Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore

Speaker of the
Parliament of Singapore
Speaker of the; Parliament of Singapore
	Incumbent; Seah Kian Peng; since 2 August 2023
	Parliament of Singapore
Style	Mr Speaker; (informal); The Honourable; (formal);
Type	Presiding officer
Nominator	Prime Minister
Appointer	Parliament
Term length	No term limit
Inaugural holder	George Oehlers
Formation	5 June 1965; 61 years ago
Salary	S$550,000 annually; (in addition to S$192,500 in MP allowance)
Website	www.parliament.gov.sg

The speaker of the Parliament of Singapore^[a] is the presiding officer of the Parliament of Singapore. They are nominated by the prime minister before being appointed by Parliament, and are second in the presidential line of succession. The speaker is assisted by two deputy speakers, who preside over parliamentary sessions in the event that they are unavailable.

The current speaker is Seah Kian Peng, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade–Braddell Heights Group Representation Constituency (GRC), who took office on 2 August 2023. The current deputy speakers are Christopher de Souza, an MP for Holland–Bukit Timah GRC, who took office on 31 August 2020, and Xie Yao Quan, the MP for Jurong Central Single Member Constituency (SMC), who took office on 22 September 2025. All individuals are members of the governing People's Action Party (PAP).

Election

Parliament must elect a speaker at the beginning of each new parliamentary term after a general election.^[1] The Constitution states that Parliament has the freedom to decide how to elect its speaker.^[2] By tradition, the prime minister nominates a person for the role. The person's name is then proposed and seconded by MPs, before they can be elected as speaker.^[3]

The speaker is not required to be an elected MP, but must possess the qualifications to stand for Parliament as listed in the Constitution.^[4] They cannot be an incumbent cabinet minister or parliamentary secretary.^[2]

Once elected, a speaker continues in office until the dissolution of Parliament, unless they resign, are appointed as a cabinet minister, minister of state or parliamentary secretary, or are disqualified from being an MP.^[5]

Role

The wig and ceremonial gown of the speaker of Parliament on display in Parliament House. The speaker will only wear the gown during the Opening of Parliament ceremony; the wearing of the wig was discontinued in 1993.

The role of the speaker in Singapore is similar to that in most Commonwealth legislatures. They preside over the sittings of Parliament, and enforce the rules prescribed in standing orders for the orderly conduct of parliamentary business. In carrying out their duties, the speaker must remain impartial and fair to all MPs.^[4]

The speaker regulates and enforces the rules of debate. They decide who has the right to speak, and put the question for Parliament to debate on and vote. The speaker does not take part in debates, but, being an elected MP, can abstain from or vote on a motion if they have a vote.^[4]

As the speaker is considered the guardian of parliamentary privileges, MPs look to them for guidance on procedures, and for rulings on any points of order.^[4]

The speaker is second in the line of succession for the office of President of Singapore. In situations where the president's office is vacant, and the chairperson of the Council of Presidential Advisers is unable to take up the role, the speaker will assume presidential duties until a new president is elected.^[6] In terms of state protocol, they sit at the same level as the chief justice of Singapore.^[3]

The speaker acts as Parliament's representative in its relations with other legislatures and outside bodies. They also welcome visiting dignitaries, and represent Parliament at national events and during official visits abroad. Overall, they are in charge of the administration of Parliament and its Secretariat.^[4]

The speakership is one of the few public sector roles in Singapore which allow officeholders to automatically qualify as candidates in presidential elections.^[7]

List of speakers

No.	Name Constituency (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office		Parliament
1	Sir George Oehlers (1908–1968)	22 April 1955	3 September 1963	Independent	1st Legislative Assembly
1	Sir George Oehlers (1908–1968)	22 April 1955	3 September 1963	Independent	2nd Legislative Assembly
2	E. W. Barker MP for Tanglin (1920–2001)	22 October 1963	30 October 1964	PAP	3rd Legislative Assembly
3	A. P. Rajah (1911–1999)	2 November 1964	5 August 1966	Independent	3rd Legislative Assembly
3	A. P. Rajah (1911–1999)	2 November 1964	5 August 1966	Independent	1st
4	Punch Coomaraswamy (1925–1999)	17 August 1966	18 January 1970	Independent	1st
4	Punch Coomaraswamy (1925–1999)	17 August 1966	18 January 1970	Independent	2nd
5	Yeoh Ghim Seng MP for Joo Chiat (1918–1993)	27 January 1970	17 August 1988	PAP	2nd
					3rd
					4th
					5th
					6th
6	Tan Soo Khoon MP for East Coast GRC (born 1949)	9 January 1989	17 October 2001	PAP	7th
					8th
					9th
7	Abdullah Tarmugi MP for East Coast GRC (born 1944)	22 March 2002	18 April 2011	PAP	10th
7	Abdullah Tarmugi MP for East Coast GRC (born 1944)	22 March 2002	18 April 2011	PAP	11th
8	Michael Palmer MP for Punggol East SMC (born 1968)	10 October 2011	12 December 2012	PAP	12th
—	Charles Chong MP for Joo Chiat SMC (born 1953) Acting	12 December 2012	14 January 2013	PAP
9	Halimah Yacob MP for Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC (born 1954)	14 January 2013	7 August 2017	PAP
9	Halimah Yacob MP for Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC (born 1954)	14 January 2013	7 August 2017	PAP	13th
—	Charles Chong MP for Punggol East SMC (born 1953) Acting	7 August 2017	11 September 2017	PAP
10	Tan Chuan-Jin MP for Marine Parade GRC (born 1969)	11 September 2017	17 July 2023	PAP
10	Tan Chuan-Jin MP for Marine Parade GRC (born 1969)	11 September 2017	17 July 2023	PAP	14th
—	Jessica Tan MP for East Coast GRC (born 1966) Acting	17 July 2023	2 August 2023	PAP
11	Seah Kian Peng MP for Marine Parade GRC (until 2025) and Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC (from 2025) (born 1961)	2 August 2023	Incumbent	PAP
11		2 August 2023	Incumbent	PAP	15th

List of deputy speakers

No.	Name Constituency (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office		Speaker	Parliament
1	Richard Lim Nominated MP (1904–1968)	26 April 1955	31 March 1959	LF (until 1959)	Sir George Oehlers	1st Legislative Assembly
1	Richard Lim Nominated MP (1904–1968)	26 April 1955	31 March 1959	MCA (from 1959)	Sir George Oehlers	1st Legislative Assembly
2	G. Kandasamy MP for Kampong Kapor (1921–1999)	15 July 1959	24 September 1961	PAP	Sir George Oehlers	2nd Legislative Assembly
3	John Mammen MP for Telok Blangah	16 November 1961	3 September 1963	PAP	Sir George Oehlers	2nd Legislative Assembly
4	Fong Kim Heng MP for Joo Chiat (1923–1975)	9 December 1963	9 December 1965	PAP	E. W. Barker (until 1964) A. P. Rajah (from 1964)	3rd Legislative Assembly
5	Punch Coomaraswamy (1925–1999)	23 February 1966	16 August 1966	Independent	A. P. Rajah (until 1966) Punch Coomaraswamy (from 1966)	1st
6	Yeoh Ghim Seng MP for Joo Chiat (1918–1993)	11 July 1968	26 January 1970	PAP	Punch Coomaraswamy (until 1970) Yeoh Ghim Seng (from 1970)	2nd
7	Tang See Chim MP for Chua Chu Kang (born 1930)	22 November 1972	5 December 1976	PAP	Yeoh Ghim Seng	3rd
7	Tang See Chim MP for Chua Chu Kang (born 1930)	22 February 1977	4 December 1980	PAP	Yeoh Ghim Seng	4th
8	Hwang Soo Jin MP for Jalan Kayu (born 1937)	6 March 1981	3 December 1984	PAP	Yeoh Ghim Seng	5th
9	Tan Soo Khoon MP for Alexandra (born 1949)	6 March 1985	17 August 1988	PAP	Yeoh Ghim Seng	6th
10	Lim Boon Heng MP for Kebun Baru SMC (born 1947)	16 January 1989	13 August 1991	PAP	Tan Soo Khoon	7th
11	Abdullah Tarmugi MP for Siglap SMC (born 1944)	16 January 1989	13 August 1991	PAP	Tan Soo Khoon	7th
(11)	Abdullah Tarmugi MP for Bedok GRC (born 1944)	13 January 1992	30 June 1993	PAP	Tan Soo Khoon	8th
12	Eugene Yap MP for Mountbatten SMC	26 February 1993	15 December 1996	PAP	Tan Soo Khoon	8th
(12)	Eugene Yap MP for Marine Parade GRC	2 June 1997	17 October 2001	PAP	Tan Soo Khoon	9th
13	Lim Hwee Hua MP for Marine Parade GRC (born 1959)	1 April 2002	11 August 2004	PAP	Abdullah Tarmugi	10th
14	Chew Heng Ching MP for East Coast GRC (born 1953)	1 April 2002	19 April 2006	PAP
15	S. Iswaran MP for West Coast GRC (born 1962)	1 September 2004	19 April 2006	PAP
16	Indranee Rajah MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC (born 1963)	8 November 2006	18 April 2011	PAP	Abdullah Tarmugi	11th
17	Matthias Yao MP for Marine Parade GRC (born 1956)	8 November 2006	18 April 2011	PAP	Abdullah Tarmugi	11th
18	Seah Kian Peng MP for Marine Parade GRC (born 1961)	17 October 2011	24 August 2015	PAP	Michael Palmer (until 2012) Charles Chong (2012–2013) Acting Halimah Yacob (from 2013)	12th
19	Charles Chong MP for Punggol East SMC (born 1953)	17 October 2011	24 August 2015	PAP		12th
(19)	Charles Chong MP for Punggol East SMC (born 1953)	25 January 2016	22 June 2020	PAP	Halimah Yacob (until 2017) Charles Chong (2017) Acting Tan Chuan-Jin (from 2017)	13th
20	Lim Biow Chuan MP for Mountbatten SMC (born 1963)	25 January 2016	22 June 2020	PAP		13th
21	Jessica Tan MP for East Coast GRC (born 1966)	31 August 2020	14 April 2025	PAP	Tan Chuan-Jin (until 2023) Jessica Tan (2023) Acting Seah Kian Peng (from 2023)	14th
22	Christopher de Souza MP for Holland–Bukit Timah GRC (born 1976)	31 August 2020	14 April 2025	PAP		14th
(22)	Christopher de Souza MP for Holland–Bukit Timah GRC (born 1976)	22 September 2025	Incumbent	PAP	Seah Kian Peng	15th
23	Xie Yao Quan MP for Jurong Central SMC (born 1984)	22 September 2025	Incumbent	PAP	Seah Kian Peng	15th

Notes

↑ Malay: Speaker Parlimen Singapura, Chinese: 新加坡国会议长; pinyin: Xīnjiāpō Guóhuì Yìzhǎng, Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர் நாடாளுமன்றத்தின் சபாநாயகர், romanized: Ciṅkappūr Nāṭāḷumaṉṟattiṉ Capānāyakar

References

↑ Constitution, Art. 40(1).
1 2 Constitution, Art. 40(2).
1 2 Lee, Min Kok (8 January 2016). "Halimah Yacob to be renominated as Speaker of Parliament: 7 things you may not know about the post". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
1 2 3 4 5 "Speaker of Parliament". Parliament of Singapore. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
↑ Constitution, Art. 40(4).
↑ Constitution, Art. 22N.
↑ Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, Art. 19(3)(a).

[1] Malay: Speaker Parlimen Singapura, Chinese: 新加坡国会议长; pinyin: Xīnjiāpō Guóhuì Yìzhǎng, Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர் நாடாளுமன்றத்தின் சபாநாயகர், romanized: Ciṅkappūr Nāṭāḷumaṉṟattiṉ Capānāyakar

[2] Constitution, Art. 40(1).

[Constitution,_Art._402-3] 1 2 Constitution, Art. 40(2).

[ST20160108-4] 1 2 Lee, Min Kok (8 January 2016). "Halimah Yacob to be renominated as Speaker of Parliament: 7 things you may not know about the post". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.

[ParlSpeaker-5] 1 2 3 4 5 "Speaker of Parliament". Parliament of Singapore. Retrieved 7 August 2017.

[6] Constitution, Art. 40(4).

[7] Constitution, Art. 22N.

[8] Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, Art. 19(3)(a).

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