KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Singapore opposition party, the Workers’ Party (WP), has declined to nominate another party member as the new Leader of the Opposition (LO).
In a statement, WP said the party had responded to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Wednesday regarding the vacancy of the post.
“The Workers’ Party takes the view that the leader of the largest opposition party in Parliament is the leader of the opposition.
“As such, the Workers’ Party has conveyed to the Prime Minister that we will not be nominating another Workers’ Party Member of Parliament to the LO post,” it said on Wednesday.
The party added that it would continue to focus on its primary duty – to work for Singaporeans and provide a rational, responsible and respectable check on the government.
The LO post became vacant after Wong removed WP’s secretary-general Pritam Singh from the position with immediate effect on Jan 15, a day after Parliament voted to express its view that his conviction and conduct rendered him unsuitable to continue in the role.
In February 2025, Singh was convicted by the District Court on two counts of lying to Parliament’s Committee of Privileges (COP). His appeal to the High Court in December 2025 was also dismissed.
In response, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the government accepts WP’s decision.
It noted that the office of the LO will remain vacant until the party is ready to nominate someone to take on the responsibility.
“In light of Parliament’s resolution, the government invited the WP to nominate another elected MP to be considered as LO. The WP has chosen not to do so. The government accepts that decision,” it said in a statement.
PMO said that although the leader of the main opposition party in Parliament is indeed the natural choice to serve as the LO, there is “exceptional situation” due to Singh’s conviction and the Parliament’s resolution.
“In other jurisdictions, members convicted of crimes involving dishonesty or lying under oath would ordinarily have resigned. This has not happened here.
“In Singapore, we place a high premium on honesty and integrity in our political system, and on respect for the rule of law,” it said.
-- BERNAMA
