Speaker Seah Kian Peng apologises for falling asleep in parliament

Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng has issued an apology for falling asleep while chairing a parliamentary session on September 9. In a Facebook post shared on September 18, Seah revealed that he had been unwell on that day and had taken medication, but emphasized that this does not justify his actions. "This should not have happened, and I take full responsibility," he stated.

Seah was observed nodding off during a debate on new laws concerning the Health Sciences Authority in Parliament shortly after Hougang MP Dennis Tan delivered his speech on September 9. In his Facebook message, Seah expressed regret for not calling for a break earlier and acknowledged that he typically does so after four to six hours of parliamentary proceedings. He had indeed fallen asleep after the four-hour mark on that particular sitting, which commenced at 10:30 am.

The Speaker noted that over the past three years, he has made a concerted effort to fulfill his duties conscientiously and maintain the standards expected of the office. However, he acknowledged that this particular incident fell short of those standards. Seah apologized for the lapse and assured that he would learn from it and take measures to prevent its recurrence. He reiterated his commitment to serving Parliament and Singaporeans to the best of his abilities.