Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the immediate removal of Pritam Singh, leader of the Workers' Party (WP), from the post of opposition leader. This action aims to preserve the rule of law as well as the dignity and integrity of Singapore's Parliament. Following Parliament's agreement that Singh's conduct and criminal offenses violated the ethical standards of the House, the Prime Minister urged the opposition party to nominate a "clean-handed" replacement.
Today (15 Jan), Prime Minister Lawrence Wong issued a statement removing Pritam Singh from his role as opposition leader, stating that "he cannot be allowed to continue in this position" due to a conviction for criminal offenses and inappropriate conduct toward Parliament.
Prime Minister Wong emphasized that this decision was essential to uphold the rule of law, as well as the dignity and integrity of Singapore's Parliament. "After careful consideration, the ruling that Mr. Singh committed a criminal offense, combined with Parliament's view that he is unsuitable, means his position can no longer be sustained," the statement said.
As a result of this removal, Pritam Singh will immediately lose all associated privileges, including the right to be the first to respond during parliamentary debates, increased allocation of speaking time, and a salary twice that of a regular Member of Parliament.
This move came just one day after Singapore's Parliament passed a motion proposed by Indranee Rajah, the Government Whip, which found that Pritam Singh's conduct was disgraceful and fell below the standards expected of an opposition leader. This related to a court ruling that he was guilty of "giving false testimony to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee" concerning the 2021 case of former Workers' Party MP Raeesah Khan lying in Parliament.
Although Singh maintained his innocence and disputed the facts of the case, Prime Minister Wong stated that "the court's decision is final and must be respected."
The Singapore Prime Minister has sent a letter to the Workers' Party Central Executive Committee inviting them to nominate another elected MP to take over the position. The nominee must not be involved in the investigation related to Raeesah Khan's past falsehoods and must demonstrate the highest ethical standards and integrity.
The Workers' Party has released a statement confirming receipt of the Prime Minister's letter and said the matter will be thoroughly reviewed within the party before responding.
The position of opposition leader was formally established in 2020 to support diverse viewpoints in Parliament. The role includes leading the opposition in debating bills, nominating opposition MPs to parliamentary committees, representing Parliament at official state events, and receiving briefings on national security and interests.