5 lesser-known facts about Singapore’s Parliament

When you picture Singapore’s Parliament, what comes to mind?

Perhaps an image of our Prime Minister delivering a national address, or even a solemn grand chamber where Members of Parliament (MPs) trade arguments over Bills yet to be passed.

But behind the serious business of law-making are stories that tell Parliament’s colourful history.

From a private residential abode turned house of law, to wigs that disappeared in a puff, here are five lesser-known facts about Singapore’s Parliament that may just surprise you.

Old Parliament House, today known as The Art House.

1. From a merchant’s home to house of law

Singapore’s first Parliament House wasn’t originally meant for politics at all.

Built in 1827, it was designed as the residence of a Scottish merchant named John Argyle Maxwell.

The colonial government later set its sights on the elegant building, first borrowing it before eventually purchasing it.

The price? Just 15,600 Spanish dollars, equivalent to about S$600,000 today. Given the property prices in Singapore today, you might say it is still a great bargain.

After Parliament was moved to its existing location at 1 Parliament Place in 1999, the original Parliament House was refurbished and reopened as The Art House in 2004.

It remains one of the city’s oldest surviving structures, carrying with it the echoes of our political and nation-building history.

The Mace of Singapore. [photo: Parliament of Singapore]

2. A mace that predates Singapore’s independence

Every sitting of Parliament begins with the ceremonial entrance of the golden mace.

Carried by the Serjeant-at-Arms, it symbolises the authority of both Parliament and the Speaker.

What makes it remarkable is not just its ornate design, but its history.

The colonial government commissioned the mace in 1954, just over a decade before Singapore’s independence. It was crafted by silversmith Leslie Durbin and sculptor R. R. Scott.

Mr Durbin wasn’t just any craftsman either. He also worked on the famed Sword of Stalingrad, which was presented to the Soviet Union by Winston Churchill and King George VI during World War II.

Speaker of Singapore Legislative Assembly Sir George Oehlers (second from right). [photo: Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore]

3. Curls and locks: The donning of wigs in Parliament

Once upon a time, Singapore’s Parliament looked straight out of a British courtroom drama.

When the Legislative Assembly was established in 1955, the Speakers of Parliament wore traditional wigs, complete with big white curls.

The practice was borrowed from Westminster, reflecting Singapore’s colonial links.

But by 1993, wigs were officially retired. Though records only reflect the when and not the why, one can probably deduce that practicality ultimately won the day, and Speakers have since appeared in Parliament wig-free.

Still, old photographs of the wig-wearing Speakers remain charming reminders of a more theatrical age in Singapore’s parliamentary history.

Image for illustration only.

4. When “talking c**k” made it into the hansard

Parliamentary debates are known for their formality, but more “colourful” language have been known sneak in from time to time.

In 1995, opposition MP Ling How Doong famously told a fellow MP to “stop talking c**k” during a sitting.

The exchange made it into the Hansard, Parliament’s official record, making “talking c**k” one of the most unexpected entries in the archives.

This shows that emotions and tempers do sometimes get the better of us, even in Parliament.

Labour MPs turned Presidents: C.V. Devan Nair (left), Ong Teng Cheong (centre), Halimah Yacob (right).

5. Where unionists (potentially) become presidents

Here’s an interesting one: A few Labour Movement leaders who later became Singapore Presidents once served as Labour MPs.

C.V. Devan Nair, Singapore’s third President, first made his mark as the founding Secretary-General of NTUC.

Ong Teng Cheong, later dubbed “The People’s President,” also led NTUC before becoming Head of State.

More recently, Halimah Yacob, who began her career as a lawyer with NTUC and served as a unionist, became Singapore’s first woman President.

Today, NTUC still has many Labour MPs speaking up for the rights and welfare of workers in Parliament, ranging from job security to retirement needs.

Who knows? Maybe one of them could be our next President.

A house full of stories

While Parliament may symbolise the power of law makers, it’s also a place rich with curious tales and hidden histories.

So the next time you watch a debate in Parliament, remember that there is a lot more than meets the ‘ayes’.

Behind the formalities are centuries of tradition, a dash of humour, and stories that continue to shape Singapore’s national identity.

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