Tributes pour in for Puan Noor Aishah, wife of Singapore’s first president Yusof Ishak

SINGAPORE – Tributes and condolences have poured in following the death of Puan Noor Aishah Mohammad Salim, Singapore’s former first lady and the widow of the country’s first president, Mr Yusof Ishak.

Puan Noor Aishah died in the early morning on April 22

at Singapore General Hospital. She was 91.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said Puan Noor Aishah played a role in Singapore’s history in her own way, and will always be remembered for her grace, compassion and service to others.

In a letter addressed to her three children, President Tharman noted how their mother grew up in a village in Penang where her adoptive parents had settled, and had her primary education disrupted by war.

Yet, at 26, when Mr Yusof became Singapore’s Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Puan Noor Aishah “more than rose to the challenge” as first lady.

She took English lessons, organised receptions for visiting dignitaries and helped transform the Istana’s colonial style into one that reflected Singapore’s local identity.

President Tharman noted how she often wore the sarong kebaya at state events, sewing them herself with fabric from Arab Street. She also taught Istana chefs how to prepare local dishes like beef rendang, epok epok and various kuih, which have remained part of Istana cuisine.

“Puan Noor Aishah was in many ways an inspiration in her own right besides being the spouse of our first President Yusof Ishak,” said President Tharman.

When her husband’s health began to decline, Puan Noor Aishah took on some of his social responsibilities. But, President Tharman said, she was more than a pillar of support, championing social causes and being a dedicated patron to many organisations supporting the disadvantaged. 

“She will be dearly missed by Singaporeans from all walks of life,” he said.

In a separate condolence letter to Puan Noor Aishah’s son, Dr Imran Yusof, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted how Puan Noor Aishah took on an important role at a young age, arriving at the Istana with Mr Yusof during a pivotal time in Singapore’s history. She was just 26.

“She stood steadfastly by his side, supporting him through our tumultuous years of nation building, and remained a pillar of strength until his passing in 1970,” he said.

As the spouse of Singapore’s first president, she carried out her role “with grace and humility”, said PM Wong, citing her efforts in transforming the Istana from a colonial residence into a distinctly Singaporean institution.

Beyond her ceremonial duties, PM Wong highlighted Puan Noor Aishah’s devotion to public service, especially in education and women’s causes. She was involved in many organisations, such as the Singapore Muslim Women’s Association, Singapore Red Cross and Girl Guides Singapore.

Quoting from one of her post-independence speeches, PM Wong said she believed it augured well for Singapore to have citizens “sufficiently endowed with an acute sense of altruism, who willingly take on the task to help the less fortunate citizens”.

“She lived by these words,” he said, noting that her efforts earned her multiple awards. These include the Distinguished Service Medal in 1964, NTUC’s Special Medal of Honour in 1971, and induction into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018.

PM Wong added: “Puan Noor Aishah brought great honour to the office of the president, and made many contributions to Singapore. On behalf of the Government, I wish to place on record our deepest gratitude for her service and legacy.”

In a separate letter, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he and his wife Ho Ching were deeply saddened by Puan Noor Aishah’s passing, calling her a “remarkable woman of her time”.

SM Lee noted how the former first lady had to adapt quickly to public life, managing a large household while taking on ceremonial and official responsibilities. “She did all this with grace and dignity,” he said.

During Singapore’s tumultuous formative years, when its people lived through racial riots, separation from Malaysia and the initial difficult years that followed, Puan Noor Aishah and president Yusof helped keep the people united and positive, said SM Lee.

He noted how when her husband fell ill, Puan Noor Aishah took on a greater share of his duties because “she too was committed to build a Singapore that was fair and just”, regardless of race, language or religion.

“Her gentle spirit, sense of duty and grit left a deep impression on Singaporeans,” said SM Lee.

He also recalled Puan Noor Aishah’s continued connection with the nation’s leaders and institutions. He recounted how she attended the National Day Rally in 2013 when Masjid Yusof Ishak was announced as the name of a planned mosque in Woodlands, and later invited him to launch her biography in 2017. 

In 2019, she made the effort to join in for a light show commemorating the Istana’s 150th anniversary, even though she was unwell, SM Lee said. 

“We reminisced about the old times when I was a kid, about the same age as the three of you, and we would all play happily together on the Istana grounds,” said SM Lee, referring to Puan Noor Aishah’s three children.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim took to Facebook on April 22 to pay tribute to Puan Noor Aishah, noting how she was a pillar of strength for Singapore in its early years of nationhood.

More than the spouse of a national leader, she embodied loyalty and became a role model for women across the region, said Datuk Seri Anwar.

He noted how her humility brought leaders closer to the people and left a lasting impression on all who met her.