Election to the Chair

Mr Michael Palmer was elected Speaker of the Singapore Parliament on 10 October 2011. He is the eighth Speaker in the history of the Singapore Parliament since it started in 1955 as a Legislative Assembly.

Background

Mr Palmer has been a Member of Parliament since 2006. In 2006, he was one of six MPs serving the Pasir-Ris Punggol Group Representation Constituency. In the 2011 General Election, he won the Single-Member Consitituency of Punggol East with 54.5% of the votes.

He had previously served in the Estimates Committee of the 11th Parliament and chaired the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Defence and Foreign Affairs. In July 2011, prior to his election as the Speaker, he was appointed the Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Home Affairs and Law. He was also a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for National Development and the Environment.

Duties of the Speaker

The Speaker presides over the sittings of the House and enforces the rules prescribed in the Standing Orders of Parliament for the orderly conduct of parliamentary business. Elected at the commencement of a new Parliament by MPs, the Speaker may or may not be a Member of Parliament, but must possess the qualifications to stand for election as an MP as provided for in the Constitution.

In carrying out his duties in the House, the Speaker must remain impartial and fair to all MPs. The Speaker regulates and enforces the rules of debate. He decides who has the right to speak and puts the question for the House to debate on and vote. The Speaker does not take part in the debates of the House but can abstain or vote for or against a motion if he has an original vote as an elected Member. As the guardian of parliamentary privileges, MPs look to the Speaker for guidance on procedure and he gives his rulings on any point of order, if necessary.

The Speaker acts as the representative of the House in its relations with other Parliaments 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.

The Speaker is assisted by two Deputy Speakers, Mr Charles Chong and Mr Seah Kian Peng

 Mr Michael Palmer's CV details