Spouse of the president of Singapore
Informal but accepted political title
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The spouse of the president of Singapore,[a] sometimes referred to as the first lady or first gentleman, is a title typically held by the wife or husband of the president of Singapore, concurrent with the president's term in office. A courtesy term not enshrined in the Constitution, the spouse's role has never been codified or officially defined, but nevertheless figures prominently in the political and social life of Singapore.
| Spouse of the President of Singapore | |
|---|---|
| Residence | The Istana |
| Inaugural holder | Noor Aishah |
| Formation | 9 August 1965 |
| Website | Official website |
By tradition, an official portrait of the spouse of the president of Singapore is prominently displayed in government buildings and public institutions alongside the portrait of the president.[1] Jane Yumiko Ittogi is currently the spouse of the ninth President of Singapore, after her husband Tharman Shanmugaratnam won the 2023 presidential election with 70% of the valid votes.
History
In December 1959, Noor Aishah, wife of President Yusof Ishak, became the first person to assume the role at the age of 26.[2] Her biography, Puan Noor Aishah: Singapore's First Lady, was published in 2017.[3]
On 14 September 2017, Mohammed Abdullah Alhabshee became the first gentleman, after his wife Halimah Yacob won the 2017 presidential election by an uncontested walkover.[4]
List of spouses of the presidents of Singapore
| No | Portrait | Spouse of the President | President | Start date | End date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puan Noor Aishah (1933–2025) |
Yusof Ishak | 9 August 1965 | 23 November 1970 | [5] | |
| 2 |  |
Yeo Seh Geok
(1917–2012) |
Benjamin Sheares | 2 January 1971 | 12 May 1981 | [6] |
| 3 | .png){kind=spacer} |
Avadai Dhanam Lakshimi (1925–2005) |
Devan Nair | 23 October 1981 | 28 March 1985 | [7] |
| 4 | .png) |
Koh Sok Hiong (1916–2018) |
Wee Kim Wee | 2 September 1985 | 1 September 1993 | [8] |
| 5 | .jpg) |
Ling Siew May (1937–1999) |
Ong Teng Cheong | 2 September 1993 | 30 July 1999 | [9] |
| 6 | .jpg) |
Urmila "Umi" Nandey
(born 1929) |
Sellapan Ramanathan | 1 September 1999 | 31 August 2011 | [10] |
| 7 |  |
Mary Chee Bee Kiang
(born 1941) |
Tony Tan Keng Yam | 1 September 2011 | 31 August 2017 | [11] |
| 8 | .jpg) |
Mohammed Abdullah Alhabshee | Halimah Yacob | 14 September 2017 | 14 September 2023 | [12] |
| 9 | .jpg) |
Jane Yumiko Ittogi | Tharman Shanmugaratnam | 14 September 2023 | Incumbent | [13] |
