SINGAPORE — Two Singapore icons, veteran politician Mr Chiam See Tong and former star swimmer Mr Ang Peng Siong, have come together to set up a foundation that will provide financial aid to people who need it to pursue their goals, but fall outside the current systems that provide such help. 

TODAY understands that Mr Chiam, who is the secretary-general of the Singapore People’s Party (SPP), submitted an application for the foundation to the Registry of Societies (ROS) last November, and expects to receive a reply by early next month.

The 81-year-old former lawyer has also roped in Mr Ang to head the foundation’s board of governors. The foundation will be named after Mr Chiam. 

When contacted about this, Mrs Lina Chiam, Mr Chiam’s wife, replied in an email: “We are unable to make any comment in regard to your media query.”

Likewise, Mr Ang — whose father, Mr Ang Teck Bee, had coached Mr Chiam when the latter represented Anglo-Chinese School in swimming — told TODAY that he “did not want to comment further till everything was confirmed”.

Mr Chiam is Singapore’s longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament (MP) in a Single-Member Constituency (SMC). He was the MP for Potong Pasir from 1984 to 2011. 

At the 2011 General Election, Mr Chiam left his constituency to stand as a member of the SPP team in the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency (GRC). The SPP was defeated by the People’s Action Party team there, while Mrs Chiam, standing in Potong Pasir, was defeated narrowly by Mr Sitoh Yih Pin of the PAP. 

Meanwhile, TODAY also understands that Mr Jose Raymond, the managing director of communications agency Spin Worldwide, is expected to serve as the foundation’s deputy chairman.

The former chief executive of the Singapore Environment Council previously posted on his Facebook page that Mr Chiam had provided financial help to his family during the 1980s, which enabled them to buy a HDB flat.

Political observer and former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Calvin Cheng said that the setting up of the foundation will help to cement Mr Chiam’s legacy in Singapore as a political figure who champions the underprivileged.

“Firstly, I think the goal (of the foundation) is very noble. It is something that I may personally donate to, as long as the foundation spells out how they will identify who falls outside the current system,” Mr Cheng told TODAY.

“The problem is that there will be people who will not be covered by a certain scheme because of means testing, but it isn’t that they fall through the cracks — it’s just that somewhere, a line has to be drawn. So the mechanics of Mr Chiam’s scheme are important. Overall, I think it is great that Mr Chiam is setting up a foundation, as people should remember him for fighting the good and noble fight for the opposition cause.

“He is someone with integrity, strong principles, and a role model for opposition politicians, so I hope members of the establishment will rally around and support him in this endeavour.”