A by-election for Punggol East Constituency will be held following a vacancy after its Member of Parliament Michael Palmer quit over an extra-marital affair.

In a statement, Singapore's Elections Department said the republic's President (Tony Tan Keng Yam) today issued the Writ of Election for Punggol East and that nomination will be on Jan 16 at North Vista Secondary School (School Hall Building), Rivervale Link, here.

It said if more than one candidate stood nominated for election at the close of nominations on Nomination Day, the Returning Officer, Yam Ah Mee, would declare Jan 26, 2013 (Saturday) as Polling Day.

Palmer resigned as Speaker of Parliament and as a member of the People's Action Party (PAP) following his admission last month of a relationship with a member of the People's Association staff.