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Yusof Ishak

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In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Ishak is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Yusof. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
His Excellency
Yusof bin Ishak
DUT SK DUBC PJG
900.px
Yusof c. 1924–1929
1st President of Singapore
In office
9 August 1965 – 23 November 1970
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byBenjamin Sheares
2nd 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(1910-08-12)12 August 1910
Padang Gajah, Terong, Larut, Matang and Selama District, Perak, Federated Malay States (present-day Perak, Malaysia)
Died23 November 1970(1970-11-23) (aged 60)
Singapore
Cause of deathHeart failure
Resting placeKranji State Cemetery
Political partyIndependent
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1949)​
RelationsAziz Ishak (younger brother)
Abdul Rahim Ishak (younger brother)
Children3
ParentIshak bin Ahmad (father)
Alma materVictoria Bridge School
Raffles Institution
Occupation
  • Journalist
  • civil servant

Yusof bin Ishak (/ˈjʊsɒf bɪn ˈɪshɑːk/ YUUSS-off bin ISS-hahk; 12 August 1910 – 23 November 1970) was a Singaporean journalist and civil servant who served as the second Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore from 1959 to 1965 and the first president of Singapore between 1965 and 1970, both roles serving as the head of state of Singapore. Born in the Federated Malay States, Yusof had his education in Malaysia and Singapore, graduating from Raffles Institution in 1929. Upon his graduation, he worked in journalism, creating a sports magazine with friends before joining Warta Malaya, a Malay-language daily newspaper. Leaving Warta in 1938, Yusof co-founded Utusan Melayu, a newspaper more centred on Malay issues, in 1939 with other Malay figures in Singapore.

He was a central figure in Utusan's success, staying with the newspaper for two decades. He left in 1959 following conflicts between Utusan and UMNO, which ultimately led to UMNO buying all the shares of Utusan. Yusof returned to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur, where Utusan was located, and was invited to serve as chairman of the Public Service Commission by then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. On 3 December 1959, Yusof succeeded Sir William Goode as Yang di-Pertuan Negara (English: Head of State) after the People's Action Party (PAP) won the 1959 general election. Yusof was subsequently appointed as the first president of Singapore by Parliament after the independence of Singapore on 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. He was succeeded by Benjamin Sheares on 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 until S. R. Nathan surpassed this record in August 2010. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.

Early life and education

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Yusof (back row, middle) and his family in 1933

Yusof was born on 12 August 1910 in Padang Gajah, a kampong village in Terong, Larut, Matang and Selama District, Perak, which was then a part of the Federated Malay States (present-day Malaysia). The eldest son of nine siblings, Yusof was of Malay and Sumatran descent. His father was of Minangkabau descent who lived in Penang before moving to Perak whilst his mother was of Malay descent who came from Langkat, North Sumatra.[1] Yusof and his family lived in government housing in McNair Road.[2]

His father was Ishak bin Ahmad, a civil servant who held the post of Acting Director of Fisheries.[1] His younger brothers, Aziz Ishak and Abdul Rahim Ishak, were active in politics in Malaysia and Singapore respectively.[3][4] Yusof received his early education at the Malay School and King Edward VII School, both in Taiping, Perak. In 1923, when his family moved to the Straits Settlements (present-day Singapore) after his father was posted there, Yusof studied at Victoria Bridge School. In 1924, he was enrolled in Raffles Institution (RI) for his secondary education.[5][6]

During his time in RI, he played various sports such as swimming, weight lifting, water-polo, boxing, hockey, baseball, and cricket. A member of the National Cadet Corps, Yusof became the first student to be made an officer, specifically a second lieutenant. He was also a part of The Rafflesian, a school newspaper, as a co-editor and a prefect.[7] In sports, he also won the Aw Boon Par Cup in boxing and was the national weightlifting champion in 1932 and 1933, respectively.[8] In 1927, Yusof passed his Cambridge School Certificate examination with distinctions and entered the Queen's Scholarship Class in RI. He was one of 13 students in the Queen's Scholarship Class, along with being the only Malay student. He studied at RI for two more years, graduating in 1929 when he was unable to get the scholarship.[7][9] Yusof initially wanted to pursue law, but was unable too after his study application in London was turned down and his father could not afford to send him to study abroad. Instead, Yusof started working in the police force in Kuala Lumpur as a trainee cadet. Yusof was promised promotion to an officer by the Police Commissioner. However, he was later denied the promotion after an incident where he confronted a member of the royal family who mistreated his juniors. Yusof left the police force soon after and returned to Singapore.[2][10][11]

Journalism career

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1 September 1930 publication of Sportsman

After leaving the police force, he returned to Singapore. He began his journalism career after he partnered with two of his Chinese friends – Ong Chin Beng and Soh Swee Tuck – to publish Sportsman, a fortnightly sports magazine devoted entirely to sports.[9] In 1932, Yusof joined Warta Malaya, a Malay newspaper with the highest circulation during that time, after his friend Syed Hussein bin Ali Alsagoff invited him to join it.[12] He worked at Warta for eight years, becoming a manager. During his time there, Warta Malaya was heavily influenced by developments in the Middle East and Yusof wanted a newspaper more dedicated to Malay issues; the other largest Malay newspaper was Jawi Peranakan, which was run by Muslims of Indian descent.[13] In 1938, Yusof was among a group of twenty other Malays who met up at the home of the president of the Singapore Malay Association to discuss creating a Malay newspaper that was owned by Malays.[a][10][2]

Creating Utusan Melayu

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They discussed the feasibility of this idea and whether they would be enough funds for it, given that another member attempted the same idea in 1937 but had to shut down due to a lack of support. Yusof was assigned with gathering funds and expertise from the Malay community for this project.[12] To raise funds, Yusof and other members travelled around Singapore, Johor, and Kuala Lumpur to sell shares for the newspapers; they were only able to sell a few. They also visited mosques weekly and held talks to the congregation about their newspaper, usually receiving a lukewarm reception. Their deadline to gather the money was approaching soon and if they were not able to, their project would have failed. To help with the remaining money, members Ambo Sooloh and Daud J. P. raised S$8,500 between themselves, saving the project.[15][16] In May 1939, Yusof and other Malay figures, including Sooloh and Abdul Rahim Kajai, successfully founded Utusan Melayu, with Yusof serving as its first managing director.[9][10] He also rented out a cheap office and a moveable jawi flatbed press.[17]

Under his management, he was described as "the driving force of Utusan Melayu". Writing or grammar mistakes were corrected while inactive reporters were fired immediately, but received a month's pay. During the Pacific War, despite suffering a decrease in staff and frequent bombing from the Japanese, Yusof and other staff continued to publish Utusan Melayu. According to one account, during the bombings of 1941, Yusof ignored the air-raid sirens and made the staff continue working on Utusan. A lookout had been placed on the roof and, only when the planes were directly overhead, would Yusof allow the staff to head to the bomb shelters. This allowed Utusan to remain on schedule even during the war.[17][18] His editorial policy at Utusan was Malay-Muslim centred, multi-racial, and progressive, and he supported education in the Malay community. Due to his beliefs of multi-racialism and racial equality, he was considered controversial in the Malay community as he never blamed issues with the Malay on other communities nor did he defend the Malay royal families.[17]

Logo of Berita Malai

Two days before the fall of Singapore, Utusan had only printed about fifty copies. Despite that, Yusof went around with three other staff members to distribute the newspaper themselves. At the start of the Japanese occupation, Utusan Melayu stopped circulation as machinery used to print the paper was requisitioned by the Japanese military to publish a Japanese newspaper instead.[18] During the occupation, Yusof worked at Berita Malai, a newspaper that was run by the Japanese, as an editor. He worked there till 1943, when he fell ill and returned back to Taiping, Perak.[5] After the war ended in 1945, Yusof helped to reestablish Utusan alongside some other members. Although they lost their machines to make newspapers, they managed to republish the paper by 10 September, five days after British forces returned to Singapore, by printing at the Straits Times Printing Press. Yusof returned to Singapore on 17 September to take over management and editing of Utusan from Ramli Haji Tahir. During this time, Utusan moved its headquarters to Cecil Street and recovered two of their old machines.[19] In 1949, Utusan celebrated its tenth anniversary and Yusof gave a speech where he stated that "[Utusan's] 130 employees owned more than 25 per cent of the firm's total capital", further stating that it "was perhaps the only newspaper in the world in which 95 per cent of the employees were shareholders".[20]

Yusof first met Lee Kuan Yew when he was working at Laycock & Ong (pictured in his Laycock & Ong office in 1952).

Following the end of World War II, Yusof's views were more anti-colonial and pro-independence, mainly following the British's performance during the war. This was seen in Utusan's publications as its tone became more progressive and political. Sometime after the war, Yusof wanted to replace Utusan's legal advisor, Progressive Party founder C. C. Tan, with someone with a more "radical, nationalist outlook". After consulting with lawyer John Laycock, Yusof was informed that a lawyer, Lee Kuan Yew, was soon to return from England to work at his firm Laycock & Ong. Yusof met Lee at the Laycock & Ong office upon his return to Singapore and they became good friends and fellow nationalists. In 1951, Yusof got help from Lee to represent his friend Abdul Samad Ismail after he was detained by the British; Abdul would later found the People's Action Party with Lee.[17] That same year, Yusof was invited by the United States to represent Malaya as a journalist along with being recommended as a nominated member of the Legislative Council.[21][22]

Yusof's departure from Utusan

[edit]

In 1957, Yusof moved to Kuala Lumpur and in February 1958, the headquarters of Utusan Melayu was also relocated to the city, making the newspaper more Malaya based with only a branch office remaining in Singapore.[13][23] Even though Utusan was an independent newspaper, Utusan was a supporter of the United Malay Nationalist Organisation (UMNO) and the Alliance Party, moreso after the war. Yusof, as Utusan's managing director, stated this of the UMNO and the Alliance Party:[24]

"The Utusan Melayu has been a strong supporter of the UMNO and lately of the [Alliance Party], particularly during the first federal election of 1955, because the Utusan was launched with the expressed object of raising the status of our people, country and religion, and such an object could not be achieved if colonialism were to exist. The [Alliance Party], as everybody knows, was the only political party which articulately strove for independence and freedom. This explains the reason why Utusan Melayu has always been pro-UMNO and the [Alliance Party]."

However, as Utusan began to have a more socialist slant in the 1950s, it would end up conflicting with the UMNO. While the newspaper did support the Malays, Utusan published some articles which were considered critical of UMNO, and Utusan's deputy editor said of the Sultans to be "feudal elements". This led the UMNO to begin buying shares from Utusan in 1955 in an attempt to get the newspaper under their control. Yusof initially resisted the UMNO's attempts but finally left in 1959 after he sold all his shares and left to Singapore.[25]

Career as head of state

[edit]
Yusof (middle) visiting Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque in Brunei withPrime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (left) and Secretary of the Religious Office Pengiran Muda Kemaluddin (second from right), 1960

After his resignation from Utusan Melayu, Yusof returned to Singapore. The People's Action Party had just won the 1959 general elections and set up their own government. He was invited by then-new Prime Minister Lee to serve as chairman of the Public Service Commission, to which he accepted and was subsequently appointed by Yang di-Pertuan Negara Sir William Goode.[6][26]

Yusof was appointed as Yang di-Pertuan Negara and was sworn on 3 December 1959,[27] During his time as Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Singapore was divided by racial conflicts. Yusof actively promoted multiculturalism and reached out to people of all races to help restore trust and confidence after the 1964 racial riots.[28]

On 9 August 1965, Singapore was expelled from Malaysia and became an independent nation. The position of Yang di-Pertuan Negara was abolished and Yusof then became the first President 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.[29]

Yusof served for three terms in office before he died on 23 November 1970 due to heart failure.[30][31]

Family and personal life

[edit]

Yusof is survived by his wife of 21 years, Puan Noor Aishah, and their three children, Orkid Kamariah, Imran, and Zuriana.[32] Puan Noor Aishah continued her husband's legacy of public service and was the first Asian to become president of the Singapore Girl Guides Association.[33] She and her now adult children were interviewed for the Channel NewsAsia documentary Daughters of Singapore, which screened in August 2015 as part of the SG50 celebrations and commemorated the spouses of Yusof Ishak and David Marshall, two pioneer leaders of Singapore.[34]

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.[35] One of Yusof's hobbies was photography, and a collection of his photographs was donated to the National Archives of Singapore by his widow, Noor Aishah.[36] He also cultivated orchids,[37] and had the tennis courts at his residence on the Istana grounds, Sri Melati, converted into an orchid garden.[38] He performed the pilgrimage to Mecca in 1963.[39]

Legacy

[edit]
Tomb of President Yusof Ishak at Kranji State Cemetery

The following institutions bear Yusof Ishak's name:

Other memorials include:

Honours

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Honours of Singapore

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Foreign honours

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See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Warta Malaya was owned by the Arab Singaporean Alsagoff family, from 1930 to 1941.[14]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "YUSOF Head of State". The Straits Times. 2 December 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  2. ^ a b c Chew 2015, p. 180.
  3. ^ "'Terima jawatan mahu bukti PAP bukan anti-Melayu'" ['Accept the position and want proof that the PAP is not anti-Malay']. Berita Harian (in Malay). 30 March 1996. p. 13. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via NewspaperSG. Kenyataan tersebut diberikan oleh Encik Aziz Ishak, adik kepada Allahyarham Yusof, dalam temuramahnya dengan pengarang buku Leaders of Singapore [The statement was given by Encik Aziz Ishak, brother of the late Yusof, in his interview with the author of the book Leaders of Singapore]
  4. ^ Abdul Rahim, Zackaria (19 January 2001). "Abdul Rahim Ishak, PAP old guard, dies in hospital". Today. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. ^ a b "MELAYU KETUA NEGARA" [MALAY HEAD OF STATE]. Berita Harian. 2 December 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ a b "Goode names new jobs men". The Straits Times. 15 July 1959. p. 9. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ a b "BIOGRAPHY: Yusof Ishak". The Straits Times. 5 September 1999. p. 39. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ "Life and times of Yusof Ishak, Singapore's first president". The Straits Times. 18 August 2014. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  9. ^ a b c "Right man for the right time". Singapore Monitor. 2 September 1983. p. 19. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  10. ^ a b c Nik Ahmad 1963, p. 62.
  11. ^ Zainul Abidin & Norshahril 2016, p. 5.
  12. ^ a b Sulaiman, Jeman (7 November 1988). "The rise of Malay newspapers". The Straits Times. p. 6. Retrieved 27 December 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. ^ a b Kuntom, Ainon (1973). Malay Newspapers, 1876–1973: A Historical Survey of the Literature. pp. 27–32. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  14. ^ Nik Ahmad 1963, pp. 56–57.
  15. ^ Nik Ahmad 1963, p. 64.
  16. ^ Chew 2015, p. 181.
  17. ^ a b c d Chew 2015, p. 182.
  18. ^ a b Nik Ahmad 1963, p. 69.
  19. ^ Nik Ahmad 1963, p. 71.
  20. ^ "Utusan Melayu has 10th birthday". The Straits Times. 29 May 1949. p. 9. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  21. ^ "Malay Union Names 3 Men For Council". Sunday Standard. 1 April 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  22. ^ "Journalist's visit to U.S. postponed". The Straits Times. 10 April 1951. p. 8. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  23. ^ Nik Ahmad 1963, p. 73.
  24. ^ Nik Ahmad 1963, p. 72.
  25. ^ Chew 2015, pp. 182–183.
  26. ^ Chew 2015, p. 183.
  27. ^ "Yusof Ishak: The man and his passions". AsiaOne. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  28. ^ State of Singapore. Government Gazette. Extraordinary. (G.N. 62, p. 1055). Singapore. 3 December 1959. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  29. ^ "Straits Times: Iseas to be named after Yusof Ishak on Aug 12". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  30. ^ "Cabinet pays last respects". The Straits Times. 24 November 1970. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016 – via NewspaperSG.
  31. ^ "Yusof Ishak". www.roots.sg. National Heritage Board. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  32. ^ "Growing up in the Presidents' shadow". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015.
  33. ^ "History of Girl Guides Singapore" (PDF). Girl Guides Singapore. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  34. ^ "Changing Lives: Puan Dr Noor Aishah". Channel NewsAsia.[permanent dead link‍]
  35. ^ "Son of S'pore first President: Yes, I taught PM Lee to ride a bike". The New Paper. 23 August 2014. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  36. ^ Khoo, Kevin. "Yusof bin Ishak – The Republic of Singapore's First Head of State". National Archives of Singapore. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  37. ^ "Yusof Ishak: The Man and his Passions". ifonlysingaporeans.blogspot.sg. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  38. ^ "Singapore's history: The Istana". PropertyGuru Singapore. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  39. ^ "Yusof bin Ishak – The Republic of Singapore's First Head of State". www.nas.gov.sg. Archives Online. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017. These pictures were personally taken by President Yusof Ishak during his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1963.
  40. ^ "Our History". yusofishaksec.moe.edu.sg. Retrieved 8 November 2020. 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.
  41. ^ Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh (12 August 2015). "Think tank renamed ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, bearing name of Singapore's first president". The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  42. ^ "Facilities". nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  43. ^ "Yusof Ishak Mosque opens in Woodlands". Channel News Asia. 14 April 2017. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  44. ^ "Circulation Currency: Notes". www.mas.gov.sg. Monetary Authority of Singapore. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  45. ^ "Yusof Ishak". Madame Tussauds Singapore. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  46. ^ "Set of six SG50 commemorative notes unveiled". Today. 19 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  47. ^ Kranji War Memorial.
  48. ^ "Orders and Medals of Yusof Ishak". 31 July 1965. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  49. ^ a b Omar, Marsita (2016). "Yusof bin Ishak". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Infopedia / National Library Board, Singapore. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  50. ^ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1963" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  51. ^ "Anugerah Bintang Darjah Kerabat" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. 7 December 1960. p. 1. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  52. ^ "Yusof made Knight of St. John". Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Library resources about
Yusof Ishak
Political offices
Preceded by Head of State of Singapore
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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