1959 Stands for election in Kampong Kembangan, a 1975 Takes Madam Lina Abdullah, a divorcee with a 1995 Begins writing a series of seven books stronghold of Malaysia’s Umno, and is trounced by its daughter, as his second wife. on local ghost stories. Pioneer minister candidate Ali Alwi. Relinquishes his Social 2000 Publishes his biography in English, Born the rst of two 1977 Oct 8, 1924 Wins election in the ward of Pasir Panjang by 992 Affairs portfolio upon being made Never In My Wildest Dreams. children, and only son, of school principal Wok 1963 votes, with future prime minister Goh Chok Tong among his Singapore’s Ambassador to Ahmad and housewife Embon Mohd. He is a voters. Quits Utusan, is made Minister of Social Affairs, and Indonesia. He remains a Minister direct descendant of Singapore’s original 2008 Is awarded the Eminent Journalist of is the only Malay-Muslim in Cabinet. Without Portfolio. settlers, the orang laut (Malay for sea gypsies). the Malay World accolade by the Former Berita Harian Malaysia Journalists Association for his contributions to journalism. 1938-1941 Studies at Rafes Institution. 1965 Takes 1978 Cheats death in On Dec 8, 1941, the day the Japanese began over the Ministry Indonesia when he misses a ight bombing Singapore, he was taking his history test. of Culture from to a resort in Bali – the helicopter Mr S. Rajaratnam, he was to have taken crashes, Mr Othman taking his oath of of ce at City Hall in 1963. Flanking 1942 Works in a Japanese biological warfare and runs it killing all on board. factory in Singapore. him are Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Yusof Ishak. concurrently with Social Affairs. Mr Othman (right) marching with the People's Defence Force as 1980 Awarded Indonesia’s an of cer cadet in Singapore's rst National Day Parade in 1966. 1946 Starts out as a radio technician in 1950 In London, he turns down a request to represent Jasa Utama Star. East Coast Road, then joins the Malay-language Malaya in the Western Students’ Union, to focus on his studies. Assists Professor Ahmad Ibrahim, Singapore’s rst newspaper Utusan Melayu here as a clerk. A week 1966 Mr Othman leaving for attorney-general, in shaping the seminal Administration of later, its founder-editor Yusof Ishak, who later 1981 Retires from politics Jakarta to assume his Muslim Law Act 1966, which establishes Muis (Islamic becomes president of Singapore, makes him a Returns to Singapore, where Mr Yusof promotes him after 18 years as MP for Pasir new duties in 1977. 1951 Religious Council of Singapore) and the Syariah Court here. cub reporter. to chief reporter. He is also elected secretary of the Singapore Panjang. Is made a permanent International soccer Also begins overseeing the construction of the National Printing Employers’ Union, whose lawyer is Mr Lee Kuan Yew. star Pele trying member of the Presidential Stadium, which opens on July 21, 1973. Council for Minority Rights. 1948 Utusan posts him to Kuala Lumpur. his hand at eating peanuts with Joins the boards of the then Singapore Tourist Promotion Becomes a founding member of the People’s Action Board (until 1994) and the Sentosa Development (From left) Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 1954 chopsticks, much to Initiates the incorporation of the Singapore 1949 Marries Daliah Mohd Noor, known Party. He helps out in its Malay Affairs Bureau, translates 1968 Corporation (until 1997). Dr Maliki Osman, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Madam Lina the amusement of Council of Social Service, which is now known as the fondly as Cik Dah, a reporter at the paper’s Mr Lee’s speeches into Malay and edits its magazine Petir. Abdullah and Mrs Lee celebrating the 91st Mr Othman, in 1974. National Council of Social Service, to tighten its focus and Mr Othman and his wife Lina Abdullah A young Othman Wok (right) with his parents branch in Kuala Lumpur. Wins the Colonial birthday of Mr Othman (seated) at his home on make it more ef cient. arriving at Rafes Hotel to mark the 80th Wok Ahmad and Embon Mohd, and sister Mariam, Development Scholarship to study journalism 1990 Conferred the Order of Nila Utama (Second Class) Oct 10, 2015. in 1928. in London for a year. 1957 Is appointed Utusan’s deputy editor. by President Wee Kim Wee. birthday of President S R Nathan in 2004. PHOTOS: OTHMAN WOK, BH, ST FILE STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS