Singapore’s Former First Lady Puan Noor Aishah Dies at 91, Laid to Rest Beside Late President Yusof Ishak

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Loh Huey Xin
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Singapore’s former first lady, Puan Noor Aishah, the wife of Singapore’s first president, Mr Yusof Ishak, died at the age of 91.

She passed away peacefully at Singapore General Hospital on 22 Apr 2025 at 4:28 AM, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The PMO stated that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his Cabinet colleagues were deeply saddened by her passing and extended their condolences to her family during this difficult time.

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The First Singapore’s First Lady and Her Role in Nation Building

Born on 21 May 1933 in Selangor, Puan Noor Aishah was adopted by Ms Fatimah Ali and Mr Mohammad Salim Jusoh, an Eurasian man originally known as Barney Perkins, who had converted to Islam.

She grew up in Penang during the Japanese occupation with limited access to formal education, but developed practical skills such as cooking and sewing to help her family make ends meet.

At just 16 years old, she married Mr Yusof Ishak in 1949, who was then 39 and the managing director and co-founder of Malay-language newspaper Utusan Melayu.

The couple later moved to Singapore, where Mr Yusof was appointed as the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (head of state) in 1959 and subsequently became Singapore’s first president following the country’s independence in 1965.

This made Puan Noor Aishah Singapore’s first first lady at the young age of 26.

In a book published by Straits Times Press in 2017, Puan Noor Aishah: Singapore’s First Lady, she recounted that stepping into the role was completely unfamiliar.

“I was not given any instructions or briefing at all; no guidelines on how to be first lady. I had no task lists and no one briefed me on things like etiquette, dress codes and protocol. We had to learn and manage on our own,” she said.

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Despite these challenges, she adapted to her new responsibilities with grace and dignity, as noted by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his tribute.

She made the effort to improve her English so she could converse directly with visiting dignitaries and managed a large household while carrying out her official duties.

Transforming the Istana and Championing Social Causes

Puan Noor Aishah quickly made her mark by transforming the Istana, changing “the staid colonial style to give it a distinctive local elegance,” as quoted from Mr Tharman’s tribute to the late Puan Noor Aishah.

She became an emblem of heritage and local traditions by wearing the sarong kebaya at state events, using fabrics she bought from Arab Street and embroidering the kebaya herself.

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She also revolutionised the Istana’s cuisine by teaching the chefs, who were still preparing English classics like roast beef and pudding, her recipes for local favourites like beef rendang, epok epok, and various kuih, which have remained part of Istana cuisine ever since.

Beyond the Istana, Puan Noor Aishah was deeply involved in charitable causes and championed various social initiatives, particularly in support of women, children, and the less privileged.

She served as patron for several organizations including the Singapore Red Cross, the Young Women’s Muslim Association (PPIS), the Children’s Society, the Girl Guides Association, the Association for the Blind, the Spastics Association, and the Association for the Deaf.

She became a key figure in the Girl Guides movement in Singapore, becoming its first Asian president in 1959 and later serving as its patron.

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said in a statement that the community had “lost a strong patron and supporter of many social services organisations who sought tirelessly to uplift the community.”

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MUIS highlighted her notable contributions in supporting people with disabilities and women’s rights, which “created a deep impact on the lives of the Singaporean Muslims and the nation.”

When her husband’s health began to decline after a heart attack in 1968, Puan Noor Aishah took on some of his social responsibilities, such as presenting the National Day Awards.

Image: National Archives of Singapore

For her contributions, she was awarded the Pingat Bakti Chemerlang (Distinguished Service Medal) in 1964, and the National Trades Union Congress awarded her the Special Medal of Honour in 1971.

She was also inducted into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018, acknowledging her role in strengthening the country’s social fabric and her longstanding commitment to voluntary work.

Legacy and Final Respects

When plans for the construction of Masjid Yusof Ishak in Woodlands were announced in 2014, Puan Noor Aishah lent her support, including fundraising and community outreach efforts.

She even donated plants from her private nursery to enhance the landscaping features at the mosque.

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Since the mosque’s opening in 2017, she remained a prominent figure at many events there, with her presence always welcomed by congregants who remembered her for her tireless support for the community.

Former president Halimah Yacob said in a Facebook post that she will remember Puan Noor Aishah as a kind and gentle person who took a keen interest in Yusof Ishak Secondary School, located in Bukit Batok East, during her time as an MP there.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam noted in his tribute that, unlike her husband, who passed away in 1970, Puan Noor Aishah lived to see Singapore’s transformation and “could take pride in her quiet role in our foundational years of self-government and independence, for which she will stay in collective memory.”


In recognition of her contributions, the government assisted her family with the funeral arrangements.

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As a mark of respect, she was accorded the honour of being borne on the Ceremonial Gun Carriage for her final journey from Masjid Ba’alwie to Kranji State Cemetery, where she was laid to rest alongside her late husband.

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Loh Huey Xin