Minister of State Halimah Yacob may become the next speaker of the Singapore parliament, succeeding former speaker Michael Palmer who resigned last month.  

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he would nominate Halimah for election as the speaker when parliament next sits on Monday.

“I briefed PAP Members of Parliament (MPs) on this at a party caucus this afternoon, and received their full support,” he said in a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office.

As the speaker cannot be elected from members who are office-holders, Lee said Halimah would resign as minister of state on Jan 13.

Palmer resigned as the speaker of Parliament and as a member of the People’s Action Party (PAP) following his admission last month of a relationship with a member of the People’s Association staff.

- Bernama