President-elect Halimah Yacob addresses public on Nomination Day. (Photo: Gayathiri Chandramohan)

SINGAPORE: Madam Halimah Yacob was declared the President-elect on Wednesday (Sep 13) after her nomination papers were found to be in order. 

She will be Singapore's first female President and the first Malay head of state in 47 years.

Mdm Halimah will be sworn in as Singapore's eighth President on Thursday at 6pm at the Istana, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.

“I am a President for everyone. Even though this is a reserved election, I am not a reserved President," she told supporters gathered at the nomination centre after Returning Officer Ng Wai Choong, chief executive of the Energy Market Authority, declared her President-elect.

She thanked Singaporeans and called for unity in her speech given in English and Malay.

"We need every Singaporean to stand together shoulder to shoulder... We have not reached the peak yet. The best is yet to come," she said. "I ask that we focus on the similarities that we have and not on the differences."

On Wednesday morning, supporters dressed in orange were at the People's Association headquarters at King George's Avenue to cheer her on. They blew whistles and chanted her name as she arrived at about 11.30am.

Mdm Halimah was accompanied by her husband Mohamed Abdullah, proposers and assentors.

She had to submit a certificate of eligibility issued by the Presidential Elections Committee, the community certificate issued by the Community Committee and a political donation certificate.

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