In thisMalay name, there is nosurname or family name. The nameYacob is apatronymic, and the person should be referred to by theirgiven name,Halimah. The word "bin/ibn" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Halimah binte Yacob[2] (born 23 August 1954) is a Singaporean politician and lawyer who was the eighthpresident of Singapore from 2017 to 2023, making her thefirst woman to serve in this role after being elected uncontested in the2017 presidential election.
Following a constitutional amendment in 2016, the2017 presidential election was reserved for candidates from theMalay community. On 7 August 2017, Halimah resigned from both the PAP and Parliament to qualify. She ran as an independent candidate, as required for eligibility, and subsequently won in anuncontested election because her rivals did not meet the necessary qualifications.
Halimah began her career in 1978 as a legal officer at theNational Trades Union Congress (NTUC)[11] and was appointed director of its legal services department in 1992.[12] She advanced within NTUC, holding roles such as assistant director of the Research Unit, Director of the Women's Development Secretariat,[13] and Executive Secretary of the United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries.[14][12] She also served as Assistant Secretary-General from 1999 to 2007 and Deputy Secretary-General from 2007 to 2011.[12][13] In 1999, Halimah became the director of the Singapore Institute of Labour Studies (now Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute).[15] She was elected as the Workers' Vice-chairperson of the Standards Committee of theInternational Labour Conference (ILC) inGeneva, serving from 2000 to 2002 and in 2005. Between 2003 and 2004, she was the Workers' Spokesperson for the ILC Committee onHuman Resources Development and Training.[16]
Her first political candidacy began in the2001 general election, where she joined a five-memberPeople's Action Party (PAP) team running for Jurong GRC, led by MinisterLim Boon Heng.Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who would later succeed her as president, also made his political debut alongside her in this election. Halimah represented Bukit Batok East as an MP until 2015, after which she was elected to represent the newly-formed Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC from 2015 to 2017.[17][18][19]
On 8 January 2013, Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong nominated Halimah to succeedMichael Palmer as Speaker of Parliament after Palmer resigned due to revelations of an extramarital affair.[23] She was elected to the position on 14 January 2013, becoming the first woman in Singapore's history to hold this role.[23] During her tenure, she also led a legislative delegation to Mexico.[24] In January 2015, she was co-opted into the PAP'sCentral Executive Committee (CEC), the party's highest decision-making body.[25]
In a strong response toISIS-linked beliefs, Singapore detained 26 members of a foreign jihadist cell involved in extremist teachings and intervened in several cases of self-radicalised Singaporeans attempting to join ISIS in Syria in 2015.[26] During her time as an MP, Halimah condemned ISIS's acts as un-Islamic and harmful to the image of Islam, stressing that countering its ideology is more essential than military action.[27] She urges young people to resist extremism online and supports community gatherings to build resilience, highlighting the shared responsibility to prevent self-radicalisation.[28] Halimah also encourages Muslim parents to stay vigilant and promote open communication within families and communities.[29]
While speaking during the debate on the Presidential Elections Amendment Bill on 6 February 2017,Minister in the Prime Minister's OfficeChan Chun Sing addressed Halimah as "Madam President" twice instead of "Madam Speaker", drawing laughter from the house[30][31] and leading to widespread speculation that Halimah would be the party's preferred candidate for the reserved presidential elections.[32][33]
In 2016, presidential eligibility criteria were changed so that if the presidency had not been held by a member of one of Singapore's major race communities in the previous five terms, the next term would be reserved for members of that community.[34] As a result of the change, the 2017 presidential election was reserved for Malay candidates.[34] Later, eligibility criteria were changed again to require private sector candidates to be a senior executive of a company worth at leastS$500 million.[35] Public sector candidates who have held certain offices are automatically eligible; Halimah qualified under this rule.[36]
To contest for the elected presidency, Halimah announced on 6 August 2017 that she would step down as speaker of parliament and MP for Marsiling–Yew Tee the following day.[37] She also resigned from the PAP. Prime Minister Lee accepted her resignation, expressing gratitude for her contributions to labour, community, and legislative service and expressing confidence in her ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the presidency. Halimah was widely seen as thePAP's candidate for the2017 presidential election[38][39][24] and received endorsement from Prime Minister Lee.[40]
In an interview on 11 August 2017, Halimah expressed her support for the reserved presidential election, saying it demonstrated Singapore's commitment to multiracialism alongside meritocracy. While some critics argued the reserved election compromised meritocracy, Halimah disagreed, emphasising that all candidates must meet the same eligibility criteria, ensuring no compromise between merit and representation.[41] Responding to comments on the lower qualifying threshold for public sector candidates, Halimah said that the system is transparent and has been in place since 1991.[42]
On 25 August 2017, Halimah launched her official campaign website, including her campaign slogan "Do Good Do Together", which was criticised by many for being ungrammatical. She defended her slogan, explaining that it is meant to be catchy.[43] In response to public queries whether Halimah broke election rules by campaigning ahead of the nomination day, the Elections Department clarified that its rule which forbids candidates from campaigning before close of nomination only applies to candidates who are nominated.[44]
Halimah's campaign expenses reached only $220,875 out of the $754,982.40 legal limit. Her expenses were used for promotional material, room rental, office supplies, food, transport and phone bills.[45] Queries were also raised regarding Halimah's long affiliation with the PAP and perceived lack of political independence as she quit the party just one month ago to campaign in the election. Halimah responded by comparing herself to former President Ong Teng Cheong, who was also a PAP member before being elected.[46] She also cited that she had abstained from voting in an amendment for the Human Organ Transplant Act in 2007.[47]
Former NMPCalvin Cheng suggested that Halimah did not appear to have the professional experience needed to manage thefinancial reserves.[48] According toPublichouse.sg's estimate, her financial management involvement was only about $40 million, much less than the stringent $500 million shareholders' equity requirement for private sector candidates.[49]
Being the only candidate to be issued aCertificate of Eligibility, Halimah became the eighth president of Singapore.[50]Tan Cheng Bock, a former presidential candidate, wrote that Halimah "will occupy the most controversial presidency in the history of Singapore".[51]The Economist described her as "popular and able".[52]
After Halimah Yacob's resignation as the sole minority MP in Singapore's Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC, opposition parties and residents called for aby-election, which the ruling PAP government declined to hold.[53] In response, resident Wong Souk Yee, with the support of theSingapore Democratic Party (SDP), filed a lawsuit in theHigh Court, arguing that theParliamentary Elections Act requires a by-election to be held when a vacancy occurs in a GRC.[54] Wong's lawyer cited Article 49(1) of theConstitution, which mandates that any vacant parliamentary seat be filled through an election, to support this claim.[55]
After theElections Department announced that Halimah was the only possible candidate for the presidency, global media monitoring houseMeltwater observed a significant increase in negative sentiment on social media surrounding the presidential elections from 11 to 12 September 2017. The sentiment observed was 83% negative and 17% positive.[56] Following the announcement, a number of Singaporeans began using the hashtag#NotMyPresident onFacebook andTwitter to voice their disappointment.[57][58][59] In response,The Straits Times reported that there was the use of #halimahismypresident by an "equally vocal group", urging "Singaporeans to rally round their next president".[59]
Halimah at the inauguration of South Korean presidentYoon Suk-yeol in Seoul, 10 May 2022
Halimah was sworn in as the President of Singapore on 14 September 2017 atThe Istana.[60] She became Singapore's first female president and the first Malay president in 47 years.[61] In her role, she was also appointedex officio as chancellor of both the NUS[62] andNanyang Technological University.[63]
Halimah Yacob initially decided to continue living in her publicHousing Development Board (HDB) flat inYishun after being sworn in as president,[64][65] making her the first president to reside in public housing. Her residence was a duplex consisting of a 5-room and a 4-room flat joined by demolishing the median wall.[66] However, her decision raised security concerns, and on 2 October 2017, theMinistry of Home Affairs announced that, following recommendations from security agencies due to identified threats, she moved to a more secure location.[67][68] The government continues to oversee her residence and security arrangements.[69]
Halimah made her first state visit as president to Brunei on 11 May 2018, where she witnessed the signing of a financial technology agreement and amemorandum of understanding (MoU) to exchange information related to money laundering and terrorist financing between Singapore and Brunei.[70] At the invitation ofKing Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Halimah was the first president of Singapore to visit theNetherlands since the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries on 7 December 1965.[71] The visit took place from 20 to 24 November 2018.[72]
To celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties, Halimah Yacob visited the Philippines from 8 to 12 September 2019, where she participated in events inManila andDavao City, including the Philippines–Singapore Business Council Meeting, a tour of the Philippine Eagle Center,[73] and, on 9 September, oversaw the signing of eight MOUs between Singapore and the Philippines, covering areas such as infrastructure, data protection, water management, and education, alongsidePhilippine PresidentRodrigo Duterte.[74] Prior to her visit to Saudi Arabia, Halimah Yacob conducted a state visit to Kuwait.[75] Later that same year, she became Singapore's first president to visit Saudi Arabia,[76] where she was conferred the collar of theOrder of King Abdulaziz.[77]
In 2023, Halimah Yacob conducted several overseas visits, including trips to Malaysia[78] and Qatar.[79] During her visit to Malaysia, she participated in a tree-planting ceremony atIstana Negara, an honour typically reserved for heads of state.[80] On 29 May 2023, Halimah announced that she would not seek re-election in the2023 presidential election. Her term expired on 13 September, and she was succeeded by the ninth president, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, on 14 September.[81]
Halimah (right) attending the opening reception of theAPEC Women and the Economy Forum 2012 atCatherine Palace
Halimah'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. She focused on topics including equitable employment and reasonably priced healthcare when she initially entered politics in 2001 as Singapore's first female Malay MP. She stresses the necessity for ongoing cultural transformation and respect for women as equals, even as she appreciates the advancements made in gender equality.[82] As president, Halimah supported initiatives like the White Paper on Singapore Women's Development to address gender issues. She underscored the need for protections for older workers and advocated for legal reforms to ensure justice for sexual assault victims, arguing that age should not exempt offenders fromcorporal punishment. Through her work under thePresident's Challenge, she also focused on empowering disadvantaged groups and promoting religious harmony and multicultural dialogue alongside gender equality.[83]
In 2019, Halimah 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.[84] She had also 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.[85][86][87] In order to keep up with workers' concerns, she frequently met with union officials from a variety of industries.[87] Mary Liew, president of NTUC, said that Halimah "always had a heart for women" and was aware of the problems of working moms because she was one herself.[87]
Halimah praised the notable advancements made in women's development in Singapore during her remarks at the 9th Singapore Women Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. She highlighted the country's improved gender equality ranking and the growing number of women in leadership positions and other fields. While acknowledging the vital roles social service partners play in bolstering these efforts, she underlined the significance of male-female collaborations and called for a concerted effort to dispelgender stereotypes and improve chances for women in the workplace. Eight new inductees were recognised during the event, which highlighted their remarkable accomplishments and experiences and reaffirmed the importance of female role models in motivating the next generation to create a more just society.[88]
In April 2020, in light of theCOVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, Halimah approved the government's request to draw $21 billion from the past national reserves, aimed at subsidising wages of 1.9 million workers and preserving jobs and businesses.[89] On 7 April 2020, the Supplementary Supply Bill was revised for the Resilience and Solidarity Budgets and the revised bill was assented by Halimah on 9 April 2020.[90] On 5 June 2020, the Parliament of Singapore passed the Second Supplementary Supply Bill for the Fortitude Budget, to allow for the government to draw an additional of $31 billion from the past reserves, aimed at securing employment for those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic as the country loosens restrictions after the circuit breaker.[91]
On 16 June 2020, Halimah 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. This marked the second time that the past reserves of Singapore were drawn in the financial year of 2020 and it was also the largest amount drawn from the past reserves since Singapore's independence, with the funds totalling $52 billion. She was the second president to exercise thepresident's discretionary powers for this purpose, after PresidentS. R. Nathan in 2009 did so for the2008 financial crisis.[92]
After her presidency, Halimah became the chancellor of theSingapore University of Social Sciences from 1 October 2023.[93][94] She became Stephen Lee's successor and was notable for being a SUSS patron.[94]
On 30 August 2024, she replacedTony Tan as the Securities Investors Association (Singapore)'s new chief patron. She was chosen for this position by the association because of her services to Singapore.[95]
In May 2025, it was reported that Halimah filed a police report in relation to a "deepfake" video in which she was falsely represented to have criticized the Singapore Government.[96]
Halimah is married to Mohammed Abdullah Alhabshee,[97][98] and they have five children.[66] Mohammed graduated from NUS with aBachelor of Science degree inphysics. It was also where he first met Halimah.[66]
Although Halimah is categorised as an Indian Muslim due to her father's descent,[4][6] she ran for the2017 presidential election as a Malay candidate and identifies herself as a Malay Muslim.[8][99]
In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded theBerita Harian Achiever of the Year Award in 2001,[102] theHer World Woman of the Year Award in 2003,[103] and theAWARE Heroine Award 2011.[104]
^abRajan, Uma (28 June 2016)."To Singapore with Love...". In Pillai, Gopinath & Kesavapany, Krishnasamy (eds.).50 Years of Indian Community in Singapore.World Scientific Publishing Co. p. 107.ISBN978-9-813-14058-5.Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved29 August 2017.Notable female politicians include Dhanam Avadai, PAP Member for Moulmein (1965–1968), lawyer Indranee Rajah, the current Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Education, and Indian-origin politician Halimah Yacob, former Minister and current Speaker of Parliament.
^Cheam, Jessica (10 January 2013)."A strong advocate for workers, women and minorities".The Straits Times. Singapore.Archived from the original on 21 July 2017. Retrieved21 July 2017.Her Indian-Muslim father was a watchman who died when she was eight years old.
^Yong, Charissa (4 August 2017)."Homecoming for Halimah Yacob at union's dinner and dance".The Straits Times. Singapore.Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved8 August 2017.The United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries dinner and dance on Friday night (Aug 4) was a homecoming of sorts for Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob. She was its executive secretary from 2004 to 2011, and is now advisor to the 60,000-strong union.
The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency he or she represents.PAP:People's Action Party;WP:The Workers' Party NMPs do not belong to any party. There were two terms of NMPs in this parliament, with nine NMPs in each term.
The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency he or she represents.PAP:People's Action Party;SPP:Singapore People's Party;WP:The Workers' Party For NCMPs, Gerald Giam and Yee Jenn Jong are from the WP, while Lina Loh is from the SPP. NMPs do not belong to any party. There were two terms of NMPs in this parliament, with nine NMPs in each term.
The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency he or she represents.PAP:People's Action Party;SDA:Singapore Democratic Alliance;WP:The Workers' Party NMPs do not belong to any party. There were two terms of NMPs in this parliament, with nine NMPs in each term.
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