In a historic first for Singaporean politics, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has formally removed Pritam Singh from his official position as Leader of the Opposition. The decisive action came just one day after parliament voted that the convicted politician was unfit to continue in the role.
A Landmark Decision for Parliamentary Standards
The move ends Singh's tenure as Singapore's first officially designated opposition leader, a post he has held since 2020. The catalyst was his criminal conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary Committee of Privileges (COP). In February 2025, a court found him guilty of giving false testimony in 2021 concerning a fellow Workers' Party MP, Raeesah Khan, who had herself admitted to lying in parliament. Singh was fined S$14,000 and his appeal was dismissed in December 2025.
While Singh remains an elected Member of Parliament and the Secretary-General of the Workers' Party, he will immediately lose the privileges attached to the opposition leader title. These include additional financial allowances, dedicated staffing support, and priority speaking rights during parliamentary debates.
Parliamentary Debate and the Prime Minister's Rationale
The parliament's decision followed a debate lasting over three hours on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. Lawmakers backed a motion initiated by the Leader of the House, Indranee Rajah. The motion expressed profound regret over Singh's conduct, labelling it "dishonourable and unbecoming" of an MP. It concluded that his continuation as opposition leader would seriously undermine public confidence in the institution. All 11 Workers' Party MPs present voted against the motion.
In her arguments, Ms Rajah stated that Singh's lies "strike at the trust" Singaporeans place in their parliament and accused him of failing to take responsibility. She emphasised that fundamental values of honesty and accountability must be upheld to maintain a "first world parliament."
Prime Minister Wong, in a formal statement, said: "Having considered the matter carefully, I have decided that Mr Singh’s criminal convictions, taken together with parliament’s considered view of his unsuitability, make it no longer tenable for him to continue... Mr Singh’s designation as the LO will therefore cease with immediate effect." He asserted the step was necessary to uphold the rule of law and the dignity of parliament.
What Happens Next for Singapore's Opposition?
In a significant follow-up, Mr Wong invited the Workers' Party to nominate another elected MP to assume the opposition leadership. He stipulated that the nominee "should not have been implicated in the earlier findings of the Committee of Privileges, and must be able to meet the high standards expected of this office."
During the parliamentary debate, Singh defended himself, maintaining his innocence. "My conscience remains clear," he stated, disagreeing with the motion's findings. He pledged to continue his work as a constituency MP regardless of the outcome.
The Workers' Party has acknowledged the Prime Minister's letter, stating it will consider the matter internally and respond "in due course." The party has also confirmed it is conducting its own internal disciplinary review into whether Singh breached party rules.
