Proceedings on Ministerial Statement

12.01 pm

The Leader of the House (Ms Indranee Rajah): Mr Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move a Motion to allow a Ministerial Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on "The Situation in Ukraine and its Implications" to be taken now.

Mr Speaker Mr Speaker: I give my consent. Does the Leader of the House have the general assent of hon Members present to so move?

Hon Members indicated assent.

Mr Speaker : Leader, please proceed.

Ms Indranee Rajah: Mr Speaker, I beg to move, "That, notwithstanding Standing Order 91(2), a Ministerial Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on 'The Situation in Ukraine and its Implications' be taken now."

Mr Speaker, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Vivian Balakrishnan wishes to make a Ministerial Statement on "The Situation in Ukraine and Its Implications". As Members know, this matter has arisen suddenly and escalated rapidly in the last few days.

Ordinarily, the Budget debate takes precedence over other business. However, given that the Ministerial Statement seeks to update Members on the Singapore Government's position on the urgent situation in Ukraine, a serious security crisis which has implications for the international order, global economic outlook and also for our national economy, it would be good for Members to hear from the Minister for Foreign Affairs before the commencement of the Budget debate.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved, that, notwithstanding Standing Order 91(2), the Ministerial Statement on The Situation in Ukraine and its Implications be taken now.

Mr Speaker: Ministerial Statement. Minister for Foreign Affairs.