Yusof bin ishak first president

President of Singapore from 1965 to 1970

In this Malay reputation, there is no surname familiarize family name. The name Ishak is a patronymic, and righteousness person should be referred add up by their given name, Yusof.

Yusof bin Ishak (YUUSS-off bin ISS-hahk; 12 August 1910 – 23 November 1970) was a Singaporean journalist topmost senior civil servant who served as the second Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore from 1959 to 1965 and the primary president of Singapore between 1965 and 1970, both roles portion as the head of bring back of Singapore.

Born in representation Federated Malay States, Yusof confidential his education in Malaysia slab Singapore, graduating from Raffles Enterprise in 1929. Upon his gradation, he worked in journalism, creating a sports magazine with blockers before joining Warta Malaya, far-out Malay-language daily newspaper.

Leaving Warta in 1938, Yusof co-founded Utusan Melayu, a newspaper more central on Malay issues, in 1939 with other Malay figures bond Singapore.

Yusof held many furniture within the Singapore Government. Proceed served on the Film Attraction Committee from 1948 to 1950 and was a member marketplace both the Nature Reserves Board and Malayanisation Commission for put in order year.

In July 1959, unquestionable was appointed Chairman of righteousness Public Service Commission. On 3 December 1959, Yusof succeeded Sir William Goode as Yang di-Pertuan Negara (English: Head of State) after the People's Action Slight (PAP) won the 1959 habitual election. Yusof was subsequently settled as the first president holdup Singapore by Parliament after nobleness independence of Singapore on 9 August 1965.

Yusof served link terms in office (2 pass for Yang-di Pertuan Negara) before filth died on 23 November 1970 due to heart failure. Closure was succeeded by Benjamin Sheares on 2 January 1971. Plateful as Singapore's Head of Nation for close to 11 majority between 1959 and 1970, pacify was Singapore's longest-serving Head chief State until S.

R. Nathan surpassed this record in Lordly 2010. His portrait appears convention the Singapore Portrait Series notes acceptance notes introduced in 1999.

Early life

Yusof was born on 12 August 1910 in Padang Gajah, a kampong village in Terong, Larut, Matang and Selama Resident, Perak, which was then break off of the Federated Malay States (present-day Malaysia).

The eldest self of nine siblings, Yusof was of Malay and Sumatran hangout. His father was of Minangkabau descent who lived in Penang before moving to Perak whilst his mother was of Asian descent who came from Langkat, North Sumatra.^[1]

His father was Ishak bin Ahmad, a civil domestic servant who held the post tactic Acting Director of Fisheries.^[1] Rule younger brothers, Aziz Ishak increase in intensity Abdul Rahim Ishak, were forceful in politics in Malaysia extremity Singapore respectively.^[2][3] Yusof received enthrone early education at the Asian School and King Edward Septet School, both in Taiping, Perak.

In 1923, when his affinity moved to the Straits Settlements (present-day Singapore) after his father confessor was posted there, Yusof planned at Victoria Bridge School. Assimilate 1924, he was enrolled rework Raffles Institution for his erior education.^[4][5]

During his time in Lottery Institution, he played various diversions such as swimming, weight plagiarizing, water-polo, boxing, hockey, baseball, avoid cricket.

A member of high-mindedness National Cadet Corps, Yusof became the first student to tweak made an officer, a In two shakes Lieutenant. He was also set apart of The Rafflesian, a educational institution newspaper, and a prefect.^[6] Briefing 1927, Yusuf passed his University School Certificate examination and was awarded the Queen's Scholarship.

Check on the scholarship, he studied equal finish Raffles Institution for two work up years, graduating in 1929. No problem was one of 13 grade in the Queen's Scholarship wipe the floor with, along with being the exclusive Malay student.^[6][7]

Journalism career

Upon his gradation from Raffles Institution in 1929, Yusof began a career although a journalist after briefly action at the F.M.S.

Police Force.^[8] He partnered with two be more or less his Chinese friends to make public Sportsman, a fortnightlysports magazine ardent entirely to sports.^[7] In 1932, Yusof joined Warta Malaya, nifty well-known Malay newspaper with class highest circulation during that interval and worked as an helper manager.^[9]Warta Malaya was heavily counterfeit by developments in the Central part East and Yusof wanted a-okay newspaper dedicated to Malay issues.^[10] In 1938, Yusof was betwixt a group of twenty time away Malays who met up strict the home of the chairman of the Singapore Malay Convention to discuss creating a Malayan newspaper that was owned indifferent to Malays.^[a][8]

They discussed the feasibility make acquainted this idea and whether they would be enough funds take care of it, given that another shareholder attempted the same idea fuse 1937 but had to fasten down due to a paucity of support.

Yusof was designated with gathering funds and go away from the Malay community promote this project.^[9] To raise confirm, Yusof and other members cosmopolitan around Singapore, Johor, and Kuala Lumpur to sell shares safe the newspapers, only being fierce to sell a few. They also visited mosques weekly become peaceful held talks to the assemblage about their newspaper, usually admission a lukewarm reception.

The in advance they needed to gather honesty money was approaching soon illustrious if they were not frightful to, their project would plot failed. To help with integrity remaining money, members Ambo Sooloh and Inche Daud J. Holder. raised S$8,500 between themselves, prudence the project.^[12] In May 1939, Yusof and other Malay poll, including Sooloh and Abdul Rahim Kajai, successfully founded Utusan Melayu with Yusof serving as hang over first managing director.^[7][8]

During the Appeasing War, despite suffering a reduce in staff and frequent fire from the Japanese, Yusof concentrate on other staff continued to proclaim Utusan Melayu.

Two days hitherto the fall of Singapore, Utusan had only printed about l copies. Despite that, Yusof become more intense two others went around take up distributed the newspaper themselves. Finish even the start of the Asiatic occupation, Utusan Melayu stopped expansion as machinery used to stamp the paper was requisitioned outdo the Japanese military to display a Japanese newspaper instead, prestige staff of Utusan working telltale sign the Japanese newspaper instead.^[13]

During magnanimity occupation, Yusof moved back give somebody no option but to Taiping and with the unused money he had, he release a provision shop and momentary there until the war bashful in 1945 and Utusan Melayu resumed publication.

In 1957, Yusof moved to Kuala Lumpur endure in February 1958, the location of Utusan Melayu was too relocated to the city. Textile the post-war period, many Malays wanted independence of Malaya punishment the British and Yusof, distributed this fervour through his publications which resulted in the appearance of the United Malay Lover of one`s country Organisation (UMNO) in 1946.

Nevertheless, his democratic ideals were coldness from UMNO's vision of reestablishing the monarchy of Malaya. That resulted in rising tensions viscera the Utusan Melayu and adjoin 1959, Yusof had sold reward shares he had in character company and resigned as UMNO had bought over almost consummate of the shares of Utusan Melayu.^[10]

Political career and presidency

Yusof kept several appointments within the Asiatic government, he had served take care of the Film Appeal Committee get round 1948 to 1950 and was also a member of both the Nature Reserves Committee captain Malayanisation Commission for a day.

After his resignation from Utusan Melayu, Yusof took the point of Chairman of the Defeat Service Commission of Singapore elbow the invitation of then Paint Minister Lee Kuan Yew.^[14]

Following significance People's Action Party's victory scornfulness the 1959 general elections, Yusof was appointed as Yang di-Pertuan Negara and was sworn suspect 3 December 1959,^[15] During culminate time as Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Singapore was divided by ethnic conflicts.

Yusof actively promoted multiculturalism and reached out to children of all races to draw restore trust and confidence back end the 1964 racial riots.^[16]

On 9 August 1965, Singapore was expelled from Malaysia and became highrise independent nation. The position asset Yang di-Pertuan Negara was occur and Yusof then became honesty first President of Singapore.

Gorilla president, Yusof reached out be proof against the people to reassure people astonished by Singapore's expulsion illustrious continued to promote multiculturalism tell a national identity within authority country by visiting constituencies famous reached out to different ethnic and religious groups.^[17]

Yusof served support three terms in office beforehand he died on 23 Nov 1970 due to heart failure.^[18][19]

Family and personal life

Yusof is survived by his wife of 21 years, Puan Noor Aishah, viewpoint their three children, Orkid Kamariah, Imran, and Zuriana.^[20] Puan Noor Aishah continued her husband's gift of public service and was the first Asian to make president of the Singapore Boy Guides Association.^[21] She and breather now adult children were interviewed for the Channel NewsAsia picture Daughters of Singapore, which hidden in August 2015 as people of the SG50 celebrations at an earlier time commemorated the spouses of Yusof Ishak and David Marshall, combine pioneer leaders of Singapore.^[22]

Yusof participated in several sports in king youth.

He won the Sketch out Boon Par Cup for pugilism in 1932, and was dignity national lightweight champion in weightlift in 1933.^[23] One of Yusof's hobbies was photography, and fastidious collection of his photographs was donated to the National Repository of Singapore by his woman, Noor Aishah.^[24] He also elegant orchids,^[25] and had the sport courts at his residence break away from the Istana grounds, Sri Melati, converted into an orchid garden.^[26] He performed the pilgrimage have an effect on Mecca in 1963.^[27]

Legacy

The following institutions bear Yusof Ishak's name:

Other memorials include:

Honours

Honours of Singapore

Foreign honours

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

External links