Seah Kian Peng on Leong Mun Wai’s comment on time and opportunities for questions in Parliament

NCMP Leong Mun Wai has clarified that his remark on a "Yah Lah BUT" podcast was “tongue-in-cheek” and “light-hearted”, and he had no intention to cast aspersions on the impartiality of the Speaker of Parliament. He also said he was satisfied with the time and opportunities that Mr Seah Kian Peng had given him to ask questions since he took over as Speaker in August 2023. The Speaker had on various occasions called him ahead of other Members, Mr Leong added. However, Mr Leong did not apologise as requested by Mr Seah, saying since it was accepted that there was no intention to cast aspersions, it would “not be accurate to make an apology” that suggests any such intention. The Speaker, who detailed the exchanges between him and Mr Leong in Parliament on Tuesday (Jul 2), told the House that he had given careful and due consideration to the totality of Mr Leong's explanations. Mr Seah warned against engaging in such conduct, whether in jest or otherwise and felt an apology was needed. But he also considered that Mr Leong had agreed to retract the statement that he made on the podcast, made clear that he was satisfied with the time and opportunities given to him to ask questions and had on various occasions been called ahead of other Members, as well as confirmed that he had not been treated differently from other MPs in asking questions. Mr Seah said he is satisfied that Mr Leong's clarifications taken in totality have mitigated the misleading impression of the statement and considers this matter closed. He reminded Members that such acts of contempt should not be repeated again, regardless of the intention. “I trust that all Members will also play their part in upholding the rules of Parliament,” he said.

*Audio issues inherent from source