Halimah Yacob sworn in as Singapore’s first female President

Singapore, Sep 14 (IANS) Halimah Yacob was sworn in as Singapore's eighth President here on Thursday at the country's presidential palace Istana.

The presidency "unifies our nation by embodying our shared values as a people -- multiracialism, meritocracy, and stewardship. These values are even more important today, guiding us as we find our way forward in a troubled and uncertain world," said Yacob in her speech, Xinhua news agency reported.

As the country's first female President, Halimah Yacob assured all Singaporeans she would serve every one, regardless of race, language or religion.

Yacob was announced on Wednesday as the country's next President. As the only qualified candidate in the election which was reserved for the country's Malay community, she was declared by the presidential electoral board as the new President shortly after she handed in her nomination forms.

The 63-year-old, Yacob, became the country's first female parliament speaker in January 2013, a post she quit last month in order to run for the presidential office.

Singaporean former President Tony Tan Keng Yam ended his six-year term in office at the end of August.