SINGAPORE: Lawyer and MP for Punggol East, Michael Palmer was elected as the 8th Speaker in Singapore's Parliament when the new session of Parliament kicked off Monday afternoon.
He succeeds Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, who stepped down from politics during the last general election.
Leader of the House, Dr Ng Eng Hen congratulated Mr Palmer for his election as Speaker of Parliament.
Dr Ng recalled that
since his election to the House in 2006, Mr Palmer has participated
actively in debates of the House, moving and supporting motions on many
issues and presenting the concerns of people.
Dr Ng said Mr Palmer brings much parliamentary and legal experience to his new role.
He also paid tribute to the previous speaker Mr Abdullah Tarmugi who served nine-and-a-half years.
Dr Ng said he had urged members to "speak honestly, speak sincerely and without fear."
Mr Low Thia Khiang, MP for Aljunied GRC, has also extended his congratulations to Mr Palmer.
He said he trusts the new speaker will allow members of opposition to express views and concerns of people.
After
Mr Palmer took his Oath of Allegiance, all MPs and the non-constituency
MPs also took their oaths, starting off with Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong and the cabinet ministers.
The ruling People's Action Party has 81 seats in the new Parliament while the Workers' Party has six seats.
There are three non-constituency MPs, with two of them from the Workers' Party and one from the Singapore People's Party.
In
the evening, President Tony Tan Keng Yam will address the House,
setting out the new government's goals for the next five years.
Channel NewsAsia will carry the president's speech "live" at 8:30pm.
It will also be streamed "live" on www.channelnewsasia.com/parliament at 8:30pm.
- CNA/cc
Wow he's "experienced".
They screen the president's speech live but not the parliamentary debates. BIG JOKE LA.
i think the Speaker is the only member in there who is not allowed to actually make a speech