Who, Actually, is Yusof Ishak, The Man We All Love Seeing?

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Yusof Ishak is a familiar face to Singaporeans, appearing on the $2, $10, and $50 notes, but many may not know his full story. Born on 12 August 1910 in Perak (present-day Malaysia), he was the eldest of nine children. His early education took place in Malay schools in Perak and Taiping, before moving to Singapore in the 1920s when it was still under British rule. In Singapore, he attended Victoria Bridge School (now Victoria School) and later Raffles Institution, where he was admitted to the prestigious Queen’s Scholarship class. Although he didn’t win the scholarship, his academic excellence was already clear.

Yusof Ishak wasn’t just book smart; he was a sports legend, too. At Raffles Institution, he played and won in multiple sports, including boxing, weightlifting, water polo, and more. He was the kind of all-rounder who’d be winning Hyrox races and marathons every weekend if he were a Gen Z today. But beyond sports and studies, he also made his mark in journalism. In 1938, he co-founded Utusan Melayu, the first Malay-owned newspaper, with other Malay leaders in Singapore, cementing his role as a pioneer in Malay media representation.

His journey into leadership began in 1959 when then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew invited him to chair the Public Service Commission. Later that year, Yusof Ishak became the Head of State, and when Singapore gained independence in 1965, he was appointed as our first president. Amidst racial tensions and economic uncertainty, he championed multiracialism and unity, meeting people of different backgrounds to foster trust in the young nation. His presidency laid the foundation for the peaceful multicultural society Singapore is today, a reason why he remains so beloved.

In 1999, the Portrait Series bank notes were launched, and Yusof Ishak’s face became the one we see every day. This was to honour his invaluable contribution to Singapore’s nation-building. But it goes deeper: even the back of the $2 note quietly pays tribute to him, showing schools like Victoria Bridge School and Raffles Institution, the very ones he studied at.