Wee Kim Wee
Who was Wee Kim Wee?
Singapore's fourth President from 1985 to 1993, who began his career as a journalist and sports broadcaster. He was known for his populist approach and for making the presidency more accessible to ordinary Singaporeans.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Wee Kim Wee (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Wee Kim Wee (4 November 1915 – 2 May 2005) was a Singaporean journalist, diplomat, and politician who was the fourth president of Singapore from 1985 to 1993. Born in Singapore during the British colonial period, he went to Outram Secondary School and Raffles Institution, leaving formal education in 1930 to work at The Straits Times. Despite leaving school early, he built a notable career in journalism, diplomacy, and politics.
Wee began his career in journalism, joining The Straits Times in 1930, then moving to the United Press Associations in 1941. He stayed there through World War II, eventually becoming office manager and chief correspondent by 1959. He went back to The Straits Times as Deputy Editor. A highlight of his career was his interview with Lieutenant General Suharto during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, where Suharto expressed a desire for peace. Wee was the first Singaporean journalist to enter Jakarta for that interview, a milestone in regional journalism. He retired from journalism in 1973 as editorial manager.
After retiring from journalism, Wee joined the diplomatic service at the request of Foreign Minister S. Rajaratnam. He was Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia from 1973 to 1980, and also served as Ambassador to Japan and South Korea from 1980 to 1984. These roles gave him experience in regional and international affairs, which helped during his presidency.
In 1985, Wee became president through a parliamentary election, serving two terms until 1993. His presidency was known for its approachable style, as he made efforts to connect with ordinary Singaporeans. He worked to improve Singapore's relations with Israel, Malaysia, and China, attending and officiating at many public events. He was the first president to use custodial powers after constitutional changes gave the presidency a role in protecting the nation's financial reserves. When the 1993 presidential election, the first by popular vote in Singapore, approached, Wee decided not to run and retired, handing the office to Ong Teng Cheong.
In retirement, Wee wrote an autobiography called Glimpses and Reflections in 2004. He passed away from prostate cancer on 2 May 2005 at his home in Siglap Plain, at age 89. He left behind his wife Koh Sok Hiong, with whom he had a long marriage. In 1993, he received the Darjah Utama Temasek, one of Singapore's highest state honors.
Before Fame
Wee Kim Wee was born on 4 November 1915 in Singapore when it was under British rule. He attended Outram Secondary School and Raffles Institution, which was one of the top schools in colonial Singapore. He left school in 1930 and started working at The Straits Times, a leading English-language newspaper in the region. This marked the start of his journalism career when the press was both documenting and engaging with Southeast Asia's rapidly changing political scene.
His early journalism career lined up with some of the most chaotic times in the region's modern history, including the Japanese occupation of Singapore during World War II and the subsequent move toward independence. While working through these events, first at The Straits Times and then at United Press Associations, Wee honed the skills and relationships that boosted his reputation as a journalist and eventually led to opportunities in diplomacy and politics.
Key Achievements
- Served as Singapore's fourth President from 1985 to 1993, completing two terms elected by Parliament
- First Singaporean journalist to enter Jakarta, securing a notable interview with Lieutenant General Suharto during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
- Served as Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia and concurrently as Ambassador to Japan and South Korea during the 1970s and 1980s
- First president to exercise custodial powers under Singapore's amended constitution, setting a precedent for the role's expanded responsibilities
- Received the Darjah Utama Temasek in 1993, one of Singapore's highest national honours
Did You Know?
- 01.Wee Kim Wee was the first Singaporean journalist to enter Jakarta, doing so to interview Lieutenant General Suharto during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation.
- 02.He left school without completing his formal education and went directly into newspaper work at The Straits Times in 1930 at around the age of fourteen or fifteen.
- 03.Wee was the first president of Singapore to exercise custodial powers granted under constitutional amendments that strengthened the president's role in overseeing the country's financial reserves.
- 04.When Singapore held its first presidential election decided by popular vote in 1993, Wee declined to stand for re-election, choosing retirement over what would have been a competitive democratic contest.
- 05.He published his autobiography, Glimpses and Reflections, in 2004, just one year before his death from prostate cancer at the age of 89.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Darjah Utama Temasek | 1993 | — |