SINGAPORE, June 29 — Singapore's Workers' Party has retained Pritam Singh as its secretary-general despite his removal as Leader of the Opposition by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong earlier this year following his conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee.
The country's largest opposition party votedyesterday to retain Singh as its leader after he addressed members and answered questions about his conviction.
"This decision reflects the considered judgment of the Party's cadres, and the Party's commitment to democratic principles and due process," the party said in a statement.
Workers' Party Central Executive Committee member Gerald Giam told local media that a supermajority of party cadres voted in favour of retaining Singh.
In February 2025, a Singapore court found Singh guilty of giving false testimony to a parliamentary committee in 2021 concerning a fellow party member. The High Court dismissed his appeal against the conviction in December 2025.
In January, Wong removed Singh from his post as Leader of the Opposition, saying the position had become untenable following his conviction. In Singapore, the Leader of the Opposition is designated by the prime minister and is not provided for under the Constitution or Parliament's Standing Orders.
Wong had asked the Workers' Party to nominate another lawmaker not embroiled in the scandal to serve as opposition leader.
However, the party, which won 10 seats in last year's general election, declined to nominate a replacement. It said in January that the leader of the largest opposition party in Parliament should serve as Leader of the Opposition.
The post carries several privileges and responsibilities, including staff support, an additional allowance and access to confidential government briefings.
