Dr Wee Kim Wee

Wee Kim Wee, Dr (b. 4 November 1915, Singapore - d. 2 May 2005, Singapore) was the fourth President of Singapore, who had established himself as a diplomat and a journalist. The Straits-born Chinese served eight years as the President from 30 August 1985 to 30 August 1993.

Early life
Wee had a humble beginning, his family being relatively poor. Wee lost his parents at a young age -- his father when he was only eight and his mother when he was 19. The family lived in a rented house in Holland Road and the family subsisted on poultry and fruit trees that were grown in the home's compound.  Wee attended Pearl's Hill School, Outram School and Raffles Institution but disrupted his education in 1929, at the age of 15, to supplement his family income through work.

Career
Journalist
Wee's uncle, Tan Kok Tiong, recommended Wee for a position at The Straits Times. Thus began Wee's career at The Straits Times in 1930, where he worked as a clerk in the circulation department and was later transferred to the advertising department. His break into journalism came when he was called upon to report on sports outside office hours. Promoted to reporter, he resigned in 1941 and joined the United Press Association (UPA). During World War II, Wee served in the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) and also sold miscellaneous goods in front of the SHB Quarters in Kampong Bahru.

Wee rose through the ranks in UPA and became the Chief Correspondent and Office Manager for Singapore, Malaya, Borneo and Brunei in the 1950s. He rejoined The Straits Times in 1959 as its Deputy Editor and was promoted to Editorial Manager in 1970. In 1966, he was credited with bringing the first word that Indonesia was keen on ending Confrontation with Singapore when his interviews were published, the first by a local journalist, with Indonesia's new leaders, Suharto and Adam Malik.

Diplomat
As a diplomat, Wee had served as the High Commissioner to Kuala Lumpur from 1973 to 1980, and as Ambassador to Japan and the Republic of Korea between 1980 to 1984.

Presidency
Mr Wee was sworn in as the fourth President of Singapore on 30 August 1985. Mr Wee had two operations in 1989 for cancer of the rectum and a prostate problem and recovered sufficiently to resume his appointment as the Singapore President. He also briefly enjoyed the new Presidential powers of an elected President that came into effect on 30 November 1991, before he retired at the age of 78 in 1993 after two successful four-year terms.

Other accomplishments
The all-rounded sportsman excelled particularly in badminton. He founded the Useful Badminton Party in 1934 and was also the president of the Singapore Badminton Association as well as the Vice-President of the Badminton Association of Malaya. In 1937, he was the Junior Singles Badminton Champion.

During his illustrious career, Wee had also been appointed as the Chairman of the Singapore Film Appeals Committee, board member of the National Theatre Trust, panel member of the Land Acquisition Board, patron of the Chinese Swimming Club, Singapore Cancer Society, Singapore Turf Club and the Singapore Repertory Theatre. Wee has also served on the boards of several charitable organisations including SATA.

Wee was Singapore's Chief Scout during his presidential years from 1985 to 1993. He was also the fifth Singaporean to be made an honorary member of the Singapore Recreation Club in 1994. The Wee Kim Wee Professorship in Communication Studies at NTU was established on 4 November 1995. A number of Wee's speeches have been deposited in the National Library collection.

Timeline
1930 - 1941 : Clerk in The Straits Times circulation department; later promoted to reporter
1941 : Office Manager, United Press Association
1945 : Sub-editor, United Press Association
1947 - 1959 : Chief Correspondent and Office Manager, United Press International, for Singapore, Malaysia, Borneo and Brunei.
1959 : Deputy Editor, The Straits Times
1966 : Appointed as a Justice of the Peace
1970 - 1973 : Editorial Manager, The Straits Times
1973 - 1980 : High Commissioner, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1980 - 1984 : Ambassador to Japan and Republic of Korea
1985 - 1993 : President of Singapore, serving two four-year terms

Appointments
1937 : President of the Singapore Badminton Association and Vice-President of the Badminton Association of Malaya.
1966 : Justice of the Peace
1973 : President, Singapore Press Club
1984 - 1985 : Chairman, The Singapore Broadcasting Corporation
1985 - 1993 : Chancellor, the National University of Singapore
1993 : Appointed as Deputy Registrar of Marriages
1999 : Director, Cathay Organisation Hldgs.

Awards
1963 : Public Service Medal
1973 : Public Service Star
1979 : Meritorious Service Medal for contributions as Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia
1989 : Hon Knight Grand Cross, Order of Bath
1990 : Laila Utama (Most Esteemed Family Order), Brunei
1993 : Order of Temasek (First Class) also known as Darjah Utama Temasek for distinguished contributions as President of Singapore from 1985 to 1993
1994 : Doctor of Letters (honorary degree) by the National University of Singapore for his contributions to public service and his contributions to the University of Singapore as its Chancellor for eight years
1996 : Special inaugural award for distinguished service to journalism
1998 : Distinguished Service Award from the Asia-Pacific Region Scout Committee for contributions to the Singapore scout movement

Family
Father: Wee Choon Lay, a cargo clerk who became blind at the age of 45
Mother: Mdm Chua Hay Luan alias Tak Poh
Wife: Koh Sok Hiong (m. 1936). Koh was born in Singapore and studied at Hua Chiao Primary School and Nanyang Girls High School.
Children: One son and six daughters.



Author
Sharon Teng & Jenny Tien



References 
Who's Who Publishing. (2000). Who's who in Singapore (p 280). Singapore: Who's Who Publishing.
(Call no.: RSING 920.05957 WHO)

Ministry of Culture. (1977). Biographical notes of the President, Prime Minister and ministers. Singapore: Publicity Division, Ministry of Culture.
(Call no.: RSING 328.59570922 BIO)

Singapore Chronicles: A special commemorative history of Singapore (pp. 52-54). (1995). Hong Kong: Illustrated Magazine.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN)

A man without pretensions. (1985, August 31). The Straits Times, Singapore, p. 16.

Lee, S. H., & Chua, M. H. (1993, August 22). Never shun the common people. The Straits Times, Singapore, pp. 1-3.

Teo, A., & Chuang, P. M. (1993, September 1). House pays tribute to outgoing President. The Straits Times, Singapore News, p. 2.

Touching tribute to Wee Kim Wee. (2005, May 13). The Straits Times, Singapore.

Channelnewsasia. (2005). Obituary: Wee Kim Wee, 1915-2005. Retrieved November 7, 2005, from
www.channelnewsasia.com/obituary/weekimwee/

Istana Singapore. (2000, April 20). Dr Wee Kim Wee. Istana Singapore. Retrieved March 11, 2003, from 
www.istana.gov.sg/history.html#wee

Nanyang Technological University. (2005). Dr Wee Kim Wee. Retrieved January 12, 2005, from www.ntu.edu.sg/ALUMNI/Giving+to+NTU/Professorships/Wee+Kim+Wee+Professorship.htm 



The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>Political Leaders
Wee, Kim Wee, 1915-2005
Presidents--Singapore--Biography
Journalists--Singapore--Biography
Law and government>>Political process>>Leadership

Librarian Recommendations
>> Singapore's presidents


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