Puan Noor Aishah, wife of Singapore’s first president Yusof Ishak, dies at 91 (2025)

SINGAPORE – Puan Noor Aishah Mohammad Salim, Singapore’s former first lady and the widow of the country’s first president Yusof Ishak, died on April 22.

She was 91.

Her death was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in a Facebook post on April 22, and he said he was deeply saddened to learn of her passing.

“With grace and quiet strength, she stood by Encik Yusof Ishak and steadfastly supported him throughout our tumultuous years of nation building,” said PM Wong in his tribute.

“Beyond the Istana, she dedicated herself to serving others through organisations like 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.”

Puan Noor Aishah died peacefully at Singapore General Hospital on April 22 at 4.28am, said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a statement. It said PM Wong and his Cabinet colleagues are deeply saddened by her passing, and that they extend their deepest condolences to her family.

It added that the Government would help her family with funeral arrangements, and that as a mark of respect, she would be accorded the honour of being borne on the ceremonial gun carriage for her final journey from Masjid Ba’alwie to Kranji State Cemetery.

Puan Noor Aishah was laid to rest at the cemetery alongside her husband on April 22.

A steadfast pillar of support to Mr Yusof throughout his tenure as head of state from 1959 to 1970, Puan Noor Aishah was also deeply involved in charitable causes and championed various social initiatives, particularly in support of women, children and the less privileged, added the PMO.

In a Facebook post, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam highlighted Puan Noor Aishah’s humble beginnings and how she will always be remembered for her grace, compassion and service to others.

He said Puan Noor Aishah became an emblem of heritage and local traditions, wearing the sarong kebaya at state events and teaching Istana chefs recipes for local favouriteslike epok epok and various kuih, which have remained part of Istana cuisine.

MrTharman also paid tribute to her dedication to public service, calling her a “force for good in her own right” by championing various social causes and being a dedicated patron to many organisations supporting the disadvantaged.

“Unlike Encik Yusof Ishak who passed away in 1970, Puan Noor Aishah lived to see Singapore’s transformation. She could take pride in her quiet role in our foundational years of self-government and independence, for which she will stay in collective memory,” he said.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a separate post that he was deeply saddened to hear about Puan Noor Aishah’s passing and sent his condolences to her family. He said the two kept in touch over the years, and that she will be deeply missed.

Thrust into the spotlight at a young age, Puan Noor Aishah carried out her duties with grace and dignity, managing a large household and improving her English to engage visiting dignitaries, said SM Lee.

He noted how Puan Noor Aishah played a vital role during Singapore’s formative years, stepping up with quiet determination to support Mr Yusof and helping to keep the nation united.

“She was committed to 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.”

Former president Halimah Yacob said in a Facebook post that she will remember Puan Noor Aishah as a kind and gentle person who took a keen interest in Yusof Ishak Secondary School located in Bukit Batok East when Madam Halimah was an MP there.

“She will be remembered for many things but to us she carried out her duties standing at the side of her late husband, president Yusof Ishak, during the nascent stage of Singapore’s development, with grace and pride,” said Madam Halimah.

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) also said it was deeply saddened by Puan Noor Aishah’s death. In a statement, Muis said her significant contributions to the community, most notably in supporting people with disabilities and women’s rights, created a deep impact on the lives of Singaporean Muslims and the nation.

The council noted how Puan Noor Aishah supported Masjid Yusof Ishak from its planning in 2014 to its consecration, helping with fund raising and donating plants from her own nursery for its landscaping.

Since the Woodlands-based mosque’s 2017 opening, she had remained a prominent and welcome presence at many of its events, Muis said.

Significant role in nation building

Born on May 21, 1933, in Selangor, Puan Noor Aishah was adopted by Ms Fatimah Ali and Mr Mohammad Salim Jusoh, a Eurasian man originally known as Barney Perkins, who had converted to Islam.

Growing up in Penang during the Japanese Occupation, she had limited access to formal education but developed practical skills such as cooking and sewing, which helped her family make ends meet.

At the age of 16, she married Mr Yusof, then the managing director and co-founder of Malay-language newspaper Utusan Melayu. He was 39.

The couple later moved to Singapore, where Mr Yusof was appointed Yang di-Pertuan Negara (head of state) in 1959. Subsequently, in 1965, he became Singapore’s first president following the country’s independence.

This meant that Puan Noor Aishah became Singapore’s first lady at just 26. Stepping into the role was an entirely unfamiliar experience, as she recounted in a book published by the Straits Times Press in 2017, Puan Noor Aishah: Singapore’s First Lady.

“I was not given any instructions or briefing at all; no guidelines on how to be first lady. I had no task lists and no one briefed me on things like etiquette, dress codes and protocol. We had to learn and manage on our own,” she said.

Nonetheless, she quickly made an impact. As detailed in the book, she familiarised herself with the workings of the Istana and soon revitalised it, teaching the cooks – who were still preparing English classics like roast beef and pudding – her own recipes for local dishes such as beef rendang.

In the Istana, Puan Noor Aishah kept Malay traditions alive in her own way, from putting Malay dishes and kuih on the Istana menu to wearing the kebaya at state events.

Puan Noor Aishah also became actively involved in the social and welfare sectors, working closely with organisations such as the Singapore Red Cross, the Young Women’s Muslim Association, and the Singapore Leprosy Relief Association.

She became a key figure in the Girl Guides movement in Singapore, becoming its first Asian president in 1959 and later serving as its patron.

During her tenure at the Istana, she took steps to make the residence more accessible to Singaporeans by hosting social gatherings, charity events and meetings with community leaders.

In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the Pingat Bakti Chemerlang (Distinguished Service Medal) in 1964.

When her husband’s health started to decline after a heart attack in 1968, Puan Noor Aishah took on some of his social responsibilities. Mr Yusof died on Nov 23, 1970, of heart failure, and was buried at Kranji State Cemetery.

Following his death, Puan Noor Aishah maintained a low public profile while continuing her involvement in charitable and community work. She remained a patron of several welfare organisations and continued to contribute to social causes.

Her contributions to Singapore’s early years were formally recognised when she was inducted into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018. She was acknowledged for her role in strengthening the country’s social fabric and for her longstanding commitment to voluntary work.

Puan Noor Aishah is survived by her three children – daughters Orkid Kamariah and Zuriana, and son Imran – as well as several grandchildren.

Condolence letter from SM Lee

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