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 ran until 3 April 2018; the second session ran from 7 May 2018 until parliament was dissolved on 23 June 2020, with the final sitting held on 5 June. 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.

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 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. It was also the first Parliament without any members from the inaugural Parliament, following the death of the last original MP Lee Kuan Yew prior to the formation of the Parliament.

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, though Lee Li Lian decided not to accept the NCMP post.

• Speaker:

  • Halimah Yacob (People's Action Party; until 7 August 2017)
    • Charles Chong (People's Action Party; 7 August-11 September 2017 as acting speaker)
  • Tan Chuan-Jin (People's Action Party; from 11 September 2017)

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

• 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)

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

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

• Government Whip: Janil Puthucheary (People's Action Party)

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

Chaired by Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, the committee of selection selects and nominates members to the various sessional and select committees. The committee consisted of seven other members:

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

The committee of privileges looks into any complaint alleging breaches of parliamentary privilege. 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

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:

• Foo Mee Har (Chairperson)
• Chia Shi-Lu
• Cheng Li Hui
• Darryl David
• Christopher de Souza
• Daniel Goh
• Lee Yi Shyan
• Alex Yam

The house committee looks after the comfort and convenience of Members of Parliament and advises the Speaker on these matters. 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

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:

• Jessica Tan (Chairperson)
• Ang Hin Kee
• Ang Wei Neng
• Liang Eng Hwa
• Lim Wee Kiak
• Leon Perera
• Tin Pei Ling
• Zainal Sapari

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. 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

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. 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

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.