The 13th Parliament of Singapore was a meeting of the Parliament of Singapore. The first session commenced on 15 January 2016 and was dissolved on 23 June 2020.[3][4][5] The membership was set by the 2015 Singapore General Election on 11 September 2015, and changed twice throughout the term; one was the resignation of Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency MP David Ong in 2016, and the resignation of Marsiling–Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency MP and Speaker Halimah Yacob in 2017.
| 13th Parliament of Singapore | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Majority parliament | |||||||
| 15 January 2016 – 23 June 2020 | |||||||
| House | |||||||
 Seating arrangements of the House | |||||||
| Speaker of Parliament |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Leader of the Opposition |
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| Session(s) | |||||||
| 1st Session | |||||||
| 15 January 2016 – 3 April 2018[1] | |||||||
| 2nd Session | |||||||
| 7 May 2018[2] – 23 June 2020 | |||||||
| Cabinet(s) | |||||||
| 13th Cabinet | |||||||
| Lee Hsien Loong 1 October 2015 – 23 June 2020 | |||||||
| Parliamentarians | |||||||
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The 13th Parliament is controlled by a People's Action Party majority, led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and members of the cabinet, which assumed power on 1 October 2015. The Opposition is led by the Secretary General of the Workers' Party, Pritam Singh. Tan Chuan-Jin, of the People's Action Party, is the Speaker of Parliament as of 11 September 2017. He succeeds Yacob, who resigned as Speaker to contest in the Presidential Elections 2017. Yacob was previously elected as the 9th Speaker of the House during the 12th Parliament on 14 January 2013. It also was the first parliament where only two parties represent the parliament for a full duration of term, and the third time where the situation occurred, following J. B. Jeyaretnam's by-election win in 1981 until 1984, and his vacation of his seat in 1986 until 1988.
Result of the 2015 Singapore general election edit
 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| People's Action Party | 1,579,183 | 69.86 | 83 | +2 | |
| Workers' Party | 282,143 | 12.48 | 6 | 0 | |
| Singapore Democratic Party | 84,931 | 3.76 | 0 | 0 | |
| National Solidarity Party | 79,826 | 3.53 | 0 | 0 | |
| Reform Party | 59,517 | 2.63 | 0 | 0 | |
| Singaporeans First | 50,867 | 2.25 | 0 | New | |
| Singapore People's Party | 49,107 | 2.17 | 0 | 0 | |
| Singapore Democratic Alliance | 46,550 | 2.06 | 0 | 0 | |
| People's Power Party | 25,475 | 1.13 | 0 | New | |
| Independents | 2,780 | 0.12 | 0 | New | |
| Total | 2,260,379 | 100.00 | 89 | +2 | |
| Valid votes | 2,260,379 | 97.95 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 47,367 | 2.05 | |||
| Total votes | 2,307,746 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 2,462,926 | 93.70 | |||
| Source: Singapore Elections | |||||
The Workers' Party, being the best performing opposition parties were awarded three Non-Constituency Member of Parliament seats in accordance with the Constitution. Lee Li Lian, Dennis Tan, and Leon Perera were appointed as NCMPs,[6] though Lee Li Lian decided not to accept the NCMP post.[7]
Officeholders edit
Speaker edit
- Speaker:
- Halimah Yacob (People's Action Party; until 7 August 2017)[8][9]
- Charles Chong (People's Action Party; 7 August-11 September 2017 as acting speaker)[10][11]
- Tan Chuan-Jin (People's Action Party; from 11 September 2017)[12]
- Halimah Yacob (People's Action Party; until 7 August 2017)[8][9]
- Deputy Speakers: Charles Chong and Lim Biow Chuan (People's Action Party; from 25 January 2016)
Leaders edit
- Prime Minister: Lee Hsien Loong (People's Action Party)
- Leader of the Opposition:
- Low Thia Khiang (Workers' Party; until 8 April 2018)
- Pritam Singh (Workers' Party; from 8 April 2018)
House Leaders edit
- Leader of the House: Grace Fu (People's Action Party)
- Deputy Leader of the House: Desmond Lee (People's Action Party)
Whips edit
- Government Whip: Janil Puthucheary (People's Action Party)
- Deputy Government Whip: Sim Ann and Zaqy Mohamad (People's Action Party)
Members edit
Committees edit
Select committees edit
Committee of selection edit
Chaired by Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, the committee of selection selects and nominates members to the various sessional and select committees.[13] The committee consisted of seven other members:
Committee of privileges edit
The committee of privileges looks into any complaint alleging breaches of parliamentary privilege.[14] Chaired by Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, the committee consisted of seven other members:
Estimates committee edit
The estimates committee examines the Government's budget and reports what economies, improvements in organisation, efficiency or administrative reforms consistent with the policy underlying the estimates, may be effected and suggests the form in which the estimates shall be presented to Parliament. The committee consisted of eight members:[15]
- Foo Mee Har (Chairperson)
- Chia Shi-Lu
- Cheng Li Hui
- Darryl David
- Christopher de Souza
- Daniel Goh
- Lee Yi Shyan
- Alex Yam
House committee edit
The house committee looks after the comfort and convenience of Members of Parliament and advises the Speaker on these matters.[16] Chaired by Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, the committee consisted of seven other members:
Public accounts committee edit
The public accounts committee examines various accounts of the Government showing the appropriation of funds granted by Parliament to meet public expenditure, as well as other accounts laid before Parliament. The committee consisted of eight members:[17]
- Jessica Tan (Chairperson)
- Ang Hin Kee
- Ang Wei Neng
- Liang Eng Hwa
- Lim Wee Kiak
- Leon Perera
- Tin Pei Ling
- Zainal Sapari
Public petitions committee edit
The public petitions committee deals with public petitions received by the House. Its function is to consider petitions referred to the Committee and to report to the House.[18] Chaired by Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, the committee consisted of seven other members:
Standing orders committee edit
The standing orders committee reviews the Standing Orders from time to time and recommends amendments and reports to the House on all matters relating to them.[19] Chaired by Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, the committee consisted of nine other members:
- Charles Chong (Deputy Speaker)
- Lim Biow Chuan (Deputy Speaker)
- Chan Chun Sing
- Desmond Choo
- Grace Fu
- Joan Pereira
- Png Eng Huat
- Rahayu Mahzam
- Patrick Tay
Government Parliamentary Committees edit
Mooted by then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in 1987, government parliamentary committees (GPCs) are set up by the governing People's Action Party to scrutinise the legislation and programmes of the various Ministries. They also serve as an additional channel of feedback on government policies.
Notes edit
- ^ David Ong was the MP for the area prior to 12 March 2016, with Desmond Lee served as interim MP until 9 May 2016.
- ^ Halimah Yacob vacated the seat on 7 August 2017. Chua Chu Kang GRC's Zaqy Mohamad served as the interim MP for this division.
- ^ Became an NCMP on 4 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i From 22 March 2016 until 21 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i From 22 September 2018.
References edit
- ^ "Parliament takes a mid-term break, to reconvene on May 7". CNA.
- ^ "President's Address on Monday night to set out Government's priorities and plans". The Straits Times. 7 May 2018.
- ^ "Sessions of Parliament". Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^ "First session of 13th Parliament to be held on Jan 15 next year". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
- ^ "Dissolution of Parliament on 23 June 2020 | Prime Minister's Office Singapore". www.pmo.gov.sg. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "GE2015: WP's Lee Li Lian, Dennis Tan and Leon Perera elected as NCMPs, says ELD". Channel NewsAsia. 16 September 2015. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ Chai, Hung Yin (13 September 2015). "WP's Lee Li Lian won't accept NCMP position". The New Paper. SPH. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ "Statement on Nomination of The Speaker, and Appointment of The Leader of The House and The Government Whip" (Press release). Prime Minister's Office (Singapore). 28 September 2015. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^ "Members of Singapore's 13th Parliament sworn in". Channel NewsAsia. 15 January 2016. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^ "Halimah Yacob submits letters of resignation as Speaker, MP, PAP member". CNA. 7 August 2017. Archived from the original on 3 November 2019.
- ^ "PM Lee accepts Halimah Yacob's resignation from the PAP". CNA. 7 August 2017. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Tan Chuan-Jin becomes Singapore's 10th Speaker of Parliament". CNA. 11 September 2017. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020.
- ^ "Committee of Selection". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Committee of Privileges". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Estimates Committee". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "House Committee". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Public Accounts Committee". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Public Petitions Committee". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Standing Orders Committee". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Changes to the Government Parliamentary Committees" (Press release). Singapore: People's Action Party. 4 May 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.