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. 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 as Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament due to his extramarital affair.

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.

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

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. 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.

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. 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.

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.

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.