Othman Wok, born 8 Oct 1924, was a former journalist, Member of Parliament, and Minister of Culture and Social Affairs during the early years of Singapore’s independence. He was instrumental in many major Singapore projects such as the establishment of the National Stadium, the Singapore Grand Prix, the implementation of legislation such as the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA), and concerted efforts to create a harmonious multiracial Singapore society. During his retirement, he returned to writing, publishing Malayan Horror: Macabre Tales of Singapore and Malaysia in the 50s, the first of several volumes of ghost and horror stories, as well as his autobiography.

Othman Wok, who described himself as an Orang Laut (literally, "man of the sea"), grew up in a Malay kampong. One of an early batch of Malay students to be offered English-language education under the British, he was interested in journalism from a young age which led to him working as a reporter. After an interlude during the war working under the Japanese in an anti-plague laboratory, he later received a scholarship to study at the London School of Journalism, and eventually became editor of the Malay-language newspaper Utusan Melayu.

An active trade unionist, he went on in the 1950s to be a key link between the People’s Action Party Government and the Muslim/Malay community. In 1963 he became the Member of Parliament for Pasir Panjang, the only Malay member in the Cabinet, and retained the post until stepping down 14 years later in 1977 to serve as Singapore’s ambassador to Indonesia.

He succeeded Singapore’s Minister for Culture S. Rajaratnam during Singapore’s newly independent years and served as Minister for Culture and Social Affairs. He contributed to the development of the nation’s fledgling arts, cultural and sports scene as its arts ambassador, and helped establish the National Stadium and the Singapore Grand Prix.

Following retirement he was appointed a board member of the Sentosa Development Corporation and the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board. He also returned to writing, now being able to devote more time to his passion. He writes ghost and horror stories and his books include Malayan horror: Macabre tales from Singapore and Malaya (1991), The disused well: And other tales of horror & mystery (2006) and Unseen occupants and other chilling tales (2006). He published his autobiography, Never in My Wildest Dream, in 2000.

On 17 Apr 2017, Othman Wok passed away at the age of 92 in Singapore.