Pritam Singh Stripped of Opposition Title After Conviction

Thu Jan 15 2026 14:23:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Singapore’s opposition leader, Pritam Singh, faces a significant setback after being stripped of his title following a conviction for lying under oath. The political ramifications of this decision continue to develop.

Pritam Singh, the Leader of the Opposition in Singapore, has lost his title due to a recent conviction for perjury related to a parliamentary investigation. The ruling by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong followed a parliamentary vote dominated by the ruling People’s Action Party. Singh, who remains a member of parliament and the secretary-general of the Workers' Party, has vowed to continue his work despite the loss of privileges associated with the opposition title. His conviction marks one of the rare cases of such criminal charges against a sitting opposition politician in Singapore, raising concerns about political motivations in the judicial processes of the country.

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.

The vote took place on Wednesday in parliament, which is overwhelmingly dominated by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).

This decision comes after Singh's conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee, a claim he has consistently denied.

While Singh remains a member of parliament and secretary-general of the largest opposition party, the Workers' Party (WP), he will lose several privileges associated with the title, including additional allowances and the right of first reply during parliamentary debates.

Singh's case is notable as one of the few criminal convictions against a sitting opposition lawmaker, and he was the first person to hold the title of Leader of the Opposition.

Critics have accused the Singaporean government of using the judiciary against its political opponents, a claim the authorities have refuted.

During the parliamentary debate led by Indranee Rajah, the Leader of the House, it was stated that Singh's dishonesty damaged public trust in parliament. Singh defended his actions, insisting his conscience is clear while vowing to continue as a Member of Parliament.

After a lengthy debate, a parliamentary motion upheld the decision to revoke Singh's title, with all 11 WP members present voting against it. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong later expressed that it was 'no longer tenable' for Singh to continue in his role due to the conviction.

In response to queries, Singh conveyed, '#WeContinue', and the WP promised to deliberate on the situation and respond appropriately. The party holds 12 seats in Singapore's 108-seat parliament.

Singh's legal troubles began in 2021 when WP lawmaker Raeesah Khan falsely claimed to have witnessed police misconduct. Khan later admitted to fabricating the story and alleged that Singh and other leaders had encouraged her to maintain the narrative. Following this, a criminal case was brought against Singh for lying during the parliamentary investigation, where he was subsequently convicted.

Singh's appeal against the conviction was unsuccessful, leaving him in a precarious position within Singapore's political landscape.