Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu reiterated in a written Parliament reply on Oct. 10, 2016, why former president Ong Teng Cheong was not accorded a state funeral when he passed away on Feb. 8, 2002, aged 66.

This was in response to a question by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Dennis Tan seeking clarification on the criteria for an individual to be accorded a state funeral in Singapore.

According to the Hansard, filed under the "Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer Not Answered by 3.00 pm" section, Fu provided a written reply on behalf of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, whom the original question was addressed to.

This is the exchange in full:

DECISION NOT TO HOLD STATE FUNERAL FOR LATE FORMER PRESIDENT ONG TENG CHEONG

64 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Prime Minister (a) whether the Cabinet offered the family of the late former President Ong Teng Cheong the choice to hold a state funeral; (b) if so, what was the decision of Mr Ong's family when offered; (c) if not, what were the considerations by the Cabinet in deciding not to offer a State Funeral to Mr Ong's family; and (d) whether the Government will consider honouring all past presidents with a State Funeral when they pass on.

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien (for the Prime Minister): This issue has been raised before and the Government has explained its position publicly.

It is right and fitting that when Singaporeans who have made major contributions to the country pass away, they are honoured and mourned by the nation. The decision of how to honour the person, including whether to hold a State Funeral, is made by the Government of the day after consulting the family. The appropriate way to do so will vary with each individual. It is not feasible to set a formula as to who should receive a state funeral, simply based on the person’s rank or appointment held.

When Mr Ong Teng Cheong passed away in 2002, the then Cabinet arranged a State-Assisted funeral for Mr Ong after consulting with his family. This included the following: The state flag was flown at half-mast on all Government buildings on 11 February 2002; the SAF and Police provided the Coffin Bearer party; vigil guards were deployed as a mark of respect; there was an escort band for the funeral march; the SAF helped to organise the family wake and crematorium service, and the Police assisted in crowd and traffic control.

This response is a paraphrase of the government's May 2005 public response to a forum letter questioning why former president Ong was not accorded a state funeral despite his stature.

This was the reply from the Prime Minister’s press secretary then on May 13, 2005:

Honour rites still evolving; No formula for state funeral entitlement

Mr Leong Sze Hian (Today, May 10) and Mr Goh Choon Kang (Lianhe Zaobao, May 12) have asked why the funeral arrangements for Mr Ong Teng Cheong and Dr Wee Kim Wee, both former presidents, were not the same.

Mr Ong Teng Cheong received a state-assisted funeral, while Dr Wee Kim Wee received a state funeral. Mr Goh Choon Kang suggested that we should have definite rules on who is entitled to a state funeral.

When Singaporeans who have made major contributions to the country pass away, it is right and fitting that they be honoured and mourned by the nation. They may or may not be former Presidents. The appropriate way to do so will vary with each individual.

It is not feasible to have a set formula as to who should receive a state funeral, based simply on the person’s rank or the appointment that he or she had held. It depends on the person’s services to the nation, as well as other special circumstances.

Persons who have made truly exceptional contributions will receive a state funeral. The decision to hold one is made by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

If they decide to offer a state funeral, they will of course consult the family members and take into account their wishes.

Singapore is still a young country. Our practices and customs for public ceremonies and observances are still evolving.

As the years pass, we will gradually establish norms and traditions that will reflect the Singapore way of honouring our best sons and daughters who have passed away, that is dignified, restrained and expresses the gratitude and sense of loss of the nation.

Chen Hwai Liang

Press Secretary to Prime Minister

On Oct. 14, Tan responded in a Facebook post saying that we are "none the wiser about whether a state funeral was actually offered in respect of the late former President Ong Teng Cheong, and if not offered, what were the actual considerations".

He also clarified he deferred his question on this issue to the October Parliament sitting as his question was at the end of the list during the September sitting.

Related articles:

Ong Teng Cheong, S’pore’s people’s president, passed away 15 years ago

Only the Prime Minister & Cabinet knows why Ong Teng Cheong didn’t have a state funeral in 2002

Top photo via tribute.sg