Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob. (File photo: Sarah Yang)

SINGAPORE: Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob said on Saturday (Jul 29) she is still considering whether to run for President.

"I'm deeply honoured by the expressions of support, but I still need to further do my consultations,” she said.

Earlier this week, an article posted by Yahoo Singapore had quoted a source close to her as saying that she has already made up her mind.

There has been much speculation over Mdm Halimah's possible candidacy. Her heritage has also been thrown into the spotlight: This year's election has been reserved for the Malay community, but her father was Indian-Muslim. 

“I've been certified four times by the Community Committee as a member of the Malay community. It is something for the Community Committee to decide,” she said.

Mdm Halimah was speaking at a post-Hari Raya gathering of 20 women leaders of various faiths, including youths from the Inter-Religious Organisation, representatives from the Singapore Taoist Mission and the Young Women's Christian Association.

The engagement session, held at An-Nahdhah Mosque's Harmony Centre, brought together these women to learn more about Islam and the Malay culture. This is the first such celebration organised by the Singapore Muslim Women's Association.

DON’T TAKE RACIAL HARMONY FOR GRANTED: HALIMAH

Mdm Halimah also cautioned Singaporeans not to take racial harmony for granted.

“Our young did not go through history, so they think this (current state) is what it should be and it will continue to be. But that is not the natural state. Look at all the countries around the world. There is no country that is harmonious,” she said.

"I lived through the (1964 race) riots, and I'll tell you why it was one of the most frightening periods of my life that I never forgot."

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