Michael Palmer (politician)

Michael Anthony Palmer (born 14 July 1968) is a Singaporean lawyer and former politician who served as Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore between 2011 and 2012.[3] A former member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Punggol East ward of Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC between 2006 and 2011, and Punggol East SMC between 2011 and 2012. Palmer resigned in December 2012 after news emerged of his extramarital affair with a People's Association staff member who worked in Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC.

For other people named Michael Palmer, see Michael Palmer (disambiguation).
Michael Palmer
Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore
In office
10 October 2011 – 12 December 2012
DeputyCharles Chong
Seah Kian Peng
Preceded byAbdullah Tarmugi
Succeeded byHalimah Yacob
Member of Parliament
for Punggol East SMC
In office
7 May 2011 – 12 December 2012
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byLee Li Lian
Member of Parliament
for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC
(Punggol East)
In office
6 May 2006 – 18 April 2011
Preceded byCharles Chong
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born (1968-07-14) 14 July 1968
Singapore
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		People's Action Party (2006–2013)
SpouseDiana Palmer
Children1[1]
ParentVernon Palmer (father)[2]
Alma materUniversity College London (LLB)

Career

Palmer was called to the Singapore Bar in 1995 and joined the law firm Harry Elias Partnership as a legal consultant before becoming a partner in 1998.[4]

In April 2013, Palmer left Harry Elias Partnership and joined the law firm Lawrence Quahe & Woo.[5] The firm was renamed Quahe Woo & Palmer when he joined.[6]

Political career

Palmer made his political debut in the 2006 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting in Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC and won.

Palmer served as Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2011, and as Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Law from 2011 until in resignation in 2012.

Palmer contested in Punggol East SMC during the 2011 general election and won. He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Punggol East SMC after defeating Lee Li Lian of the Workers' Party and Desmond Lim of the Singapore Democratic Alliance.[4] Palmer was subsequently nominated by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for the office of Speaker of Parliament, before being elected by the House on 10 October 2011.[7]

Extramarital affair and resignation

Palmer announced his resignation as Speaker of Parliament, Member of Parliament for Punggol East SMC and a member of the PAP on 12 December 2012 due to an extra-marital affair with Laura Ong Hui Hoon, Constituency Director of the People's Association (PA) office in Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC.[1][8] At a press conference, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Palmer admitted he had made "a grave mistake" and that it was "a serious error of judgment". He resigned "in order to avoid further embarrassment". The PA staff member concerned also resigned.[3]

The PAP subsequently lost the by-elections in Punggol East SMC in January 2013 when Lee Li Lian of the Workers' Party—who Palmer had defeated in the 2011 general election, won the seat, defeating the PAP candidate Koh Poh Koon.

Other roles

Palmer was also Chairman of the National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) Council. He was replaced by Assistant Commissioner Zuraidah as Covering Chairperson after the scandal.[9]

Education

Palmer attended St Andrew's Junior School, St Andrew's Secondary School and St Andrew's Junior College before graduating from the University College London in 1992 with a Bachelor of Laws with honours degree.

References
  1. Tan, Judith; The New Paper (15 December 2012). "SMSes expose Michael Palmer's affair". Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  2. "MP Michael Palmer's father passed away". AsiaOne. 25 November 2009. Archived from the original on 6 December 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  3. "Michael Palmer resigns as Speaker". TODAYonline. 12 December 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  4. "Member's CV". 2011. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  5. "Michael Palmer to join law firm Lawrence Quahe & Woo". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  6. Michael Palmer leaves Harry Elias to join boutique law firm Archived 2013-11-04 at the Wayback Machine, The Straits Times, 4 April 2013.
  7. Quek, Carolyn (11 October 2011). "Michael Palmer sworn in as House Speaker". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  8. "Laura Ong's husband: She is a good wife". AsiaOne. 13 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  9. "14th NPCC Council". Archived from the original on 2012-04-19. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
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