National University of Singapore Vice Provost (Student Life) Prof Leong Ching, who was also a professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, died on Friday (6 November), aged 57.

Prof Leong Ching is understood to have been admitted to hospital last Friday (30 October) after a stroke.

Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam paid tribute to his friend in a Facebook post on Friday. He said: “She was my first legislative assistant when I was a backbench MP, when the scheme was first introduced. She and I worked on many of my speeches as a MP together.

“Over the years, we kept in touch. I have seen her grow in her career. She was just promoted to a full Professor. She 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.”

Singapore's Ambassador-at-Large, Professor Tommy Koh, also paid tribute to his friend and colleague in a post. He said they had known each other since Prof Leong Ching was a journalist. She later earned a doctoral degree at NUS and began a successful career as a scholar and administrator. They had written a paper together in favour of drinking tap water and against drinking bottled water.

Prof Koh said: “When I was the honorary rector of Tembusu College at NUS, she was a pillar of support. She was recently promoted and we had a good discussion about her new job.” He added: “Ching I will never forget you and your kindness.”

Before entering academia, Prof Leong Ching was a journalist at The Straits Times. Her research interests included water policy, environmental behaviour, public sector reform and communication strategies. She held various senior positions at NUS, including dean of students and acting dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

Daniel Liu, a director at architectural firm MORROW who previously contested a general election as a People's Action Party candidate, also said in a post that he found it hard to accept the news of his friend's sudden death.

He said he had many fond memories of Prof Leong Ching, including joining her on a government study trip to Jakarta, Indonesia. They became friends after completing their studies and often met for meals to discuss Singapore politics and developments at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

He said: “I will miss this the most. Ching was such a legend. RIP, and condolences to her family.”