Life After the Presidency: How Singapore’s Former Heads of State Spent Their Years After Office

Being the President of Singapore is no simple role. Beyond authorizing investigations and overseeing key appointments, the President safeguards Singapore’s past reserves and holds the power to veto both government and corporate budgets. But what happens when their term ends? Do former presidents retire quietly, or continue contributing in new ways? Here’s a look at what Singapore’s past eight presidents did after leaving office.

Yusof bin Ishak
Yusof Ishak, remembered by many as the face on Singapore’s dollar notes, was the nation’s first president. He initially served as Singapore’s head of state, or Yang di-Pertuan Negara, from Dec 3, 1959, under British rule. He continued his role when Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963 and again when Singapore became independent on August 9, 1965. Yusof was re-elected in 1967 but passed away in office on November 23, 1970, before completing his second term.

Benjamin Henry Sheares
Succeeding Yusof, Benjamin Sheares was appointed by parliament on December 30, 1970. Known for his close friendship with Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Sheares initially hesitated to take on a third term due to health concerns but ultimately accepted with encouragement. Tragically, he too passed away in office, on May 12, 1981.

CV Devan Nair
Elected in October 1981, CV Devan Nair was Singapore’s third president. He resigned due to health reasons in 1985, becoming the first president to step down. In 1995, he and his wife moved to Hamilton, near Toronto, Canada.

Wee Kim Wee
Wee Kim Wee became the fourth president on September 2, 1985, and was Singapore’s last parliament-appointed president. After completing two terms, he retired in 1993. Wee continued serving the public as deputy registrar of marriages and later as a director at Cathay Organisation Holdings.

Ong Teng Cheong
Singapore’s first elected president, Ong Teng Cheong, took office in 1993. Previously a member of the ruling People’s Action Party, Ong left politics to run for president. After serving one term, he returned to his architectural practice upon retiring in 1999.

S R Nathan
Serving from 1999 to 2011, S R Nathan was Singapore’s longest-serving president. After retiring, he became a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and Singapore Management University. He also established the S R Nathan Education Upliftment Fund, published memoirs, and even authored children’s folktales.

Tony Tan Keng Yam
Tony Tan, elected in 2011, served one term before stepping down in 2017. He resumed a leadership role in the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) as Director and Special Advisor.

Halimah Yacob
Singapore’s first female president, Halimah Yacob, took office in 2017. After announcing her plans to retire following her term, she remains committed to advocating for mental health and disability awareness.