Ya’acob Mohamed (1925– 1989) Politician and diplomat. Ya’acob Mohamed was born in Kelantan. While he was still an infant, his family moved to Johor, where he later received his education. Ya’acob then moved to Singapore to continue his studies.

During World War II, Ya’acob was drawn to the Malayan People’s Anti- Japanese Army (MPAJA). After the end of the war, he joined a number of left- wing organizations, including the Malayan Nationalist Party. In 1949, he joined the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), after some of these left- wing organizations were outlawed. He soon became the head of UMNO’s Bukit Panjang branch. To support himself financially, he became a barber.

By 1957, Ya’acob became disillusioned with UMNO, and decided to join the People’s Action Party (PAP) in 1958. Within months, he was appointed chairman of the PAP’s Bukit Panjang branch. In 1959, he contested in Bukit Timah constituency and won. He was appointed parliamentary secretary for national development. In the General Election (1963), he won a seat in what was then considered the UMNO stronghold ward of Southern Islands.

In 1980, Ya’acob stepped down as member of Parliament of Kampong Ubi and was appointed Singapore’s ambassador to Egypt, a post he held until 1986. He died of leukaemia in 1989. He was posthumously admitted into the Distinguished Service Order in 1990.

Photo credit: National Archives of Singapore