Michael Palmer affair: the public speaks

Text: Shah Salimat

Singapore was hit once again by another high-profile sex scandal, after Michael Palmer resigned as speaker of Parliament, Member of Parliament for the constituency of Punggol East and member of the ruling People's Action Party. Palmer is married and has a 10-year-old son. The news was announced December 12 in a hastily-arranged press conference chaird by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.

A local tabloid exposed 33-year-old Laura Ong Hui Hoon's lurid text messages to Palmer and identified Laura as Palmer's lover. Laura was the former constituency director of Pasir Ris West Constituency Office. It is understood she separated from her husband before her affair with Palmer. A few hours after Palmer's resignation, the People's Association issued a statement saying Laura had resigned two days before Palmer's resignation, citing "family commitments" for the leave.