Political Party Broadcast: The Workers’ Party (WP)

 

The Workers’ Party (WP) secretary-general Pritam Singh has urged voters to support more WP candidates and constituencies in the upcoming General Election to secure Singapore’s democratic future. Speaking during the party's televised political broadcast on April 25, he said that winning more constituencies is essential for ensuring the continued presence of a credible, fully-elected opposition in Parliament.

“One or even two WP GRCs can easily be lost; nothing can be taken for granted,” Mr Singh warned. He stressed that a stronger WP presence would enhance the sustainability of Singapore’s democratic system, making it more resilient for the long term.

Mr Singh outlined three ways WP contributes to Singapore. First, he focused on the party’s role in Parliament, where WP MPs speak out on important national issues, ask “probing” questions, and table motions backed by rigorous research. These questions, he said, reflect the everyday concerns of Singaporeans and are based on facts and data compiled by the party's research team.

“We ask tough questions,” he said, adding, “More importantly than being tough, our questions are appropriate and necessary because they reflect the concerns of ordinary Singaporeans.”

Mr Singh also drew a contrast between WP MPs and People’s Action Party (PAP) MPs. While PAP MPs may not always press the government on certain issues, WP MPs have the independence to ask any question and vote freely without being bound by party lines. This, he noted, is crucial for true parliamentary accountability.

He acknowledged that WP does not oppose for the sake of opposing. “The WP opposes measures that we believe are not in the national interest,” Mr Singh explained, “but we support government bills and even constitutional amendments when it is right to do so.”

To illustrate this, Mr Singh referenced a government-tabled constitutional amendment in March 2023. WP supported the amendment after concluding it was in Singapore’s interest. “We made sure we were present in Parliament to debate and vote on it,” he said. Notably, Mr Singh revealed that several PAP MPs were absent that day, and without WP’s support, the government would not have had enough votes to pass the amendment.

“But we were there. We voted for the amendment, and it passed,” Mr Singh said, using the incident to underline WP’s role as a responsible and constructive opposition.

His speech highlighted WP’s broader strategy of being a rational, credible, and loyal opposition party—one that strengthens rather than destabilises Singapore’s political landscape. Mr Singh reiterated that more WP wins would ensure continuity in the opposition’s role and provide Singaporeans with a Parliament that is not only representative but also more responsive to public needs.

He concluded by reminding Singaporeans that democratic progress requires vigilance and effort. “With more WP constituencies comes a higher chance that Parliament will continue to have a fully-elected democratic opposition presence for the longer term,” he said. “This will make our system stable and sustainable for the future.”