SINGAPORE – The body of the late Mr Othman Wok arrived at his family home at Kew Drive on Monday (April 17) afternoon, as tributes and condolences poured in for the former minister and People’s Action Party (PAP) stalwart.
He was 92. A key member of the Old Guard whose unflinching support for the Government’s multi-racial stand helped the PAP secure the Malay ground during the turbulent 1960s, Mr Othman was also among the 10 leaders who signed the Independence of Singapore Agreement on Aug 9, 1965.
“The Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues are sad to learn of the passing of Mr Othman Wok and wish to convey their deepest condolences to his family,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, writing on Facebook, paid tribute to Mr Othman’s efforts to foster multiculturalism and lift the Malay-Muslim community. He added: “(Mr Othman) was keenly aware that race and religion could become major fault lines and conflicts could arise out of suspicion, misunderstanding and prejudice. As such, he urged Singaporeans to make the effort to strengthen cross-cultural understanding, practice mutual respect, and come together as one united people.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) praised Mr Othman for playing an instrumental role in helping to build institutions which serve the community, such as the development of the Administration of Muslim Law Act and the establishment of the Mosque Building Fund.
“At the juncture when the Malay community suddenly found itself as a minority group after the separation from Malaysia in 1965, Malay leaders such as Mr Othman Wok played a pivotal role in keeping the spirits and unity within the community and Singaporeans at large,” Yayasan Mendaki, a Malay-Muslim self-help group, added in a separate statement.
Mr Othman had been a journalist, a union leader, a politician and an ambassador. He was also Singapore’s first Social Affairs Minister from 1963 to 1977.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) praised Mr Othman for championing the “training of social workers and volunteers” and helping to create a “more effective social service ecosystem”.
Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, said that “in a time when a young Singapore was struggling with strikes and unemployment, Mr Othman had the challenge of stretching the limited welfare fund to help Singaporeans in need.”
Here are the other tributes that have come in for Mr Othman:
