Election of Speaker

3.55 pm

The Leader of the House (Dr Ng Eng Hen): Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the House, I extend to you our warmest congratulations on your election as the Speaker of the Twelfth Parliament of Singapore.

Sir, apart from your legal training, you also have an abiding passion for sports, having been a rugby player in your student days. You have served in the Singapore Olympic Foundation and Singapore Disability Sports Council. This House can, therefore, expect a Speaker who is used to robust interchanges to spur the others to greater heights, but always within the gentlemanly rules of fair play. Indeed, since your election to this House in 2006, you had participated actively in the debates of the House, moving and supporting motions on many issues and presenting the concerns of those who elected you to this House. Together with your chairmanship of two Government Parliamentary Committees, you bring much parliamentary and legal expertise to your role.

Mr Speaker, as the eighth Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore, you join an illustrious line of distinguished persons who have occupied the Chair of the House since our beginning as a Legislative Assembly in 1955. In electing you, this House places its full confidence in your ability to preside over its proceedings with dignity, fairness and impartiality. I am sure all Members will join me in pledging our full support and cooperation as you seek to improve this institution further, to uphold the standards of this Chamber and maintain the decorum by which our debates are conducted.

Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the House, I wish also to pay a tribute to your immediate predecessor, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, who is with us in our Gallery. [ Applause .] Mr Abdullah Tarmugi was first elected as the seventh Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore at its Tenth Parliament and re-elected for the Eleventh Parliament, in all, nine-and-a-half years, from 2002 to 2011. On his election as Speaker, Mr Abdullah declared, "I shall do my utmost to fulfil the trust and confidence that Members have put in me to preside over the proceedings of this House and to preserve the dignity and role of this august institution. I shall be impartial as Members expect me to be." Further, he urged Members to "speak honestly, speak sincerely and without fear and let your conscience be your guide."

His wise exhortations guided Members as they wrestled over significant pieces of legislation and motions across the spectrum of social, moral and political issues that would test conventional norms in Singapore's Tenth and Eleventh Parliaments. These debates, many contentious, reflected the challenges that confronted Singaporeans through a turbulent decade.

Among others they included:

(i) the Motion on the Ministry of Home Affairs' White Paper on The Jemaah Islamiyah Arrests and the Threat of Terrorism in 2003 as Singapore grappled with the homegrown threat of terrorism. It was a seminal paper that has kept us safe till now.

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(ii) in March that same year, 2003, invoking a Certificate of Urgency, this House expeditiously amended the Infectious Diseases Act to tackle the global SARS crisis. In effect, we doubled jail terms and fines for those who breach quarantine orders or expose the community to the infection by other means of wilful action or sheer neglect. With these new powers for quarantine, SARS was contained.

(iii) in 2005, the House debated the Government's proposal to allow for casinos to be built in Singapore, a first in Singapore's history, followed by the passing of the Casino Control Bill.

(iv) in 2006 and thereafter, this House debated and approved significant changes to our CPF system and extended employment through the Retirement Age (Amendment) Bill to improve the retirement adequacy for Singaporeans. In tandem, the fourth pillar of our social support system was added through Workfare.

(v) in 2007, there was intense debate on the retention of section 377A of the Penal Code which criminalises acts of gross indecency between two male adults. Views and positions were polarised. Public petitions from both camps were received, as were hate mails by NMPs who argued their convictions. After two days of debate, Parliament concluded that legislation has to reflect both the societal norms and the views of the majority and opted to keep section 377A. Prime Minister Lee also spoke on the issue and expressed that the social norms in Singapore call for heterosexual and stable family units, but that the Government acknowledged homosexuals' contributions in society and assured that section 377A will not be actively enforced. He highlighted that people on both sides hold strong fundamental views on the matter and discussions will not bring the views of the two groups any closer, and hence it is better to stay status quo for now.

(vi) in February 2009, in response to the global financial crisis, Parliament passed the Supply Bill and the Supplementary Supply (FY 2008) Bill. The President gave his assent to the corresponding Acts, effectively giving his formal approval for the drawdown of past reserves, for the first time ever, amounting to S$4.9 billion.

(vii) last year, the House deliberated on a backbencher's Bill, the Maintenance of Parents (Amendment) Bill, to reinforce the social responsibility of parental maintenance.

(viii) recently, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill was also debated and passed which raised the minimum number of opposition seats in the House to nine.

I would also remind everyone that in the midst of this turbulent period, we had a change of Prime Minister in 2004. Singaporeans have been through a lot and have shown resilience. Mr Speaker, greater nations have stumbled, if not fractured, over lesser crises we have had to face in the last decade. Through it all, this Parliament has guided Singapore through these momentous changes in the political and social landscape and played its vital and positive role in Singapore's nation building.

Mr Abdullah, as Speaker, has delivered on his promise to be impartial and to preserve the dignity of this House. He did this with quiet patience and firmness in the conduct of House proceedings and ensured that the standards of behaviour and debate in this House were maintained. Mr Abdullah also sought to improve on our efficiency, yet never sacrificing our ability to make adequate representation on behalf of Singaporeans. And he reminded Members, "But be as concise as you can and try hard to avoid repetition. Long and rambling speeches are also subject to the laws of diminishing returns!"

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To this end, he proposed changes to the Standing Orders in 2004 and 2010 which were supported by all Members that provided for more efficient business rules. Revised speech times gave Members more opportunities to speak in Budget debates, allowed the use of multiple languages in a single speech, and provided greater flexibility in the extension of sitting times. Mr Abdullah also spearheaded initiatives to improve the physical facilities of this Chamber. These included the installation of security glass panels, LCD screens, adjustable lecterns, better acoustic walls and an improved ventilation system. He ably chaired various Select Committees of the House and in particular the Special Select Committee that nominated four batches of Nominated Members of Parliament.

During his tenure, Mr Abdullah had the distinction of serving as the President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) from 2007 to 2008 and the President of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) from 2009 to 2010, which culminated in Singapore hosting the 29th AIPA General Assembly in August 2008 and the 18th Meeting of the APPF in January 2010. Mr Speaker, Mr Abdullah's long career spanning some 26 years in Parliament is an outstanding record of distinguished service and this House puts on record its appreciation and gratitude to him. We hope he will enjoy a long, deserved and happy retirement and wish him the very best for the years ahead. [ Applause .]

Mr Speaker, Sir, this Twelfth Parliament has an increased number of Members, with 87 elected Members and three Non-Constituency Members. With nine Opposition Members, this House has the largest number of Members on its Opposition benches since 1967. Of the 90 Members that we now have, 30 are new Members, forming one-third of the House. I welcome all Members to this Twelfth Parliament. Old or new, let us Members all resolve to conduct ourselves in a manner that maintains the high esteem of our Parliament. To this honourable elected position, let us never betray the trust or degrade the respect won from Singaporeans. Front or back bench, pro-Government or Opposition, let us each resolve to find the wisdom through rigorous debate and impartial scrutiny on issues that affect the lives of our people. Let us, above all, have the courage of our convictions to speak out and do what is the best for our nation. On this raison d'etre , Mr Speaker, we entrust ourselves to your impartial and guiding hand and the mercy and finality of your judicious guillotine.

4.06 pm

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Aljunied): Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the members of the Workers' Party, I extend to you our congratulations on your election as Speaker of Parliament. I would also like to thank the Leader of the House for welcoming the elected Opposition MPs and NCMPs.

Sir, with six elected Members and two NCMPs, the Workers' Party is now represented in Parliament by a total of eight Members. Singaporeans have not been represented by such a relatively large number of Opposition Members in Parliament since 1966. This is the mandate our people expressed through the watershed election in May. Singaporeans want Members of the Opposition to speak on their behalf without fear or favour. Our people are pragmatic but, at the same time, they also understand the importance of democracy and good governance to their lives today, and the hopes and dreams of their children tomorrow. In this regard, they expect the Government to be responsive and accountable. They expect a responsible Parliament in which policies and issues that affect them are seriously debated and rigorously scrutinised. They want clear and transparent explanations from the Ministers at all times. In this respect, I trust that Mr Speaker, Sir, you will allow sufficient opportunity for Members of the Opposition to express our views and voice the concerns and needs of the people.

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I would like to thank all Singaporeans who have supported the Workers' Party. In particular, I would like to pay tribute to voters in the Aljunied GRC and express my deep gratitude to Hougang voters for their unwavering support. Together, Sir, let us move towards a First World Parliament. [ Applause .]

4.08 pm

Mr Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio): Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, I want to thank the voters of Ang Mo Kio for giving us the overwhelming support that has elected us in Parliament, and we promise to do our best to serve our residents as best as possible. Mr Speaker, Sir, I like to also take this opportunity to congratulate you on your election as Speaker of Parliament. Given your legal background, I am sure that you will do well to guide the House as we do our work in Parliament. Sir, my best wishes to you.

Sir, I like to take this opportunity to thank our previous Speaker, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, who is also present here, for what he has done as the Speaker of Parliament during his term of office. Sir, I have known Mr Abdullah Tarmugi for longer than many Members in this House, and most Members may not know that I was a grassroots leader and a branch activist in Siglap since the day he entered politics. Mr Abdullah, I recall helping you fight your first election in 1984 when you first came to Siglap and, subsequently, I stayed on as a volunteer in your constituency till I left to join Ang Mo Kio in 1993. In fact, you are the one who inducted me into politics and got me to agree to stand as a PAP candidate when you persuaded me to go for one of the PAP tea parties. And, today, 27 years later, as you leave politics, I want to thank you for the mentorship that you provided me in my early years as a volunteer. I stayed in Siglap for 13 years before moving to Ang Mo Kio for two reasons. First, it was the fact that I wanted to contribute back to society and provided my services as a volunteer to the community around me; and, second, because I enjoyed working with you and the fact that you were serving your constituency sincerely to improve the lives of your residents. It is your unassuming and humble approach to things which kept me at Siglap and allowed me to enjoy my time as a volunteer in your constituency.

Sir, as Speaker of the House, I have seen you helped smoothen the proceedings so that we could get our business done efficiently. Notable changes included the time limit that you instituted for the total speaking time during the Committee of Supply every year and the amount of time an MP has to speak each time, from 30 minutes to 20 minutes. While initially some of us who made longer speeches were apprehensive about these changes that they would curtail debate, we finally realised that it was better to focus and be concise than to make lengthy speeches and not necessarily deliver the messages that we wanted to deliver effectively. I think I speak for most Members of the House to say that it was far better to have the time limit than to stretch the Committee of Supply to more number of days. I, for one, benefited by learning to make sharper and concise speeches although I know I tested your patience at times by hitting close to the time limit. In most cases, I won the race for time before you could cut me off.

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I made some trips with Mr Abdullah for the AIPA meetings and want to say that, as Leader of the delegation, he went out of his way to ensure that all the delegation members were well taken care of and he was very flexible to accommodate the individual needs of the members. At each of these AIPA meetings, when delegations of each country had to present items during the closing dinners, we were fortunate to have a Speaker who sang very well and this allowed those of us who could not sing, like me, to get by, by being background singers, singing softly.

I remember during the 1988 General Election, your second election, Mr Abdullah, when we were waiting for the results at Temasek Junior College, you mentioned to me that your son told you that he had hoped that you would lose that election so that you could spend more time with him and the family. It just showed that you had spent time serving the community in your constituency, leaving little time for your family. Well, Mr Abdullah, you finally have left politics and you can have more time for your family now. But I am not sure if this brings comfort to you, now that time has passed and your children have grown up. Hirman, I think, was only a teenager at that time. But I do hope that you will now be able to smell the roses, spend more time with your family and do the things that you enjoy most. You can proudly say that you have done more than many for the country and deserve to spend more time doing things for yourself.

Mr Abdullah, I would like to thank you for the opportunity for me to have worked with you and for creating the opportunity for me to serve the nation. Thank you for being a friend and a mentor. We all thank you for your sterling service to the nation. On behalf of our colleagues in this House, I would like to wish you good health, happiness and a meaningful and fulfilling life ahead. My best wishes to you, Sir. [ Applause .]

4.13 pm

Mr Hawazi Daipi: Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to join the Leader of the House to congratulate you on your election as Speaker. Young, energetic and with varied parliamentary experiences in this House, including as Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee since you were first elected as an MP in 2006, I am sure you will be able to preside over parliamentary debates and proceedings in this Chamber that are dignified and with propriety. I know some people think that the Speaker of this Twelfth Parliament will have to work hard at being fair to now a larger number of Opposition Members following the General Election in May this year. I, however, have no doubt that you will conduct our parliamentary proceedings fairly, not only to Opposition Members, but also to Members of the People's Action Party. Indeed, all our Speakers of Parliament had been fair to all MPs and I am sure you will uphold this fine tradition. It is with this faith in you that I have the honour of proposing you to be the Speaker of Parliament. I am sure other Members of this House are with me in expressing our support and cooperation to you.

Sir, like the Leader of the House and Mr Inderjit Singh, with your indulgence, may I also take the opportunity to pay tribute to Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, your immediate predecessor. As the Speaker of Parliament for nine-and-a-half years since 2002, Mr Abdullah had gained the reputation of being strict with time. He would not hesitate to tick off Members who tried to make a speech during a Question for Oral Answer session or apply the guillotine when Members went beyond the allotted time during debates. Mr Abdullah might seem to have some favourite targets, but I would say that he applied the guillotine fairly, irrespective of age or party affiliation, or even gender. After being cut off once in my reply during the Committee of Supply debates some years back, I learned how to repackage my replies within the constraints of time. I am sure Members of this House have also learned to be succinct and impactful even in a short speech. Under his chairmanship, the House heard a wide spectrum of views from many MPs and cleared a lot of Parliamentary Questions (PQs) in each sitting. Despite his no-nonsense image, Mr Abdullah has been a fair and pleasant Speaker. Many MPs observed this during the Speaker's official overseas visits or when they joined the delegations to conferences that Mr Abdullah led. More importantly, he had led our delegations well, representing the Singapore Parliament with dignity and effectively.

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I have known Mr Abdullah since his days as a journalist in The Straits Times and through his active involvement in the community organisation in the early 1980s. He was a concerned man for the well-being of fellow Singaporeans and did not shy away from using his multiple talents in sports and in singing to help Singaporeans through community organisations. In particular, he has been noted for using his vocal prowess to croon for money, raising funds for charitable organisations. Indeed, many Singaporeans have benefited from his singing talents. I wish Mr Abdullah all the very best in his next phase of life.

Mr Speaker, Sir, you too have been known to possess sporting, dancing and singing talents. I am not sure whether you will take the same path as your immediate predecessor, in fact, two predecessors, but I am just raising the precedence. I am certain that you will use your oratorical and legal talents to preside over proceedings in this House with fairness and dignity. [ Applause .]

4.18 pm

Mr Charles Chong (Joo Chiat): Mr Speaker, Sir, tempted as I am to make a political speech and thank all my supporters, I think I will refrain from doing that till a later time as now may not be the right time. With your kind indulgence, please allow me to extend my congratulations to you, Mr Speaker, Sir, on your election. Having worked with you in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC from 2006 to 2011, I am very confident that you will be able to discharge your duties as Speaker with distinction and that you are extremely well-placed to perform the functions of this office. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like also to inform you that it is no longer a requirement for you to call me "uncle" from now on. It is I who will address you as "Sir".

Sir, allow me to take this opportunity also to say a few words to record my appreciation and, indeed, if I may be a bit presumptuous, the House's appreciation to the retiring Speaker. Speaker Abdullah served this House as Speaker from 2002 and did much to keep parliamentary procedures up to date and relevant to a larger number of Singaporeans. Speaker Abdullah also did much to promote interaction and goodwill with parliamentarians within ASEAN and beyond. Indeed, up to last month, Speaker Abdullah continued to lead delegations of MPs to meetings with parliamentarians from other countries, and I had the privilege of being a member of the team that he led to the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Association's General Assembly (AIPA) in Phnom Penh just a few weeks ago. As mentioned by various speakers before me, Speaker Abdullah saved the Singapore delegation with his rendition of "Fly Me to the Moon".

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Sir, our interactions with parliamentarians from neighbouring countries confirmed my view that Speaker Abdullah is held in high esteem, and many of the parliamentarians in our regional countries congratulated him for his achievements and wished him well for his retirement. Speaker Abdullah carried with him many years of experience with the grassroots as an MP, before he assumed office as Speaker, and continued to remain close to the ground even after he was elected as Speaker. I mentioned the grassroots because I am of the view that it is vitally important that the Speaker continues to be connected with the ground so that he is able to appreciate the concerns of ordinary Singaporeans and to allow MPs sufficient latitude to raise and thoroughly debate issues that are of concern to all Singaporeans. While the debates we participate in and the business that is transacted in this House have wide-ranging effects for all Singaporeans, few outside the House fully understand how we function. Under his leadership as Speaker, Parliament was demystified and made more relevant through, for example, the provision of more information about parliamentary processes on the Parliament website, details of Members as well as the encouragement of educational tours to Parliament House. The Prime Minister had previously highlighted that one of the changes that Speaker Abdullah made was to allow Members to speak in any combination or all four of the official languages during a single speech. This may not seem like much on the surface but, as a multi-lingual and multi-racial Singapore, it is yet another move to keep Parliament closer to the people.

As Speaker Abdullah steps away from the front and centre of public life, he will be missed by many of us in this House, although I am sure he will continue to contribute to Singapore in other ways. I would like to thank him for his many years of distinguished service to Singapore and to this House. I wish him good health as he starts in his new phase of life. [ Applause .]

4.22 pm

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, please allow me to thank Mr Hawazi Daipi and Mr Hri Kumar for respectively proposing and supporting my election as Speaker. My heartfelt thanks to the Leader of the House, Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Inderjit Singh, Mr Hawazi Daipi and Mr Charles Chong for their generous words and felicitations as well as to the many of you who have approached me these past weeks to express your support and good wishes. I am grateful to you all.

I am deeply honoured and humbled by the confidence that you have shown in me by electing me as Speaker. It is a great privilege for me to serve this august House and I would strive to do so to the best of my ability. I am committed to discharging my duties fairly, impartially and conscientiously.

I have been entrusted with the solemn duty of presiding over the sittings of this House and ensuring that the best traditions of honour and dignity that are the hallmark of this Chamber are respected and preserved. As a guardian of parliamentary privileges, I trust that hon. Members will be mindful that those privileges should be exercised responsibly. I expect debate to be both vigorous and rigorous. A robust and thorough examination of issues is desirable when it leads to greater clarity and refinement of policy and law, which will better meet the needs and aspirations of our society. Yet, I am confident that even in the course of the most spirited debate, hon. Members will adhere to the high standards of decorum and conduct befitting this House.

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I bid a warm welcome to our new Members. With each new Parliament, new voices inject a different energy to the proceedings and add to the dynamism of this House. As a new Member, it is natural to take time to get used to the manner in which business is conducted in this Chamber. I know that your more experienced colleagues would be happy to help you should you require any assistance. I am sure that you have very much to contribute and I look forward to your maiden speeches.

The new Parliament that sits today is one that is noticeably different in composition, feel and character. Our fellow Singaporeans have placed their trust in us by electing us to represent them and to look after their best interests. They also look to this House for leadership and guidance. Our views may at times differ on issues both big and small. Yet, in the face of global economic uncertainty and a rapidly changing world, I believe that all Members can aspire to a common purpose of uniting and strengthening our society so that as one nation, we can take on all challenges and prevail. I believe that we are, all of us, first and foremost committed to the same cause - Singapore. It is my sincere hope that proceedings in this Twelfth Parliament would be conducted in this positive spirit. With that, I wish hon. Members the very best in the performance of their duties in this House. [ Applause .]

I wish to inform hon. Members that the President will be present in the Chamber at 8.30 pm to deliver his speech at the Opening of Parliament. I, therefore, suspend the sitting until 8.30 pm this evening.

Sitting accordingly suspended

at 4.26 pm until 8.30 pm.

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Sitting resumed at 8.30 pm

The President (accompanied by two A.D.C.s) entered the Chamber, accompanied by Mr Speaker, who was preceded by the Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms (without the Mace), the Principal Assistant Clerk, the Deputy Clerk and the Clerk.

On the Clerk announcing "The President", the President delivered his Opening Address.