Workers' Party says it will not nominate new Leader of the Opposition

The Workers' Party (WP) will not be nominating a new Leader of the Opposition (LO), the party said on Wednesday (Jan 21). 

In a letter to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, WP said that it is unable to nominate a new LO and the "only tenable candidate" for the role should be the leader of the largest opposition party in Parliament. 

This comes a week after WP's secretary-general, Pritam Singh, was removed from his role as LO by PM Wong after Parliament deemed him unsuitable in light of his court conviction and conduct. 

On Jan 15, PM Wong said that it was "no longer tenable" for Singh to continue his role as LO, and that the decision was necessary to uphold the rule of law, as well as the dignity and integrity of Parliament.

The party said that the role of LO is typically established by law in other Westminster systems, rather than "the prerogative or choice of the Government of the day or the Prime Minister" so that the "authority and sanctity" of voters can be expressed.

"We continue to focus on our primary duty, to work for Singaporeans and provide a rational, responsible, and respectable check on the Government," WP said.

While the party has declined PM Wong's invitation to nominate a new LO, the party has convened a disciplinary panel — comprising current MPs He Ting Ru and Jamus Lim, and former Hougang MP Png Eng Huat — to assess Singh's conduct and conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee.

WP said in a media statement on Jan 3 that the disciplinary process will be concluded within three months, after which it will call for a Special Cadre Members' Conference.

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dana.leong@asiaone.com