Seah Kian Peng to be appointed Speaker of Parliament, Indranee Rajah will remain House Leader

SINGAPORE: Mr Seah Kian Peng will be nominated for re-election as Speaker of Parliament when the House convenes on Sep 5 in the first sitting since the May General Election.
Mr Seah, who is Member of Parliament for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, has served as Speaker since 2023.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah will remain Leader of the House, while Senior Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad will continue as Deputy Leader, the Prime Minister's Office announced on Friday (Jun 20).
All three positions were nominated by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, but the Speaker will be elected by MPs at the start of a new parliament.
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.
Although the Speaker need not be an MP, he or she must possess the qualifications to stand for election as an MP.
In carrying out his or her duties, the Speaker must remain impartial and fair to all MPs. The Speaker regulates and enforces the rules of debate, deciding who has the right to speak and putting the questions for the House to debate and vote on.
The Speaker does not take part in the debates of the House, but can abstain or vote for or against a motion if he or she has an original vote as an elected member. He or she has no casting vote.
The Speaker is overall in charge of the administration of parliament and acts as the representative of the House. In order duties, the Speaker also welcomes visiting dignitaries and represents parliament at national events and during official visits abroad.
Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development, has been House Leader since 2020.
Senior Minister of State for Defence and Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad has also been Deputy Leader since 2020.
The Leader of the House is responsible for the arrangement of government business and the legislative programme of parliament. He or she also proposes appropriate actions to be taken on any procedural matters arising in parliament.
House Leaders also move procedural motions relating to the business of the House during sittings, such as to extend the times of sittings beyond the usual time as set out in the Standing Orders.
The 15th parliament will have 97 elected MPs and two non-constituency MPs.
The new session will kick off with the election of the Speaker and the swearing-in of MPs at 5pm on Sep 5.

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CNA

4 hours ago

• CNA

CNA Explains: What's next for Thailand as calls grow for PM Paetongtarn to resign?

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'They will also work behind the scenes to try and convince the country's elite actors that they still offer the most effective means of maintaining control of the government, and that any other scenario risks instability and potential protests,' McCargo added. The remaining coalition partners – which consist of 10 parties, namely United Thai Nation, Kia Tham, Democrat, Chart Thai Pattana, Prachachart, Chart Pattana, Thai Ruam Palang, Thai Liberal, New Democracy and Thai Progress – will likely take into consideration the 'popular sentiment', as well as pressure from the military and the palace, analysts said. Both the military and the palace are key institutions in the country's political landscape. Besides the popular sentiment that has been 'riled up' following the controversial phone call, the military will likely want to have its say in what goes forward, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute's Michael Montesano said in an interview with the programme CNA Asia First. 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Party spokesperson Jenjira Rattanaphian admitted there were differing opinions but emphasised the party remains unified. Reports, however, noted that at least three of its deputy leaders said during the meeting that they might reconsider their roles within the party in light of the political situation. Chart Thai Pattana party leader Varawut Silpa-archa – who is also the Minister of Social Development and Human Security – has also emphasised national security and the need for a strong government, reported The Nation. 'Regarding the situation at the Thai-Cambodian border, a strong government is crucial for ensuring territorial sovereignty. Therefore, we wish to speak with the prime minister first as we still lack complete information,' Varawut was quoted as saying by The Nation, referring to the leaked phone conversation. What happens if the United Thai Nation Party or others quit? 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It will likely be a very dysfunctional minority government that cannot get anything done,' said Thithinan. 'There will be constant squabbling, constant crisis.' Lohatepanont, who is a PhD candidate, agreed. 'Being dependent on disloyal MPs is a fraught business and leaves the government highly vulnerable to future switches in loyalties,' he said. Observers have said it is unlikely for the opposition bloc to form an alternative coalition. 'The People's Party holds the most seats in the opposition bloc but it is hard to see how the People's Party and the Bhumjaithai could cooperate,' said ISEAS fellow Eugene Mark. People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut said on Friday there is no possibility of his party and Bhumjaithai forming a government with the latter's leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, as Prime Minister, reported The Nation. 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Chaikasem, a former attorney-general, was one of Pheu Thai's three original PM candidates in the 2023 election. In the wake of the Thai Constitutional Court ordering the dismissal of then-PM Srettha Thavisin in August last year, Paetongtarn was nominated for the role ahead of Chaikasem, a move that analysts said showed the party's "strategy to stand by the youth movement". McCargo and Lohatepanont told CNA that other party leaders could also emerge as contenders to lead a new administration. Among them is Pirapan Salirathavibhaga of the United Thai Nation, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy. Pirapan, however, commands relatively few Members of Parliament, which would limit his authority within the government, said Lohatepanont. 'I would expect it to be a short-term arrangement where the government works to pass the national budget, and then eventually the House of Representatives is dissolved,' he added. If this happens, Thailand would see its third prime minister since the ouster of Srettha last August. Will there be a snap election? Parliament could be dissolved for fresh elections to be held, observers said. 'If the government truly goes significantly below the minimum governing majority, I would expect a dissolution of parliament to pre-empt a vote of no confidence,' said Lohatepanont. But the crisis will likely damage the Pheu Thai party's standing further, making it even more challenging to head into fresh polls, according to analysts. 'I doubt that the Pheu Thai Party is ready for an election. Their core policy pledges remain unfulfilled, the economy is weak, and Paetongtarn's scandal has only added to their unpopularity,' said Lohatepanont. A snap election may not favour some current and former members of the ruling coalition, including Bhumjaithai, and may instead be to the People's Party's advantage, said Olarn Thinbangtieo, a political science lecturer at Burapha University. 'This is more about pressuring the prime minister to resign than dissolving parliament,' Olarn said. Asked about the possibility of a coup amid the political turmoil, observers said the conditions are not there for the military to seize power. 'The two past coups happened after the democratic process reached a dead end due to elections being boycotted by opposition parties,' Lohatepanont said. Montesano from ISEAS said that the military is 'definitely concerned' by political developments, given the border tensions with Cambodia and the leaked phone call. While the military is 'putting a brave face on things', it has been 'offended very gravely by a prime minister who has accused one of its leading officers as being a member of the political opposition', he told CNA Asia First. 'The essence of this game is to stand back and see how things play out, rather than to be seen taking the initiative in toppling a government or manipulating coalition members again,' he added. There have been multiple coups in Thailand over the last eight decades, including two against governments led by the Shinawatra family. The last coup was in 2014 against Paetongtarn's aunt Yingluck. This is not the first time Paetongtarn has faced pressure to resign. In March this year, she survived a no-confidence vote in parliament after the opposition argued she had been unduly influenced by her father Thaksin. It accused her of tax evasion and mishandling many of the country's problems, including the slumping economy and corruption. Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said last month Thailand's economic growth may slow over the next two years due to steep US tariffs. Industry leaders have expressed growing concern over the political turmoil, warning that it may further weaken the country's economic outlook in the second half of the year.

Independent Singapore

6 hours ago

• Independent Singapore

Malaysia's PM Anwar vows to 'make necessary adjustments' from SEZ foreign investors' feedback 'if absolutely necessary'

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