Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore











































Speaker of the Parliament of Republic of Singapore

Incumbent
Tan Chuan-Jin

since 11 September 2017
Style Mr Speaker (Male)
Mdm Speaker (Female)
Nominator Prime Minister of Singapore
Appointer
Parliament of Singapore
With the recommendation of the Prime Minister
Term length For the duration of each parliament; renewable
Inaugural holder Sir George Oehlers
Formation 5 June 1955
Deputy Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore
Salary S$600,000 annually
Website www.parliament.gov.sg



























Singapore
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This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Singapore


Constitution













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The wig and ceremonial gown of the Speaker of Parliament on display in Parliament House, Singapore. The Speaker dons the gown during the Opening of Parliament ceremony, but the wearing of the wig was discontinued in 1993.


The Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore is the head officer of the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore.




Contents






  • 1 Election


  • 2 Role


  • 3 List of Speakers


  • 4 List of Deputy Speakers


  • 5 Notes





Election


Parliament must elect a Speaker at the beginning of each new parliamentary term after a general election.[1] Parliament has the freedom to choose how to elect the Speaker. By recent tradition, the Prime Minister nominates a person for the role. The person's name is then proposed and seconded by the Members of Parliament (MPs), before being elected as Speaker.[2] The Constitution states that Parliament has the freedom to decide how to elect its Speaker.[3]


The Speaker may or may not be an elected MP, but must possess the qualifications to stand for election as an MP as provided for in the Constitution.[4] The Speaker cannot be a Cabinet Minister or Parliamentary Secretary[5], and must resign from those positions prior to being elected as Speaker.


Once elected, a Speaker continues in office until the dissolution of Parliament, unless he or she resigns, is appointed as a Cabinet minister of Parliamentary Secretary, or is disqualified from holding their seat as an MP.[6]



Role


The role of the Speaker in Singapore is similar to that in most Commonwealth legislatures. The Speaker presides over the sittings of Parliament, and enforces the rules prescribed in its Standing Orders for the orderly conduct of parliamentary business. In carrying out their duties, the Speaker must remain impartial and fair to all MPs.[4]


The Speaker regulates and enforces the rules of debate. They decide who has the right to speak, and put the question for Parliament to debate on and vote. The Speaker does not take part in the debates, but can abstain or vote for or against a motion if they have a vote as an elected MP. [4]


As the guardian of parliamentary privileges, MPs look to the Speaker for guidance on procedures, and for rulings on any points of order.[4]


The Speaker is second in the order of succession for the office of the President of Singapore. Should the President's office be vacant, and the chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers is unable to take up the role, the Speaker will assume the duties of the President until a new President is elected.[7] In terms of state protocol, the Speaker sits at the same level as the Chief Justice of Singapore.[2]


The Speaker acts as Parliament's representative in its relations with other legislatures and outside bodies. The Speaker also welcomes visiting dignitaries, and represents Parliament at national events and during official visits abroad. The Speaker is overall in charge of the administration of Parliament and its Secretariat.[4]


The Speaker is one of the few public sector roles which allow its office-holder to automatically qualify as a candidate in the Singapore presidential elections.[8]



List of Speakers


A list of people who have served as Speakers of Parliament is set out below:[9]





































































































































































#
Speaker
Party
Constituency
Took office
Left office
Parliament
1
Sir George Oehlers [10]


Non-MP


22 April 1955

31 March 1959

1st Legislative Assembly

1 July 1959

3 September 1963

2nd Legislative Assembly
2

Edmund W Barker


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

Tanglin

22 October 1963

1964

3rd Legislative Assembly
3

Arumugam Ponnu Rajah [11]

Independent

Farrer Park

1964

8 August 1965

9 August 1965

1966

1st Parliament
4

Punch Coomaraswamy [12]


Non-MP


1966

8 February 1968

6 May 1968

1970

2nd Parliament
5
Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

Joo Chiat

1970

16 August 1972

12 October 1972

6 December 1976

3rd Parliament

7 February 1977

5 December 1980

4th Parliament

3 February 1981

4 December 1984

5th Parliament

25 February 1985

17 August 1988

6th Parliament
6

Tan Soo Khoon


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

Brickworks GRC

9 January 1989

14 August 1991

7th Parliament

Bedok GRC

6 January 1992

16 December 1996

8th Parliament

East Coast GRC

26 May 1997

18 October 2001

9th Parliament
7

Abdullah Tarmugi


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

East Coast GRC

25 March 2002

20 April 2006

10th Parliament

2 November 2006

19 April 2011

11th Parliament
8

Michael Palmer[13]


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

Punggol East SMC

10 October 2011

12 December 2012

12th Parliament
9

Halimah Yacob[14]


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

Jurong GRC

14 January 2013

25 August 2015

Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC

15 January 2016

7 August 2017

13th Parliament
10

Tan Chuan-Jin[15]


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

Marine Parade GRC

11 September 2017

Incumbent


List of Deputy Speakers


The following table contains a list of Deputy Speakers of Parliament:[9]
































































































































Deputy Speaker
Party
Term of office
R C H Lim

Non-MP

1955–1959
G Kandasamy

Non-MP

1959–1961
John Mammen

Non-MP

1961–1963
Dr Fong Kim Heng

Non-MP

1963–1965
Punch Coomaraswamy

Non-MP

1966
Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

1968–1970
Tang See Chim

Non-MP

1972–1981
Hwang Soo Jin

Non-MP

1981–1985

Tan Soo Khoon


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

1985–1989

Lim Boon Heng


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

1989–1991

Abdullah Tarmugi


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

1989–1993
Eugene Yap Giau Cheng


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

1993–2002

Lim Hwee Hua


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

2002–2004
Chew Heng Ching


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

2002–2006

S. Iswaran


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

2004–2006

Indranee Rajah


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

2006–2011

Matthias Yao Chih


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

2006–2011
Seah Kian Peng


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

2011–2016

Charles Chong[16]


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

2011–present

Lim Biow Chuan


PAP logo variation.png People's Action Party

2016–present


Notes





  1. ^ Constitution, Art. 40(1).


  2. ^ ab Lee, Min Kok (8 January 2016). "Halimah Yacob to be renominated as Speaker of Parliament: 7 things you may not know about the post". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  3. ^ Constitution, Art. 40(2).


  4. ^ abcde "Speaker of Parliament". Parliament of Singapore. Retrieved 7 August 2017.


  5. ^ Constitution, Art. 40(2).


  6. ^ Constitution, Art. 40(4).


  7. ^ Constitution, Art. 22N.


  8. ^ Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, Art. 19(3)(a).


  9. ^ ab "List of former speakers". Parliament of Singapore.


  10. ^ Joshua Yeong Jia Chia (26 June 2006), Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers, Singapore Infopedia, National Library Board.


  11. ^ Joshua Yeong Jia Chia (28 June 2006), Arumugam Ponnu Rajah, Singapore Infopedia, National Library Board.


  12. ^ Bonny Tan (17 April 1999), Punch Coomaraswamy, Singapore Infopedia, National Library Board.


  13. ^ Elgin Toh (11 October 2011), "Debate in right spirit: Different views should not stop MPs from closing ranks, says newly elected Michael Palmer", The Straits Times, p. A6; "Michael Palmer sworn in as House Speaker", Today, p. 2, 11 October 2011, archived from the original on 11 October 2011.


  14. ^ Rachel Chang (15 January 2013), "Madam Halimah, Madam Speaker: MPs laud her social advocacy as they elect her the new head of Parliament", The Straits Times, p. A3; Ng Jing Yng (15 January 2013), "MPs welcome first woman Speaker of Parliament: Election of former Minister of State Halimah Yacob hailed as an 'inspired choice'", Today, p. 4, archived from the original on 16 January 2013.


  15. ^ "PM nominates Tan Chuan-Jin as next Speaker of Parliament", Today, 6 September 2017, archived from the original on 7 September 2017.


  16. ^ Rachel Chang (18 October 2011), "MPs push for change in Govt–citizen ties: It must boost emotional connection in new landscape, they urge", The Straits Times, pp. A1 & A4 at A4, Before the debate began, two deputy speakers to assist Speaker Michael Palmer were approved by the House. They are Joo Chiat SMC MP Charles Chong and Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng.; Esther Ng (18 October 2011), "President's speech sees robust debate: Opposition asks if Government will 'conspicuously focus' on happiness", Today, p. 1, archived from the original on 18 October 2011















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