SINGAPORE – The career of Singapore’s most prominent opposition figure, Pritam Singh, faced a significant setback this week. Following a three-hour debate dominated by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), parliament voted to strip Singh of his formal title as Leader of the Opposition.
The motion was passed based on Singh’s conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee during the investigation into former MP Raeesah Khan’s false anecdotes about police misconduct. While Singh fought the charges and lost an appeal in December, the government argued that his position was “no longer tenable.”
Indranee Rajah, Leader of the House, stated that Singh failed to take responsibility for his actions. However, all 11 Workers’ Party MPs present voted against the motion. The incident has reignited long-standing debates about the relationship between Singapore’s judiciary and its political opposition, though authorities vehemently deny using the courts to silence dissent. Singh remains an MP, but the symbolic weight of his removal as the official Opposition Leader marks a significant shift in the parliamentary landscape.
