What a shame.

That was the top thought on Singaporean Junaini Johari's mind, as a Malay-Muslim lady, as Halimah Yacob was declared President-elect of Singapore on Wednesday at noon.

In a Facebook post, Junaini reflected on various things she felt were a shame for her, as a Malay-Muslim observing our President's nomination at the People's Association (PA) headquarters on Wednesday:

• The fact that it was on this occasion that she observed a rare natural moment from a Singaporean politician.
• The joy a group of makciks appeared to show even though there wasn't even a contest.
• The #notmypresident hashtag, and the people making fun of her for selling nasi padang growing up.
• Her conclusion that she would rise to office in a "tainted" fashion, even prior to her throwing her hat into the ring.

And here are things she said she will remember about how President Halimah rose to office:

• The anger and disappointment of how this came to be.
• The government saying the Malay community desires a President of their own ethnicity, and using it as a justification for reserved elections.
• What she describes as "the arrogance" in their decision to tank the political price of manoeuvring the system.

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And Junaini leaves us with this:

'I once asked my mom if she ever felt disappointed that my sister and I are not high-flyers and hold ordinary jobs. She said no and after a pause she said, "But I wouldn't mind if one of you became a Minister." I just hope if that ever happens, she won't be thinking, "What a shame." '

You can read her entire post here — note a point of clarification, though: In November last year, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said "the desire to see a Malay president cuts across the community", but PM Lee Hsien Loong, in comments he was supposed to deliver at the 2016 National Day Rally before he experienced a brief but dramatic fainting spell, said the following:

“In Singapore too, if we ask Singaporeans what race would you like your President to be. Each race prefers their own to be President! Most Singaporeans will accept a President of a different race, but not all.”

And in an interview after his dramatic fainting spell, PM Lee said the following:

“We are not in a situation where the minorities are demanding something and the majorities are pushing back saying 'We don’t want it' - I think it is something that which we need to do. I’m pushing this not because I feel pressure from the minorities or because we need to make a political gesture, but because I think it’s a right thing to do. It’s a right thing to do. Nobody is asking but I think it’s something which we ought to do and do now for the long term of Singapore.”