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{{short description|Singaporean politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Malay name|Yaccob|Ibrahim}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Yaacob Ibrahim
| name = Yaacob Ibrahim
| image = Yaacob_Ibrahim,_Singapore_-_20060722.jpg
| image = Yaacob_Ibrahim,_Singapore_-_20060722.jpg
| image_size = 180px
| image_size = 200
| native_name = يعقوب إبراهيم
| native_name = {{nobold|يعقوب إبراهيم}}
| caption = Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim
| caption = Yaacob in 2006
| office = Minister-in-charge of Cyber Security
| order = [[Ministry of Communications and Information|Minister for Communications and Information]] <br/>{{small|(Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts : 21 May 2011–1 November 2012)}}
| term_start = 21 May 2011
| term_end = 30 April 2018
| president = [[S. R. Nathan]] <br/> [[Tony Tan]] <br/> [[Halimah Yacob]]
| primeminister = [[Lee Hsien Loong]]
| primeminister = [[Lee Hsien Loong]]
| term_start = 1 November 2015
| predecessor = [[Lui Tuck Yew]]
| term_end = 30 April 2018
| predecessor = ''Position established''
| successor = [[S. Iswaran]]
| successor = [[S. Iswaran]]
| office1 = [[Ministry of Communications and Information|Minister for Communications and Information]]
| constituency = [[Moulmein-Kallang Group Representation Constituency|Moulmein-Kallang GRC]] (Kolam Ayer) <br/> [[Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency|Jalan Besar GRC]] (Kolam Ayer)
| term_start1 = 21 May 2011
| order1 = [[Minister (government)|Minister]] in charge of [[Cyber Security]]
| president1 = [[Tony Tan]] <br/> [[Halimah Yacob]]
| primeminister1 = [[Lee Hsien Loong]]
| term_start1 = 1 November 2015
| term_end1 = 30 April 2018
| term_end1 = 30 April 2018
| 1blankname1 = Second Minister
| predecessor1 = ''Post Established''
| 1namedata1 = [[Lawrence Wong]]<br />(2014–2015)
| primeminister1 = Lee Hsien Loong
| predecessor1 = [[Lui Tuck Yew]]<br />(as Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts)
| successor1 = S. Iswaran
| successor1 = S. Iswaran
| office2 = [[Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources|Minister for the Environment and Water Resources]]
| constituency1 = [[Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency|Jalan Besar GRC]] (Kolam Ayer)
| term_start2 = 12 August 2004
| order4 = [[Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources|Minister for the Environment and Water Resources]] <br/>{{small|(Minister for the Environment : 12 August 2004–29 November 2006)}}
| term_end2= 20 May 2011
| term_start4 = 12 August 2004
| primeminister2= Lee Hsien Loong
| term_end4 = 20 May 2011
| predecessor2= [[Lim Swee Say]]<br />(as Minister for the Environment)
| president4 = [[S. R. Nathan]]
| successor2= [[Vivian Balakrishnan]]
| primeminister4 = [[Lee Hsien Loong]]
| office3 = [[Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports|Minister for Community Development and Sports]]
| predecessor4 = [[Lim Swee Say]]
| term_start3 = 12 May 2003
| successor4 = [[Vivian Balakrishnan]]
| term_end3 = 11 August 2004<br />{{small|Acting: 25 March 2002 – 11 May 2003}}
| constituency4 = [[Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency|Jalan Besar GRC]] (Kolam Ayer)
| primeminister3 = [[Goh Chok Tong]]<br />Lee Hsien Loong
| order3 = [[Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs]]
| term_start3 = 25 March 2002
| term_end3 = 30 April 2018
| president3 = [[S. R. Nathan]] <br/> [[Tony Tan]] <br/> [[Halimah Yacob]]
| primeminister3 = [[Goh Chok Tong]] <br/> [[Lee Hsien Loong]]
| predecessor3 = [[Abdullah Tarmugi]]
| predecessor3 = [[Abdullah Tarmugi]]
| successor3 = Vivian Balakrishnan<br />(as Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports)
| successor3 = [[Masagos Zulkifli]]
| office4 = [[Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs]]
| constituency3 = [[Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency|Jalan Besar GRC]] (Kolam Ayer) <br/> [[Moulmein-Kallang Group Representation Constituency|Moulmein-Kallang GRC]] (Kolam Ayer) <br/> [[Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency|Jalan Besar GRC]] (Kolam Ayer)
| term_start4 = 25 March 2002
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1955|10|03}}
| term_end4 = 30 April 2018
| primeminister4 = Goh Chok Tong<br />Lee Hsien Loong
| predecessor4 = [[Abdullah Tarmugi]]
| successor4 = [[Masagos Zulkifli]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1955|10|03}}<ref name="Connect Asia Pacific 2013">{{Cite web|url=https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Conferences/connect/Asia-Pacific/Pages/item.aspx?ItemID=592|title = Connect Asia Pacific 2013}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Colony of Singapore]]
| birth_place = [[Colony of Singapore]]
| death_date =
| death_date =
Line 44: Line 46:
| spouse =
| spouse =
| children = 2
| children = 2
| religion = [[Sunni Islam]]
| party = [[People's Action Party]]
| party = [[People's Action Party]] (1997)
| alma_mater = [[University of Singapore]]<br />[[Stanford University]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Singapore]]<br />[[Stanford University]]
| profession = Engineer<br />Lecturer, professor
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|engineer|professor}}
| signature =
| signature =
}}
}}
{{Malay name|Yaacob|Ibrahim}}
'''[[Doctor of Philosophy|Dr.]] Yaacob bin Ibrahim,''' ([[Jawi alphabet|Jawi]]: '''يعقوب بن إبراهيم'''; born 3 October 1955) is a former [[Singapore]]an politician.


'''Yaacob bin Ibrahim''' ([[Jawi alphabet|Jawi]]: '''{{lang|ms-arab|{{Script|Arab|يعقوب بن إبراهيم}}}}'''; born 3 October 1955)<ref name="Connect Asia Pacific 2013" /> is a Singaporean former politician who served as [[Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs]] between 2002 and 2018, [[Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports|Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports]] between 2002 and 2004, [[Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment|Minister for the Environment and Water Resources]] between 2004 and 2011, [[Ministry of Communications and Information|Minister for Communications and Information]] between 2011 and 2018, and Minister-in-charge of Cyber Security between 2015 and 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Member's Profile|url=http://www.parliament.gov.sg/mp/yaacob-ibrahim|publisher=parliament.gov.sg|access-date=29 October 2015|archive-date=23 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323104151/http://www.parliament.gov.sg/mp/yaacob-ibrahim|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="facebook">{{Cite web|title=Yaacob Ibrahim|url=https://www.facebook.com/yaacobibrahim/posts/3281804475187371|access-date=25 June 2020|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|archive-date=4 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804220400/https://www.facebook.com/yaacobibrahim/posts/3281804475187371|url-status=live}}[[Wikipedia:SPS|{{sup|[''self-published'']}}]]</ref><ref name="straitstimes">{{Cite web|last=hermes|date=24 June 2020|title=Yaacob Ibrahim bids farewell to politics after 23 years as MP|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/yaacob-ibrahim-bids-farewell-to-politics-after-23-years-as-mp|access-date=25 June 2020|website=The Straits Times|language=en|archive-date=24 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624102818/https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/yaacob-ibrahim-bids-farewell-to-politics-after-23-years-as-mp|url-status=live}}</ref> A member of the governing [[People's Action Party]] (PAP), he was the [[Parliament of Singapore|Member of Parliament]] (MP) representing the Kolam Ayer division of [[Jalan Besar GRC]] between 1997 and 2020.
A member of the governing [[People's Action Party]] (PAP), he is previously [[Ministry of Communications and Information|Minister for Communications and Information]], [[Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs]] and Minister in charge of Cyber Security.<ref>{{cite web|title= Member's Profile|url=http://www.parliament.gov.sg/mp/yaacob-ibrahim|publisher=parliament.gov.sg}}</ref> A [[Member of Parliament]] (MP) since 1997, he was the [[Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports|Minister for Community Development and Sports]] from 2003 to 2004, as the [[Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources|Minister for the Environment and Water Resources]] from 2004 to 2011, and as the [[Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts|Minister for the Information, Communications and the Arts]] from 21 May 2011 to 1 November 2012. He declined not to participate for the [[Singaporean presidential election, 2017|Singapore Presidential Elections in 2017]].<ref name=cabref>{{cite web|title=Dr YAACOB Ibrahim|url=http://www.cabinet.gov.sg/content/cabinet/appointments/dr_yaacob_ibrahim.html|publisher=cabinet.gov.sg|date=May 2019}}</ref>


==Education==
Dr Yaacob announced his retirement from politics after 23 years on 23 June 2020.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Yaacob Ibrahim|url=https://www.facebook.com/yaacobibrahim/posts/3281804475187371|access-date=2020-06-25|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=hermes|date=2020-06-24|title=Yaacob Ibrahim bids farewell to politics after 23 years as MP|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/yaacob-ibrahim-bids-farewell-to-politics-after-23-years-as-mp|access-date=2020-06-25|website=The Straits Times|language=en}}</ref>
Yaacob attended Tanjong Katong Technical Secondary School (now [[Tanjong Katong Secondary School]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dropbox.com/s/orr68znjoijjorf/2005ProxyArena(Edited).pdf |title=''Proxy Arena - Singapore Education History'' |access-date=12 September 2012 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920180953/https://www.dropbox.com/s/orr68znjoijjorf/2005ProxyArena%28Edited%29.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>


He graduated from the University of Singapore (now [[National University of Singapore]]) with a [[bachelor's degree]] with honours in [[civil engineering]] in 1980. He subsequently went on to obtained a PhD at [[Stanford University]] in 1989.
==Personal life==
Dr Yaacob has been active in community service since his school days and has been involved in the [[Association of Muslim Professionals]], Jamiyah, [[Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura]] and the [[Nature Society (Singapore)]]. Initially a volunteer tutor, became the Chairman of the Council for the Development of Singapore Malay/Muslim Community (Yayasan Mendaki) in March 2002.


==Career==
He is married with a son and a daughter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr YAACOB Ibrahim|url=http://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/dr-yaacob-ibrahim|publisher=parliament.gov.sg}}</ref> Questions about his son's citizenship and if he would serve [[National service in Singapore|national service]] were raised when a leaked US diplomatic cable from WikiLeaks stated the minister's two children as US citizens.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110906-297905.html|title=Dr Yaacob Ibrahim's son will serve NS|newspaper=AsiaOne|accessdate=6 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120215747/http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110906-297905.html|archive-date=2016-11-20}}</ref> In response, he clarified that his children have dual American and Singaporean citizenship until the age of 18 because of the status of his wife as an American citizen. He confirms his son will serve national service.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/yaacob-ibrahim-clarifies-wikileaks-cable-about-childrens--citizenship.html|title=Yaacob Ibrahim clarifies childrens' citizenship|access-date=2017-08-28|language=en-SG}}</ref>
===Academia career===
Yaacob started his career as a [[Postdoctoral research|postdoc]] at [[Cornell University]]. He returned to Singapore in 1990 and joined the National University of Singapore in 1991.


He received his department's teaching excellence award in 1994. He took leave of absence from the university as an associate professor to take up public office.
Yaacob's eldest brother Ismail Ibrahim was the first Malay recipient of the [[President's Scholar]]ship.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/desire-see-malay-president-cuts-across-community-yaacob-ibrahim|title=Desire for Malay president cuts across community: Yaacob|work=TODAYonline|access-date=2017-08-28|language=en}}</ref> His sister Zuraidah Ibrahim was a former [[The Straits Times|''Straits Times'']] journalist now with ''[[South China Morning Post]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2013/04/09/ge13-real-challenge-for-msm/|title=GE13: Real challenge for MSM - Letters {{!}} The Star Online|last=ceritalah|access-date=2017-08-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ejinsight.com/20151109-what-next-after-scmps-top-level-changes/|title=What next after SCMP's top-level changes?|date=2015-11-09|work=EJ Insight|access-date=2017-08-28|language=en-US}}</ref> His younger brother Latiff Ibrahim is a lawyer.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/lawyer-honoured-at-muis-awards-for-contributions-to-community|title=Lawyer honoured at Muis Awards for contributions to community|last=hermesauto|date=2016-10-08|work=The Straits Times|access-date=2017-08-28|language=en}}</ref>


==Education and early career==
===Political career===
Yaacob made his political debut in the [[1997 Singapore general election|1997 general election]] as part of the five-member PAP team contesting in [[Jalan Besar GRC]] and won. He was elected as the [[Parliament of Singapore|Member of Parliament]] representing the Kolam Ayer ward of Jalan Besar GRC between 1997 and 2011 and later [[Moulmein–Kallang GRC]] between 2011 and 2020.
Yaacob studied at [[Tanjong Katong Secondary School|Tanjong Katong Technical Secondary School]], which turned coeducational during his time there.<ref>[https://www.dropbox.com/s/orr68znjoijjorf/2005ProxyArena(Edited).pdf ''Proxy Arena - Singapore Education History'']</ref> He graduated from the [[University of Singapore]] with an honours degree in [[civil engineering]] in 1980 and in 1989 obtained a [[Doctor of Philosophy]] from [[Stanford University]]. He was a [[Postdoctoral research|postdoc]] at [[Cornell University]]. He returned to Singapore in 1990 and joined the [[National University of Singapore]] faculty in 1991. He received his department's teaching excellence award in 1994. He is currently on leave of absence from the university as an associate professor.


In April 2001, he was appointed as the first Mayor of [[Central Singapore Community Development Council|Central Singapore District]], a role he served until November 2001.<ref name=cabref>{{cite web|title=Dr YAACOB Ibrahim|url=http://www.cabinet.gov.sg/content/cabinet/appointments/dr_yaacob_ibrahim.html|publisher=cabinet.gov.sg|date=May 2019|access-date=2 December 2011|archive-date=18 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118004634/http://www.cabinet.gov.sg/content/cabinet/appointments/dr_yaacob_ibrahim.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Political career==
A Member of Parliament since 1997, he represented the [[Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency]] (Jalan Besar GRC) (1997–2011) and the [[Moulmein-Kallang Group Representation Constituency|Moulmein-Kallang GRC]] since the [[2011 Singaporean general election|2011 general election]]. Within both GRCs, he has been responsible for the [[Kolam Ayer]] ward. In April 2001 he became the first Mayor of Central District of Singapore until November 2001.<ref name=cabref />


Yaacob was [[Parliamentary Secretary]] and Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the [[Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts|Ministry of Communications and Information Technology]]. He became a Minister of State for at the [[Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports|Ministry of Community Development and Sports]] in November 2001. In March 2002, Yaacob became the Acting Minister for Community Development and Sports and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and made a full member of the [[Cabinet of Singapore|Cabinet]] in May 2003.
Yaacob was [[Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts|Parliamentary Secretary for Communications and Information Technology]] and later Senior Parliamentary Secretary. He became [[Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports|Minister of State for Community Development and Sports]] in November 2001. In March 2002, Yaacob became the Acting Minister for Community Development and Sports and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and was made a full [[Cabinet of Singapore|Cabinet]] minister in May 2003.


He became the [[Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Singapore)|Minister of Environment and Water Resources]] in 2004.<ref name=cabref/> In 2009, after the Bukit Timah canal burst its banks after a downpour, resulting in parts of Bukit Timah being submerged, Yaacob remarked it was a freak event that "occurs once in 50 years".<ref>{{cite news|title=Deluge a 'once in 50 years' event|url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20091123-181624.html|work=The Straits Times}}</ref> The country would go on to experience more than 70 [[2010–13 Singapore floods|flash floods between the year 2010 and 2013]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Changing weather patterns causing more flash floods|url=http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/changing-weather-patterns-causing-more-flash-floods|work=todayonline.com}}</ref>
He became [[Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Singapore)|Minister of Environment and Water Resources]] in 2004.<ref name="cabref" /> In 2009, after the Bukit Timah canal burst its banks after a downpour, resulting in parts of Bukit Timah being submerged, Yaacob remarked it was a freak event that "occurs once in 50 years".<ref>{{cite news|title=Deluge a 'once in 50 years' event|url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20091123-181624.html|work=The Straits Times|access-date=16 November 2017|archive-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029011922/http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20091123-181624.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[2006 Singapore general election|2006 general election]], Yaacob was part of the five-member PAP team contesting in Jalan Besar GRC and won 69.26% of the vote against the [[Singapore Democratic Alliance]].

During the [[2011 Singapore general election|2011 general election]], Yaacob was part of the four-member PAP team contesting Moulmein–Kallang GRC and won 58.55% of the vote against the [[Workers' Party (Singapore)|Workers' Party]].

In May 2011, as part of a Cabinet reshuffle, Yaacob became [[Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts]]. He continued to serve as the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs. Yaacob is also the vice-chairman of the party's [[Central Executive Committee (PAP)|Central Executive Committee]] (CEC).<ref name="cabref" />

During the [[2015 Singapore general election|2015 general election]], Yaacob was part of the four-member PAP team contesting in Jalan Besar GRC and won 67.75% of the vote against the [[Workers' Party (Singapore)|Workers' Party]]. In April 2015, Yaacob was appointed as Minister-inacharge of Cyber Security and oversees the [[Cyber Security Agency (Singapore)|Cyber Security Agency]] (CSA), an agency formed under the [[Prime Minister's Office (Singapore)|Prime Minister's Office]] (PMO).

In 2017, Yaacob declined competing in the [[2017 Singaporean presidential election|2017 presidential election]] and preferred to do policy work.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 January 2017 |title=Yaacob: I'm happy in current role |url=https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/yaacob-im-happy-current-role |access-date=20 June 2022 |website=AsiaOne |language=en}}</ref>

Yaacob stepped down from the cabinet on 30 April 2018.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/lim-hng-kiang-lim-swee-say-yaacob-ibrahim-retire-10171024 | title=In retrospect: 3 veteran ministers stepping down to make way for younger leaders | access-date=2 May 2018 | archive-date=2 May 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502212831/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/lim-hng-kiang-lim-swee-say-yaacob-ibrahim-retire-10171024 | url-status=live }}</ref> After the [[13th Parliament of Singapore|13th Parliament]] was dissolved on 23 June 2020, Yaacob retired from politics, ending his political career after 23 years of service.<ref name="facebook"/><ref name="straitstimes"/>

===Post-Political career===
Since retirement from politics, Yaacob has returned to academia. He is currently a Professor in Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, and also an Advisor to the Office of the President of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and the founding Director of the Community Leadership and Social Innovation Centre (CLASIC) at SIT. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/directory/faculty/yaacob-bin-ibrahim |website=Faculty Directory, Singapore Institute of Technology |access-date=11 June 2024 |title=Yaacob Bin Ibrahim &#124; Web Directory &#124; Singapore Institute of Technology }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Yaacob has been active in community service since his school days and has been involved with the [[Association of Muslim Professionals]], Jamiyah, [[Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura]] and the [[Nature Society (Singapore)|Nature Society]]. Initially a volunteer tutor, he became Chairman of the Council for the Development of Singapore Malay/Muslim Community (Yayasan Mendaki) in March 2002.


He is married with a son and a daughter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr YAACOB Ibrahim|url=http://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/dr-yaacob-ibrahim|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101144856/http://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/dr-yaacob-ibrahim|archive-date=1 November 2015|access-date=29 October 2015|publisher=parliament.gov.sg}}</ref> Questions arose in regards to his son's citizenship and if he would serve [[National service in Singapore|National Service]] were raised when a leaked US diplomatic cable from WikiLeaks stated the minister's two children as US citizens.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dr Yaacob Ibrahim's son will serve NS|newspaper=AsiaOne|url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110906-297905.html|access-date=6 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120215747/http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110906-297905.html|archive-date=20 November 2016}}</ref> In response, he clarified that his children have dual American and Singapore citizenship until the age of 18 because of the status of his wife as an American citizen. He confirms his son will serve national service.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Yaacob Ibrahim clarifies {{as written|chil|drens' [sic]}} citizenship|language=en-SG|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/yaacob-ibrahim-clarifies-wikileaks-cable-about-childrens--citizenship.html|url-status=live|access-date=28 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828110413/https://sg.news.yahoo.com/yaacob-ibrahim-clarifies-wikileaks-cable-about-childrens--citizenship.html|archive-date=28 August 2017}}</ref>
In May 2011, in a cabinet rearrangement, Yaacob became [[Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts]]. He continues to serve as the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs. Yaacob is on the [[Central Executive Committee (PAP)|PAP Central Executive Committee]] as Vice-Chairman.<ref name=cabref /> In April 2015, Dr Yaacob was appointed the Minister in charge of Cyber Security and oversees the [[Cyber Security Agency (Singapore)]], an agency formed under the [[Prime Minister's Office (Singapore)|Prime Minister's Office]]. He has been re-appointed to serve in this capacity following the [[2015 Singaporean general election|September 2015 General Election]].


Yaacob's eldest brother Ismail Ibrahim was the first Malay recipient of the [[President's Scholar]]ship.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Desire for Malay president cuts across community: Yaacob|language=en|work=TODAYonline|url=http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/desire-see-malay-president-cuts-across-community-yaacob-ibrahim|url-status=live|access-date=28 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828104205/http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/desire-see-malay-president-cuts-across-community-yaacob-ibrahim|archive-date=28 August 2017}}</ref> His sister Zuraidah Ibrahim was a former [[The Straits Times|''Straits Times'']] journalist now with ''[[South China Morning Post]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=ceritalah|title=GE13: Real challenge for MSM - Letters {{!}} The Star Online|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2013/04/09/ge13-real-challenge-for-msm/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828110420/http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2013/04/09/ge13-real-challenge-for-msm/|archive-date=28 August 2017|access-date=28 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=9 November 2015|title=What next after SCMP's top-level changes?|language=en-US|work=EJ Insight|url=http://www.ejinsight.com/20151109-what-next-after-scmps-top-level-changes/|url-status=live|access-date=28 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629064330/http://www.ejinsight.com/20151109-what-next-after-scmps-top-level-changes/|archive-date=29 June 2017}}</ref> His younger brother Latiff Ibrahim is a lawyer.<ref>{{Cite news|last=hermesauto|date=8 October 2016|title=Lawyer honoured at Muis Awards for contributions to community|language=en|work=The Straits Times|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/lawyer-honoured-at-muis-awards-for-contributions-to-community|url-status=live|access-date=28 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828111755/http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/lawyer-honoured-at-muis-awards-for-contributions-to-community|archive-date=28 August 2017}}</ref>
Yaacob stepped down from the cabinet on 30 April 2018.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/lim-hng-kiang-lim-swee-say-yaacob-ibrahim-retire-10171024 |title = In retrospect: 3 veteran ministers stepping down to make way for younger leaders}}</ref>


==Filmography==
Yaacob retired from [[Parliament of Singapore|parliament]] as MP for [[Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency|Jalan Besar GRC]] after the [[13th Parliament of Singapore|13th parliament]] was dissolved on 23 June 2020, thus ending his political career after 23 years of service.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Gunting The Movie (2017)
As himself


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|Yaacob Ibrahim}}
{{commons category|Yaacob Ibrahim}}
*
*


{{S-start}}
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{{S-aft
{{S-aft
| after = [[Vivian Balakrishnan]]
| after = [[Vivian Balakrishnan]]
| as = Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports
}}
}}


{{S-bef
{{S-bef
| rows = 2
| before = [[Lim Swee Say]]
| before = [[Lim Swee Say]]
| as = Minister for the Environment
| as = Minister for the Environment
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[[Category:Environment ministers of Singapore]]
[[Category:Singaporean engineers]]
[[Category:Singaporean engineers]]
[[Category:Singaporean academics]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]
[[Category:University of Singapore alumni]]
[[Category:University of Singapore alumni]]
[[Category:National University of Singapore faculty]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the National University of Singapore]]
[[Category:Singaporean people of Malay descent]]
[[Category:Singaporean politicians of Malay descent]]
[[Category:Singaporean Muslims]]
[[Category:Singaporean Muslims]]
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:1955 births]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
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Latest revision as of 08:05, 7 August 2024

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Ibrahim is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Yaccob.
Yaacob Ibrahim
يعقوب إبراهيم
Yaacob in 2006
Minister-in-charge of Cyber Security
In office
1 November 2015 – 30 April 2018
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byS. Iswaran
Minister for Communications and Information
In office
21 May 2011 – 30 April 2018
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Second MinisterLawrence Wong
(2014–2015)
Preceded byLui Tuck Yew
(as Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts)
Succeeded byS. Iswaran
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources
In office
12 August 2004 – 20 May 2011
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byLim Swee Say
(as Minister for the Environment)
Succeeded byVivian Balakrishnan
Minister for Community Development and Sports
In office
12 May 2003 – 11 August 2004
Acting: 25 March 2002 – 11 May 2003
Prime MinisterGoh Chok Tong
Lee Hsien Loong
Preceded byAbdullah Tarmugi
Succeeded byVivian Balakrishnan
(as Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports)
Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs
In office
25 March 2002 – 30 April 2018
Prime MinisterGoh Chok Tong
Lee Hsien Loong
Preceded byAbdullah Tarmugi
Succeeded byMasagos Zulkifli
Personal details
Born (1955-10-03) 3 October 1955 (age 69)[1]
Colony of Singapore
Political partyPeople's Action Party
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Singapore
Stanford University
Occupation
  • Politician
  • engineer
  • professor

Yaacob bin Ibrahim (Jawi: يعقوب بن إبراهيم‎; born 3 October 1955)[1] is a Singaporean former politician who served as Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs between 2002 and 2018, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports between 2002 and 2004, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources between 2004 and 2011, Minister for Communications and Information between 2011 and 2018, and Minister-in-charge of Cyber Security between 2015 and 2018.[2][3][4] A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Kolam Ayer division of Jalan Besar GRC between 1997 and 2020.

Education

[edit]

Yaacob attended Tanjong Katong Technical Secondary School (now Tanjong Katong Secondary School).[5]

He graduated from the University of Singapore (now National University of Singapore) with a bachelor's degree with honours in civil engineering in 1980. He subsequently went on to obtained a PhD at Stanford University in 1989.

Career

[edit]

Academia career

[edit]

Yaacob started his career as a postdoc at Cornell University. He returned to Singapore in 1990 and joined the National University of Singapore in 1991.

He received his department's teaching excellence award in 1994. He took leave of absence from the university as an associate professor to take up public office.

Political career

[edit]

Yaacob made his political debut in the 1997 general election as part of the five-member PAP team contesting in Jalan Besar GRC and won. He was elected as the Member of Parliament representing the Kolam Ayer ward of Jalan Besar GRC between 1997 and 2011 and later Moulmein–Kallang GRC between 2011 and 2020.

In April 2001, he was appointed as the first Mayor of Central Singapore District, a role he served until November 2001.[6]

Yaacob was Parliamentary Secretary for Communications and Information Technology and later Senior Parliamentary Secretary. He became Minister of State for Community Development and Sports in November 2001. In March 2002, Yaacob became the Acting Minister for Community Development and Sports and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and was made a full Cabinet minister in May 2003.

He became Minister of Environment and Water Resources in 2004.[6] In 2009, after the Bukit Timah canal burst its banks after a downpour, resulting in parts of Bukit Timah being submerged, Yaacob remarked it was a freak event that "occurs once in 50 years".[7]

During the 2006 general election, Yaacob was part of the five-member PAP team contesting in Jalan Besar GRC and won 69.26% of the vote against the Singapore Democratic Alliance.

During the 2011 general election, Yaacob was part of the four-member PAP team contesting Moulmein–Kallang GRC and won 58.55% of the vote against the Workers' Party.

In May 2011, as part of a Cabinet reshuffle, Yaacob became Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts. He continued to serve as the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs. Yaacob is also the vice-chairman of the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC).[6]

During the 2015 general election, Yaacob was part of the four-member PAP team contesting in Jalan Besar GRC and won 67.75% of the vote against the Workers' Party. In April 2015, Yaacob was appointed as Minister-inacharge of Cyber Security and oversees the Cyber Security Agency (CSA), an agency formed under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

In 2017, Yaacob declined competing in the 2017 presidential election and preferred to do policy work.[8]

Yaacob stepped down from the cabinet on 30 April 2018.[9] After the 13th Parliament was dissolved on 23 June 2020, Yaacob retired from politics, ending his political career after 23 years of service.[3][4]

Post-Political career

[edit]

Since retirement from politics, Yaacob has returned to academia. He is currently a Professor in Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, and also an Advisor to the Office of the President of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and the founding Director of the Community Leadership and Social Innovation Centre (CLASIC) at SIT. [10]

Personal life

[edit]

Yaacob has been active in community service since his school days and has been involved with the Association of Muslim Professionals, Jamiyah, Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura and the Nature Society. Initially a volunteer tutor, he became Chairman of the Council for the Development of Singapore Malay/Muslim Community (Yayasan Mendaki) in March 2002.

He is married with a son and a daughter.[11] Questions arose in regards to his son's citizenship and if he would serve National Service were raised when a leaked US diplomatic cable from WikiLeaks stated the minister's two children as US citizens.[12] In response, he clarified that his children have dual American and Singapore citizenship until the age of 18 because of the status of his wife as an American citizen. He confirms his son will serve national service.[13]

Yaacob's eldest brother Ismail Ibrahim was the first Malay recipient of the President's Scholarship.[14] His sister Zuraidah Ibrahim was a former Straits Times journalist now with South China Morning Post.[15][16] His younger brother Latiff Ibrahim is a lawyer.[17]

Filmography

[edit]
  • Gunting The Movie (2017)

As himself

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Connect Asia Pacific 2013".
  2. ^ "Member's Profile". parliament.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Yaacob Ibrahim". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.[self-published]
  4. ^ a b hermes (24 June 2020). "Yaacob Ibrahim bids farewell to politics after 23 years as MP". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Proxy Arena - Singapore Education History" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  6. ^ a b c "Dr YAACOB Ibrahim". cabinet.gov.sg. May 2019. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Deluge a 'once in 50 years' event". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Yaacob: I'm happy in current role". AsiaOne. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  9. ^ "In retrospect: 3 veteran ministers stepping down to make way for younger leaders". Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Yaacob Bin Ibrahim | Web Directory | Singapore Institute of Technology". Faculty Directory, Singapore Institute of Technology. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Dr YAACOB Ibrahim". parliament.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 1 November 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Dr Yaacob Ibrahim's son will serve NS". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  13. ^ "Yaacob Ibrahim clarifies childrens' [sic] citizenship". Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Desire for Malay president cuts across community: Yaacob". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  15. ^ ceritalah. "GE13: Real challenge for MSM - Letters | The Star Online". Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  16. ^ "What next after SCMP's top-level changes?". EJ Insight. 9 November 2015. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  17. ^ hermesauto (8 October 2016). "Lawyer honoured at Muis Awards for contributions to community". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yaacob Ibrahim.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs
12 May 2003 – 1 May 2018
Acting: 25 March 2002 – 11 May 2003 		Succeeded by
Minister for Community Development and Sports
12 May 2003 – 11 August 2004
Acting: 25 March 2002 – 11 May 2003 		Succeeded byas Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports
Preceded byas Minister for the Environment Minister for the Environment and Water Resources
12 August 2004 – 20 May 2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister for
Information, Communications and the Arts 		Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts
21 May 2011 – 31 October 2012 		Succeeded byas Minister for Communications and Information
Minister for Communications and Information
1 November 2012 – 1 May 2018
Parliament of Singapore
Preceded by
Zulkifli Mohamed
 Member of Parliament for
Jalan Besar GRC (Kolam Ayer)
1997–2011 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for
Moulmein–Kallang GRC (Kolam Ayer)
2011–2015 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for
Jalan Besar GRC (Kolam Ayer)
2015–2020 		Succeeded by
Government offices
New office Mayor of Central Singapore district
1 April 2001 – 23 November 2001 		Succeeded by
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