Parliamentary business

1,193 debates and bills about parliamentary business

2 Aug 2023

Nominated Members of Parliament

The Special Select Committee nominated nine individuals for appointment as Nominated Members of Parliament, including Ms Chandradas Usha Ranee, Mr Keith Chua Tiang Choon, Mr Mark Lee Kean Phi, Mr Ong Hua Han, Mr Parekh Nimil Rajnikant, Mr Raj Joshua Thomas, Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Bt Abdul Rahim, Ms See Jinli, and Dr Syed Harun Bin Taha Alhabsyi.
President Halimah Yacob appointed the nominees via Instruments of Appointment dated 24 July 2023, with their terms effective from that date for a period of two and a half years.
The newly appointed Nominated Members are present in Parliament to take their oaths of allegiance and affirmations.

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2 Aug 2023

Election of Speaker

The Leader of the House congratulated the new Speaker on his election, highlighting his extensive parliamentary experience, past roles including Deputy Speaker, and commitment to fairness and impartiality.
The new Speaker thanked members for their support, acknowledged his predecessor’s efforts, and pledged to conduct proceedings firmly and fairly while maintaining decorum.
The Speaker emphasized the importance of rules and integrity, urged vigilance in personal conduct, and reminded members that their work and words in Parliament have lasting impact beyond their terms.
Both speakers welcomed the new cohort of Nominated Members of Parliament and expressed hope for productive sessions ahead.
The debate concluded with a focus on serving the people of Singapore and upholding high standards during parliamentary debates.

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2 Aug 2023

Election of Speaker

The Leader of the House proposed Mr Seah Kian Peng to take the Chair as Speaker of Parliament.
Denise Phua Lay Peng supported the proposal, and the Clerk declared Mr Seah Kian Peng duly elected as Speaker.
The newly elected Speaker then took the Chair, and the Mace was placed on the Table.

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2 Aug 2023

Resignation of Speaker

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin resigned as Speaker of Parliament and as Member for Marine Parade on 17 July 2023, with the resignation acknowledged and Members notified the same day.
His seat as Member and the office of Speaker were declared vacant under Articles 46(2)(c) and 40(4)(b) of the Constitution.
Parliament will now proceed to elect a new Speaker to fill the vacancy.

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6 Jul 2023

Adjournment

Parliament resolved to adjourn to a date to be fixed, as proposed by Ms Indranee Rajah.
The adjournment was formally carried out at 8.08 pm.
No other substantive matters or debates were recorded in this session.

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6 Jul 2023

Follow-up Statement on Point of Order Raised on 5 July 2023

The Leader of the House, Indranee Rajah, stated that the Progress Singapore Party’s revised video and post still misrepresent Parliamentary proceedings by suggesting the Deputy Speaker suppressed debate, which is a breach of rules, and she demanded their removal and a formal apology by 10 pm or she will refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges.
Leong Mun Wai argued that the PSP corrected factual inaccuracies, did not intend to defame, and that the video is a form of expression; he offered to take it down but resisted apologizing, proposing an open letter of regret instead.
Indranee Rajah countered that the video and post together create a misleading narrative about Parliamentary conduct, which undermines public trust in democracy, and emphasized that an apology is necessary to uphold the integrity of Parliament.
The debate highlighted a clash over the interpretation of the video’s impact, with the government viewing it as a deliberate misrepresentation and the PSP defending it as legitimate political expression.
The session ended with a firm deadline for compliance, underscoring the seriousness with which Parliament treats potential breaches of its privileges and the public’s perception of its proceedings.

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6 Jul 2023

Exempted Business

The motion seeks to exempt today’s scheduled parliamentary business from Standing Order No. 2, which typically governs the time and manner of proceedings.
The exemption would allow the House to proceed with the day’s agenda without the usual time constraints or procedural restrictions.
The debate focuses on whether this exemption is necessary to facilitate efficient and timely consideration of the business listed for the day.

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5 Jul 2023

Exempted Business

The Parliament discussed a motion to exempt the day's scheduled business from the requirements of Standing Order No. 2.
Mr. Zaqy Mohamad proposed the motion to allow the proceedings to proceed without the usual standing order restrictions.
The debate centered on whether to grant this exemption for the specific sitting's agenda.

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5 Jul 2023

Statement by Leader of the House

The Leader of the House, Indranee Rajah, raised a Point of Order about a PSP Facebook video and post that she claimed misrepresented Parliament proceedings, potentially breaching the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act by giving a false impression that a debate was suppressed and that Mr Leong Mun Wai was not allowed to ask questions.
Mr Leong Mun Wai responded that the video was an expression of free speech, clarified that the term "sia suay" referred to himself, not the Deputy Speaker, and said his party would deliberate and respond to Parliament regarding the request to take down the video and issue an apology.
Indranee Rajah acknowledged Mr Leong’s clarification but emphasized that freedom of expression does not allow false or misleading representations, noting the video was edited with deliberation, not in the "heat of the moment," and she expects a response from PSP by the next day.

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4 Jul 2023

Adjournment

Mr Zaqy Mohamad proposed a motion for Parliament to adjourn.
Mdm Deputy Speaker announced the next sitting will begin at 12.30 pm.
The motion was accepted and the sitting adjourned at 6.38 pm.

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4 Jul 2023

Time Limit for Minister of State for Social and Family Development's Speech

The Deputy Leader of the House sought consent to exempt Minister of State Sun Xueling's speech from time limits under Standing Order No 48(8).
Mdm Deputy Speaker consented and confirmed general assent from hon Members present.
The motion was agreed to, resolving that the proceedings be exempted from the time limit provision for her speech.

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4 Jul 2023

National Productivity Fund (Amendment) Bill

The National Productivity Fund (Amendment) Bill was presented by Senior Minister of State for Finance Mr Chee Hong Tat on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, with the aim of amending the National Productivity Fund Act 2010.
The bill was read for the first time and scheduled for a second reading at the next parliamentary sitting on or after 1 August 2023, with instructions for it to be printed.
The debate focused on procedural formalities and the legislative process for amending the existing productivity fund framework in Singapore.

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3 Jul 2023

Adjournment

Parliament resolved to adjourn, with the motion proposed by Ms Indranee Rajah.
The adjournment was formally carried out at 7:32 pm.
No other substantive debates or issues were discussed during this session.

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3 Jul 2023

Exempted Business

Mr. Zaqy Mohamad proposed a motion to exempt today's scheduled business from Standing Order No. 2.
The motion aims to allow proceedings on the Order Paper to proceed without certain procedural restrictions.
The debate is centered on whether to grant this exemption for the day's sitting.

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3 Jul 2023

Revised Order of Second Readings

The Leader of the House moved to revise the order of business so the Maintenance of Parents (Amendment) Bill proceeds before the Online Criminal Harms Bill due to the Minister's absence on official travel.
The motion was put to a question and agreed to by Parliament, allowing the revised order of second readings.
The sitting was suspended for a break and resumed later in the evening.

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3 Jul 2023

Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment No 2) Bill

The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment No 2) Bill was presented to Parliament to amend the Constitution.
The bill was read for the first time by the Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Law on behalf of the Minister for Law.
The bill is scheduled for a second reading on the next available sitting of Parliament on or after 1 August 2023 and will be printed.

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10 May 2023

Adjournment

Ms Indranee Rajah moved a motion for Parliament to adjourn to a date to be fixed.
The motion was put to a vote and passed without objection.
Parliament was adjourned at 5.18 pm accordingly.

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9 May 2023

Adjournment of Debate

The Leader of the House moved to adjourn the debate, which was subsequently resolved.
A Non-Constituency Member suggested resuming the debate the following day.
The Deputy Speaker confirmed the resumption for the next day, concluding the proceedings.

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8 May 2023

Making Parliament a Fairer Arena for All

Leong Mun Wai argued that current parliamentary structures hinder the Opposition's ability to function effectively, proposing reforms such as increased resources for MPs, an "Opposition hour" for debates, and opposition chairmanship of key committees.
The Leader of the House responded that existing rules already provide fair opportunities for accountability, emphasizing that resource allocations differentiate between elected MPs and NCMPs based on workload, and that committee leadership reflects parliamentary balance.
The debate highlighted contrasting views on whether procedural changes are needed to foster a fairer political arena, with the government maintaining that current mechanisms are sufficient and effective.

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8 May 2023

Adjournment of Debate

The Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mrs Josephine Teo, moved to adjourn the debate and it was resolved accordingly.
The Deputy Speaker asked about the resumption of the debate, to which Mrs Teo replied that it would be resumed tomorrow.
The Deputy Speaker confirmed the arrangement, concluding the adjournment motion.

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