Suspension of Standing Orders to Allow Minister of State and Minister for Law to Speak More Than Once and To Remove Time Limit

Before I call on Minister Josephine Teo, Leader.

Mr Speaker, the next item of business will be the Second Reading of the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill.

There are three political officeholders speaking on the Bill. Minister Josephine Teo is moving the Bill and she will cover the broad policy areas. Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam, on behalf of the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), will be covering the scope of harms covered, and Minister Edwin Tong, in his capacity as the Minister for Law, will be speaking on statutory torts, end user identification and anonymity.

Minister Josephine Teo, as the mover of the Bill, will have the right to speak twice, to open and to close.

In the ordinary case, other Members speaking only have the right to speak once. However, as Minister of State Rahayu and Minister Edwin will be covering areas for which we anticipate that there will be questions or queries that need to be responded to, I am therefore moving to allow them to speak twice and also to lift the time limit on their speeches, as there are very many speakers on this Bill.

So, Mr Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that the proceedings on the item under discussion be exempted from the provisions of: Standing Order No 48(3), to allow Minister Edwin Tong and Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam to speak more than once; and Standing Order 48(8), to remove the time limit in respect of Minister Edwin Tong's and Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam's speeches.

I give my consent. Does the Leader of the House have the general assent of hon Members present to so move?

*Hon Members indicated assent. (proc text)]

*With the consent of Mr Speaker and the general assent of Members present, (proc text)]

*Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)]

Resolved, That the proceedings on the item under discussion be exempted from the provisions of: Standing Order 48(3), to allow Minister Edwin Tong and Minster of State Rahayu Mahzam to speak more than once; and Standing Order 48(8), to remove the time limit in respect of Minister Edwin Tong's and Minster of State Rahayu Mahzam's speeches. – [Ms Indranee Rajah.]