Seah Kian Peng apologises for falling asleep in parliament, says he was sick & on medication - Mothership

"This should not have happened, and I take full responsibility."

Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng has apologised for falling asleep during a parliament sitting on Sep. 9, saying that it "should not have happened".

In a Facebook post dated Sep. 18, he explained that he was sick at the time and had taken medication.

"I had been feeling a bit unwell that day and had taken medication. But that does not excuse what happened," he wrote, stating that he takes full responsibility for the incident.

"I should have called for a break earlier rather than continuing with proceedings. I normally do so after four to six hours and this incident took place after the four-hour mark."

Seah added that the incident fell short of the standards expected of the office of Speaker.

"I apologise for the lapse. I will learn from it and take steps to ensure it does not happen again," he said.

Seah was spotted nodding off during a parliamentary sitting on Sep. 9, about four hours into the sitting that began at 10:30am.

It was during a debate on a Bill to consolidate health regulatory functions under the Health Sciences Authority.

He was meant to call on the next speaker after the Workers' Party's Dennis Tan finished his speech, but did not do so.

A parliamentary staff member then rose to rouse him after an approximately 20-second pause.