Halimah Yacob: the president making history today
years of service: 2018 - present
Introduction
Halimah Yacob is a trailblazer. In 2013 she became the first woman to be Speaker of the Singapore Parliament. Four years later, in September 2017, she became Singapore’s first woman President. In 2001, she was the first Malay woman to be elected to Singapore’s Parliament when she won a seat in Jurong GRC. As a working mother and with experience in the labour union, Halimah has championed the interests of women and workers. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said she spoke “with a practical, compassionate voice, helping us to shape effective policies with a human touch”. She is the longest serving female Muslim politician in the ruling People’s Action Party.
Life
President Halimah Yacob comes from a humble background, studying law at the University of Singapore on a MUIS scholarship. She graduated in 1978 with an honours degree and was called to the bar in 1981. In 2001, she attained her Masters in law from NUS.
On graduation, she joined the National Trades Union Congress and was variously director of the women’s development secretariat and of its legal services before becoming NTUC deputy secretary-general. She was the first Singaporean to be elected to the governing body of the International Labor Organisation.
President Halimah Yacob has served on various boards including the Housing and Development Board, Tripartite Alliance on Fair Employment Practices, Tripartite Workgroup on Enhancing Employment Choices for Women and Mendaki Sense.
On 23 January, 2013, the National Council of Social Services named her its first adviser to tap into her “extensive and deep understanding of ground concerns, together with her practical ways”.
Before becoming Speaker, President Halimah Yacob served as minister of state in the Ministry of Social and Family Development. She is on PAP’s central executive committee.
The politician is vocal on social issues ranging from training for older and less skilled workers to caring for the elderly and mentally ill. She supports flexible working arrangements and family care leave to improve work-life balance. She also fought successfully for equal medical benefits for women civil servants.
President Halimah Yacob was Berita Harian/McDonalds “Achiever of the Year” in 2001 and Her World Magazine’s “Woman of the Year”in 2004.
In 2017, President Halimah Yacob resigned from her positions as Speaker of Parliament and MP to contest the presidential election. The election was declared a walkover and in September she was sworn in as Singapore’s eighth president and its first female president.
Visions for Singapore
1) Securing Jobs for Singaporeans
Singapore makes our living from trading with the world. But with COVID-19 and new waves of protectionism, this will be disrupted. We need to transform our economy and remain a regional hub, so that we keep creating good jobs for Singaporeans. President Halimah recognised the anxieties around jobs felt by Singaporeans, especially mature workers, mid-career Singaporeans and low wage workers. She assured that the Government would keep doing its best to help them. We also need to make a major push for sustainable growth, so that our jobs are secured for the long term.
2) Fair and Just Society
President Halimah said that we are entering an era of volatility and disruption. Therefore, individuals will need greater support at every stage of life. We need to further strengthen our social safety nets for Singaporeans, but in a way that is financially sustainable for our children and grandchildren. To keep social mobility high, we need to update our meritocracy to recognise different types of talents. Through the next bound of SkillsFuture, we must give Singaporeans opportunities to advance at every stage of their lives, regardless of their starting point. We also have to uplift the most vulnerable in our society, such as those with disabilities, students from disadvantaged families and the elderly. President Halimah called on Singaporeans to join the Government in this mission.
3) Stronger Shared Identity
We need to recognise new perspectives among our people and use them to build a better Singapore. To do this, we will need to handle our differences constructively and be open to new ways of doing things. President Halimah mentioned issues such as race and religion and competition for jobs from work pass holders. But she cautioned that such issues are emotive and could be divisive, and therefore such conversations need to be handled sensitively. After robust debate, we need to forge a stronger shared identity and a willingness to work together for Singapore. President Halimah concluded, “Singapore must come together, in partnership, to pursue the greater good, united by a belief in Singapore and a desire to turn our vision into reality. This is the spirit of Singapore together. We invite all Singaporeans to partner each other and the government in this journey.”
Why did people choose her for President?
Halimah Yacob, a member of parliament for the ruling People’s Action Party for nearly two decades before resigning to contest the presidency, tackled the doubts about the selection process in a speech to a cheering crowd after she was named president-elect.
“I’m a president for everyone. Although there’s no election, my commitment to serve you remains the same,” she said.
Contributions to the Nation
As a unionist and politician, Madam Halimah Yacob had been a champion of workers, ordinary Singaporeans and the underprivileged, always pushing for a more equitable society, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.
As an MP, she "won over residents of all races and ages with your sincerity, warmth and effectiveness", he said. And in Parliament, she was "an active backbencher" who championed cost of living issues, affordable healthcare and fair employment.
As minister of state in the then Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports in 2011, she maintained an independent view and argued her case in Cabinet, "often causing us to rethink our positions", Mr Lee said.
Quotes
“Women must realise that while they would like to think that their work speaks for itself, in reality, they do have to take greater charge of their own careers. And be ready to accept invitations to be a board member, even if it means being the sole woman on the board.”
"Hardship should never be a deterrent. I think probably if my life had been a lot easier, I would not be where I am. But because my life was tough, that’s why I learnt so many things, I learnt to survive."
“The danger is, because we’ve always been a harmonious society, we can become complacent, we don’t understand that there’s a lot of work that we need to do in order to generate that understanding. We do need to have deeper conversations about what it really means for us as a society, and as a people, to promote further multiracialism."
At a racial harmony programme at the Singapore Discovery Centre via The Straits Times, 2018
What can we learn from her?
President Halimah Yacob is a strong persevering personality whose drive and commitment towards the society makes her an excellent role model for all budding female politicians.