'Backbencher for backbencher, you've got a serious choice there': WP's Pritam Singh addresses PM Wong's rally remark

Workers' Party (WP) secretary-general Pritam Singh addressed Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's comments to voters to "apply the same standards" to opposition candidates as they would for People's Action Party (PAP) candidates, instead of giving opposition candidates "a free pass".

WP not going to form the next government

When asked on his thoughts on what the PM said, at a media doorstop on Apr. 25, Singh said,

"I can understand why the prime minister will say that as he wants as many of his MPs in Parliament as possible. I think it's natural that he would say that.

We have put out our vision of at least third of MPs in Parliament being Opposition MPs, so we have a difference of opinion there as to what is sufficient at this point in time in terms of the evolution of our political system.

But I would share with the voters that when you compare people, you are comparing a WP slate that is going to compare against the PAP backbenchers.

So it's backbencher versus backbencher, because the Workers' Party are not going to be in government."

Singh added:

"My proposition for voters to consider is to understand that backbencher for backbencher, you've got a serious choice there, and the Workers' Party has put forward a serious slate of individuals for Singaporeans to consider."

The Workers' Party has put up 26 candidates to contest 97 parliamentary seats in GE2025.

Compare WP candidates to PAP backbenchers: Pritam

On Apr. 25, Singh was at Block 85 Fengshan Food Centre for a WP walkabout, along with fellow party heavyweight Sylvia Lim.

They were joined by WP's East Coast GRC candidates, Yee Jenn Jong, Nathaniel Koh, Paris V Parameswari, Sufyan Mikhail Putra and Jasper Kuan.

At PAP's first political rally for GE2025 the night before, PM Wong had urged Singaporeans not to give opposition politicians "a free pass" in GE2025 just because they wanted "some alternative voices in Parliament".

As such, PM Wong asked voters to "apply the same standards" to opposition politicians as they do for the PAP candidates in terms of integrity, competence, and readiness to serve.

More 'fantastic faces' needed

Singh also continued to field questions from the media about WP's decision not to contest in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, which resulted in a walkover on Nomination Day.

When asked by a reporter on what resources WP needed to contest the constituency given it already had a "fantastic lineup of new faces", Singh replied, "More fantastic faces. We needed strong teams everywhere".

And in response to a question on what WP lacked in order to attract such candidates, Singh said that "success begets success".

Singh highlighted that WP parliamentarians have "seriously made improvements" by contributing to their estates and in parliament.

"And I think as long as we continue in that vein, with that trajectory, hopefully we'll attract more, in your words, "fantastic people" to join us," said Singh.

Top image by Mothership