Yusof bin Ishak

One of the most important historical figures in Singapore is Yusof bin Ishak. He (August 12, 1910 – November 23, 1970) was a Singaporean politician and journalist who served as the country's first president from 1965 to 1970.

Prior to becoming President, Yusof was a well-known journalist who co-founded the newspaper Utusan Melayu, which was in print until October 9, 2019. After graduating from Raffles Institution in 1929, he began his career in journalism by joining Warta Malaya, a well-known Malay newspaper company, in 1932. In 1938, he quit the corporation to co-found Utusan Melayu.

Yusof held numerous positions in the Singapore government. Between 1948 and 1950, he was a member of the Film Appeal Committee, as well as the Nature Reserves Committee and the Malayanisation Commission for a year. He was named Chairman of the Public Service Commission in July 1959. (PSC). On 3 December that year, he was sworn in as Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore after the People's Action Party (PAP) won the first election held following Singapore's independence. Yusof became Singapore's first President after the country obtained independence on August 9, 1965.

Yusof served three terms in office until passing away on November 23, 1970, from heart failure. His portrait may be found on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes, which were launched in 1999.