DPM Teo Chee Hean's mother dies aged 89
Mdm Tan Suang, the mother of Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee
Hean, died on Sunday morning. She was 89.
Mdm Tan's late husband was Mr Teo Cheng Guan, the former
chairman and chief executive officer of OCBC Bank.
The couple raised their four children to "work hard and not to
expect things to come (their) way in life," said DPM Teo in a 1996
interview with The New Paper.
Then a secretary, Mdm Tan insisted on teaching shorthand and
typing skills to her children: her three daughters Hee Lian, Chai
Lian and Swee Lian, and only son DPM Teo.
DPM Teo's former classmate Michael Ang, managing director of
broadband distributor Stream Networks, recalled Mdm Tan being "very
approachable."
Classmates with DPM Teo for twelve years, Mr Ang used to visit
the latter's house to play chess when they were both in secondary
school at St Joseph's Institution (SJI).
"Chee Hean was close to his family, and like all mothers then,
(Mdm Tan) seemed to be the one holding the house together," said Mr
Ang.
"His mum was a wonderful lady and would often strike up a
conversation with me."
