Skip to main content

Workers’ Party Rejects PM Wong’s Invitation to Nominate New LO

 




On January 21 2026, the Workers’ Party (WP) issued a formal response to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, declining his invitation to nominate a new Leader of the Opposition (LO). This decision follows the Prime Minister's move on January 15 to remove WP chief Pritam Singh from the position, a week after a parliamentary motion found Mr Singh unsuitable for the role due to his criminal convictions for lying to the Committee of Privileges.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the Workers’ Party leadership stated that they were "unable to accept" the invitation to nominate another elected Member of Parliament to the post. The party emphasized that it has its own established processes for electing its internal leadership and expressed the view that the Leader of the Opposition should, by definition, be the leader of the largest opposition party in Parliament. The WP noted that while the LO role in Singapore is currently a discretionary appointment made by the Prime Minister, it should ideally reflect the political success of the opposition at the ballot box. By declining to name a replacement, the party underscored its belief that the authority of the role flows from the mandate of the voters rather than the choice of the government of the day.

The Workers’ Party further cited other Westminster parliamentary systems where the title of Leader of the Opposition is established by law. They argued that in such systems, the position is not the prerogative of the Prime Minister to grant or withdraw, an approach they believe protects the "authority and sanctity of the people’s vote." The party statement acknowledged that the recognition of the LO office in 2020 was a significant step in Singapore’s political development, reflecting a desire for greater political diversity. However, they maintained that the current situation, where the government determines the suitability of the opposition leader, challenges the independence of the role.

Despite the loss of the LO title and its associated privileges, including a higher allowance and the right of first reply in debates, the Workers’ Party stated it would continue to focus on its primary duty of providing a "rational, responsible, and respectable check on the Government." This stance sets up a unique political standoff, as the position created to formalize the opposition’s role in Parliament now remains vacant.

Parallel to these external developments, the Workers’ Party has also moved to address the internal implications of Mr Singh’s convictions. Sources within the party confirmed that a disciplinary panel has been formed to assess whether Mr Singh’s conduct breached the party's own Constitution. The panel consists of three prominent members: Sengkang GRC MPs He Ting Ru and Jamus Lim, and former Hougang MP Png Eng Huat. Ms He serves as the party’s treasurer, while Associate Professor Lim is the deputy head of policy research. Mr Png, a veteran of the party who stepped down from electoral politics in 2020, brings significant experience to the review. This internal process is expected to take up to three months to conclude, after which the party will hold a Special Cadre Members' Conference to decide on any further actions regarding Mr Singh’s leadership status.

The Prime Minister’s Office has been contacted for comment regarding the Workers’ Party’s refusal to nominate a successor. On January 14, the motion to remove Mr Singh was supported by all PAP and Nominated MPs present, while the 11 WP MPs in attendance dissented. The removal remains a point of deep contention, with the government citing the need to uphold the "dignity and integrity of Parliament," while the opposition maintains that the decision undermines the electoral will of the people.

Labels:
Location: Singapore

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Singaporean Couple's Lives Cut Short in Malaysia

  On May 16, 2025, a Singaporean couple was found dead in a homestay located in Taman Datuk Harun, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The deceased were identified as 42-year-old Xie Jinde and his 33-year-old wife, Zhuang Shuyi. Malaysian police confirmed that the couple were legally married and both held Singaporean citizenship. The discovery was made when the homestay staff noticed a foul odor emanating from the room the couple had rented. Upon investigation, the staff found the couple lying motionless on the bed. The room's windows were sealed with adhesive tape and plastic bags, and there were signs of charcoal burning, indicating a possible suicide. Police also found traces of what appeared to be ketamine in the room. Further investigations revealed that Xie Jinde was under criminal investigation in Malaysia for allegedly attempting to rape a 13-year-old girl. The incident reportedly occurred in Puchong, where Xie was renting a unit. He was caught in the act by the girl...
Post a Comment
Read more

Next Generation ERP Singapore

  Authorized car distributors in Singapore will begin installing onboard units (OBUs) for the new satellite-based Electronic Road Pricing system, ERP 2.0, starting with fleet vehicles in November. Private vehicles will follow in batches, with completion expected by the end of 2025. Motor dealerships have been involved in planning the OBU installation, and the three-piece OBU set will be provided to motorists for free during the installation period. Motorists can choose to install or not install the touchscreen display. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) aims to streamline the process, and it has no immediate plans to introduce distance-based charging with ERP 2.0. During the transition, the existing ERP charging method will remain in place. What are your thoughts? You may post anonymously below. Here are some of Social Media users' top comments:
Post a Comment
Read more

Drink Driver's that Caused Vegetative State Injury Jail Term Increased

  An intoxicated motorist, Yoong Kok Kai, aged 44, had his jail term significantly increased from three-and-a-half years to five years on December 5, following a successful appeal by the prosecution. The severe sentence was handed down by High Court Judge Aidan Xu and relates to an accident at the Tuas Checkpoint on the morning of March 24, 2023, that left an auxiliary police officer in a vegetative state. The sentence of five years is notably higher than the four-year term that the prosecution had initially sought in its appeal against the original jail term handed down to Yoong by the district judge on March 17. Furthermore, Justice Xu imposed the maximum fine of $10,000, which had been inadvertently omitted by the lower court judge during the initial sentencing. The 10-year driving disqualification period imposed by the lower court remained unchanged. Justice Xu delivered brief remarks, noting the extreme danger of the incident. He stated that Yoong “drove so dangerously that he...
Post a Comment
Read more