Halimah declared Singapore’s first female president
SINGAPORE: Halimah Yacob was declared yesterday as Singapore’s eighth president, making her the first woman to hold the office.
Halimah, 63, is scheduled to be sworn in tomorrow at the Istana.
Returning Officer Ng Wai Choong made the declaration after nominations closed at noon today at the nomination centre at the People’s Association Headquarters in Jalan Besar where hundreds of Halimah’s supporters in orange-themed attire had gathered.
Halimah, the former Speaker of Parliament who arrived at the nomination centre at 11.15 am with her husband Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, was the only potential candidate issued with a certificate of eligibility by the Presidential Elections Committee.
She was declared the presidentelect after successfully going through the nomination proceedings.
“I am a President for everyone. Even though this is a reserved election, I am not a reserved President,” Halimah said when addressing her supporters after Ng, who is also the chief executive of the Energy Market Authority, declared her the president-elect.
The 2017 Presidential Election was reserved for the Malay community.
Two other potential candidates, businessmen Mohamed Salleh Marican and Farid Khan Kaim Khan, did not meet certain criteria set for the private sector.
For the public sector, Halimah met the criteria, having held office for at least three years as the Speaker of Parliament.
As Halimah was the only successful candidate, it also means that 2,516,608 Singapore electors would not have to cast their votes on Polling Day scheduled for Sept 23.