Ong Keng Yong

Director (2008 – 2011)

Ambassador Ong Keng Yong was the Director of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) from June 2008 to June 2011. He took office just after the Institute’s merger with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP). Ambassador Ong gave his take on how both institutions benefitted from the merger and commented that the full potential of the move was not realised during his term.

Ambassador Ong’s previous experiences and contacts in the civil service, civil society and political leadership enabled him to contribute to the initiatives of IPS. He elaborated on his efforts to connect IPS with groups like students, businesspersons, grassroots movements, civil society groups and NGOs. His objective was to promote a better appreciation of the Institute’s research activities and to draw a range of views and perspectives from various segments of society, including the different ethnic communities. Ambassador Ong explained how IPS provided value-added analyses of the public’s views on policies and suggested possible responses to the government.

Ambassador Ong also shared about the search for his successor and the appointment of Mr Janadas Devan as Director of IPS. In his dealings with IPS, Ambassador Ong felt that IPS had a bright future, operating in a sensitive milieu with a practical and non-confrontational approach.