Ong Teng Cheong was a Singaporean politician, architect and union leader who served as the fifth president of Singapore from 1993 to 1999. He was the first president to be directly elected in a popular vote in Singapore's history after winning the 1993 presidential election.
Ong in 1997
Ong Teng Cheong with President of Argentina Carlos Menem in 1997
The president of the Republic of Singapore is the head of state of Singapore. The president represents the country in official diplomatic functions and possesses certain executive powers over the Government of Singapore, including the control of the national reserves and the ability to revoke and appoint public service appointments.
President of Singapore
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speaking to President S. R. Nathan during the former's visit in 2009
The president has personal discretion as to whether to approve budgets or financial transactions of specified statutory boards and state-owned companies that are likely to draw on past reserves. The Monetary Authority of Singapore, photographed here in September 2009, is one such statutory board.
The Elections Department, which oversees elections in Singapore