Ex-minister Tan Chuan-Jin becomes 10th Speaker of Parliament
Tan Chuan-Jin became Speaker of Parliament on Monday (11 September) after he stepped down as Minister for Social and Family Development.
Tan, 48, was nominated for the role by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Previous Speaker Halimah Yacob resigned from her political and party posts on 7 August to contest in the upcoming Presidential Election this month. A Speaker of Parliament cannot be elected from members who are office holders.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Tan said, “In a Parliamentary democracy, the legitimacy of the laws we enact rests on the scrupulous attention we – on both sides of this House – pay to the reasoned debate which accompanies the passing of each law. No one doubts that our goal in these sittings must be to advance the interests of all Singaporeans.
“I therefore see the presence of our opposition colleagues here in the House today, as a strength and positive step towards constructive contestation of ideas.”
MPs need to uphold the honour and dignity of the House in the way they conduct their proceedings, Tan said.
“I want to facilitate good free flowing debate where the desired outcome is better policies and laws. I expect you to debate vigorously, but maintain mutual respect, do not abuse our parliamentary privileges and to keep to the Standing Orders. I will be impartial and fair, but I will also be firm,” Tan added.
Tan’s appointment as Speaker prompted tributes to him from MPs who attended the parliamentary session on Monday.
MacPherson SMC MP Tin Pei Ling and Nee Soon GRC MP Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim noted his achievements as former Minister and an MP for the Kembangan-Chai Chee ward, among others.
Tin said that Tan’s strengths, including his gravitas, and fairness in voicing out injustices, made him “well-placed” in his new role, while Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Christopher De Souza noted that Tan’s openness to differing point of views would benefit the House.
In her speech, Nominated MP Chia Yong Yong responded to concerns that expressed Tan’s appointment as a demotion and said that she felt otherwise.
“Singaporeans have long talked about having a different definition of success, and now when we have a Minister becoming a Speaker we say he is being demoted because his role has become more circumscribed because he is taking a pay cut. Is that how we want to value each other? By how much we earn?” Chia said.
MPs also paid tribute to Halimah, saying she was an effective Speaker who balanced the interests of different MPs. Faishal noted that Halimah was “firm but fair and just” while Sembawang GRC MP Vikram Nair also said that Halimah was “even-handed” in her management of the House.
Desmond Lee took over Tan’s role as Minister for Social and Family Development and continues as Second Minister in the Ministry of National Development. He relinquished his appointments in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Meanwhile, Josephine Teo has been appointed Second Minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs. She continues as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister in the Ministry of Manpower, and relinquished her appointment in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The changes to Lee’s and Teo’s ministerial roles also took effect on Monday.
