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Yusof Ishak

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In thisMalay name,there is nosurname or family name.The nameIshakis apatronymic,and the person should be referred to by theirgiven name,Yusof.
His ExcellencyTun
Yusof bin Ishak
DUTSKDUBCPJG
1stPresident of Singapore
In office
9 August 1965 – 23 November 1970
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byBenjamin Sheares
Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore
In office
3 December 1959 – 9 August 1965
MonarchsElizabeth II
Putra of Perlis
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded bySir William Goode
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born
Yusof bin Ishak Al-Haj

(1910-08-12)12 August 1910
Terong,Taiping,Perak,Federated Malay States,British Malaya
Died23 November 1970(1970-11-23)(aged 60)
Singapore
Cause of deathHeart failure
Resting placeKranji State Cemetery
Political partyIndependent
Spouse
​
​
(m.1949⁠–⁠1970)​
Children
  • Orkid Kamariah binti Yusof (daughter)
  • "Baba" Imran bin Yusof (son)
  • Zuriana binti Yusof (daughter)
Alma materVictoria Bridge School
Raffles Institution
Occupation
  • Journalist
  • civil servant
Websitewww.istana.gov.sg/yi

Yusof bin IshakDUTSKDUBCPJG(/ˈjʊsɒfbɪnˈɪshɑːk/YUUSS-off binISS-hahk;12 August 1910 – 23 November 1970) was a Singaporean journalist and senior civil servant who served as the firstpresident of Singaporebetween 1965 and 1970.

Prior to his appointment as Singapore'shead of state,Yusof was a well-knownjournalistwho co-foundedUtusan Melayu,which was in circulation until 9 October 2019. He started his career in journalism after his graduation fromRaffles Institutionin 1929. In 1932, he joined Warta Malaya, a well-known Malay newspaper company at that time, before leaving in 1938 and co-foundedUtusan Melayu.[1]

Yusof held many appointments within the Singapore Government. He served on the Film Appeal Committee from 1948 to 1950 and was a member of both the Nature Reserves Committee and Malayanisation Commission for a year. In July 1959, he was appointed Chairman of thePublic Service Commission.[2]

On 3 December 1959, Yusof succeededSir William GoodeasYang di-Pertuan Negara(English:Head of State) after thePeople's Action Party(PAP) won the1959 general election.[3]Yusof was subsequently appointed as the firstpresident of SingaporebyParliamentafter theindependence of Singaporeon 9 August 1965.

Yusof served three terms in office (2 as Yang-di Pertuan Negara) before he died on 23 November 1970 due to heart failure. His portrait appears on theSingapore Portrait Series currency notesintroduced in 1999. He was succeeded byBenjamin Sheareson 2 January 1971.

Serving as Singapore's Head of State for close to 11 years between 1959 and 1970, he was Singapore's longest-serving Head of State untilS. R. Nathansurpassed this record in August 2010.

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]
Yusof (back row, middle) and his family in 1933.

Born on 12 August 1910 in Kampung Padang Gajah,Terong,Taiping,Perak Darul Ridzuan,which was then part of theFederated Malay States(present dayMalaysia), Yusof was the eldest son in a family of nine. He was ofMinangkabaudescent from his father's side while his mother was aMalayfrom theLangkatregion inIndonesia.[4]His father,Ishak bin Ahmad,was also a civil servant and held the post of Acting Director of Fisheries, Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States.[5]His brother,Aziz Ishak,was aMalayanjournalist and freedom fighter.[citation needed]

Yusof received his early education in a Malay school in Kuala Kurau, Perak and began his English studies in 1921 atKing Edward VII SchoolinTaiping,He was then admitted toVictoria Bridge Schoolin 1923 when his father was posted to Singapore. In 1924, he was enrolled inRaffles Institutionfor his secondary education. During his time in Raffles Institution, he played various sports such as swimming, weight lifting, water-polo, boxing, hockey and cricket and had also represented the school in various sporting events. He was also part of the SingaporeNational Cadet Corpsand was commissioned as the first ever cadetofficerin the Corps due to his outstanding performance. Yusof received his Cambridge School Certificate with distinction in 1927, he was also awarded theQueen's Scholarshipand decided to prolong his studies at Raffles Institution until 1929.[1]

Journalism career

[edit]

After graduating from Raffles Institution in 1929, Yusof began his career as a journalist and went into partnership with two other friends to publish,Sportsman,a sports magazine devoted entirely to sports.[6]In 1932, Yusof joinedWarta Malaya,a well-known newspaper during that time.[7]Warta Malayawas heavily influenced by developments in the Middle East and Yusof wanted a newspaper dedicated to Malay issues. He fulfilled his vision by establishingUtusan Melayuwith several Malay leaders in Singapore in May 1939.[8]

During theJapanese Occupation of Singapore,Utusan Melayuhad to stop circulation as machinery used to print the paper were requisitioned to publish the Japanese paper,Berita Malai.Yusof then moved back to Taiping and with the remaining money he had, he opened a provision shop and lived there until the war ended in 1945 andUtusan Melayuresumed publication. In 1957, Yusof moved toKuala Lumpurand in February 1958, the headquarters ofUtusan Melayuwas also relocated to the city. During the post-war period, many Malays wanted independence of Malaya from the British and Yusof, fanned this fervour through his publications which resulted in the formation of theUnited Malay Nationalist Organisation(UMNO) in 1946. However, his democratic ideals were different from UMNO's vision of reestablishing the monarchy of Malaya. This resulted in rising tensions within theUtusan Melayuand in 1959, Yusof had sold his shares he had in the company and resigned as UMNO had bought over almost all of the shares ofUtusan Melayu.[8]

Political career and presidency

[edit]

Yusof held several appointments within the Singaporean government, he had served on the Film Appeal Committee from 1948 to 1950 and was also a member of both the Nature Reserves Committee and Malayanisation Commission for a year. After his resignation fromUtusan Melayu,Yusof took the position of Chairman of the Public Service Commission of Singapore at the invitation of thenPrime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.[9]

AfterPAP's victory from the1959 Singaporean elections,Yusof was appointed asYang di-Pertuan Negaraand was sworn on 3 December 1959,[10]During his time as Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Singapore was divided by racial conflicts. Yusof actively promotedmulticulturalismand reached out to people of all races to help restore trust and confidence after the1964 racial riots.[11]

On 9 August 1965, Singapore was expelled fromMalaysiaand became an independent nation. The position of Yang di-Pertuan Negara was abolished and Yusof then became the firstPresident of Singapore.As president, Yusof reached out to the people to reassure citizens astonished by Singapore's expulsion and continued to promote multiculturalism and a national identity within the country by visiting constituencies and reached out to different racial and religious groups.[12]

Yusof served for three terms in office before he died on 23 November 1970 due to heart failure.[13][14]

Family and personal life

[edit]

Yusof is survived by his wife of 21 years, PuanNoor Aishah,and their three children, Orkid Kamariah, Imran, and Zuriana.[15]Puan Noor Aishah continued her husband's legacy of public service and was the first Asian to become president of theSingapore Girl Guides Association.[16]She and her now adult children were interviewed for theChannel NewsAsiadocumentaryDaughters of Singapore,which screened in August 2015 as part of theSG50celebrations and commemorated the spouses of Yusof Ishak andDavid Marshall,two pioneer leaders of Singapore.[17]

Yusof participated in several sports in his youth. He won the Aw Boon Par Cup for boxing in 1932, and was the national lightweight champion in weightlifting in 1933.[18]One of Yusof's hobbies was photography, and a collection of his photographs was donated to theNational Archives of Singaporeby his widow, Noor Aishah.[19]He also cultivatedorchids,[20]and had the tennis courts at his residence on theIstanagrounds, Sri Melati, converted into an orchid garden.[21]He performed thepilgrimage to Meccain 1963.[22]

Legacy

[edit]
Tomb of President Yusof Ishak atKranji State Cemetery

The following institutions bear Yusof Ishak's name:

Other memorials include:

Other legacies

[edit]

Senior appointments

[edit]

Opening ceremonies

[edit]

Yusof Ishak officiated many events including:

And also his wifeToh Puan Dr Noor Aishahofficiated many events including:

Yusof Ishak also opened schools and institutions including:

And also that of his wifeToh Puan Dr Noor Aishahincluding:

Other achievements:

  • 1932 - Boxing Champion, winning theAw Boon Parcup 1932
  • 1933 - Weightlifting Champion, National Lightweight category

Honours

[edit]

Honours of Singapore

[edit]

Foreign honours

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ab"Encik Yusof Ishak".Istana Singapore.Archivedfrom the original on 11 April 2016.Retrieved6 April2016.
  2. ^"Yusof Head of State. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG".2 December 1959.Archivedfrom the original on 5 April 2016.Retrieved4 April2016.
  3. ^Seet, K. K. (2000). The Istana (pp.88–89). Singapore: Times Editions. Call no.: RART 725.17095957 IST; Singapore rejoices. (4 December 1959). The Straits Times, p. 1
  4. ^"Istana – Former Presidents".The Istana. 13 December 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 2 June 2011.Retrieved23 April2018.
  5. ^"The Singaporean Yusof Bin Ishak".The Singaporean.Archivedfrom the original on 17 April 2016.Retrieved6 April2016.
  6. ^"Biography – Yusuf bin Ishak".Knowledge Net. Archived fromthe originalon 18 April 2016.Retrieved6 April2016.
  7. ^"First issue of Warta Malaya (1930–1942) is published – Singapore History".History SG.Archivedfrom the original on 28 April 2019.Retrieved6 April2016.
  8. ^abKuntom., Ainon (1973).Malay newspapers, 1876–1973: A historical survey of the literature (pp. 27–32).Archivedfrom the original on 19 September 2020.Retrieved6 April2016.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^"Life and times of Yusof Ishak, Singapore's first president".The Straits Times.18 August 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 28 April 2016.Retrieved6 April2016.
  10. ^"Yusof Ishak: The man and his passions".AsiaOne.25 August 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 25 April 2016.Retrieved6 April2016.
  11. ^State of Singapore. Government Gazette. Extraordinary. (G.N. 62, p.1055).Singapore. 3 December 1959.Archivedfrom the original on 19 September 2020.Retrieved6 April2016.
  12. ^"Straits Times: Iseas to be named after Yusof Ishak on Aug 12".Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2016.Retrieved6 April2016.
  13. ^"Cabinet pays last respects".The Straits Times.24 November 1970.Archivedfrom the original on 20 April 2016.Retrieved6 April2016– viaNewspaperSG.
  14. ^"Yusof Ishak".www.roots.sg.National Heritage Board.Retrieved8 November2020.
  15. ^"Growing up in the Presidents' shadow".AsiaOne.Archived fromthe originalon 24 March 2015.
  16. ^"History of Girl Guides Singapore"(PDF).Girl Guides Singapore.2010. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 8 March 2016.Retrieved12 August2019.
  17. ^"Changing Lives: Puan Dr Noor Aishah".Channel NewsAsia.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^"Son of S'pore first President: Yes, I taught PM Lee to ride a bike".The New Paper.23 August 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 11 August 2017.Retrieved10 August2017.
  19. ^Khoo, Kevin."Yusof bin Ishak – The Republic of Singapore's First Head of State".National Archives of Singapore.Archived fromthe originalon 4 January 2018.Retrieved24 April2018.
  20. ^"Yusof Ishak: The Man and his Passions".ifonlysingaporeans.blogspot.sg.Archivedfrom the original on 28 May 2018.Retrieved23 April2018.
  21. ^"Singapore's history: The Istana".PropertyGuru Singapore.Archivedfrom the original on 11 August 2017.Retrieved10 August2017.
  22. ^"Yusof bin Ishak – The Republic of Singapore's First Head of State".www.nas.gov.sg.Archives Online. Archived fromthe originalon 3 August 2017.Retrieved3 August2017.These pictures were personally taken by President Yusof Ishak during his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1963.
  23. ^"Our History".yusofishaksec.moe.edu.sg.Retrieved8 November2020.Yusof Ishak Secondary School was established in 1965 as Jubilee Integrated Secondary School. It was an integrated school offering secondary education to an enrolment of 984 pupils and 37 teachers of two streams, in English and Malay. On 29 July 1966, then Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew declared open Yusof Ishak Secondary School (YISS) at Jubilee Road. We are the only school to be named after a President of our Republic.
  24. ^Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh (12 August 2015)."Think tank renamed ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, bearing name of Singapore's first president".The Straits Times.Retrieved8 November2020.
  25. ^"Facilities".nus.edu.sg.Retrieved8 November2020.
  26. ^"Yusof Ishak Mosque opens in Woodlands".Channel News Asia.14 April 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 25 April 2017.Retrieved24 April2017.
  27. ^"Circulation Currency: Notes".www.mas.gov.sg.Monetary Authority of Singapore.Retrieved8 November2020.
  28. ^"Yusof Ishak".Madame Tussauds Singapore.Retrieved8 November2020.
  29. ^"Set of six SG50 commemorative notes unveiled".TODAY.19 August 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 24 June 2016.Retrieved29 June2016.
  30. ^Kranji War Memorial.
  31. ^"Orders and Medals of Yusof Ishak".31 July 1965.Archivedfrom the original on 14 February 2016.Retrieved24 April2018.
  32. ^abOmar, Marsita (2016)."Yusof bin Ishak".eresources.nlb.gov.sg.Infopedia/National Library Board, Singapore.Archivedfrom the original on 6 May 2018.Retrieved23 April2018.
  33. ^"Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1963"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 3 March 2016.Retrieved24 August2018.
  34. ^"Yusof made Knight of St. John".Archivedfrom the original on 10 February 2018.Retrieved23 April2018.
Notes
Library resourcesabout
Yusof Ishak
Wikimedia Commons has media related toYusof bin Ishak.
Political offices
Preceded by Head of StateofSingapore
1959–1970 		Succeeded by
Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore
1959–1965 		Position abolished
Became President of Singapore
New office
Previously Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore
 President of Singapore
1965–1970 		Succeeded by
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