Puan Noor Aishah, Singapore’s first First Lady and the widow of the Republic’s first President, Yusof Ishak, died on 22 April 2025. She was 91.
Her passing was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in a Facebook post on the same day. She died peacefully at Singapore General Hospital at 4.28am.
Mr Wong paid tribute to her life of grace and dedication. “She stood by Encik Yusof Ishak and steadfastly supported him throughout our tumultuous years of nation building,” he wrote.
He noted her extensive community work, including service with the Singapore Red Cross and the Singapore Muslim Women’s Association. “Her kindness and service touched countless lives – may her legacy continue to inspire us all.”
According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Government will support her family with funeral arrangements. Puan Noor Aishah will be laid to rest at Kranji State Cemetery beside her late husband.
She will be honoured with a ceremonial procession. “As a mark of respect, she will be accorded the honour of being borne on the Ceremonial Gun Carriage for her final journey from Masjid Ba’alwie to Kranji State Cemetery,” said PMO.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, also paying tribute on Facebook, described her as a woman of compassion and cultural pride. She wore the traditional sarong kebaya to state events and preserved local recipes within the Istana’s cuisine.
“Unlike Encik Yusof Ishak who passed away in 1970, Puan Noor Aishah lived to see Singapore’s transformation,” he wrote. “She could take pride in her quiet role in our foundational years of self-government and independence.”
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted that she was “thrust into the spotlight young” but carried out her role with dignity. He described her as a figure who helped keep the nation united in its early years, embodying a commitment to a fair and just Singapore.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed his condolences in a Facebook post, writing: “Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Puan Noor Aishah.”
“With grace and quiet strength, she stood by Encik Yusof Ishak and steadfastly supported him throughout our tumultuous years of nation building.
Born on 21 May 1933 in Selangor, she was adopted and raised in Penang during the Japanese occupation. Despite limited access to formal education, she acquired practical skills that supported her family.
At age 16, she married Yusof Ishak, then 39, who was the managing director of Utusan Melayu. When he became the Yang di-Pertuan Negara in 1959 and later Singapore’s first President in 1965, Puan Noor Aishah became First Lady at just 26.
She recounted in a 2017 biography that the role came with no guidance. “We had to learn and manage on our own,” she said in Puan Noor Aishah: Singapore’s First Lady, published by Straits Times Press.
Still, she quickly made her mark. She introduced local dishes to the Istana kitchen, replacing traditional English fare. She also hosted charity events and welcomed community leaders, making the Istana a more inclusive space.
Puan Noor Aishah served with numerous organisations including the Singapore Red Cross, Singapore Leprosy Relief Association, and the Young Women’s Muslim Association.
She became the first Asian president of the Girl Guides in Singapore in 1959 and later served as its patron.
Her service was formally recognised in 1964 with the Pingat Bakti Chemerlang (Distinguished Service Medal). She also assumed some of the President’s social duties as his health declined before his passing in November 1970.
In later years, she maintained a low public profile but remained active in voluntary work. In 2018, she was inducted into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame for her significant contributions to social development.
She is survived by her three children – daughters Orkid Kamariah and Zuriana, and son Imran – as well as several grandchildren.
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