Singapore’s Leader of the Opposition, Pritam Singh, has been officially stripped of his title by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong following a conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee. The decision comes after a vote in Singapore’s parliament, which is overwhelmingly dominated by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).

Singh, who is the secretary-general of the Workers’ Party (WP) and represents one of the largest opposition factions in the 108-seat parliament, will retain his role as a Member of Parliament (MP) but will lose privileges associated with the opposition leadership, including additional allowances and the right of first reply during parliamentary debates.

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Parliamentary Vote and Debate

The motion to remove Singh from the position of Leader of the Opposition was debated on Wednesday, with the discussion lasting approximately three hours. Singh defended himself during the debate, stating that his “conscience remains clear” and arguing against the characterization of his conduct as “dishonourable and unbecoming.”

Indranee Rajah, Singapore’s Leader of the House, argued that Singh’s actions “strike at the trust” Singaporeans place in parliament, asserting that he had failed to take responsibility for his actions.

All 11 Workers’ Party members present voted against the motion, while the majority of parliamentarians supported it. A separate review of implications for two other WP lawmakers is expected at a later date.

Following the vote, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that, in light of Singh’s conviction and the parliamentary decision, it was “no longer tenable” for him to continue as Leader of the Opposition. He invited the WP to nominate another MP to assume the role.

Singh responded briefly to BBC queries via text with the hashtag: #WeContinue, signaling his intent to maintain his parliamentary work. The WP confirmed it would deliberate internally on the situation and provide a response in due course.

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Background: The Legal Case

The controversy dates back to 2021, when WP MP Raeesah Khan falsely claimed in parliament that she had witnessed police misconduct toward a sexual assault victim. During a parliamentary committee investigation, Khan admitted that her anecdote was not true, but claimed that party leaders, including Singh, encouraged her to maintain the narrative.

Khan subsequently resigned from parliament and the party, and was fined for lying and abusing parliamentary privilege.

Singh was later charged for lying under oath to the parliamentary committee regarding Khan’s case. In February 2025, he was found guilty and fined several thousand dollars. The court noted that Singh’s actions suggested he had not intended for Khan to clarify her false statements, although Singh argued he was attempting to give her time to address the sensitive issue.

In December 2025, Singh lost an appeal against the conviction, leaving the parliamentary vote and removal of his leadership title as the next step in the saga.

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Significance and Political Context

Singh was the first person to hold the title of Leader of the Opposition in Singapore’s parliament. His case is also notable as one of the very few criminal convictions involving a sitting opposition lawmaker in the country.

Critics have previously accused the Singapore government of using the judiciary to target political opponents, a claim the authorities have consistently denied.

The Workers’ Party currently holds 12 seats in parliament. Singh remains a prominent figure in Singaporean politics, and the party has yet to decide who will assume the opposition leadership role moving forward.

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Key Points

• Pritam Singh, Singapore’s Leader of the Opposition, has been stripped of the title following a conviction for lying under oath.
• Singh will continue as a Member of Parliament and Workers’ Party secretary-general.
• The conviction arose from his handling of Raeesah Khan’s false testimony in 2021.
• Parliament, dominated by the PAP, voted in favor of removing Singh from the leadership position.
• Singh maintains his innocence and intends to continue his parliamentary duties (#WeContinue).
• The Workers’ Party holds 12 of 108 seats in Singapore’s parliament and will consider nominating a new opposition leader.