Othman Wok, a People’s Action Party (PAP) old guard and first generation minister in Singapore’s post-independence Cabinet, has passed away at 92.

Othman was Minister for Social Affairs from 1963 to 1977, and also took on the culture portfolio from 1965 to 1968. From 1977 to 1981, he was a minister without portfolio, while concurrently serving as Singapore’s Ambassador to Indonesia.

Before joining politics, Othman began his career as a journalist at Malay newspaper Utusan Melayu helmed by Yusof Ishak, who would become Singapore’s first president.

During his time at Utusan, Othman was sent to London to take a diploma in journalism on a Colonial Development Scholarship.

After returning to Singapore from his studies, Othman was promoted to chief reporter of Utusan and also got involved with trade union work.

As a trade unionist, he got to know Lee Kuan Yew in 1954, and would join the newly founded PAP that same year, marking his entry into politics.

He stood in the 1963 snap elections, which were called after Singapore’s merger with Malaya, and won in his constituency of Pasir Panjang.

Born in 1924, Othman is of Orang Laut (sea gypsies) ancestry, and his family was descended from one of the few hundred (some sources claim that there were 1,000 inhabitants living in Singapore) families living in Singapore, when Stamford Raffles arrived in 1819.

Here is the Prime Minister Office's statement on Othman's passing:

The Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues are sad to learn of the passing of Mr Othman Bin Wok and wish to convey their deepest condolences to his family. Mr Othman passed away at Singapore General Hospital at 12.21 pm today.

Mr Othman Wok was one of the signatories of the Separation Agreement and a founding father of Singapore. He was a key member of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s Cabinet, during the critical period when Singapore was in Malaysia, and then separated from Malaysia to become an independent republic. He supported Mr Lee in the fight for a multi-racial and multi-religious Singapore, and became one of Mr Lee’s closest comrades.

Mr Othman Wok will be buried at Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery tomorrow. The Government will accord Mr Othman Bin Wok the honour of being borne on the Ceremonial Gun Carriage for his final journey from Sultan Mosque to Pusara Abadi at the Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery.

A Memorial Service will be organised by OnePeople.sg on Wednesday, 19 April 2017. The Government has ordered the State flag on all Government buildings to be flown at half-mast till the completion of the Memorial Service.

PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

SINGAPORE

17 APRIL 2017

Here is the announcement of Othman's passing on PAP Facebook:

Top image from PAP Facebook and NAS.

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