46 Facts About Halimah Yacob

Halimah binti Yacob was born on 23 August 1954 and is a Singaporean politician and lawyer who held the office of the eighth president of Singapore from 2017 to 2023, making her the first woman to serve in this role.

Halimah Yacob made history as Singapore's first female speaker of parliament, a position she held from 2013 to 2017.

Halimah Yacob chose not to seek re-election in the 2023 presidential election, concluding her term on 13 September 2023, after which she was succeeded by Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Halimah Yacob was born on 23 August 1954 at her family home on Queen Street in Singapore during British colonial rule, to an Indian father and Malay mother.

Halimah Yacob's father was a watchman who died due to a heart attack when she was eight years old, leaving her and four siblings to be brought up by her mother.

Halimah Yacob's family was in poverty at the time of her father's death, and she helped her mother to sell nasi padang outside the former Singapore Polytechnic along Prince Edward Road.

Halimah Yacob attended Singapore Chinese Girls' School and Tanjong Katong Girls' School.

Halimah Yacob graduated from the University of Singapore in 1978 with a Bachelor of Laws and was called to the Singapore Bar in 1981.

Halimah Yacob earned a Master of Laws from NUS in 2001 and received an honorary Doctor of Law degree from NUS in 2016.

Halimah Yacob began her career in 1978 as a legal officer at the National Trades Union Congress and was appointed director of its legal services department in 1992.

Halimah Yacob served as Assistant Secretary-General from 1999 to 2007 and Deputy Secretary-General from 2007 to 2011.

In 1999, Halimah Yacob became the director of the Singapore Institute of Labour Studies.

Halimah Yacob was elected as the Workers' Vice-chairperson of the Standards Committee of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, serving from 2000 to 2002 and in 2005.

In 1993, Halimah Yacob served as one of the six assentors in Singapore's presidential election, supporting the successful candidate, Ong Teng Cheong.

On 8 January 2013, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong nominated Halimah Yacob to succeed Michael Palmer as Speaker of Parliament after Palmer resigned due to revelations of an extramarital affair.

Halimah Yacob was elected to the position on 14 January 2013, becoming the first woman in Singapore's history to hold this role.

Halimah Yacob urges young people to resist extremism online and supports community gatherings to build resilience, highlighting the shared responsibility to prevent self-radicalisation.

Halimah Yacob encourages Muslim parents to stay vigilant and promote open communication within families and communities.

Halimah Yacob was widely seen as the PAP's candidate for the 2017 presidential election and received endorsement from Prime Minister Lee.

On 25 August 2017, Halimah Yacob launched her official campaign website, including her campaign slogan "Do Good Do Together", which was criticised by many for being ungrammatical.

Halimah Yacob defended her slogan, explaining that it is meant to be catchy.

Halimah Yacob's expenses were used for promotional material, room rental, office supplies, food, transport and phone bills.

Halimah Yacob responded by comparing herself to former President Ong Teng Cheong, who was a PAP member before being elected.

Halimah Yacob cited that she had abstained from voting in an amendment for the Human Organ Transplant Act in 2007.

Halimah Yacob was sworn in as the President of Singapore on 14 September 2017 at The Istana.

Halimah Yacob became Singapore's first female president and the first Malay president in 47 years.

Halimah Yacob initially decided to continue living in her public Housing Development Board flat in Yishun after being sworn in as president, making her the first president to reside in public housing.

Halimah Yacob's residence was a duplex consisting of a 5-room and a 4-room flat joined by demolishing the median wall.

Halimah Yacob made her first state visit as president to Brunei on 11 May 2018, where she witnessed the signing of a financial technology agreement and a memorandum of understanding to exchange information related to money laundering and terrorist financing between Singapore and Brunei.

At the invitation of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Halimah Yacob was the first president of Singapore to visit the Netherlands since the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries on 7 December 1965.

In 2023, Halimah Yacob conducted several overseas visits, including trips to Malaysia and Qatar.

On 29 May 2023, Halimah Yacob announced that she would not seek re-election in the 2023 presidential election.

Halimah Yacob's difficult upbringing inspired her to get a legal degree and defend the weak, which is why she is an advocate for women's rights.

Halimah Yacob focused on topics including equitable employment and reasonably priced healthcare when she initially entered politics in 2001 as Singapore's first female Malay MP.

Halimah Yacob stresses the necessity for ongoing cultural transformation and respect for women as equals, even as she appreciates the advancements made in gender equality.

In 2019, Halimah Yacob advocated for companies to embrace gender equality, noting that it will increase innovation and business profitability during her speech at the Women's Forum Asia.

Halimah Yacob had publicly voiced her views about a local podcast, OkLetsGo, for their offensive remarks against women and asked the hosts of the show for an apology for their remarks.

Mary Liew, president of NTUC, said that Halimah Yacob "always had a heart for women" and was aware of the problems of working moms because she was one herself.

Halimah Yacob praised the notable advancements made in women's development in Singapore during her remarks at the 9th Singapore Women Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Halimah Yacob highlighted the country's improved gender equality ranking and the growing number of women in leadership positions and other fields.

On 16 June 2020, Halimah Yacob assented to the Second Supplementary Supply Bill, which enacted the Second Supplementary Supply Act, to allow the government the additional requested funds to ease the effects of the pandemic.

Halimah Yacob became Stephen Lee's successor and was notable for being a SUSS patron.

Halimah Yacob was chosen for this esteemed position by the association because of her outstanding services to Singapore, which include her influential career as a politician and unionist and her representation of the country abroad throughout her 2023-ending president.

Halimah Yacob is married to Mohammed Abdullah Alhabshee, of Arab descent, and they have five children.

Halimah Yacob was inducted into the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations' Singapore Women's Hall of Fame in 2014.

Halimah Yacob received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the National University of Singapore in 2016.