Election to the Chair

Mdm Halimah Yacob was elected Speaker of the Singapore Parliament on 14 January 2013. She is the ninth Speaker since the First Legislative Assembly of 1955.

Background

Mdm Halimah Yacob is Singapore’s first woman Speaker of Parliament. She has been a Member of Parliament since 2001 and one of the MPs serving the Jurong Group Representation Constituency.

She had previously served as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Social and Family Development. She was a Member of the Public Petitions Committee before taking the role as Chairman in the Committee of Selection, Committee of Privileges, House Committee, Public Petitions Committee and Standing Orders Committee in the 12th Parliament.

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 the duties in the House, the Speaker must remain impartial and fair to all MPs. The Speaker regulates and enforces the rules of debate. She 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 she has an original vote as an elected Member. As the guardian of parliamentary privileges, MPs look to the Speaker for guidance on procedure and she gives her 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

 Mdm Halimah Yacob's CV details