{"id":97981,"date":"2026-11-06T22:51:02","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T14:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=97981"},"modified":"2026-11-06T22:51:02","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T14:51:02","slug":"nus-vice-provost-leong-ching-dies-after-promotion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=97981","title":{"rendered":"NUS vice provost Leong Ching dies after promotion"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Leong Ching, the National University of Singapore\u2019s (NUS) vice provost of student life, has died shortly after receiving a promotion at the university.<\/p>\n

The professor in behavioural public policy specialised in research into water policies<\/a>, environmental behaviour, public sector reform, and communications strategies.<\/p>\n

She was an assistant editor and senior correspondent at Singapore Press Holdings for 13 years before transitioning to academia, where she spent more than 15 years.<\/p>\n

Leong also has graduate degrees<\/a> in philosophy, information technology, and journalism.<\/p>\n

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PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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Veteran diplomat Tommy Koh penned a heartfelt tribute to her in a Facebook post on Nov 6,<\/a> saying that she had died.<\/p>\n

Koh said he had known Leong since her days as a journalist, and the pair later became colleagues at NUS. Koh is currently Emeritus Professor of Law at the university.<\/p>\n

They had also co-written an article published in The Straits Times<\/a> on July 2, 2009, titled: Forget Bottled Water, Tap Water as Good as it Gets.<\/p>\n

Koh went on to describe Leong as a \u201cpillar of support\u201d in his days as rector of Tembusu College.<\/p>\n

He added that Leong had recently been promoted and they had chatted about her new role.<\/p>\n

\u201cChing, I will never forget you and your kindness,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

Daniel Liu, chairperson of the People\u2019s Action Party\u2019s (PAP) Paya Lebar Branch, shared a Facebook post<\/a> about Leong\u2019s passing on Nov 6.<\/p>\n

Liu, who was part of the PAP\u2019s slate of candidates for Aljunied GRC in the 2025 General Election, recalled how they had walked through a protest together to reach the barricaded front gates of Jakarta City Hall during a government study trip with their cohort.<\/p>\n

After graduating, Liu remained in touch with the professor, and would often meet to exchange views on Singapore politics.<\/p>\n

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\u201cChing was such a legend,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

Senior Minister K. Shanmugam also paid tribute to Leong in a Facebook post<\/a>, describing Leong as a \u201cdear friend\u201d.<\/p>\n

He said that Leong was his first legislative assistant when he was a \u201cbackbench MP\u201d and recalled working with her on many of his speeches.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the years, we kept in touch. I have seen her grow in her career. She was just promoted to a full Professor,\u201d Shanmugam added.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was a kind, generous, and lively person. It is very sad to see someone with so much potential pass away so suddenly at such a young age.\u201d<\/p>\n

Netizens pay tribute<\/h2>\n

In the comments section of Koh\u2019s post, several netizens left emotional tributes<\/a> to the professor.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s clear that Professor Leong was not only an accomplished scholar but also a wonderful friend whose kindness and support left a lasting impression,\u201d one wrote.<\/p>\n

Another described her as an \u201cenergetic woman, full of zest\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI attended her class just in August and Prof Leong delivered the most intriguing and energetic session. I am deeply jolted by her sudden passing,\u201d a commenter added.<\/p>\n

One netizen said that Leong was a generous and supportive professor who had written a \u201cglowing recommendation\u201d for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe world has indeed lost a rare advocate for fair and equitable water governance and the academia in particular will miss such an astute scholar of behavioral public policy,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Stomp has reached out to NUS for more information.<\/p>\n

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