Ling Siew May

Ling Siew May was born in Shanghai in 1937.  She lived in an orphanage until when, at age 11, she left to live in Singapore.  She then attended Nanyang Girls’High School and later when First Lady she was a generous benefactor and an esteemed mentor for her old school.  Siew May first met her future husband, Ong Teng Cheong, when she was 15 and he was 16.

She later attended and matriculated from Adelaide Girls’ High School.  She then studied at the University of Adelaide, graduating in architecture in 1964.

As a Colombo Plan student, she was the first Asian woman to graduate.  Ong Teng Cheong also studied architecture at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1962.

Teng Cheong and Siew May were married in 1963 and had two sons.

Teng Cheong became Secretary General of the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and Siew May worked diligently at her architectural business, continuing even after Ong Teng Cheong became President of Singapore. 

Siew May attended many alumni gatherings, both formal and informal, with her compatriots and fellow alumni.  These included, among others, Tony Tan Keng Yam, Cheong Choong Kong, Michael Khor Teik Hean, Richard and May Hin Yung, the late Tan Chor Beng, Seet Ai Mee, Lim Siong Guan, Giam Choo Huat, David Goh, Tan Kah Hoe, Chan Beng See and the late Chan Chee Wah.

Following an election on 28 August 1993, President Ong Teng Cheong began his 6-year term on 1 September 1993 as the Fifth President of the Republic of Singapore and its First Elected President.  The First Lady was revered by Singaporeans for her good cheer, devotion to her family, dedication to her profession and particularly for the care and attention that she paid to all her many demanding community responsibilities.  Their Excellencies did the University a great honour in 1993 when they both accepted Honorary Membership of the Alumni Association.

Madame Ong Siew May died on 30 July 1999 after a long battle with colon cancer.