong Quits The Assembly". The Straits Times. 17 June 1965. p. 1.
  15. ^ "First S'pore mayor 'died in 2008'". www.asiaone.com. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  16. ^ 世界福建名人录: 新加坡篇, Xinjiapo Fujian hui guan, 2012, ISBN 978-981-07-3890-7
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