Yusof Bin Ishak

First President Of Singapore - Yusof Bin Ishak (1910 - 1970)

Yusof Bin Ishak, also known as Yusof Ishak, the First President of Singapore.

Yusof Ishak was born in the year 1910 in Padang Gajah, Perak.

Yusof Ishak was rose in a humble beginning and soon became the 1st Malayan-born Yang Di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State) on 3 December 1959.

In year 1965, 9th of August, Yusof Ishak became the First President of Singapore.

11 years of being a Head of State, Yusof Ishak dedicated himself to the nation and the people by providing them the moral courage, showing the effective leadership during the early years of Nation building.

During the last term being a President, Yusof Ishak was often ill, but this didn’t stopped him from assisting the people who in need of help.

23 November 1970, Yusof Ishak passed away from heart failure, with an age of 60.

Mr Yusof Ishak's Grave can be found in the Kranji War Memorial - State Cemetery

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Little Jave's Word:

With Mr Yusof Ishak's determination, Singapore is able to move out from a period of difficulties and worries.

With Mr Yusof Ishak's leading, the citizens are able to lead a better life.

With respect to Mr Yusof Ishak.

Benjamin Henry Sheares

Second President Of Singapore - Benjamin Henry Sheares (1907 - 1981)

Benjamin Henry Sheares, also known as Benjamin Sheares, the 2nd President of Singapore.

Benjamin Sheares was born in 1907 in Singapore. Race of an Eurasian.

Before Benjamin Sheares accepted his post as the 2nd President of Singapore, he was an Obstetrician (surgical specialty dealing with the care of a woman and her offspring during pregnancy) at Kandang Kerbau Hospital (KK) and also a Professor at the University of Malaya.

At the same period, he was also being appointed as the First Chancellor of the National University of Singapore (NUS).

In 1971, Benjamin Sheares succeeded as the 2nd President of Singapore from Yusof bin Ishak.

As to memory this 2nd President of Singapore, a bridge connecting Changi Airport in the east and Shenton Way was named after him as Benjamin Sheares Bridge in the year 1981.

In May 1981, Benjamin Sheares passed away with an age of 74.

Mr Benjamin Sheares's Grave can be found in the Kranji War Memorial - State Cemetery

C. V. Devan Nair

Third President Of Singapore - C. V. Devan Nair (1925 - 2005)

Chengara Veetil Devan Nair also known as Devan Nair or C. V. Devan Nair, the 3rd President of Singapore (Presidency Period from Oct 1981 – Mar 1985).

Devan Nair was born in Malacca, Malaysia in the year 1925. When he was 10, his family moved to Singapore. After settling down in Singapore, Devan Nair enrolled into Rangoon Road Primary School for his young education.

After passing his “Senior Cambridge Examination” in year 1940, he was eligible to continue his academic study in Victoria School

In 1954, Devan Nair joined Lee Kuan Yew’s People’s Action Party (PAP) after leaving Communist Anti-British League.

In 1964, Devan Nair won the Malaysian Grand Election in the Bangsar constituency somewhere around Kuala Lumpur.

After Singapore separated from Malaysia, Devan Nair continued to stay in Malaysia. During his stay, he formed the Democratic Action Party but soon after, he returned back to Singapore to lead the Labour Union Movement. At the same period, he founded National Trades Union Congress.

In 1979, he won the Anson seat during the elections and accepted the appointment as a President of Singapore in year 1981. Upon accepting the appointment, Devan Nair became the 3rd President of Singapore.

In 1985, Devan Nair resigned from his position as a President of Singapore.

In 1995, Devan Nair moved to Canada with his wife, Avadai Dhanam.

April 2005, Mrs Devan (1925 - 2005) passed away leaving Devan Nair alone in Canada. In the same year, December, Devan Nair passed away with an age of 82.

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Little Jave's Word:

On the month of Mr Devan Nair vowed to be the 3rd President of Singapore, Little Jave was born.

In Little Jave's memory, impression on Mr Devan Nair is limited.

Wanted to find out more on him, but too late, he had left us.

To Mr Devan Nair's contributions to Singapore, Little Jave send upon his respect.

Wee Kim Wee (Huang Jin Hui)

Our people's President - Dr Wee Kim Wee 黄金辉 (1915 - 2005)

Wee Kim Wee, was born in 1915, in Singapore. He was rose from a humble station in life, whose father (Wee Choong Lay) was just a low-paid clerk.

At the age of 8, Wee Kim Wee’s father passed away.After growing up, Wee Kim Wee started as a clerk in The Straits Time. 1944, he joined the United Press Association and was its Chief Correspondent in the 1950s.

After returning to The Straits Times in 1959, he was given a chance to be deputy editor in Singapore. In 1966, an interview with General Suharto of Indonesia made him well-known to the citizens.

It seemed natural that with his many contacts in the region made during his years a journalist, he moved on to the next stage of his career as a diplomat.He served as High Commissioner to Malaysia for 7 years from 1973, and went on to become Ambassador to Japan and South Korea.

After he retiring from the diplomatic service in 1984, he took up a new post - Chairman of the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).

A year later he was appointed as the 4th President of Singapore, determined to make the Presidency as accessible as possible to ordinary Singaporeans.

His genuine concern for others and natural warmth touched many lives.Citing to his age, health and Constitutional amendments which provided for an Elected President, Wee Kim Wee retired from the Presidency in Sept 1993.

At the time of his retirement, Wee Kim Wee said that it was best for Singapore that a new man was put in place.

Even though Wee Kim Wee had officially announced retirement to all Singaporeans in 1993, but he remained active in community work after then.

In 2004, he wrote his very own auto-biography, titled Glimpses and Reflections. From the royalties and other donations, half a million of Singapore dollars were donated to eight charities.

In 2 May 2005, Wee Kim Wee passed away at home from prostate cancer, with an age of 89.

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Little Jave's Word:

Dr Wee Kim Wee's smile, is a smile of hope.

Just like Sunshine for growing little wheat, warm cup of tea in the Winter.

A smile that we will never forget.

With love to Dr Wee Kim Wee.

Ong Teng Cheong & Ling Siew May

Mr Ong Teng Cheong 王鼎昌 (1936 - 2002) & Mrs Ong-Ling Siew May 林秀梅 (1937 - 1999)

Biography of Mr Ong Teng Cheong (The 1st Elected President of Singapore)

1936 - Mr Ong Teng Cheong was born in Singapore on 22 January (second eldest of 5 children)

1946 - Enrolled in Zhong Zheng Primary School, completed primary education in 1949

1950 - Enrolled in Chinese High School, graduated in 1955

1953 - Met Madam Ling Siew May during a joint activity between Chinese High School and Nanyang Girls' School

1956 - Went overseas to Australia to pursue a degree in architecture

1961 - Graduated from University of Adelaide with Bachelor of Architecture degree

1962 - Started career as an architect (in Australia), and later joined Singapore Civil Service as a town planner

1963 - Married Madam Ling Siew May

1965 - Offered a Colombo Scholarship (Master's)

1966 - Birth of Tze Guan, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Ong, in Liverpool

1967 - Graduated from University of Liverpool with Masters in Civic Design (Town Planning)

1967 - Joined the Ministry of National Development (Planning Department)

1968 - Birth of Tze Boon, second son of Mr and Mrs Ong, in Singapore

1971 - Left the Civil Service and started his own practice

1972 - Established Ong & Ong Architects and Town Planner, together with his wife, Mrs Ong-Ling Siew May

1972 - Contested in General Election in Kim Keat and won. Member-of-Parliament (MP) until Aug 1993 (contested in a total of 6 general elections)

1975 - Appointed as Senior Minister of State for Communications. Subsequently also appointed as Acting Minister of Culture (1977), Minister for Communications (1978) and Minister of Labour (1981)

1981 - Appointed as Chairman of People's Action Party (PAP)

1983 - Appointed as NTUC Secretary-General (until 1993) and appointed as Minister without Portfolio.

1985 - Appointed as Second Deputy Prime Minister in January (until Nov 1990)

1990 - Appointed as Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) in November (until Aug 1993)

1993 - Resigned as DPM, MP and PAP Chairman to contest in Presidential Election in August

1993 - Became Singapore's first Elected President on 1 September (until 31 Aug 1999)

1994 - Conferred the labour movement's highest award: The Distinguished Comrade of Labour on 1 May. His citation read: "In the decade that he was NTUC Secretary-General, Mr Ong Teng Cheong transformed the labour movement's dreams, and his own aspirations for workers, into reality - for the benefit of the working people in Singapore"

1998 - Conferred one of Britain's highest honours: The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, by Queen Elizabeth II, in July.

1998 - Received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Liverpool.

1999 - His wife, Mrs Ong-Ling Siew May, passes away on 30 July, age 62

1999 - Completed the 6-year Presidency term on 31 August

2002 - Mr Ong Teng Cheong passes away on 8 February, age 66

For more information, love stories of Mr Ong and Mrs Ong, please proceed to -> http://www.ongtengcheong.com/index.htm