Singapore’s parliament speaker resigns

In this file photo dated Oct 20, 2022, people walk along the side of the Parliament building in Singapore. (PHOTO / AFP)

SINGAPORE — Speaker of Singapore's parliament Tan Chuan-Jin resigned on Monday after coming under fire recently for a comment he made during a parliament session.

He resigned as the speaker, a member of parliament, and also as a member of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).

PM Lee said on Monday he would nominate a new house speaker by Aug 1. He added had no plans to call an immediate general election, which is due by 2025

The country's Tampines Group Representation Constituency Member of Parliament Cheng Li Hui has also resigned, said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

Their resignations are necessary to maintain the high standards of propriety and personal conduct that the PAP has upheld all these years, according to statement.

Tan's personal conduct had "fallen short", Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a statement, and he understood the speaker's desire to step away from politics and "help heal (his) family".

Separately, the opposition Workers' Party (WP) said on Monday it was looking into an "inappropriate exchange" between two of its senior members after a video surfaced online that appeared to show them holding hands in a restaurant.

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Both the PAP and WP have in the past sacked members for engaging in extramarital affairs.

Speaking to local media, PM Lee said on Monday he would nominate a new house speaker by Aug 1. He added had no plans to call an immediate general election, which is due by 2025.

With Reuters inputs