Parliamentary business

• The debate focused on the administration of Oaths and Affirmations of Allegiance for new members.
• Two members, Mr. Eric Chua and Ms. Sylvia Lim, were called to take their Oath or Affirmation.
• The Speaker presided over the proceedings, ensuring order during the oath-taking process.

• The Leader of the House, Ms Indranee Rajah, congratulated the re-elected Speaker, emphasizing the importance of his role during a time of global transition and uncertainty.
• Opposition leader Pritam Singh highlighted the need for Parliament to address pressing domestic issues and ensure that the voices of Singaporeans are represented in discussions.
• Members expressed confidence in the Speaker's ability to maintain decorum and fairness in parliamentary proceedings, acknowledging the challenges posed by a larger and more diverse Parliament.
• The Speaker outlined expectations for the upcoming term, including concise communication, accountability, and a commitment to uphold the dignity of the Parliament while engaging in robust debates.
• The session concluded with a reminder of the Speaker's dedication to serving the people of Singapore and fostering a respectful and effective parliamentary environment.

• Members of the Singapore Parliament took their Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance in a structured order, starting with the Prime Minister.
• The oath-taking process involved multiple groups of members, each taking their oath sequentially.
• A diverse range of members participated, including those from various constituencies and non-constituency members.
• The oath was administered in multiple languages, reflecting Singapore's multicultural society.
• The event signifies the formal commitment of members to their roles and responsibilities in Parliament.

• The debate commenced with the Serjeant-at-Arms laying the Mace below the Table.
• The Leader of the House proposed Mr. Seah Kian Peng as the Speaker of Parliament.
• Mr. Liang Eng Hwa expressed his support for the proposal.
• Mr. Seah Kian Peng was declared duly elected as Speaker after there was only one proposal.
• Mr. Seah took the Oath of Allegiance and assumed his position as Speaker.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim raised concerns about the non-partisan nature of the Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) scheme and proposed a cooling-off period for NMPs before they can run for elected office.
• Chan Chun Sing, representing the Prime Minister, affirmed that the NMP scheme was designed to enhance parliamentary debate by including independent voices and that safeguards are in place to maintain its non-partisan nature.
• The selection process for NMPs involves a Special Select Committee with members from both ruling and opposition parties, and the Constitution mandates that NMPs vacate their seats if they run for political office.
• Chan Chun Sing expressed confidence in the contributions of NMPs to parliamentary discussions and stated that the government has no plans to review the NMP scheme.

• The Parliament is set to adjourn at the end of the session.
• The date for the next meeting will be determined later.
• The motion for adjournment was proposed by Mr. Zaqy Mohamad.

• The Minister for Home Affairs, Mr. K Shanmugam, sought consent to suspend a parliamentary standing order to present a Ministerial Statement regarding the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA).
• The Minister clarified that the statement would outline the Government's general position on MDA presumptions without discussing a specific pending court case.
• The Speaker granted consent, and Members present indicated their assent to proceed with the Ministerial Statement.
• The motion to exempt the proceedings from the standing order was put to a vote and agreed upon, allowing the Minister to present the Government's position.

• The Parliament session was resolved to adjourn.
• The adjournment was proposed by Ms. Indranee Rajah.
• The time of adjournment was noted as 6:42 PM.

Parliament has resolved to adjourn to Monday, 10 March 2025, as proposed by Mr. Zaqy Mohamad. The Speaker concluded the session by wishing everyone a good weekend. The meeting was officially adjourned at 7.42 pm.

The Deputy Leader of the House sought consent to report progress and request to resume the session on Monday, 10 March 2025. The Chairman approved the request. Zaqy Mohamad reported that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2025/2026 and reiterated the request to reconvene on the specified date. The Speaker confirmed the request.

The Chairman proposed to extend the Committee Sitting by up to 30 minutes in accordance with Standing Order No 91(3)(d) to allow for additional discussion or deliberation.

Parliament has been adjourned following a motion from Mr. Zaqy Mohamad. The Speaker informed Members that the next Sitting will start at 10:00 am tomorrow. The meeting concluded at 7:54 pm.

Zaqy Mohamad sought consent to report progress in the Committee of Supply and requested to continue discussions the following day. The Chairman granted consent for this motion. Zaqy reported that the committee has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2025/2026 and plans to reconvene tomorrow. The Speaker acknowledged the report and the request to sit again.

The Chairman proposed an extension of the Committee Sitting time by up to 30 minutes. Minister Tan See Leng was addressed subsequent to this proposal.

The Leader of the House proposed to prioritize a Ministerial Statement on the review of public disclosure of full NRIC numbers on Bizfile People Search before resuming the Estimates of Expenditure for FY2025/2026. This decision was made as the Ministerial Statement addresses an important matter and allows members more time for clarifications from Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean. The motion was put to a vote and agreed upon.

Parliament has officially adjourned with a resolution presented by Ms Indranee Rajah. The Speaker announced that the next sitting will begin at 10:00 am the following day. The session was adjourned at 6:52 pm.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Gan Kim Yong, requested to report progress and seek leave to continue the discussion the following day. The Chairman granted consent for this request. The Speaker confirmed that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2025/2026 and agreed to reconvene the next day.

Parliament was officially adjourned at 6:49 PM upon resolution by Ms. Indranee Rajah to conclude the session.

Indranee Rajah requested permission to report progress and seek leave to sit again. The Chairman granted consent for the motion. The Speaker noted that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2025/2026. Indranee Rajah confirmed the progress and asked to reconvene the following day.