Singapore's Opposition Leader Ousted: A Controversial Conviction

Thu Jan 15 2026 13:57:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Pritam Singh, the first Leader of the Opposition in Singapore, has been stripped of his title following a conviction for lying under oath. Here's a look at the implications and the backstory.

Pritam Singh, Singapore's first Leader of the Opposition, has lost his title after being convicted for lying to a parliamentary committee. Despite his claims of innocence, the ruling People’s Action Party dominated the vote to strip him of his position. Singh, a member of the Workers' Party, remains an MP but loses significant privileges in parliament. Critics see this as part of a broader pattern of political maneuvering against opposition figures in Singapore.

Pritam Singh, Singapore's Leader of the Opposition in parliament, has been stripped of his title by the prime minister following a vote by lawmakers in a parliament overwhelmingly dominated by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).

This action follows Singh's conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee. Singh insists on his innocence, even as he faces significant political consequences.

While he will remain a member of parliament and the secretary-general of the Workers' Party (WP), he will lose privileges such as additional allowances and the right to respond first during parliamentary debates.

Singh's case is notable as one of the few criminal convictions against a sitting opposition lawmaker in Singapore. He was also the first person to hold the title of Leader of the Opposition.

Critics argue that the government is using the judicial system to target political opponents, a claim the authorities deny. During the parliamentary debate that led to Singh’s ousting, Indranee Rajah, the Leader of the House, stated that Singh's actions undermine public trust in parliament.

Singh defended himself, claiming his conscience is clear and rejecting the resolution that deemed his behavior 'dishonorable.' After a lengthy debate, the parliament motion to remove him passed, with all 11 WP members voting against it.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong indicated that Singh’s conviction made it untenable for him to continue as the Leader of the Opposition and invited the WP to nominate a replacement.

In the aftermath, Singh responded to queries with the message '#WeContinue', while the WP plans to review the situation and respond at a later date. The party currently holds 12 out of the 108 parliamentary seats in Singapore.

The saga that led to Singh's conviction began in 2021 when WP lawmaker Raeesah Khan made false claims in parliament regarding police conduct. After admitting the deception, she stated that Singh had encouraged her to maintain her narrative. Khan has since resigned and faced legal consequences for her actions.

The case against Singh culminated in a ruling that found him guilty of lying under oath, a decision he has since challenged without success.