Halimah Yacob: 7 Surprising Facts About Singapore’s First Female President!

In September 2023, the newly-elected President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has already assumed office, preceded by Madam Halimah Yacob, Singapore’s first-ever female President, and the first Malay President in 47 years!

There’s so much to know about our 8th President! Here are seven (7) facts about Madam Halimah Yacob that reveal the person behind the persona. 

1. Madam Halimah Yacob had a difficult childhood

Madam Halimah shares the struggles she faced in childhood, which is quite open about her past. She was born on 23 August 1954, and grew up in a poor family, as the youngest of five children.

She lost her father at an early age, “I lost my father, when I was only eight. He was a watchman, and fought illness for many years. Despite that, he worked very hard to provide for the family till the very end.”

The family struggled to make ends meet, “After his death, my mum became the breadwinner and worked very hard to provide for the family. She worked at a food stall and was out by 4 am, and was not home until 10 pm every day.”

• Madam Halimah toiled hard from a young age, “From the age of 10, my hours outside of school were spent being my mother’s assistant: cleaning, washing, clearing tables and serving customers, and I am a better person for it.”

  “I have experienced poverty first-hand and know how debilitating it can be as you struggle to survive, to put food on the table and also grapple with the uncertainty of the future on a daily basis.”

  “It limits your choices but also tempers your determination to succeed. My priority then was to finish school, get a job and support my mother.”

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2. She once nearly got kicked out of Singapore Chinese Girls’ School

She went to Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (SCGS), and was one of the few Malay girls there. She told Channel NewsAsia how she nearly got kicked out of SCGS. She had missed one too many classes because she was helping her mother support the family.

She tells CNA, “I never turned up for school for long periods and finally I had to be marched to the principal’s office where she told me, ‘Girl if you keep not coming to school, I have to kick you out of school.’ That was the final ultimatum.” 

“That was one of the worst moments of my life. But I told myself, ‘Stop wallowing in self-pity, pick yourself up and move on.’”

3. Madam Halimah Yacob met her husband at the University

Madam Halimah Yacob’s decision to study law at the University of Singapore turned out to be fateful in more ways than one. For it was there that she met the love of her life.

She writes on her website, “It was at the University that I met my university sweetheart, Mohamed Abdullah. He was a Physics major who liked music and performed in a three-piece band with his university friends at university events.”

“We met at the University of Singapore Muslim Society’s events where we were both active. We got married in June 1980 and have five children. We shared our responsibilities, and Mohamed remains my strong pillar of support.”

4. Her mother’s death two years back on Polling Day was the saddest moment of her life

On Sept 11, 2015, on the morning of Polling Day for the 2015 General Election, Madam Halimah’s mother, Madam Maimun Abdullah, breathed her last. She had been in hospital for more than a week.

Her mother was a huge influence on her, and she then told The Straits Times, “This is the saddest moment of my life. My mother was largely responsible for making me who I am today.”

“She never believed in giving up and was always concerned about the welfare of others. Despite the many blows life handed to her, she never complained. Right to the end, she remained stoic and strong, not once complaining of pain or discomfort.”

Madam Halimah Yacob went on to win with her PAP team in Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency.

5. She has been in politics for the last 16 years

Though she has been in politics for the last 16 years, she had no such plans in her younger days.

• She has been quoted by Channel NewsAsia as saying, “My desires then were very simple. Let me finish school and get a job, then I can support myself, my mother. I don’t have the luxury of time.” 

  After graduation, she joined the NTUC in 1978, and spent more than three decades as a trade unionist. She writes, 

  “I learnt the importance of building trust. If there is mutual trust, and the union leaders know that you are acting in the best interest of the workers, they will support you.”

  “The same applies in politics. You need to secure the confidence of the people you serve. If they trust you, they know that you are not there for personal reasons.”

  Before entering the Presidential race, Madam Halimah was serving as both Speaker of Parliament and MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC – both roles she has since then given up.

  She was the first female speaker of Parliament in Singapore.

6. Madam Halimah Yacob is an activist

Over the years, she has advocated for women’s rights, spoken up on senior citizens and mental health issues, and served as patron to associations such as Club HEAL and PPIS (Singapore Muslim Women’s Association).

7. She has won numerous awards

Madam Halimah Yacob was named Berita Harian / McDonald’s “Achiever of the Year” in 2001 and Her World Magazine’s “Woman of the Year 2003” for her contributions to society. 

On July 7, 2016, she was conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the National University of Singapore (NUS), in recognition of her contributions to the government, public service and her advocacy for women’s rights, and the Malay community.

Madam Halimah is often hailed for breaking many glass ceilings, as a woman, and as a member of the minority community. She once said, “Sometimes we worry too much about disadvantages, hurdles, whether you’re a woman or come from a certain family background.”

“Frankly speaking, my life has not been easy … but I never believed that hurdles and obstacles are problems or disadvantages that should be viewed negatively … they help to spur and motivate me.” 

Also read: Singapore President-Elect Tharman’s 7 Philosophies to Raise Kids Are Simply Phenomenal!