Pritam Singh losing LO role will be a setback but outcome of WP proceedings more consequential: Analysts

Parliament will debate a motion next week filed by Leader of the House, Indranee Rajah, on the suitability of Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh to continue as Leader of the Opposition (LO).

This comes after Pritam's conviction for lying to the Committee of Privileges over the Raeesah Khan case was upheld by the courts.

Two analysts that Mothership spoke to suggested that while Pritam losing the LO position will be a setback, what's more consequential will be what comes out of WP's internal processes.

What might happen to Pritam as LO?

Pritam was first appointed as Singapore's first Leader of the Opposition by then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong following the 2020 General Elections.

Then PM Lee said that the results of the 2020 GE have “shown a strong desire among Singaporeans for a greater diversity of views in politics” and that “this trend is here to stay”.

"Designating a Leader of Opposition will recognise this desire while enabling our political system to evolve in a way that maintains our sense of national purpose", the press release by the Office of the Speaker of Parliament and Office of the Leader of the House noted.

Pritam was re-appointed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong following the 2025 General Elections.

In the motion filed by the Leader of the House, it moves to consider that Pritam's conviction and conduct "render him unsuitable to continue as the Leader of the Opposition".

Whether Pritam continues as LO or not, he will continue to be a Member of Parliament (MP) and, at this point, the Secretary-General of the WP.

Eugene Tan, a political analyst and professor of law at Singapore Management University (SMU), commented that, for the time being, it is clear that Pritam will continue as WP's Secretary-General while its disciplinary panel looks into his conduct and court convictions for perjury.

Mustafa Izzuddin, Senior International Affairs Analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, shared similar sentiments, saying that it is up to the party to decide what happens to Pritam's role as WP Secretary-General.

As for Pritam's LO position, the decision lies with the Prime Minister, both Tan and Mustafa said.

"Only PM Wong can remove him," Tan said, adding that it remains uncertain if PM Wong will do so.

"Certainly, the PM will take on board the views, insights and perspectives of the members in Parliament during the parliamentary motion," Mustafa said, pointing out that it remains to be seen how the debate and vote on the motion go.

"It's premature at this point to speculate on the outcome regarding the LO office," he added.

Tan said PM Wong may also consider whether Pritam has diminished the LO office and whether he has set a poor example for opposition MPs.

Another consideration is whether Parliament's standing, decorum, and dignity will be undermined in the public's eyes if Pritam continues as LO, both analysts expressed.

Tan added:

"Given that Pritam is Singapore's first LO, PM Wong may wish to draw the line on the minimum standards of probity expected of the LO. He may not wish for an unhealthy precedent to be set — that it is appropriate for LO to continue in office when he had wilfully given false answers to questions ... during examination before Parliament's Committee of Privileges. More gravely, that he guided his MP not to clarify the untruth to Parliament for at least two months.

To my mind, this is conduct unbecoming for an MP; what more for the LO?"

The analysts find it unlikely that the LO will be replaced by another opposition MP so long as Pritam remains leader of the WP, which is the sole opposition party in Parliament.

Should Pritam resign as LO?

On whether the WP chief should resign as LO, Tan opined that Pritam will probably take the position that he will only decide after the WP disciplinary panel concludes and the WP Central Executive Committee (CEC) decides on the matter.

"In my view, given the court convictions for lying to the Committee of Privileges and his conduct over the untruths spoken by Ms Raeesah Khan, it is untenable for Pritam to continue as LO," Tan remarked.

"His actions as described in the court judgements have diminished the standing of the LO office. He should resign as LO without undue delay," he continued.

According to Tan, Pritam continuing as the LO comes at the cost of reputational damage to Pritam as the leader of the WP, and the WP in the eyes of fair-minded Singaporeans.

The erosion of his authority in Parliament as the LO will lead to the hampering of his ability to effectively represent in the House.

"Each time he stands in Parliament and seeks to hold the government accountable, the question of whether he possesses the moral authority and standing to do so robustly will arise," Tan said.

However, Tan also shared that Pritam might hold out as LO perhaps as a way of "gauging the court of public opinion", and as a "silent protest against what he might regard as the PAP machinations in 'Liarsgate'".

Impact on WP, PAP and the Opposition

So far, as a result of the Raeesah Khan case, WP has had one MP seat vacated in the previous Parliament, a Committee of Privileges convened against its leadership, and its chief convicted in court for perjury in Parliament.

Now, Pritam faces the prospect of either having to resign or being removed as LO.

"It's another setback arising from 'Liarsgate'," Tan pointed out.

Tan also highlighted that the loss of the LO office for the WP is a "rebuke of sorts".

"It will mean the loss of resources that LO is provided with, such as staff, office, and additional allowance, to support his parliamentary work," the SMU professor said.

The LO receives double the allowance of an elected MP, can hire up to three additional legislative assistants, is granted a secretary, and gets an office and meeting room in the Parliament House.

On the floor of the House, the LO gets more speaking time for speeches and receives confidential briefings by the government on matters such as national security and external relations, as well as in the event of a national crisis or emergency.

As for the implications for the PAP and non-WP opposition, Tan remarked that there might not be any.

"For now, [Pritam] remains as an MP and the top leader of the WP," he said.

WP MPs will close ranks during vote

Both analysts expect WP MPs to close ranks and stand behind the WP chief during the parliamentary debate on the motion.

"It doesn't matter whether the WP party whip is lifted or not," Tan remarked.

As to the outcome of the disciplinary panel and CEC, Tan said that it's too early to tell.

Agreeing, Mustafa also noted that the gravity of the present situation is a lot higher, seeing as it is dealing with the leader of the WP.

As yet, the WP has not shared much about the panel, including its composition, terms of reference, and whether it will include looking into the conduct of WP Chair Sylvia Lim and Vice-Chair Faisal Manap.

Tan opined that the velocity of developments has differed in the current situation compared with past incidents.

"It doesn't look like the WP CEC is treating it with the same urgency as they did in having Ms Khan, Mr Perera and Ms Seah resign from the WP," he said.

The bigger question

The internal goings-on of the WP is where Pritam's focus will be, as opposed to the LO role, Mustafa surmised.

"As an elected MP, your focus is also on your constituents, but you come from your party. And so, what's going to happen within your party, it's going to be of greater concern, of greater importance to you than what transpires out of the parliamentary motion," he added.

The LO position does indeed provide WP MPs with information that aids them in Parliament, but losing access to such privileged information is perhaps the only drawback of losing the LO position.

Mustafa pointed out that what's more consequential will be what the WP disciplinary panel and CEC decide to do, and the "million-dollar" question is who can replace Pritam, if the WP chooses to do so.

He noted that Pritam led the WP during the recent general election as his appeal was still playing out in court, and the WP kept their seats and maintained their share of the popular vote.

"They performed reasonably well," he continued.

The electoral support received by the WP would be Pritam's "trump card", Mustafa said.

In the longer term, the current parliamentary motion might have little bearing, he also said.

He noted that the next election is years away in 2030.

“There’s still a long runway from now to 2030 where there’s going to be a lot more changes in how people would think. In other words, it’s not going to be as consequential at this point in time for the political parties,” Mustafa opined.

Top image via Workers' Party YouTube, Facebook