Pritam Singh Removed as Opposition Leader in Singapore Parliament

In a decisive move, Singapore's Parliament has voted to oust Pritam Singh from his position as the Leader of the Opposition, a remarkable event in the nation’s tightly regulated political environment. This action was taken following a parliamentary session on Wednesday, where lawmakers concluded that Singh’s recent criminal conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee warranted his removal.

Despite losing his title, Singh will continue his duties as a Member of Parliament and maintain his role as secretary-general of the Workers' Party (WP), Singapore's principal opposition party. However, the loss of his title means he will forfeit certain benefits associated with it, such as extra parliamentary allowances and the opportunity to respond first in debates.

The vote was conducted in a Parliament overwhelmingly controlled by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), which has been in power since Singapore's independence. Although all 11 Workers' Party lawmakers present opposed the motion, they were outweighed by PAP members, allowing the resolution to pass after a nearly three-hour deliberation.

Singh’s removal is striking given that criminal convictions among sitting opposition politicians in Singapore are exceedingly rare. He had been the first individual formally appointed as Leader of the Opposition, a title established after the Workers’ Party achieved a significant number of seats in the 2020 general election.

During the parliamentary debate, the Leader of the House, Indranee Rajah, articulated that Singh’s actions had severely undermined public confidence in Parliament, arguing that his behavior was unacceptable for someone in such a senior position.

Singh refuted these allegations, stating that his conscience was clear and he disagreed with the characterisation of his actions as “dishonourable and unbecoming.” He affirmed his commitment to his constituents as he continues his role as an MP.

In light of Singh's conviction and the parliamentary vote, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong remarked that it was no longer fitting for Singh to retain his position as Leader of the Opposition, noting that the Workers' Party could nominate a different MP for the role.

In a succinct reply via text message, Singh stated: “#WeContinue.” The Workers' Party subsequently announced its intention to review the situation and respond at a later date, having previously indicated an internal review to determine if Singh breached any party rules.

Presently, the Workers' Party occupies 12 seats in Singapore’s 108-seat Parliament, marking the strongest opposition presence seen in decades, albeit still a minority when compared to the ruling party.

Context of the Case

The issue arose in 2021 when Workers' Party MP Raeesah Khan claimed in Parliament to have witnessed police misconduct involving a sexual assault victim, later admitting the account was fabricated.

During a parliamentary committee inquiry, Khan alleged that senior party leaders, including Singh, had advised her to persist with her false account despite being aware of its untruth. Khan eventually resigned from both the party and Parliament and was fined for lying and misusing parliamentary privilege.

Following this, Singh was charged with lying under oath during the committee hearings regarding Khan’s claims. A court found him guilty in February of the previous year and imposed a fine. The ruling indicated that Singh sought to prevent Khan from correcting her false statement earlier.

Singh maintained his innocence throughout the trial, asserting that he had aimed to allow Khan to address the sensitive issue appropriately. However, he lost his appeal against the conviction in December.

Political Reactions

Critics of the Singapore government have long accused it of targeting political adversaries through legal actions, a claim that the authorities have consistently refuted. This recent parliamentary decision has once again spotlighted the intersection of law, politics, and opposition space in the city-state.

For the time being, Singh remains a key figure in opposition politics and an elected representative, even as his party deliberates on its next moves following the loss of the Opposition Leader title.