Singapore (VNA) – Singapore’s Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh has been removed from his position as the Leader of the Opposition, a day after the Parliament voted that he was unsuitable to continue in the role following his conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee.
In a statement issued on January 15, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the decision was necessary to uphold the rule of law as well as the dignity and integrity of Parliament. He noted that after careful consideration, Singh’s criminal convictions, together with the Parliament’s assessment of his unsuitability, made it untenable for him to remain in the post, and that the designation would cease with immediate effect.
The Prime Minister also invited the Workers' Party to nominate another elected Member of Parliament to assume the role. He stressed that the nominee should not be implicated in the earlier findings of the Committee of Privileges and must meet the high standards required of this office.
Wong further underlined that questions of guilt or innocence are determined through the judicial process, noting that Singh’s conviction by the District Court and the dismissal of his appeal by the High Court were final and must be respected in determining his suitability for the position. He added that the Leader of the Opposition plays an important role in Singapore’s political system and therefore must uphold the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
The Workers’ Party confirmed the receipt of Wong’s letter and said it would consider its contents carefully through internal processes before responding./.
