Speaker of Parliament

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.