Parliamentary business

The Leader of the House, Ms Indranee Rajah, sought consent to exempt a specific discussion from a time limit on Minister Chan Chun Sing's speech under Standing Order 48(8). The Speaker granted consent, and members present indicated their agreement. The motion to remove the time limit for the minister's speech was successfully resolved.

The Speaker announced the appointment of Ms. Jessica Tan Soon Neo as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. The Speaker also appointed Mr. Patrick Tay Teck Guan as the Chairman of the Estimates Committee for the current Parliament.

The session concluded with Mr. Zaqy Mohamad's proposal to adjourn Parliament. The Speaker announced that the next sitting would start at 11:30 am, similar to the current day's schedule. The meeting officially adjourned at 7:23 pm.

Sharael Taha requested to adjourn the debate, and the Speaker granted consent. The resolution to adjourn the debate was made official. The debate is scheduled to be resumed the following day.

The Speaker proposed to extend the sitting time by up to 30 minutes beyond the usual moment of interruption, in accordance with Standing Order No 91(3)(d).

Parliament will adjourn following a motion by Mr. Zaqy Mohamad. The Speaker informed members that the next sitting will begin at 11.30 am, similar to the current day. The session officially ended at 7.33 pm.

Sharael Taha requested to adjourn the ongoing debate, which the Speaker granted. The resolution to adjourn was confirmed. The debate is scheduled to be resumed the following day.

The Leader of the House, Ms Indranee Rajah, requested permission to extend the proceedings for the day's scheduled business beyond the usual interruption. The Deputy Speaker granted consent and sought general assent from Members present. Members indicated their agreement, allowing the business to continue uninterrupted for the day.

The Leader of the House, Ms Indranee Rajah, sought permission to exempt the Prime Minister's speech from the time limit imposed by Standing Order No 48(8). The Speaker agreed, and Members present indicated their assent to this motion. The motion was resolved to allow the Prime Minister to speak without a time limit.

The session began with the Speaker addressing the Oath and Affirmation of Allegiance. Mr. Tan Kiat How (East Coast) made his Affirmation of Allegiance. The Speaker then moved on to the Questions for Oral Answer segment.

Sharael Taha sought permission from the Speaker to adjourn the debate. The Speaker granted consent, resulting in the resolution to adjourn the debate. Sharael Taha confirmed that the debate would resume the following day.

The speaker proposed an extension of the Committee Sitting time by up to 30 minutes as permitted by Standing Order No 91(3)(d).

The Leader of the House, Ms Indranee Rajah, sought consent to exempt the time limit on Minister Ong Ye Kung's upcoming speech. The Deputy Speaker granted consent, and Members indicated their assent to the motion. Consequently, the proceedings were approved to allow Minister Ong to speak without a time limit.

• Sharael Taha requested to adjourn the debate.
• The Speaker granted consent for the adjournment.
• The debate is scheduled to be resumed the following day.

• The Leader of the House, Ms Indranee Rajah, proposed to extend the parliamentary proceedings beyond the usual end time of 7:00 pm.
• The Speaker granted consent for the extension and sought the general assent of Members present.
• Members indicated their assent, allowing the proceedings to continue as planned.

• The Leader of the House, Ms Indranee Rajah, proposed a motion to allow the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Pritam Singh, to speak for up to 40 minutes on any question in Parliament.
• This change is effective from the current sitting until the end of the 15th Parliament.
• The extended speaking duration is intended to provide Mr Pritam Singh with the privilege appropriate for his role as Leader of the Opposition.
• The motion was put to a vote and was agreed upon by the members present.

• Mr. Pritam Singh has been confirmed as the Leader of the Opposition in the 15th Parliament of Singapore, continuing from the previous term with established duties and privileges.
• The Leader of the Opposition will have a designated seat across from the Prime Minister, the right to ask the first question in debates, extended speaking time, and additional resources and staff support.
• Mr. Singh will lead the opposition in presenting alternative views, scrutinizing government actions, and nominating members for parliamentary committees.
• The role of the Leader of the Opposition is recognized for the second time, with potential for future evolution of duties and privileges to enhance parliamentary scrutiny.
• Both the Speaker and the Leader of the House emphasized the importance of cooperation and decorum among all Members of Parliament to ensure effective governance.

• The Leader of the House, Ms Indranee Rajah, proposed a motion to prioritize her Ministerial Statement on the "Duties and Privileges of the Leader of the Opposition" before other business motions and debates.
• The motion also included the scheduling of three Ministerial Statements related to the "Situation in the Middle East" and Singaporeans' responses to it, emphasizing their relevance to current public interest.
• The urgency of these statements was highlighted due to Minister Vivian Balakrishnan's upcoming participation in the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
• The motion was agreed upon, allowing the Ministerial Statements to be addressed before the debate on the Address of Thanks.

• Ms. Ng Sheau Jiuan will retire as Clerk of Parliament on 23 September 2025 after 33 years of service, having been the first woman to hold the position since 2005.
• She has been recognized for her expertise in parliamentary procedures, guiding Members of Parliament and ensuring smooth operations during sessions, especially during high-pressure periods.
• Ms. Ng has overseen significant transformations in Parliament, including livestreaming proceedings and enhancing public outreach, making parliamentary work more accessible.
• Mr. Siow Peng Han, the current Deputy Clerk, will succeed Ms. Ng as Clerk of Parliament, with Members expressing confidence in his leadership.
• Both the Speaker and the Leader of the House conveyed deep gratitude for Ms. Ng's dedication and contributions to the Parliament, wishing her a fulfilling retirement.

• The Deputy Leader of the House proposed Mr. Christopher de Souza and Mr. Xie Yao Quan for election as Deputy Speakers.
• The proposal emphasized their commitment to good governance and impartiality in promoting respectful debate.
• Yeo Wan Ling expressed her support for the proposal.
• No further proposals were made, leading to the closure of nominations.
• The Speaker congratulated the newly elected Deputy Speakers and expressed anticipation for their support.