Speaker of Parliament

Tan Chuan Jin

Election to the Chair

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin is the current Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore. He was elected to the post by Members of Parliament (MPs) on 11 September 2017, making him the 10th Speaker of Singapore since the First Legislative Assembly of 1955.

Mr Tan has been an elected MP in the Marine Parade GRC since 7 May 2011. He served as the Minister for Social and Family Development from 9 April 2015 until his election as Speaker on 11 September 2017. He had also been the Minister for Manpower from 1 May 2014 to 8 April 2015.

Prior to his election to Parliament, Mr Tan had served in the Singapore Armed Forces for nearly 24 years. He holds a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies from King’s College in London and a Master’s Degree in Public Management from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Mr Tan is married with two children. He enjoys running and photography. He has published books capturing his travel photographs and has auctioned his prints in support of charitable causes.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin

Duties of the Speaker

The Speaker presides over the sittings of the House and enforces the rules prescribed in the Standing Orders of Parliament for the orderly conduct of parliamentary business. Elected at the commencement of a new Parliament by MPs, the Speaker may or may not be an MP, but must possess the qualifications to stand for election as an MP as provided for in the Constitution.

In carrying out the duties in the House, the Speaker must remain impartial and fair to all MPs. The Speaker regulates and enforces the rules of debate. He decides who has the right to speak and puts the question for the House to debate on and vote. The Speaker does not take part in the debates of the House but can abstain or vote for or against a motion if he has an original vote as an elected Member. The Speaker has no casting vote. As the guardian of parliamentary privileges, MPs look to the Speaker for guidance on procedures and he gives his rulings on any point of order, if necessary.

The Speaker acts as the representative of the House in its relations with other Parliaments and outside bodies. The Speaker also welcomes visiting dignitaries and represents Parliament at national events and during official visits abroad. The Speaker is overall in charge of the administration of Parliament and its Secretariat.

The Speaker is assisted by two Deputy Speakers, Mr Christopher de Souza and Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo.

Speakers

Name

Year

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin

2017 -

Mdm Halimah Yacob

2013 - 2017

Mr Michael Palmer

2011 - 2012

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi

2002 - 2011

Mr Tan Soo Khoon

1989 - 2002

Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng

1970 - 1989

Mr P Coomaraswamy

1966 - 1970

Mr AP Rajah

1964 - 1966

Mr EW Barker

1963 - 1964

Sir George Oehlers

1955 - 1963

Deputy Speakers

Name

Year

Mr Christopher de Souza

2020 -

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo

2020 -

Mr Lim Biow Chuan

2016 - 2020

Mr Charles Chong

2011 - 2020

Mr Seah Kian Peng

2011 - 2016

Mr Matthias Yao Chih

2006 - 2011

Ms Indranee Rajah

2006 - 2011

Mr S Iswaran

2004 - 2006

Mr Chew Heng Ching

2002 - 2006

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua

2002 - 2004

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng

1993 - 2002

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi

1989 - 1993

Mr Tan Soo Khoon

1985 - 1989

Mr Lim Boon Heng

1989 - 1991

Mr Hwang Soo Jin

1981 - 1985

Mr Tang See Chim

1972 - 1981

Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng

1968 - 1970

Mr P Coomaraswamy

1966

Dr Fong Kim Heng

1963 - 1965

Mr John Mammen

1961 - 1963

Mr G Kandasamy

1959 - 1961

Mr RCH Lim

1955 - 1959