Pritam Singh Stripped of Opposition Leader Title in Singapore Parliament Vote

In a significant political move, Singapore’s Parliament has voted to revoke Pritam Singh's title as Leader of the Opposition. This decision is unprecedented in Singapore's tightly regulated political arena and follows Singh's recent conviction for perjury before a parliamentary committee.

Despite the loss of his title, Singh retains his position as a Member of Parliament and continues as secretary-general of the Workers’ Party (WP), the nation's largest opposition party. However, his disqualification from the Leader of the Opposition role strips him of specific privileges, such as extra parliamentary allowances and the precedence in debates.

The parliamentary vote occurred in a legislative body overwhelmingly controlled by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), which has held power since Singapore's independence. All 11 Workers’ Party lawmakers present opposed the motion, but they were significantly outnumbered, allowing the motion to pass after extensive debate.

Singh's case is particularly noteworthy given that criminal convictions of sitting opposition members are a rarity in Singapore. Singh notably was the first individual appointed as Leader of the Opposition after the WP achieved a record number of seats in the 2020 elections.

During the debate, Indranee Rajah, the Leader of the House, asserted that Singh's actions had severely eroded public trust in Parliament. She expressed that his behavior was unsuitable for someone in such a prominent parliamentary position.

In response, Singh refuted these allegations, affirming his moral stance, and expressed disagreement with the characterization of his behavior as “dishonourable and unbecoming.” He emphasized his commitment to serve his constituents and uphold his responsibilities as an MP despite losing his title.

After the vote, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong remarked that due to Singh's conviction and the decision by Parliament, retaining the Leader of the Opposition title was no longer fitting. He noted that the Workers’ Party has the opportunity to nominate a new MP for that role.

In a succinct response via text, Singh conveyed a message: “#WeContinue.” The Workers’ Party indicated that it would assess the situation and provide a response at a later date, also revealing plans for an internal review to evaluate any potential breach of its rules by Singh.

Currently, the Workers’ Party holds 12 of the 108 seats in Parliament, marking a significant opposition presence, though it remains a minority in comparison to the ruling party.

Context of the Case

The issue dates back to 2021 when Workers’ Party MP Raeesah Khan falsely claimed to have witnessed misconduct involving the police and a sexual assault victim. She later admitted that her statement was fabricated.

During an investigation, Khan alleged that senior party officials, including Singh, advised her to maintain her misleading story, even though they were aware it was false. She ultimately resigned from both Parliament and the party, facing fines for misusing parliamentary privileges.

Following these events, charges were brought against Singh for lying under oath in connection with the committee's investigation. A court found him guilty in February last year, issuing a hefty fine, while the ruling pointed to evidence suggesting his intention to prevent Khan from correcting her falsehood prematurely.

Singh has consistently denied the allegations, claiming that he aimed to give Khan the opportunity to address the issue appropriately due to its sensitive nature. However, he lost his appeal against the conviction in December.

Political Reactions

Critics have accused the Singapore government of using legal mechanisms to suppress dissent. However, the authorities have repeatedly denied such claims. This latest decision highlights the ongoing struggle for political balance and opposition space in Singapore.

For the time being, Singh remains an elected official and an influential figure in opposition politics, while the Workers’ Party deliberates on its next steps following this shift in leadership.