Singapore’s opposition will not nominate replacement for Leader of the Opposition role

SINGAPORE, Jan 21 (Reuters) – Singapore’s Workers’ Party said on Wednesday it will not nominate another of its lawmakers to be Leader of the Opposition.

In a press statement, the opposition party said its view was that the leader of the opposition should be the leader of the largest opposition party in parliament.

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong last week stripped Workers’ Party secretary-general Pritam Singh of the post, saying his position had become untenable after his lying conviction.

Wong asked the opposition party, which has 10 of the 97 seats, to nominate another lawmaker to take Singh’s place.

The Worker’s Party statement said: “In other Westminster systems, the title of the Leader of the Opposition is established by law and is not the prerogative or choice of the Government of the day or the Prime Minister. This approach expresses the authority and sanctity of the people’s vote.”

In Singapore, the Leader of the Opposition role is designated by the head of government and not provided for in the constitution or parliament’s standing orders.

The post comes with certain privileges and duties, such as staff support and an additional allowance, as well as access to confidential government briefings, especially in the event of a national crisis or emergency.

(Reporting by Jun Yuan Yong and Xinghui Kok; Editing by David Stanway)