Singapore's first woman Speaker Halimah Yacob looks set to take on the role again when the new Parliament convenes in January.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong plans to nominate her for the 13th Parliament and, yesterday, Madam Halimah told The Straits Times she was grateful for the opportunity to preside again over "robust debates" in the House.
"Our Parliament plays an important role in our democracy, and I look forward to presiding over robust debates in the Chamber on weighty issues of importance to our people," she said.
Her planned nomination was announced by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Monday .
First appointed in January 2013, she is assisted by two deputies in enforcing parliamentary rules and ensuring the orderly conduct of parliamentary business.
The trio have to be formally nominated and elected by Parliament when it opens in the new year.
No names have been given for the two Deputy Speakers but in the 12th Parliament, they were People's Action Party (PAP) MPs Charles Chong and Seah Kian Peng.
The PMO's statement also announced changes to other key parliamentary roles.
Ms Grace Fu, the incoming Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, has been appointed by PM Lee as the new Leader of the House in a historic move. She will be Singapore's first woman Leader of the House, taking over from Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.
As Leader of the House, she will be responsible for arranging government business and the legislative programme of Parliament.
Her deputy will be Mr Desmond Lee, the incoming Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development.
Mr Chan Chun Sing, the labour chief who is also Minister in the PMO, has been appointed the Government Whip. He takes over from Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.
The Government Whip keeps the ruling PAP MPs in line, and ensures there are enough PAP MPs in Parliament to support the party's position, especially in the passing of new laws.
His two deputies are Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Finance and for Culture, Community and Youth, and Mr Sam Tan, Minister of State for Manpower and in the PMO.
Walter Sim
