PAP and opposition MPs paid tribute to outgoing Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew in the House, after Mr Lui said last week he was leaving politics.

Yesterday's sitting was likely the last before Parliament is dissolved for the general election.

Non-Constituency MP Lina Chiam of the Singapore People's Party (SPP) ended her speech at the debate on the amended Public Transport Council Act by saying: "The SPP would like to thank Mr Lui Tuck Yew for the hard work he has done on a very challenging portfolio as Minister for Transport."

"Mr Chiam and I wish Mr Lui all the best for the future," she added. Her husband is former MP of 27 years Chiam See Tong.

NCMP Gerald Giam of the Workers' Party, during the Bus Services Industry Bill debate, thanked the minister "for patiently answering all my PQs (parliamentary questions) and responding to my speeches over the past four years".

Mr Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC), a senior vice-president at SBS Transit, said under Mr Lui's leadership, bus services have "improved tremendously" and would continue to do so with the Bus Service Enhancement Programme. And in spite of the July 7 train service breakdown, Downtown Lines 1 and 2 were largely completed under Mr Lui's close supervision.

Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) said Mr Lui had put his heart and soul into serving Singapore. "He has done so much to improve our public transport system, with this bus contracting model being one of the most important (measures)," he said.

" You will be sorely missed."

Charissa Yong