Deputy Speaker role won't mean speaking up less in parliamentary debates: Xie Yao Quan

Key Concepts:

• Speaker of Parliament role: Impartiality, fairness, maintaining decorum.
• Government MP: Addressing potential concerns about bias.
• Balance in Parliament: Fresh perspectives vs. experience, newer vs. senior MPs.
• Representation: Speaking on issues important to constituents.
• Physical presence: Posture and demeanour in the Speaker's chair.

Stepping into the Speaker's Role

The speaker was surprised by the nomination but is humbled by it. He looks forward to supporting the speaker to ensure proceedings in the house are fair, efficient, and maintain the decorum of parliament. Maintaining decorum is deemed very important.

Addressing Concerns About Impartiality

The speaker acknowledges that he is a government MP (from the PAP) and addresses the potential "elephant in the room." The speaker emphasizes the essential requirement of the role is to be completely impartial and preside over proceedings in a fair and balanced manner. Providing sufficient time and space for issues to be ventilated is a key aspect of fairness.

Parliamentary Record and Representation

The speaker mentions that he may not be the member that has filed the most questions or spoken on the most number of bills or motions in his first term as a parliamentarian. He speaks on issues that are close to his heart and that his constituents care about. He crafts his arguments carefully and represents the views of the people he represents faithfully.

Parliamentary Makeup and Balance

This parliament has a record number of new MPs, with 32 first-term MPs, including the two non-constituency MPs (NCMPs). This reflects a good balance between fresh perspectives and experience, and between newer and more senior members of parliament. The speaker sees his appointment as an extension of this reflection of parliament. His addition to the team reflects the larger parliament.

Practical Considerations for the Speaker's Role

There are obvious things, such as sitting up straight in the chair because of the dignity of the role is a constitutional role. The chair is physically very high and the seat is quite low relative to the table. He is not the tallest person in the room and is "quite slight of frame." He needs to make himself "fill the chair" literally. Other tips will not be discussed.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The speaker emphasizes the importance of impartiality, fairness, and maintaining decorum in the Speaker's role. He acknowledges potential concerns about his background as a government MP and stresses his commitment to presiding over proceedings in a balanced manner. He highlights the balance in the parliament between newer and more experienced MPs, and how his appointment reflects this. He also touches upon practical considerations of assuming the physical presence required of the role.