Mdm Halimah has also been known to have made both her role as President and the Istana more accessible to the public.
For instance, she kickstarted the Picnic@Istana series in 2017, in a bid to make the Istana grounds more accessible, including to children from disadvantaged homes who are specially invited.
She had also organised visits to the Istana Gardens, where groups such as those with motor neurone disease have been invited.
“If I have succeeded in actually making people look at the presidency as not something that is distant, not attached to people, but at least as one that’s more engaged, close to the people, I think that would be something that I would be very happy about,” she said.
WHAT IS NEXT FOR MDM HALIMAH?
Mdm Halimah shared that her primary consideration in not standing for the presidency again is because she wanted to retire.
She said that public office had been “entirely all consuming” with no privacy and “intense scrutiny” from the public.
“One of the things that we always say (is) we are going to try to catch up with the family,” she said.
She pointed out that this could be a challenge in itself, as her children have all grown up and have their own lives.
She said that in any case, she will focus on her grandchildren.
“That’s one way where I can then refresh, reignite, strengthen the bonding with the family,” she said.
Asked what she looks forward to when she becomes an “ordinary citizen” again, Mdm Halimah said that simply shopping at the supermarket was one of the many things she looks forward to doing.
Even after she steps down, she said she will continue to champion causes close to her heart.
Chief among those is to help those with mental illnesses, and also people with disabilities.
Mdm Halimah had kickstarted initiatives under the President’s Challenge, such as the Enabling Employment Pledge, which advocates for employers to make it more accessible for people with disabilities to find work.
She said that while she may not have the same resources like the President’s Challenge when she steps down, she will still do what she can.
“I am sure that in other capacities, I can try to contribute in any ways I can,” she said.
Watch Halimah Yacob: A President For Everyone at 9pm SG, Sep 12 on CNA.
This article was originally published in TODAY.
