Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Bukit Gombak Single Member Constituency (SMC) and Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chairman, Ling How Doong, died on Friday (30 Apr) at the age of 85.
The SDP took to Facebook earlier today noting that it mourns the death of Mr Ling, who served as the party’s chairman from 1984 to 2007.
Mr Ling also served as the MP for Bukit Gombak SMC from 1991 to 1997, after winning against incumbent People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate Seet Ai Mee with 51.4 per cent of the votes in the 1991 general election.
He lost the seat to PAP’s Ang Mong Seng in the 1997 general election, who won 65.14 per cent of the votes.
The SDP described Mr Ling as a “tireless defender of the rights of workers”, adding that he had “consistently advocated” for the protection of the needy and vulnerable in Singapore.
“On this May Day weekend, it is befitting that we remember a Singaporean who loved his country and gave much to his fellow citizens by standing up for them at a time when such voices were rare.
“He entered opposition politics in an era when social media was non-existent which afforded the PAP complete control of the narrative. But despite this, Mr Ling answered the call of duty and joined the SDP.
“Understandably, he shunned the media and diligently went about the business of taking care of estate matters in his constituency. Some residents will remember seeing him wield the power water jet and help workers clean the walkways – no fanfare, no photo-ops,” it wrote.
Mr Ling leaves behind his wife, Madam Toh Siew Ing, three sons and four grandchildren. He will be cremated at Mandai Crematorium on Sunday (2 May).
According to the SDP, Mr Ling retired from being a lawyer several years ago.
It added that the former politician made a visit to the SDP’s office in Ang Mo Kio after the 2015 general election, but was by then inactive in politics.
“He beamed when he walked in and remarked that, for the first time, he saw hope in Singapore’s future as a democracy and that the SDP must stick to its never-say-die spirit in championing the rights of the people,” it remarked.
The alternative party recalled “a curious incident” involving another former chairman of SDP from 2007 to 2011, Gandhi Ambalam, who had sought an interview with Mr Ling in 1984 during the election.
It noted that Mr Ling had “studiously avoided” Mr Gandhi, who was a reporter of the Singapore Monitor at the time.
“Both men recounted the episode with amusement in later years,” said the party.
Mr Gandhi passed away in 2018, and the Singapore Monitor subsequently shut down.
