Remembering Singapore’s first president, Yusof Ishak | TLDR

Yusof Ishak's legacy as Singapore's first president lives on today in more ways than one. His portrait graces the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes, serving as a reminder of his contributions to the country. As a student, Yusof Ishak excelled in sports and won numerous championships, including boxing and weightlifting. As a journalist, co-founded Utusan Melayu and worked tirelessly to make it a leading voice in the Malay-speaking world. In politics, he served as Chairman of the Public Service Commission of Singapore and as Singapore's Yang di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State). During his presidency, Yusof Ishak championed multiracialism and social justice, ensuring that Singaporeans had access to basic needs such as housing, healthcare, and education.