Singapore opposition parties urged Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday to call a by-election after the parliamentary speaker abruptly resigned due to an extramarital affair.

    The calls came less than 24 hours after Michael Palmer, 44, publicly confessed and announced his resignation from his parliamentary seat and membership of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).

    Confessing to "a serious error of judgment," the married father of one -- who was only sworn in as speaker in October last year -- said he quit "to avoid further embarrassment to the PAP and to Parliament."

    Local newspaper Thursday splashed pictures of Laura Ong, a 33-year-old married community worker identified as Palmer's lover, in the latest sex scandal to hit the city-state. 

    By law, the decision to call a by-election is made wholly at the prime minister's discretion. Lee however gave no indication of his intentions in a Facebook post.

    (SD-Agencies)