Madam Halimah Yacob receives the prestigious Order of Temasek for her service to Singapore.
Singapore – Former President Halimah Yacob has been awarded Singapore’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Temasek (With High Distinction). The Prime Minister’s Office announced on Wednesday that Madam Halimah, who was Singapore’s first female president, will head the list of National Award recipients for 2023. The award will be conferred by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the National Awards Investiture on Sunday at the Institute of Technical Education College Central.
At 69 years old, Madam Halimah served as the nation’s head of state from 2017 to 2023. After her term ended on September 13, 2023, she chose not to seek re-election. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the country’s former senior minister, succeeded her in the 2023 Presidential Election. Madam Halimah expressed her deep gratitude, noting that she felt privileged to have served the people of Singapore. She added, “If my example of a female from a minority community who came from a very humble background but managed to overcome the odds can serve to encourage others, I am thankful for the opportunity to do so.”
Since stepping down, Madam Halimah has been appointed chancellor of the Singapore University of Social Sciences. During her presidency, she was a vocal advocate for gender equality, interfaith relationships, and multicultural dialogue. She also focused on empowering people with disabilities, supporting caregivers, and building a digitally inclusive society through the President’s Challenge.
The Order of Temasek is a prestigious award previously known as the Order of Temasek (First Class). Madam Halimah joins the ranks of other esteemed former presidents, including Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Mr S R Nathan, and Mr Wee Kim Wee, who have all received this honour. The most recent recipient of the award was former senior minister S. Jayakumar.
