Singapore Parliament to Debate Removal of Opposition Leader After Lying Conviction

Post by : Saif

Singapore’s parliament is set to debate whether Pritam Singh should be removed from his position as Leader of the Opposition after he was convicted of lying to parliament. The move has drawn national attention because Singh is the first official opposition leader in the country’s history since independence in 1965.

The debate was triggered by a motion tabled by Indranee Rajah, the Leader of the House and a senior member of the ruling People’s Action Party. She said Singh’s actions were “dishonourable and unbecoming” and questioned whether he was still suitable to hold the important role of Leader of the Opposition.

Singh leads the Workers’ Party, Singapore’s main opposition group. He was appointed to the opposition leadership role after the 2020 general election, when his party made gains and secured ten seats in parliament. This marked a rare moment in Singapore politics, which has long been dominated by the People’s Action Party.

The case against Singh dates back to 2021, when a parliamentary committee investigated false statements made by a former Workers’ Party lawmaker, Raeesah Khan. Singh was later found guilty of giving false testimony to the committee about how the party handled Khan’s lies. In February last year, a court convicted him on two counts of lying to parliament. He was fined but avoided losing his seat or being banned from the 2025 general election.

Singh appealed the conviction, but the appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court in December. Following this, Indranee Rajah said parliament must decide on an appropriate response, stressing that honesty in public office is essential. She argued that lying under oath is a serious offence and should not be taken lightly in Singapore’s political system.

The ruling People’s Action Party has held power for more than six decades and won its 14th straight election in 2025, securing most of the seats in parliament. The Workers’ Party remains the only opposition presence, holding the remaining seats. This makes the role of Leader of the Opposition symbolically important, as it represents political balance and accountability.

The upcoming debate will not automatically remove Singh from his parliamentary seat, but it could strip him of the formal opposition leader role. It may also have wider effects on other senior members of the Workers’ Party, as the government has said their conduct will also be reviewed.

This situation raises larger questions about political standards, accountability, and the future of opposition politics in Singapore. Supporters of the motion say it is about protecting integrity in public life, while critics may see it as another test for opposition voices in a tightly controlled political environment.

As parliament debates the issue, the outcome will likely shape public trust in political leaders and define how Singapore handles misconduct at the highest levels of government.

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