Who Is Yusof Ishak? Age, Biography and Wiki
Yusof Ishak was born on August 12, 1910, in Singapore. He served as the first President of Singapore from 1965 until his passing in 1970, playing a crucial role in the nation’s journey towards independence and shaping its future. Known for his commitment to the multiracial fabric of Singaporean society, Yusof Ishak's legacy continues to resonate with the values and ideals of the country. As of 2025, he would have been 115 years old, had he been alive, and his contributions remain vital to the national narrative.
| Occupation | Journalist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 12, 1910 |
| Age | 60 Years |
| Birth Place | Padang Gajah, Terong, Larut, Matang and Selama District, Perak, Federated Malay States (present-day Perak, Malaysia) |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | Singapore |
| Date of death | 23 November, 1970 |
| Died Place | Singapore General Hospital, Singapore |
Popularity
Yusof Ishak's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Yusof Ishak was known for his charismatic presence, but specific details regarding his height and weight remain less documented in public records. His appearances were characterized by a dignified demeanor, befitting his status as President. Despite the absence of precise metrics, Yusof Ishak’s stature was imposing in the collective memory of Singaporeans.
During his time in RI, he played various sports such as swimming, weight lifting, water-polo, boxing, hockey, basketball, 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.
In sports, he also won the Aw Boon Par Cup in boxing and was the national weightlifting champion in 1932 and 1933, respectively. 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.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Yusof Ishak was married to his wife, Noor Aishah, who played a significant role in his public life. Their partnership was marked by mutual support, and Noor Aishah was often seen alongside Yusof during his presidency, contributing to various social causes. The couple did not have a publicly discussed dating history, reflecting their commitment to family and national service. They are remembered as a devoted couple, with their relationship exemplifying the values of teamwork and dedication to the nation.
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. Yusof and his family lived in government housing in McNair Road.
Net Worth and Salary
While specific figures regarding Yusof Ishak's net worth at the time of his presidency are not readily available, as the first President of Singapore, his salary was reflective of governmental standards of the time, with compensation primarily focused on his role in public service rather than personal financial gain. The emphasis during his tenure was on nation-building, making financial prosperity a secondary concern to national progress.
Under his management, he was described as "the driving force of Utusan Melayu". Writers were punished for writing or grammar mistakes and 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. 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. By 1958, Utusan's daily circulation would be 30,000, the largest amount ever reached by any Malay newspaper at that time.
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. During the occupation, Yusof was detained by the Japanese for two weeks.
He was released but ordered to work 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. 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. In 1948, Yusof addressed the ban on Utusan Zaman, a Singaporean newspaper, in Indonesia.
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".
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 young 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.
In his memoir, Lee described Yusof in his meeting as a "tall, Indian-looking Malay in his late 40s, with a long, thin, un-Malay nose" and that he "[spoke] English well but in a hesitant manner and with a slight stammer".
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.
Career, Business and Investments
Yusof Ishak’s career began as a journalist before transitioning into politics. His impactful contributions to Singapore’s media landscape paved the way for his political ascension. After serving as the first President, Yusof was instrumental in fostering a unified Singaporean identity amidst racial diversity. He did not engage in business enterprises or investments typical of modern celebrities; instead, he dedicated his life to public service and the betterment of society, focusing on education, housing, and social welfare initiatives.
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, he subsequently succeeded Sir William Goode as Yang di-Pertuan Negara after the People's Action Party (PAP) won the 1959 general election.
He would serve in this role until 1965, when Singapore gained independence and the Yang di-Pertuan Negara was succeeded by the president of Singapore.
Social Network
Though Yusof Ishak did not have a presence on modern social media platforms, his influence transcended into various civic organizations and community programs. His legacy is maintained by various institutions and events dedicated to his contributions to Singapore. The Yusof Ishak Institute and numerous scholarships named after him continue to celebrate his commitment to education and social harmony.
In his memoir The Singapore Story, Lee stated that "we chose [Yusof] [...] to be [Goode's] successor, our first native Yang di-Pertuan Negara. We wanted a distinguished Malay in order to show the Federation that Singaporeans were willing to accept Malays as their leaders, and I knew him as a good man of simple habits who carried himself with dignity."
Education
Yusof Ishak received his early education at several vernacular schools in Singapore before advancing to the prestigious Raffles Institution, where he laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to learning and civic duty. His educational background provided him with the skills necessary to thrive in journalism and politics, enabling him to effectively champion the interests of Singapore's diverse populace.
Yusof bin Ishak Al-Haj (12 August 1910 – 23 November 1970) was a Singaporean journalist and civil servant who served as the second Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore between 1959 and 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.
