Friends, family and ex-colleagues pay tribute to ‘down-to-earth’ politician Othman Wok

SINGAPORE — Friends, family and ex-colleagues of the late politician Othman Wok paid homage on Monday (April 17) to a man they described as down-to-earth and accommodating. 

A former journalist, union leader and diplomat, and a key member of the founding generation of political leaders, Mr Othman died on Monday afternoon at the Singapore General Hospital after a protracted battle with cancer.

His daughter Lily Othman, 60, a housewife, said that her father always tried to set aside time for his children. “Whenever he came back from his travels, he spent at least a night with us sharing with us his stories ... We’re more or less like his second family, compared to his political work,” she said with a laugh. 

“We hope that he’ll always be remembered for being part of Singapore, the Old Guard and (a) contributor to the harmony of Singapore,” she said.

Calling him easygoing and accommodating, his son-in-law Munir Shah, 64, a consultant, told TODAY that Mr Othman loves food and was particular about its authenticity, and his family and friends would turn to him as a “measure”. 

“He’d say, ‘This is not quite rendang or sambal goreng’,” Mr Munir said.

Mr Nasir Ibrahim, 75, a member of the Sultan Mosque’s management board, first met Mr Othman more than five decades ago, when he served as a volunteer for military unit 1 PDF. 

During the National Day Parade in 1967, Mr Nasir was second-in-command to Mr Othman, who was the contingent’s commander. “He did not (put on) airs as a minister. Once he was in uniform, he was a soldier.”

Accounting veteran Gerard Ee was a young auditor in the 1970s when he met Mr Othman, who had wanted to consult him about internal controls. “He was willing to listen first and then ask questions ... He’s one of the senior people who (made you feel) very comfortable dealing with (him).” 

Major (Ret) Abbas Abu Amin, 79, who served from 1980 to 1991 as Member of Parliament of Pasir Panjang, recalled how Mr Othman always went the extra mile and put his heart into volunteer work. “He always believed in going to the ground to solve problems.”