By Marsita Omar written on 04-Mar-2008
National Library Board Singapore

Comments on article: InfopediaTalk

Othman Wok (b. 8 October 1924, Singapore) is a former Minister for Social Affairs and a Member of Parliament who represented Pasir Panjang Constituency between 1963 and 1977. He was a prominent Malay journalist and later, rose to become the deputy editor of the Malay language newspaper, Utusan Melayu. He is the recipient of the Anugerah Tokoh Wartawan Dunia Melayu in 2008, an award that is given by the Former Berita Harian Journalists' Association (Persatuan Bekas Wartawan Berita Harian Malaysia) in acknowledgment of  his 20 years of contribution to Malay journalism. He joined the People's Action Party (PAP) in 1954, just days after its formation. In 1963, he was elected the Assemblyman of Singapore because of his election victory in in Pasir Panjang. That same year, he resigned from the newspaper. During the turbulent merger years, he received threats, including death threats, from people who called him a traitor to the Malay community as he supported Singapore's separation from Malaysia. He served in the Cabinet as the Minister for Social Affairs from 1963-1977. He is also known for his work in the Singapore Grand Prix, the establishment of the National Stadium, the implementation of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA), Mosque Building Fund (MBF), and the management of Hajj services by his ministry. A father of four daughters, Othman Wok has published his life experiences in his biography, Never in My Wildest Dream (2000).

Early Life
Othman Wok was born to a teacher and principal, Wok Ahmad, and a mother who is a descendant of the Orang Laut (sea-gypsy), Embon Mohamad. His family was of one of the few hundred families who were already living in Singapore when Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in 1819. For the first four years of his life, he lived at his uncle's quarters with his parents and grandparents. During his growing-up years, they moved to different quarters as his father was posted to different schools. For a while in the 1930s, they lived on Pulau Brani where his father taught. As a child, he also grew up in Telok Blangah. During the Japanese Occupation, his father was worried that if Othman did not go to school, he would be forced to join the Imperial Army to fight. His father then enrolled him in a Japanese school despite his reluctance. Othman excelled in Japanese nevertheless. When his father wanted to send him to an English school, his grandfather, a religious Quran teacher objected as he was afraid that Othman might become a Christian. So Othman Wok went to Sekolah Melayu Telok Saga instead, and Raffles Institution for his secondary education. 

Early Years As Journalist
Before joining the Utusan Melayu as a clerk, Othman worked as a laboratory assistant in the Japanese Anti-Plague Laboratory during the Japanese Occupation. Yusoff Ishak (Singapore's first president),who founded the Malay-language newspaper, then offered him the position of reporter in 1946 after his clerical stint. In 1950, Othman Wok pursued his Diploma in Journalism in London on a Colonial Development Scholarship. After London, he came back to Utusan Melayu and was promoted to news editor in 1951. He remained in that position until 1957 when he became deputy editor. 

Meeting with Lee
On his return to Singapore in 1951, he was elected as Honorary Secretary of the Singapore Printing Employees Union (SPEU), a multi-racial group that fought for higher wages and better working conditions for its members. However, the union was not really united at that time and hence the two-week strike organised by the employees of the Straits Times Press failed. That was the time when Othman became acquainted with Lee Kuan Yew who became the legal adviser of the union. Lee was also the legal adviser of Utusan Melayu that same year and they met often when Lee had meetings with Yusof Ishak, the editor of Utusan Melayu. The acquaintance paved the way for Othman Wok's political career. This was also when an enduring friendship began.

It was at this time that Lee, with the inputs of Goh Keng Swee, K. M. Byrne, S. Rajaratnam with Othman, became convinced that a multi-racial political party should be formed to represent Singapore. In 1954, the People's Action Party was established. Othman joined PAP to form a multi-racial political party to serve the needs of the common people. Lee was to acknowledge Othman's leadership, courage and support during this difficult time many years later.

Days As A Politician
Othman had joined PAP only days after its formation in 1954 as he believed in its policy of multi-racialism. He admitted that though he did not play an active role, he helped in the publication of Petir. He also served as one of the members of the editorial board of the bulletin. Ahmad Ibrahim approached him to be an elected chairman of the PAP Geylang Serai/ Tampines branch in 1959.  

"Malay Traitor"
At a time when politics were fought along racial lines, Othman Wok was seen as a traitor to the Malay community for joining the PAP along with his compatriots like Rahim Ishak, Rahmat Kenap, Ariff Suradi, Buang Omar Junid, Mahmud Awang and Yaacob Mohamed. In 1959, he was fielded as a PAP candidate in the ward of Kampong Kembangan. He lost as the residents were mostly supporters of the Kuala Lumpur-based United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). Othman Wok found himself the target of threats and ridicule by UMNO supporters during the turbulent merger years with Malaysia. Othman Wok stood for the 1963 General Election and was elected Assemblyman of Singapore in Pasir Panjang Constituency in the same year. He left Utusan Melayu that year. 

Othman Wok was a firm supporter and admirer of Lee Kuan Yew whom he saw as a fearless leader dedicated to his cause of multi-racialism. He claimed that the racial riots of July 1964 was instigated and planned by communalists from UMNO. He was elated at the news of Singapore's separation from Malaysia. Lee was to remember the great leadership, courage and support that Othman had given him during those tumultuous times at the occasion of his 75th birthday held at the Suntec City in September 1998.

Minister for Social Affairs
When Singapore gained self-rule in 1963, Othman Wok became the first Minister for Social Affairs. He was the only Malay member in the Cabinet. In his biography, Never in My Wildest Dreams, Othman recounted one immediate and unpleasant task he had to do as the Minister for Social Affairs. He had to put his signature on the document which sanctioned the hanging of criminals on death row.  Although it required the entire Cabinet to approve the hanging of the convicted criminal, it was the Minister for Social Affairs' signature on the execution order that signified a final recommendation to the President before a sentence could be carried out. The most memorable case that he experienced was the infamous 1961 mutiny at Pulau Senang when 13 criminals were sentenced to death by hanging for murdering the chief warden.

Since 1963, he had been both the director of the Malay Affairs Bureau as well as the Minister for Social Affairs, a position he held in cabinet for 14 years. 
Due to his roles, Othman is known for starting and implementing many changes that are still relevant with the Malay community today. After Singapore's independence, the Ministry of Social Affairs set up the Singapore Pilgrimage Office to look into the Muslim pilgrimage affairs. This came at a time when there was a lack of system and registration of sheikh hajis and pilgrim brokers in Singapore. This new development was the first step that saw MUIS (Majlis Agama Islam Singapura) acting as a regulator for hajj activities. Today, the system is still in place without major ammendments. 

Muslim Affairs
His ministry was also responsible for issues that fell under the jurisdiction of the Administration of the Muslim Law Act (AMLA) of 1966. This new statute repealed the Muslims' Ordinance which had been in existence since 1957. AMLA created a system of administration that covered all aspects of Muslim life in Singapore. It was AMLA that made the establishment of MUIS as a statutory board possible in 1968. Since then, MUIS is seen as the body responsible for all mosques in Singapore. The AMLA was amended on 19 August 1975 to institutionalise the Mosque Building Fund (MBF). This was the brainchild of Lee Kuan Yew. Under the scheme, working Muslims are requested to contribute a certain percentage of their income every month on an opt-out basis. In the commencement of the deduction which was affected by in May that year (1975), the minimum contribution per working Muslim adult was S$0.50 per month. Up till 2007, 22 MBF mosques, costing S$103 million, have been built. 

National Sports Development
Apart from his leadership in Malay affairs, he was also known for his active involvement in the development of sports and recreation in Singapore. Under his leadership, a sports department was set up within the Ministry of Social Affairs in 1966 to take over the functions of the former Singapore Sports Council. A new sports council was established to run the administrative affairs as well as to carry out advisory and consultative roles to the ministry. This in turn meant that the Sports Department was responsible for the organisation of major sports events, including the Singapore Grand Prix. Othman was determined to create an active and vibrant sports scene in Singapore. As sports minister, he officiated the groundbreaking ceremony of the National Stadium in December 1966. The stadium took seven years to complete, and was officially opened by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 21 July 1973. 

Singapore Grand Prix
Othman took a keen interest in the running of the Singapore Grand Prix. He also proactively made suggestions to improve the quality of the event each year. One such submission was a five-point proposal that he presented to the Singapore Grand Prix committee for a larger scale event, which the committee eventually organised at a cost of S$128,000 in 1967.

Ambassador
Othman Wok  represented Pasir Panjang while he was the Minister of Social Affairs, until 1977. After 14 years in cabinet, he served as the ambassador to Indonesia for 3 1/2 years. During his term, Singapore and Indonesia enjoyed warm ties.

Devoted To Writing
Othman loved writing since he was young. As a student of Raffles Institution, he would contribute short stories to his school magazines. He developed a preference for writing ghost and horror stories early on. As a child, he would often listen to the chilling tales that the adults told about the supernatural world. During his days as a journalist, Othman Wok produced a series of short horror stories for Jawi magazines such as the Mastika and the Utusan Melayu. After retiring from politics in 1981, he was able to devote more time to writing, and became a regular writer of horror tales for a Malaysian weekend newspaper, Mingguan Malaysia.  His biography, Never in My Wildest Dream  was published in 2000. The writing of the manuscript started in 1994. He began compiling the short stories that he wrote for newspapers and magazines. From time to time, Othman would published short stories from his collection. Some of these titles include Malayan horror: Macabre tales from Singapore and Malaya (1991), The disused well: And other tales of horror & mystery (2006) and Unseen occupants and other chilling tales (2006).

After his retirement from politics, he became a board member of the Singapore Tourism Promotion Board (STPB) and Sentosa Development Corporation. He was also a director of several companies. Othman Wok survived a heart attack on 28 July 2000   for which he had a five-hour bypass operation.

Family
Parents: Father, Wok Ahmad and mother, Embon Mohamad
Wives: M. 1949, Cik Dah Mohd Noor (died 9 Dec 1987); M. 1975, Lina Abdullah
Children: 4 daughters (Saffiah, Dahlia, Lily & Diana)

Timeline
1946 : Radio technician
1946-1951 : Reporter, Utusan Melayu
1950 : Received a Colonial Development Scholarship for a Diploma in Journalism in London School of Journalism (London Polytechnic)
1951-1957 : News Editor, Utusan Melayu
1951/55 : Elected Secretary General of the Singapore Pinting Employees Union
1954 : Member of the People's Action Party (PAP)
1959 : Party candidate in Kampong Kembangan
1963 : Deputy Editor, Utusan Melayu
Sep 1963 : left Utusan Melayu
Sep 1963 : Elected Assemblyman of Singapore, Pasir Panjang Constituency
19 Oct 1963 - 26 Nov 1963 : Minister for Home Affairs (including Social Welfare)
27 Nov 1963 - 1965 : Minister for Social Affairs
1963-1977 : MP for Pasir Panjang
24 Sep 1965 - 15 April 1968 : Minister for Culture and Social Affairs
1966-1973 : Worked on the Singapore Grand Prix
1968-1977: Minister for Social Affairs
1977-1981: Minister without Portfolio
1977-1980 : Ambassador to Indonesia (also accredited to Papua New Guinea)
March 1981: Officially retired
1981 : Permanent Member, Presidential Council of Minority Rights
1981-1994 : Board Member, Singapore Tourist Promotion
1981-1987 : Board Member, Sentosa Development Corporation
1981 : Director, Overseas Investment Pte Ltd
1982 : Director, Overseas Investment Nominees Pte Ltd
1983 : Director, Bioheath International (S) Pte Ltd
1987 : Director, Autologous Blood Bank (S) Pte Ltd
1988 : Director, Utusan Melayu (S) Pte Ltd
1989 : Director of Sembawang Holdings
1992 : Director, Gainall Pte Ltd
1993 : Director, C. Thru Pte Ltd
1994 : Director, Property Services International
1995 : Director, Hale medical Clinic (Concourse) Pte Ltd
1996 : Director, Mindsets Pte Ltd
1996 : Director, Bright Steel Pte Ltd
1996 : Chairman, Lion Asiapac Ltd

Published works
1991 : Malayan horror: Macabre tales of Singapore and Malaysia in the 50's
1993 : Cerita-cerita seram
1995 : Kisah-kisah seram & misteri
2000 : Malayan horror: Macabre tales of Singapore and Malaysia in the 50's (reprint)
          Never in my wildest dreams
2002 :Tales of horror and mystery: More macabre tales from Singapore, Malaya and Indonesia
2004 : Malayan horror: Macabre tales from Singapore and Malaya
2006 : The disused well: And other tales of horror & mystery
          Unseen occupants and other chilling tales

Honours
1980 : Jasa Utama Star, Indonesia
1990 : Order of Nila Utama (Second class)
1996-1999 : Hon Consul, Principality of Monaco
2008 : Anugerah Tokoh Wartawan Dunia Melayu        



Author
Marsita Omar and Kartini Saparudin



References
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