Wee Kim Wee

Wee Kim Wee PBM BBM DUT
黃金輝
Wee in 1936
4th President of Singapore
In office 2 September 1985 – 1 September 1993
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew Goh Chok Tong
Preceded by	Devan Nair
Succeeded by	Ong Teng Cheong
Singapore Ambassador to South Korea
In office September 1980 – April 1984
President	Benjamin Sheares Devan Nair
Preceded by	Wee Mon Cheng
Succeeded by	Lee Khoon Choy
Singapore Ambassador to Japan
In office September 1980 – April 1984
President	Benjamin Sheares Devan Nair
Preceded by	Wee Mon Cheng
Succeeded by	Lee Khoon Choy
Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia
In office 15 September 1973 – 31 August 1980
President	Benjamin Sheares
Preceded by	Chiang Hai Ding
Succeeded by	Maurice Baker
Personal details
Born	(1915-11-04)4 November 1915 Singapore, Straits Settlements (present-day Singapore)
Died	2 May 2005(2005-05-02) (aged 89) Siplap Plain, Singapore
Cause of death	Prostate cancer
Resting place	Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Koh Sok Hiong
Children	7
Education	Outram Secondary School Raffles Institution
Occupation	Journalist diplomat

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wee.

Wee Kim Wee (4 November 1915 – 2 May 2005) was a Singaporean journalist and diplomat who served as the fourth president of Singapore from 1985 and 1993. Born in Singapore during colonial rule, Wee was educated at Outram Secondary School and Raffles Institution, dropping out to work at The Straits Times in 1930. He left The Straits Times to join the United Press Associations in 1941, working there through the Second World War and eventually becoming the office manager and chief correspondent by 1959.

That same year, he returned to The Straits Times after being offered the position of Deputy Editor. During his time there, he was best known for his interview of then-Lieutenant General Suharto, where he reported his intentions for peace during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. He also became the first Singaporean journalist to enter Jakarta when he went to interview Suharto. He retired from journalism in 1973 at the position of editorial manager and became a diplomat, serving as Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia from 1973 and 1980 and Ambassador to Japan and South Korea concurrently from 1980 and 1984.

In 1985, Wee was elected president by Parliament and served in the role for two terms, ending in 1993. For the ensuing presidential election, the first in Singapore to be decided by popular vote, Wee decided not to contest and retired after his second term had ended. He was also the first president to exercise custodial powers pursuant to the constitutional amendments in Singapore's history. He was succeeded by Ong Teng Cheong on 1 September 1993. Wee died of prostate cancer in his home at Siglap Plain in Singapore on 2 May 2005, at the age of 89.

Early life and education

Wee was born in Singapore, which was then-under British rule and a part of the Straits Settlements, at the Free Middleton Hospital on 4 November 1915. The youngest of four sons to Wee Choong Lay and Chua Hay Luan, his father Choong Lay worked on a ship, being in charge of the cargo. His father later went blind after an unsuccessful surgery, causing his family to move from their home in Zion Road to a house at Holland Road. The house, which lacked electricity or piped water, was owned by a wealthy land-owner whom they paid a rent of S$3.00 a month. Wee's family relied on rearing poultry and fruits growing around the house for money.

In 1923, Wee attended Pearl's Hill School for his primary education. He later attended Outram Secondary School, before enrolling in Raffles Institution, for his secondary education. He passed his Standard VII in 1929, being promoted to a "Junior" class. He dropped out of school sometime after 1929 after his mother urged him to find employment, seeing as how their family was still living "hand-to-mouth" in Singapore Harbour Board housing at Kampong Bahru. His uncle Tan Kok Tiong, who worked as a chief clerk at Singaporean newspaper The Straits Times, recommended that Wee work at the circulation department of the newspaper.

Career

Journalism (1930–1973)

In 1930, Wee started working for the newspaper The Straits Times in its circulation department. He worked in the circulation department for five years before being transferred to the advertising department, which he worked at for about three to four years before becoming a reporter. Initially, Wee covered sporting events such as soccer, badminton, table tennis, and basketball, which were usually at the stadiums or the amusement parks.

Wee c. 1952

Early in 1941, he resigned from The Straits Times to join American news agency United Press Associations (UPA) after the post of circulation chief clerk was not offered to him upon its vacancy at The Straits Times. During the Second World War, while working at UPA, he served in the Air Raid Precautions. He struggled financially during the war, setting up a stall in Kampong Bahru where he sold things such as mosquito coils. After the end of the war, Wee continued to struggle financially. Following the liberation of Singapore, UPA correspondent Charles McQuown-Wright contacted him and gave him S$50.00 to support himself. As he continued to work at UPA, he eventually became the office manager and chief correspondent in the early 1950s. As chief correspondent, he reported to an American manager about Singapore, Malaya, Borneo, and Brunei.

In 1959, Wee was asked to return to The Straits Times where he would be appointed as Deputy Editor, the head of The Straits Times' editorial department. In 1963, Wee managed to interview a Sulu pirate chief while he was in Malaysia. In 1966, he interviewed then-Lieutenant General Suharto and then-Indonesian Foreign Minister Adam Malik. He reported their intentions to end the confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia, also known as the Konfrontasi. Wee had interviewed Malik earlier in Bangkok before gaining permission to interview Suharto in Jakarta. He was the first Singaporean journalist to gain permission to enter Jakarta. In the early 1970s, Wee was responsible for helping form the Singapore Press Club. Suggesting the idea to T. S. Khoo, Wee set up and held the first inaugural meeting of the club after his agreement. Wee was also responsible for finding where the club's premises would be, first at the Summit Hotel (now known as the York Hotel) and later the Apollo Hotel, both at low rental rates. In 1970, he was appointed as editorial manager, which he worked as till 1973 when he left journalism.

Diplomacy (1973–1984)

In 1973, Wee was approached by then-Foreign Minister S. Rajaratnam to serve as Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia, which he accepted and subsequently left The Straits Times. Originally, he was only supposed to serve for three years but ended up serving seven years as the High Commissioner to Malaysia, ending on 31 August 1980. During his time there, he lived in Kuala Lumpur and was credited by Rajaratnam in helping improve the relationship between the two countries, especially after the separation of Singapore from Malaysia a few years prior.

In September 1980, Wee was appointed to serve concurrently as Singapore's Ambassador to Japan, having presented his credentials earlier in October, and Ambassador to South Korea. In 1981, Wee opened the Development Bank of Singapore's first Korean branch in Seoul. In 1983, he represented Singapore at the funeral for the victims of the Rangoon bombing. He retired from diplomacy in 1984.

Other appointments

During his career, Wee held multiple appointments on different statutory boards such as the Rent Control Board, Film Appeal Committee, Land Acquisition Board, Board of Visiting Justices, National Theatre Board, and the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (present-day Mediacorp). He also served on the Council of the Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association (SATA) and later chairman of SATA. In 1959, Wee alongside fellow SATA Council member Sen Gupta introduced mobile x-ray machines to treat tuberculosis more efficiently in Singapore. Wee also served as a director for United Engineers, Wearne Brothers, and Banque Internationale à Luxembourg's Asia branch till 1985.

Presidency (1985–1993)

Presidential elections

1985 presidential election

The Old Parliament House (pictured in 2006), where Wee was elected by Parliament at both presidential elections.

Following the resignation of incumbent president Devan Nair eight months before the end of his term, Parliament had to elect a new president as they were elected by Parliament, not by popular vote. To be elected president, the nominee has to gain a majority of the vote of the Parliament. In August 1985, then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew nominated Wee to become president at the 1985 presidential election after a five month vacancy.

Wee received a unanimous agreement to his election, also making him the first Chinese Singaporean to become president. Upon his inauguration, Wee received congratulations from Malaysian King Sultan Iskandar and Malaysian Queen Tengku Zanariah.

1989 presidential election

At 1989 presidential election, Wee was nominated for a second term as president by Lee again. He received another unanimous agreement, being sworn in for a second four-year term. Upon his reelection, he stated, "The reason why I could go on like this is the encouragement and the support that the government as well as the people have given me."

The 1989 presidential election was initially planned to have a president elected by popular vote by the people, but amendments to the constitution for a president elected by popular vote were not ready yet. Lee stated about this that, "The president after him is likely to be elected by the whole electorate."

Activities during presidency

Wee was appointed Chancellor of the National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University.

Prior to Wee's second term as president, the selection of the presidential candidate was determined solely by the Parliament. During Wee's second term, the Parliament amended the constitution in 1991, to allow for an elected president, who could veto key political appointments and the use of government reserves.

The creation of an elected presidency was a major constitutional and political change in the country's history as under the revision, as the president is empowered to veto government budgets and appointments to public office. They can examine the government's exercise of its powers under the Internal Security Act and religious harmony laws and investigate cases of corruption.

For the ensuing initial presidential election, the first in Singapore to be decided by popular poll, Wee decided not to enter his candidacy and went into retirement upon the completion of his second and final term. He was also awarded the Darjah Utama Temasek in 1993.

Post-presidency

After leaving office, Wee was appointed as deputy registrar of marriages. He was later conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by the National University of Singapore for his contributions to public service and his contributions to the University of Singapore as its chancellor till 1993.

Wee became the Director of Cathay Organisation Holdings in 1999.

In 2004, Wee published his autobiography, Glimpses and Reflections. From the royalties and other donations, half a million Singapore dollars were donated to eight charities.

Personal life and death

Wee and his wife Koh Sok Hiong in 1950, onboard the SS Chusan.

Wee died of prostate cancer in his home at Siglap Plain on 2 May 2005, aged 89. Before his death, he had asked to be cremated and for the ashes to be placed at Mandai Columbarium with those of ordinary citizens instead of Kranji State Cemetery, where late dignitaries are usually buried. His state funeral saw a large crowd who attended to pay their last respects at the Istana, where his body was laid in state.

He was survived by his wife of 69 years, Koh Sok Hiong (1916–2018), their son Bill Wee Hock Kee (1936–2015), six daughters, 13 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

In 2006, Nanyang Technological University renamed its School of Communication Studies after Wee to the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

The Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies at Singapore Management University, renamed after Wee as the Wee Kim Wee Centre.

Wee Kim Wee Legacy Fund at Nanyang Technological University is named after him.

Bibliography

• Wee Kim Wee (2004), Glimpses and Reflections. Landmark Books, Singapore. ISBN 981-3065-87-7
• On The Record: The Journalistic Legacy of President Wee Kim Wee. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. ISBN 978-981-05-6707-1 and ISBN 981-05-6707-3
• Wee Eng Hwa (2010), "Cooking For The President" - a cookbook of Peranakan recipes from Wee's wife, recorded by his daughter Wee Eng Hwa. The cookbook includes much details of Wee's personal life with photographs.
• Speech by Wee Eng Hwa at the launch of Wee Kim Wee School Of Communication And Information, 5 December 2006 at The Istana, Singapore.
• Former President Wee Kim Wee dies at the age of 89, Channel News Asia, 2 May 2005.

External links

• Welcome to Wee Kim Wee Centre, wkwc.smu.edu.sg. Accessed 25 March 2024.