27 Facts About Othman Wok

Othman bin Wok, often known as Othman Wok, was a Singaporean statesman who served as Minister of Social Affairs between 1963 and 1977.

Othman Wok was born on 8 October 1924 in Singapore during British colonial rule, to a family of Orang Laut origins.

Othman Wok began his education in Telok Blanga Malay School at the age of 5, before attending Radin Mas English School and Raffles Institution.

Othman Wok was afraid that Othman would waver in his religious beliefs in the course of his English-language education, converting him to Christianity.

Othman Wok had no issues sending one of his daughters to a Catholic school, CHIJ Katong Convent.

Othman Wok's daughter received religious education outside school hours, and remained a Muslim.

Othman Wok joined the local Utusan Melayu Malay-language newspaper as a clerk after finishing his education, and was offered a reporter position in 1946 by Yusof Ishak.

In 1950, Othman Wok pursued a Diploma in Journalism in London on a Colonial Development Scholarship, and rejoined Utusan Melayu as a news editor in 1951.

Othman Wok would stay in his role of news editor for 6 more years until his promotion to deputy editor of the newspaper in 1957.

Days after the formation of the PAP in 1954, Othman Wok joined the political party as his ideology of a national policy of multi-racialism was aligned with what the PAP sought to achieve.

Othman Wok took on the role of producing the party's Petir publication, and was a member of the bulletin's editorial board.

Othman Wok became Singapore's first Minister for Social Affairs after his successful election in the General Elections of 1963, and was at that time the only Malay member in the Cabinet.

Othman Wok held the concurrent role of Director of the Malay Affairs Bureau, and has been credited with implementing policies that continue to impact the Malay community today.

Othman Wok was initially branded as a "race traitor" by some of the local Malay community for joining the PAP.

Othman Wok would go on to contest once more in the 1963 Singaporean general election, when he would then succeed and become the elected representative of the Pasir Panjang constituency.

On this day, Othman Wok highlighted his concern regarding the Malayan Communist Party to Lee Kuan Yew, and only upon assurance did he put pen to paper.

Othman Wok was known for his active involvement in the development of sports and recreation in Singapore.

Othman Wok was once a famous tennis player, peaking and ranking number 28 in the world.

Othman Wok was responsible for setting up a Sports Department within the purview of the Ministry of Social Affairs in 1966, and officiated the groundbreaking ceremony of the first National Stadium.

Othman Wok served as Member of Legislative Assembly and Member of Parliament for the Pasir Panjang Constituency, retiring on 5 December 1980 when parliament dissolved on the same day for the 1980 Singaporean general election.

Othman Wok's seat was retained by Abbas Abu Amin of the PAP in that election, who held the constituency until it was redistributed in the 1991 Singaporean general election.

Othman Wok continued to be active and served in the Presidential Council of Minority Rights as a permanent member.

Othman Wok was appointed as a member of several companies' board of directors.

Othman Wok recounted that as a boy, different races lived together harmoniously, and he would have Chinese and Indian playmates whom he conversed with in Malay.

Othman Wok's hobbies included reading and writing ghost stories, one of his books being Malayan Horror: Macabre Tales of Singapore and Malaysia in the 50s, a compilation of stories written by him.

Othman Wok has penned a biography titled: " Never in my Wildest Dreams", as a memoir of his life experiences.

Othman Wok completed military service with the People's Defence Force in 1980, holding the rank of Major.