Tributes and condolences have poured in following the death of Puan Noor Aishah, Singapore's former first lady and the widow of the country's first president, Yusof Ishak.
Puan Noor Aishah died in the early morning of April 22 at the Singapore General Hospital. She was 91.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that 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 President Yusof Ishak 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.
"Puan Noor Aishah was in many ways an inspiration in her own right," he added. "She will be dearly missed by Singaporeans from all walks of life."
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 Ishak helped keep the people united and positive, said SM Lee.
He added 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, and later invited him to launch her biography in 2017.
In 2019, she made the effort to join 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 PM Anwar. He added how her humility brought leaders closer to the people and left a lasting impression on all who met her.
