Wee Kim Wee

Wee Kim Wee (Simplified Chinese: 黄金辉; pinyin: Huáng Jīnhuī; November 4 1915–May 2 2005) was the fourth President of Singapore, from 1985 to 1993.

Born into a humble family, Wee Kim Wee was the son of a clerk, Wee Choong Lay and his wife Chua Lay Hua. His father died when he was eight. Wee studied at Outram School, and he started out as a clerk working for The Straits Times, before becoming a reporter focusing on political issues. He eventually became one of the paper's main reporters. In 1941 he joined the United Press Associations, and was its chief correspondent in the 1950s. He returned to The Straits Times in 1959, and was appointed deputy editor in Singapore. In 1966, he interviewed the former Indonesian president, General Suharto, reporting Suharto's intention to end the three-year confrontation with Malaysia (see Konfrontasi). He broke the news with a front-page headline using Suharto's own words: "Suharto: 'Peace: The sooner the better'" [1].

Wee was editorial manager when he retired in 1973 to become the High Commissioner to Malaysia, a position he held for seven years. He was appointed ambassador to Japan in September 1980, and to South Korea in February 1981. At the end of his diplomatic career in 1984, he was appointed chairman of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation – the predecessor of the current MediaCorp Studios – and became president a year later.

A highly popular president, he was noted by people from all walks of life for his approachability and humility during his term in office. Modest, friendly, and sincere, he is remembered as the People's President.

Wee amended the Singapore constitution in January 1991 to allow for the direct election of the President, who would have the right of veto over civil service appointments and the use of government reserves.

The creation of the elected presidency is a major constitutional and political change in Singapore's history as under the revision, the President is empowered to veto government budgets and appointments to public office. This allows him to examine the Government's exercise of its powers under the Internal Security Act and religious harmony laws, and in investigations into cases of corruption.

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

Wee died on 2 May 2005 at 5:10am SST in his home at the age of 89 from prostate cancer. A humble man up to his death, he had asked to be cremated and for the ashes to be placed in the Mandai Columbarium with those of ordinary citizens, instead of at the Kranji War Cemetery, where people of his rank are usually buried. He was given a state funeral, and a large crowd turned up to pay their last respects. Prior to cremation, reverend Shi Ming Yi and two other abbots conducted the Buddhist last rites for Wee.

His Autobiography

Wee was survived by his wife, Koh Sok Hiong, his wife of sixty-nine years, one son, Bill Wee Hock Kee, six daughters, and thirteen grandchildren.

References

• Wee Kim Wee (2004), Glimpses and Reflections. Landmark Books, Singapore. ISBN 981-3065-87-7
• Former President Wee Kim Wee dies at the age of 89

	Presidents of Singapore
	Yusof bin Ishak | Benjamin Henry Sheares | Chengara Veetil Devan Nair | Wee Kim Wee | Ong Teng Cheong | Sellapan Ramanathan

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