Yusof bin Ishak
Encyclopedia
Yusof bin Ishak was an eminent Singapore
an politician
and the first President of Singapore
of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes
introduced in 1999.
, Yusof is the descendant of prominent Sumatra
n Malay Datuk Jannatun who migrated to Penang
in 1759.
Yusof is of Minangkabau descent from his father's side while his mother is a native Malay
of Langkat
region in Indonesia
. His brother, Aziz Ishak
, was a Malayan journalist and freedom fighter.
He received his primary education at Victoria Bridge School (now known as Victoria School
), and secondary education at Raffles Institution
.
At Raffles, he joined the Singapore National Cadet Corps
. He was commissioned as the first ever cadet officer
in the Corps.
and the founder of the Malay
newspaper Utusan Melayu
prior to becoming head of state of Singapore
. He was married to Noor Aishah.
He first served as Yang di-Pertuan Negara
(head of state
) between 1959 and 1965, remaining in office during the time that Singapore
was part of the Federation of Malaysia between 1963 and 1965. Following Singapore's departure from Malaysia in 1965, he served as the first President
of the Republic until his death in 1970.
Yusof is buried at Kranji
State Cemetery.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and the first President of Singapore
President of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes
Singapore Portrait Series currency notes
The Portrait Series of currency notes is the fourth and current set of notes to be issued for circulation in Singapore. It was first introduced on 9 September 1999 by the Board of Commissioners of Currency Singapore whose role was since taken over by the Monetary Authority of Singapore ...
introduced in 1999.
Early life
Born on 12 August 1910 in Trong, Taiping, Perak Darul Ridzuan, which was then part of the Federated Malay StatesFederated Malay States
The Federated Malay States was a federation of four protected states in the Malay Peninsula—Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang—established by the British government in 1895, which lasted until 1946, when they, together with the Straits Settlements and the Unfederated Malay...
, Yusof is the descendant of prominent Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
n Malay Datuk Jannatun who migrated to Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
in 1759.
Yusof is of Minangkabau descent from his father's side while his mother is a native Malay
Malay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
of Langkat
Langkat Regency
Langkat Regency is the northernmost regency in eastern shore of North Sumatra. Its seat is Stabat. Its area is 6,272 km² and population was 892,533 in the 2000 national Census, and official intercensal estimate in 2007 of 1,027,414 people....
region in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. His brother, Aziz Ishak
Aziz Ishak
Abdul Aziz bin Ishak is a Malaysian freedom fighter, politician and journalist.Aziz was, in fact, the only member of the pre-war Kesatuan Melayu Muda to have served in the 1955 and post-Merdeka Cabinets under Tunku Abdul Rahman. Between 1955 and 1963, he was the Minister for Agriculture and...
, was a Malayan journalist and freedom fighter.
He received his primary education at Victoria Bridge School (now known as Victoria School
Victoria School
Victoria School in Singapore is a government secondary school for boys, founded in 1876, at Siglap Link, about one kilometre from affiliated Victoria Junior College....
), and secondary education at Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution , founded in 1823, is the oldest centre for pre-tertiary learning in Singapore. It is an independent school in Singapore providing secondary and pre-university education. RI consists of a boys-only secondary section , and a coeducational pre-university section...
.
At Raffles, he joined the Singapore National Cadet Corps
National Cadet Corps (Singapore)
The National Cadet Corps is a youth organisation in Singapore. As of December 2010, it had a total strength of 19877 members. This consists of 823 Officers, 726 Cadet Officers and 17157 cadets, amongst others.The NCC is represented in 144 Secondary Schools and there are a total 176 School...
. He was commissioned as the first ever cadet officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the Corps.
Career
Yusof was well known both as a journalistJournalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and the founder of the Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
newspaper Utusan Melayu
Utusan Malaysia
Utusan Malaysia is a Malay language pro-government newspaper in Malaysia. First published in Jawi, the newspaper is now published in romanised letters...
prior to becoming head of state of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. He was married to Noor Aishah.
He first served as Yang di-Pertuan Negara
Yang di-Pertuan Negara
Yang di-Pertuan Negara, meaning "Head of State" in Malay, was used as an official title at various times in Sabah, Singapore and Brunei.-Singapore:...
(head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
) between 1959 and 1965, remaining in office during the time that Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
was part of the Federation of Malaysia between 1963 and 1965. Following Singapore's departure from Malaysia in 1965, he served as the first President
President of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
of the Republic until his death in 1970.
Yusof is buried at Kranji
Kranji
Kranji is a suburb in northwestern Singapore, located about from the city centre.-Etymology:Kranji is named after a local tree, the kranji or keranji . Its abundance has rapidly dwindled since the first half of the nineteenth century.-History:The first Singapore-Kranji railway from Tank Road to...
State Cemetery.
Awards and Honours
- Darjah Utama TemasekOrder of TemasekThe Darjah Utama Temasek is Singapore's second most important national honour and was instituted in 1962.There are 3 grades of the Order of Temasek:*the First Class, consisting of the Badge and the Star of the Order...
, 1st Class - Seri Maharaja Mangku NegaraOrder of the Defender of the RealmThe Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritous service to the country...
(Malaysia) - Darjah Kerabat Mahkota Brunei, 1st Class
See also
- Yusof Ishak Secondary SchoolYusof Ishak Secondary SchoolYusof Ishak Secondary School is a government secondary school located in Bukit Batok, Singapore. The school is named after Yusof Ishak who was the first president of Singapore....
– a Secondary School in Singapore named in his honour.