Singapore’s Workers’ Party refuses to nominate a new opposition leader, arguing the post should reflect voters’ will, not prime ministerial approval.
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s opposition Workers’ Party has refused to nominate a new parliamentary leader.
The party said the position should reflect the will of voters, not a nomination subject to approval by the prime minister.
Premier Lawrence Wong last week dismissed Workers’ Party chief as opposition leader.
This followed Singh’s criminal conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee to protect a fellow party member under investigation.
His removal came a day after parliament voted to declare him unfit for the role.
Wong subsequently invited the opposition to propose a replacement.
“The people’s vote explains the presence of opposition MPs in parliament,” the Workers’ Party said in a statement.
It added that appointing an opposition leader was “not the prerogative or choice of the government of the day or the prime minister”.
“For this reason, the Workers’ Party has informed the Prime Minister that we will not be nominating another MP from our party for the Leader of the Opposition post,” it said.
Singapore’s system allows the ruling party to approve an opposition leader.
Critics say this weakens the independence of parliament.
Singh, 49, was convicted of lying to a parliamentary committee.
The High Court upheld the ruling on appeal in December.
Wong’s People’s Action Party holds an overwhelming majority in the legislature.
He had reappointed Singh to a second term as opposition leader after last year’s general election.
The 2025 polls extended the ruling party’s more than six-decade grip on power.