13th Parliament of Singapore

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	Halimah Yacob 15 January 2016 – 7 August 2017 Charles Chong (Acting) 7 August 2017 – 11 September 2017 Tan Chuan-Jin 11 September 2017 – 23 June 2020
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong 15 January 2016 – 23 June 2020
Leader of the Opposition	Low Thia Khiang 15 January 2016 – 8 April 2018 Pritam Singh 8 April 2018 – 23 June 2020
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
Elected NCMP Nominated 88 3 9
<12th 14th>

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

Main article: 2015 Singapore general election

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[usurped]

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

Speaker

• 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]
• Deputy Speakers: Charles Chong and Lim Biow Chuan (People's Action Party; from 25 January 2016)

Leaders

• 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

• Leader of the House: Grace Fu (People's Action Party)
• Deputy Leader of the House: Desmond Lee (People's Action Party)

Whips

• Government Whip: Janil Puthucheary (People's Action Party)
• Deputy Government Whip: Sim Ann and Zaqy Mohamad (People's Action Party)

Members

Main article: List of members of the 13th Parliament of Singapore

Constituency	Division	Member	Party
Aljunied GRC	Bedok Reservoir–Punggol	Low Thia Khiang		Workers' Party
	Eunos	Pritam Singh		Workers' Party
	Kaki Bukit	Muhamad Faisal Manap		Workers' Party
	Paya Lebar	Chen Show Mao		Workers' Party
	Serangoon	Sylvia Lim		Workers' Party
Ang Mo Kio GRC	Ang Mo Kio–Hougang	Darryl David		People's Action Party
	Cheng San–Seletar	Ang Hin Kee		People's Action Party
	Jalan Kayu	Intan Azura Mokhtar		People's Action Party
	Sengkang South	Gan Thiam Poh		People's Action Party
	Teck Ghee	Lee Hsien Loong		People's Action Party
	Yio Chu Kang	Koh Poh Koon		People's Action Party
Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC	Bishan East	Chong Kee Hiong		People's Action Party
	Bishan North	Josephine Teo		People's Action Party
	Toa Payoh Central	Ng Eng Hen		People's Action Party
	Toa Payoh East	Saktiandi Supaat		People's Action Party
	Toa Payoh West	Chee Hong Tat		People's Action Party
Bukit Batok SMC		Murali Pillai[a]		People's Action Party
Bukit Panjang SMC		Teo Ho Pin		People's Action Party
Chua Chu Kang GRC	Bukit Gombak	Low Yen Ling		People's Action Party
	Chua Chu Kang	Gan Kim Yong		People's Action Party
	Keat Hong	Zaqy Mohamad		People's Action Party
	Nanyang	Yee Chia Hsing		People's Action Party
East Coast GRC	Bedok	Lim Swee Say		People's Action Party
	Changi–Simei	Jessica Tan		People's Action Party
	Kampong Chai Chee	Lee Yi Shyan		People's Action Party
	Siglap	Maliki Osman		People's Action Party
Fengshan SMC		Cheryl Chan		People's Action Party
Holland–Bukit Timah GRC	Bukit Timah	Sim Ann		People's Action Party
	Cashew	Vivian Balakrishnan		People's Action Party
	Ulu Pandan	Christopher de Souza		People's Action Party
	Zhenghua	Liang Eng Hwa		People's Action Party
Hong Kah North SMC		Amy Khor		People's Action Party
Hougang SMC		Png Eng Huat		Workers' Party
Jalan Besar GRC	Kampong Glam	Denise Phua		People's Action Party
	Kolam Ayer	Yaacob Ibrahim		People's Action Party
	Kreta Ayer–Kim Seng	Lily Neo		People's Action Party
	Whampoa	Heng Chee How		People's Action Party
Jurong GRC	Bukit Batok East	Rahayu Mahzam		People's Action Party
	Clementi	Tan Wu Meng		People's Action Party
	Jurong Central	Ang Wei Neng		People's Action Party
	Jurong Spring	Desmond Lee		People's Action Party
	Taman Jurong	Tharman Shanmugaratnam		People's Action Party
MacPherson SMC		Tin Pei Ling		People's Action Party
Marine Parade GRC	Braddell Heights	Seah Kian Peng		People's Action Party
	Geylang Serai	Fatimah Lateef		People's Action Party
	Joo Chiat	Edwin Tong		People's Action Party
	Kembangan–Chai Chee	Tan Chuan-Jin		People's Action Party
	Marine Parade	Goh Chok Tong		People's Action Party
Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC	Limbang	Lawrence Wong		People's Action Party
	Marsiling	Vacant[b]		People's Action Party
	Woodgrove	Ong Teng Koon		People's Action Party
	Yew Tee	Alex Yam		People's Action Party
Mountbatten SMC		Lim Biow Chuan		People's Action Party
Nee Soon GRC	Chong Pang	K. Shanmugam		People's Action Party
	Kebun Baru	Henry Kwek		People's Action Party
	Nee Soon Central	Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim		People's Action Party
	Nee Soon East	Louis Ng		People's Action Party
	Nee Soon South	Lee Bee Wah		People's Action Party
Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC	Pasir Ris East	Zainal Sapari		People's Action Party
	Pasir Ris West	Teo Chee Hean		People's Action Party
	Punggol Coast	Janil Puthucheary		People's Action Party
	Punggol North	Ng Chee Meng		People's Action Party
	Punggol West	Sun Xueling		People's Action Party
	Sengkang Central	Teo Ser Luck		People's Action Party
Pioneer SMC		Cedric Foo		People's Action Party
Potong Pasir SMC		Sitoh Yih Pin		People's Action Party
Punggol East SMC		Charles Chong		People's Action Party
Radin Mas SMC		Sam Tan		People's Action Party
Sembawang GRC	Admiralty	Vikram Nair		People's Action Party
	Canberra	Lim Wee Kiak		People's Action Party
	Gambas	Ong Ye Kung		People's Action Party
	Sembawang	Khaw Boon Wan		People's Action Party
	Woodlands	Amrin Amin		People's Action Party
Sengkang West SMC		Lam Pin Min		People's Action Party
Tampines GRC	Tampines Central	Heng Swee Keat		People's Action Party
	Tampines Changkat	Desmond Choo		People's Action Party
	Tampines East	Cheng Li Hui		People's Action Party
	Tampines North	Baey Yam Keng		People's Action Party
	Tampines West	Masagos Zulkifli		People's Action Party
Tanjong Pagar GRC	Buona Vista	Chan Chun Sing		People's Action Party
	Henderson–Dawson	Joan Pereira		People's Action Party
	Moulmein–Cairnhill	Melvin Yong		People's Action Party
	Queenstown	Chia Shi-Lu		People's Action Party
	Tanjong Pagar–Tiong Bahru	Indranee Rajah		People's Action Party
West Coast GRC	Ayer Rajah	Foo Mee Har		People's Action Party
	Boon Lay	Patrick Tay		People's Action Party
	Telok Blangah	Lim Hng Kiang		People's Action Party
	West Coast	S. Iswaran		People's Action Party
Yuhua SMC		Grace Fu		People's Action Party
Non-constituency Members of Parliament		Leon Perera		Workers' Party
		Dennis Tan		Workers' Party
		Daniel Goh[c]		Workers' Party
Nominated Members of Parliament		Azmoon Ahmad[d]		Independent
		Chia Yong Yong[d]		Independent
		Thomas Chua Kee Seng[d]		Independent
		Ganesh Rajaram[d]		Independent
		Kok Heng Leun[d]		Independent
		Kuik Shiao-Yin[d]		Independent
		Mahdev Mohan[d]		Independent
		Randolph Tan Gee Kwang[d]		Independent
		K. Thanaletchimi[d]		Independent
		Arasu Duraisamy[e]		Independent
		Douglas Foo[e]		Independent
		Ho Wee San[e]		Independent
		Lim Sun Sun[e]		Independent
		Abbas Ali Mohamed Irshad[e]		Independent
		Anthea Ong[e]		Independent
		Irene Quay Siew Ching[e]		Independent
		Walter Edgar Theseira[e]		Independent
		Yip Pin Xiu[e]		Independent

Committees

Select committees

See also: Parliament of Singapore § Select committees

Committee of selection

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:

• Chan Chun Sing
• Cedric Foo
• Grace Fu
• Indranee Rajah
• Masagos Zulkifli
• Ong Ye Kung
• Pritam Singh

Committee of privileges

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:

• Chen Show Mao
• Grace Fu
• Indranee Rajah
• Maliki Osman
• Seah Kian Peng
• K. Shanmugam
• Edwin Tong

Estimates committee

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

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:

• Amrin Amin
• Gan Thiam Poh
• Henry Kwek
• Low Yen Ling
• Faisal Manap
• Sun Xueling
• Yee Chia Hsing

Public accounts committee

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

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:

• Cheryl Chan
• Janil Puthucheary
• Desmond Lee
• Louis Ng
• Denise Phua
• Dennis Tan
• Melvin Yong

Standing orders committee

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

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.

Current members of the Government Parliamentary Committees
as of 4 May 2018^[20]

Government Parliamentary Committee	Member of Parliament
Communications and Information
Chairperson	Cedric Foo
Deputy Chairperson	Tin Pei Ling
Members	Darryl David Ong Teng Koon Rahayu Mahzam Teo Ho Pin Teo Ser Luck Vikram Nair
Culture, Community and Youth
Chairperson	Lim Wee Kiak
Deputy Chairperson	Darryl David
Members	Joan Pereira Henry Kwek Lee Yi Shyan Saktiandi Supaat Alex Yam Yee Chia Hsing
Defence and Foreign Affairs
Chairperson	Vikram Nair
Deputy Chairperson	Joan Pereira
Members	Charles Chong Chong Kee Hiong Fatimah Abdul Lateef Henry Kwek Seah Kian Peng Teo Ho Pin
Education
Chairperson	Denise Phua
Deputy Chairperson	Intan Azura Mokhtar
Members	Ang Wei Neng Cheng Li Hui Foo Mee Har Lim Wee Kiak Murali Pillai Zainal Sapari
Environment and Water Resources (including Climate Change)
Chairperson	Lee Bee Wah
Deputy Chairperson	Gan Thiam Poh
Members	Amrin Amin Cheng Li Hui Chia Shi-Lu Liang Eng Hwa Louis Ng
Finance and Trade and Industry
Chairperson	Liang Eng Hwa
Deputy Chairperson	Teo Ser Luck
Members	Cedric Foo Cheryl Chan Desmond Choo Foo Mee Har Henry Kwek Saktiandi Supaat
Health (including Ageing and Silver Generation Office)
Chairperson	Chia Shi-Lu
Deputy Chairperson	Lily Neo
Members	Charles Chong Christopher de Souza Fatimah Abdul Lateef Joan Pereira Melvin Yong Murali Pillai Tin Pei Ling
Home Affairs and Law
Chairperson	Christopher de Souza
Deputy Chairperson	Murali Pillai
Members	Desmond Choo Jessica Tan Louis Ng Rahayu Mahzam Patrick Tay Sitoh Yih Pin
Manpower
Chairperson	Patrick Tay
Deputy Chairperson	Zainal Sapari
Members	Cheryl Chan Chong Kee Hiong Intan Azura Mokhtar Jessica Tan Lee Yi Shyan Lim Biow Chuan Yee Chia Hsing
National Development (including Municipal Services Office)
Chairperson	Alex Yam
Deputy Chairperson	Chong Kee Hiong
Members	Cheryl Chan Gan Thiam Poh Lee Bee Wah Louis Ng Ong Teng Koon Saktiandi Supaat
Social and Family Development (including National Population and Talent Division)
Chairperson	Seah Kian Peng
Deputy Chairperson	Rahayu Mahzam
Members	Ang Hin Kee Darryl David Denise Phua Lily Neo Melvin Yong Tan Wu Meng
Transport
Chairperson	Sitoh Yih Pin
Deputy Chairperson	Ang Hin Kee
Members	Ang Wei Neng Cheng Li Hui Intan Azura Mokhtar Lim Biow Chuan Melvin Yong Sun Xueling Yee Chia Hsing

Notes

1. David Ong was the MP for the area prior to 12 March 2016, with Desmond Lee served as interim MP until 9 May 2016.
2. Halimah Yacob vacated the seat on 7 August 2017. Chua Chu Kang GRC's Zaqy Mohamad served as the interim MP for this division.
3. Became an NCMP on 4 February 2016.
4. From 22 March 2016 until 21 September 2018.
5. From 22 September 2018.

References

1. "Parliament takes a mid-term break, to reconvene on May 7". CNA.
2. "President's Address on Monday night to set out Government's priorities and plans". The Straits Times. 7 May 2018.
3. "Sessions of Parliament". Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
4. "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.
5. "Dissolution of Parliament on 23 June 2020 | Prime Minister's Office Singapore". www.pmo.gov.sg. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
6. "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.
7. Chai, Hung Yin (13 September 2015). "WP's Lee Li Lian won't accept NCMP position". The New Paper. SPH. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
8. "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.
9. "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.
10. "Halimah Yacob submits letters of resignation as Speaker, MP, PAP member". CNA. 7 August 2017. Archived from the original on 3 November 2019.
11. "PM Lee accepts Halimah Yacob's resignation from the PAP". CNA. 7 August 2017. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020.
12. "Tan Chuan-Jin becomes Singapore's 10th Speaker of Parliament". CNA. 11 September 2017. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020.
13. "Committee of Selection". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
14. "Committee of Privileges". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
15. "Estimates Committee". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
16. "House Committee". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
17. "Public Accounts Committee". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
18. "Public Petitions Committee". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
19. "Standing Orders Committee". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
20. "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.