Clarification by Government Whip

Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to make a clarification on the procedures for the sequencing of all Members for Parliament for speeches.

As the Whip, I will usually ask all Members of Parliament to indicate whether Members would like to speak for a Bill. All of you will also indicate to me "Yes" or "No", and, in certain instances, some of you will indicate a preference to speak at a particular timeslot or on a particular day. I would generally try to accommodate as much as I am able to.

The sequence of the speakers is published every day by Parliament in the Members' Room. But I would always remind Members of Parliament that after you have indicated that you would like to speak, and the sequence is out, that Parliament may move along faster or slower, depending on the progress of the speakers preceding you.

I would like to remind all Members of Parliament that once you have indicated that you will speak, and as much as I would like to accommodate by giving you the desired slot, Parliament sometimes does move faster or slower. If you are not in Parliament to speak at your assigned slot in the sequence, then you might wish to inform me early, so that I can re-insert you when it is possible to do so.

Just as Mr Low Thia Khiang informed me this morning that Mr Png Eng Huat is unable to speak today, therefore, we will take out Mr Png Eng Huat's name. If Mr Png Eng Huat appears in Parliament subsequently and decides to be re-inserted, Mr Low will tell me, or Mr Png will tell me, and we will do so.

So, what happened was: we published the list yesterday. Ms Sylvia Lim, you had indicated through Mr Low Thia Khiang that you wished to speak today. We tried to accommodate. Parliament moved along faster than expected yesterday. So, your name was called; you were not in the Chamber, so we moved on.

Today, you indicated you wanted to speak, so we re-inserted you, as and when we are able to. So, I hope that clarifies how we sequence speakers in Parliament.

I would like to remind all Members of Parliament that after having indicated to speak, do check on the list or sequence that is published by Parliament. And do note that while I try to be very precise, sometimes, things do move faster or slower. Please be in the Chamber when your name is called. If you are unable to do so, please keep me informed as soon as possible, so that we can inform the rest of the Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Speaker. I would like to thank the Government Whip for his confirmation of the prior communication about our preference to speak on Day 2, and I do accept his point. I should have informed him that I would want to speak today, as earlier indicated. Thank you, Sir.

I would like to thank Ms Sylvia Lim. I would also like to confirm that when I replied to Mr Low Thia Khiang's email to me that I had said I promise him that I would try to sequence the speakers in the order that he prefers, but I would like to say that I cannot guarantee it will be at a particular timeslot, because things will move along, as I have said.