Spouse of the President of Singapore | |
---|---|
Incumbent Jane Yumiko Ittogi since 14 September 2023 | |
Residence | The Istana |
Inaugural holder | Noor Aishah |
Formation | 9 August 1965 |
The spouse of the president of Singapore is sometimes referred to as the first lady or first gentleman, although it is a courtesy term not enshrined in the Constitution. By tradition, an official portrait of the spouse of the president of Singapore is prominently displayed in government buildings alongside the portrait of the president. [1]
Jane Yumiko Ittogi is the spouse of the ninth President of Singapore, after her husband Tharman Shanmugaratnam won the 2023 presidential election with 70% of the valid votes.
In December 1959, Noor Aishah, wife of President Yusof Ishak, became the first person to assume the role at the age of 26. [2] Her biography, Puan Noor Aishah: Singapore's First Lady, was published in 2017. [3]
On 14 September 2017, Mohammed Abdullah Alhabshee became the first first gentleman, after his wife Halimah Yacob won the 2017 presidential election by an uncontested walkover. [4]
No | Portrait | Spouse of the President | President | Start date | End date | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Noor Aishah | Yusof Ishak | 9 August 1965 | 23 November 1970 | ||
2 | Yeo Seh Geok | Benjamin Sheares | 2 January 1971 | 12 May 1981 | ||
3 | Avadai Dhanam Lakshimi | Devan Nair | 23 October 1981 | 28 March 1985 | ||
4 | Koh Sok Hiong | Wee Kim Wee | 2 September 1985 | 1 September 1993 | ||
5 | Ling Siew May | Ong Teng Cheong | 2 September 1993 | 30 July 1999 | ||
6 | Urmila Umi Nandey | Sellapan Ramanathan | 1 September 1999 | 31 August 2011 | ||
7 | Mary Chee Bee Kiang | Tony Tan Keng Yam | 1 September 2011 | 31 August 2017 | [5] | |
8 | Mohammed Abdullah Alhabshee | Halimah Yacob | 14 September 2017 | 14 September 2023 | [6] | |
9 | Jane Yumiko Ittogi | Tharman Shanmugaratnam | 14 September 2023 | Incumbent | [7] |
The president of the Republic of Singapore is the head of state of Singapore. The president represents the country in official diplomatic functions and possesses certain executive powers over the Government of Singapore, including the control of the national reserves and the ability to revoke and appoint public service appointments.
Yusof bin Ishak was a Singaporean journalist and senior civil servant who served as the first president of Singapore between 1965 and 1970.
The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara'.
The Young Women Muslim Association of Singapore (YWMA), more commonly known as Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura (PPIS) (in Malay), is the oldest Muslim women organization in the world, and a household name for the Muslim community in Singapore. It is a voluntary welfare organization and has official charity status in Singapore.
The Most Esteemed Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country and awarded by the sovereign.
Halimah Yacob is a Singaporean politician and lawyer who served as the eighth president of Singapore from 2017 to 2023. Halimah won in the 2017 presidential election in an uncontested walkover due to ineligible candidates. She is the first female president in Singapore's history.
Presidential elections were scheduled to be held in Singapore on 13 September 2017. Following amendments to the Constitution of Singapore, which resulted in the elections being reserved for candidates from the Malay community, incumbent president Tony Tan, who had been elected in 2011, was ineligible to seek re-election.
Zaqy bin Mohamad is a Singaporean politician who has been serving as Deputy Leader of the House, Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Senior Minister of State for Defence concurrently since 2020. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Marsiling division of Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC since 2020.
The Marsiling–Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency is a four-member Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the north-western part of Singapore. The constituency encompasses Chua Chu Kang, Sungei Kadut Industrial Area, Kranji, Woodlands Checkpoint, and the west part of Woodlands. The four divisions of the GRC are Limbang, Marsiling, Woodgrove and Yew Tee managed by Marsiling—Yew Tee Town Council. The current Members of Parliament are Alex Yam, Hany Soh, Zaqy Mohamad and Lawrence Wong from the People's Action Party (PAP).
Bernard Rodrigues was a Singaporean politician. Rodrigues represented Telok Blangah as a legislative assemblyman in the 1st Parliament of Singapore from 1965 until 1968. He was a founding member of the People's Action Party and helped establish the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). Rodrigues argued that making the NTUC effective was in the best interest of Singapore, as it would be a constructive alternative to pro-Communist movements. In 1966, he campaigned for government employees to receive their entitled backpay, clashing with Lim Kim San who discouraged such a move. Rodrigues relocated to Sydney, Australia in 1972.
Mohamed Salleh s/o Kadir Mohideen Saibu Maricar, usually referred to as Mohamed Salleh Marican or Salleh Marican, is the Founder and CEO of Second Chance Properties Ltd, a listed company on the Singapore Stock Exchange. His company is the first owned by a Malay and Muslim to be listed in Singapore.
Noor Aishah binti Mohammad Salim is the widow of former President, Yusof Ishak.
Presidential elections were held in Singapore on 1 September 2023, the sixth public presidential elections but only the third to be contested by more than one candidate. Incumbent president Halimah Yacob, who had been elected unopposed in 2017, did not seek re-election.
The Distinguished Order of Meritorious Service is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country.
The Most Distinguished Order of Loyalty to the Royal Family of Malaysia is a Malaysian federal award presented for service and loyalty to the Crown, often to members of the armed forces, police and civil service.
Shawn Huang Wei Zhong is a Singaporean politician and former fighter pilot. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Jurong Spring division of Jurong GRC since 2020.
Leslie Chew Kwee HoePBM is a Singaporean legal academic and law professor. He is the founding Dean of the School of Law, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore's third law school. Chew is also a Senior Consultant with RHTLaw Asia LLP. Chew is the founding President of the Asia Pacific Institute of Experts.
Anastasia Tjendri-Liew is the founder and managing director of Bengawan Solo, one of Singapore's bakery franchises.
The Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ACMI) is a Catholic non-profit social service organization in Singapore that helps and supports migrant workers in Singapore. Co-founded and chaired in 1998 by Bridget Tan, ACMI was founded after being commissioned to help migrants and itinerant people in Singapore.