SINGAPORE, Aug 13 — After a political career spanning more than three decades — putting him behind only Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong in the current Parliament — former Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng will be calling it a day. 

“Thirty one years is a very long time — seven terms. It’s probably one of the longest in Parliament,” said Wong yesterday, noting that only he and Lee remain as Members of Parliament from the 1984 batch of People’s Action Party candidates. 

Speaking at a press conference to introduce the PAP slate for the constituency, Wong, 68, added: “I’ve walked through this long journey, more than three-quarters of my working life.” He quipped: “Don’t you think I deserve a rest?”

Wong entered politics after winning his maiden electoral contest in Kuo Chuan with 64.6 per cent of the votes against Barisan Sosialis candidate Sim Chit Giak. In 1986, he was appointed as Acting Minister for Community Development. A year later, he was made a full member of the Cabinet. 

Over 24 years, he went on to helm the foreign and home affairs ministries. He stepped down from Cabinet following the 2011 General Election, had remained as an MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. 

Wong thanked residents for supporting him all these years. “It’s my honour and privilege to have been of service to them, they will always have a place in my heart,” he said. 

He added: “As part of the PAP policy of self-renewal and bringing in new blood, I think we should do our part. I’m doing my part now to find (the right) people ... to carry on with the work that the PAP started in 1959.”

He praised his replacement, OUE Hospitality Trust CEO Chong Kee Hiong, as someone who “works very hard”, and has sound values and a heart for the less well-off. “Having come from a humble background, Chong has moved up in life due to our meritocratic system ... He comes with a good heart,” said Wong, who himself was a poster boy of the Republic’s meritocracy. Wong’s parents were street hawkers and he attended night classes before he gained admission to university. 

Wong spent 17 years helming the Ministry of Home Affairs. The development of the “Home Team” concept to unify the MHA’s uniformed services was seen as one of his most significant contributions.

In 2003, Wong also led the inter-ministry severe acute respiratory syndrome taskforce at the height of the crisis. 

However, his copybook was blotted in 2008 when terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari escaped from Whitley Road Detention Centre. Mas Selamat was re-arrested a year later. Wong took responsibility for the incident, and apologised in Parliament. 

Paying tribute to Wong, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, who is the anchor minister for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, said that Wong had mentored several MPs, including himself.

“(Wong) is as old as Bishan town”, joked Dr Ng, who led the GRC team members — past and present — in a bow of respect to Wong. 

Residents TODAY spoke to described Wong as approachable and helpful. June Tang, 67, a resident at Bishan for over 20 years, said that Wong had helped her family — who was having financial difficulties — get the flat they are currently living in now.

Lin Minjiang, 81, said Wong was a “great MP” who helped many of her friends.

“We see him very often at the community club.

Whenever we have any requests, we will ask him and he will try to help.” — TODAY