| Koh Sok Hiong | |
| Office: | 4th Spouse of the President of Singapore |
| Predecessor: | Avadai Dhanam Lakshimi |
| Successor: | Ling Siew May |
| Term Start: | 2 September 1985 |
| Term End: | 1 September 1993 |
| President: | Wee Kim Wee |
| Birth Date: | 5 July 1916 |
| Birth Place: | Straits Settlements |
| Death Place: | Changi General Hospital, Singapore |
| Spouse: | Wee Kim Wee (1936; died 2005) |
| Children: | 7 |
| Native Name: | 许淑香 |
Koh Sok Hiong (; 5 July 1916 – 7 July 2018), also known as Ms Wee Kim Wee, was a Singaporean philanthropist and chef who served as the 4th Spouse of the President of Singapore from 1985 to 1993, of President Wee Kim Wee.
Born in Singapore during colonial rule, Koh studied at Nanyang Girls' High School before marrying Wee in 1936. During Wee's career as a diplomat, she helped host formal dinner parties for him, including cooking all the food for the dinner. Koh usually cooked Peranakan cuisine, releasing a book in 2005 compiling all of her recipes.
During her time as Spouse of the President, she performed philanthropic work for multiple charities and was also known for her fashion, particularly that she frequently wore cheongsams, a Chinese dress. Koh died on 7 July 2018, Wee predeceased her in 2005.
Koh was born on 5 July 1916, the eldest of eight children, in the Straits Settlements[1] to Hokkien businessman Khor Chwee Thor and Koh See Neo, a nyonya.[2]
She studied at Hwa Chiau Chinese and English School and Nanyang Girls' High School. In 1935, Koh met her future husband Wee Kim Wee and they later got married in 1936. Her wedding was conducted in Mandarin at the United Chinese Library.[3]
In 1965, she worked as a food writer for magazine Her World in a column titled "Malaysian Kitchen", writing nyonya recipes. Whilst Wee worked as a diplomat, Koh often cooked and hosted dinner parties, with Wee's personal assistant stating about Koh that "cooking and managing a formal sit-down official dinner for 20 guests was just as easy as preparing for a one-to-one lunch."
In 1985, Koh became the 4th Spouse of the President of Singapore after her husband Wee, was elected President of Singapore.[4] During her time as Spouse, she did philanthropy work and supported charities such as Girl Guides Singapore, Life Community Services Society, and Jamiyah Home for the Aged, serving as the patron of the former from 1985 to 1994.[5] [6] In 1986, she met Pope John Paul II.[7]
Koh was also known for her fashion and wearing cheongsams, a traditional Chinese dress. She tend to wear cheongsams with different styles and fabrics for different events, with most in red, her favourite colour.
In 1993, Koh stepped down as Spouse after Wee's resignation as president.[8] Then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong stated that she had "contributed to the prestige and respectability of the presidency".[9]
She married Wee Kim Wee in 1936 and they had 7 kids.[10] In 2005, her daughter Wee Eng Hwa, published a cookbook titled Cooking for the President: Reflections & Recipes of Mrs. Wee Kim Wee which contained 200 of Koh's Peranakan recipes.[11] In 2015, she suffered a stroke that left her using a wheelchair and being tube-fed.[12]
On 7 July 2018, Koh died at Changi General Hospital after suffering from some breathing difficulties at 102. She is survived by her 6 children, 13 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.