Public perception should be shaped by facts: Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin

On Sept 11 last year, Tan Chuan-Jin became Speaker of Parliament, after leaving his position as minister for social and family development. On his first anniversary as Speaker, he tells The Straits Times why he has stepped up Parliament's social media outreach and how he ensures a diversity of views.

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Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin talks about the climate of discussion he hopes to foster in Parliament and weighs in on the calibre of debates he has seen in his first year.
Since taking office as Speaker last year, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin has stepped up efforts to demystify Parliament, including starting an official Facebook page for Parliament to provide updates on sittings, and launching a Speaker's blog to share thoughts on
Since taking office as Speaker last year, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin has stepped up efforts to demystify Parliament, including starting an official Facebook page for Parliament to provide updates on sittings, and launching a Speaker's blog to share thoughts on issues. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
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The advice was not sought but given by some to Mr Tan Chuan-Jin last year: You need to be more impartial; let the opposition speak more in Parliament.

It led him to do some fact-checking, and parliamentary records show that it is a common misperception.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 17, 2018, with the headline Public perception should be shaped by facts: Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin. Subscribe