Pritam Singh is the general secretary of the Workers’ Party.
Singapore:
Indian-born politician Pritam Singh was named Singapore’s opposition leader on Tuesday, the first such appointment in the city-state’s history.
The Workers’ Party of 43-year-old Pritam Singh won 10 parliamentary seats out of 93 contested in the July 10 general election, making it the largest opposition presence in Singapore’s parliament.
Mr. Singh is the general secretary of the Workers’ Party.
Singapore’s legislative assemblies have never formally appointed opposition leaders, and such a position is not provided for in the Constitution or in the Rules of Parliament, “parliamentary offices said in their statement on Tuesday.
“Singapore’s legislatures never had any official opposition leaders, not even in the 1950s and early 1960s, when there were a substantial number of opposition legislatures,” he said. Channel News Asia said citing the statement.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Popular Action Party won 83 seats in the general election and his government was sworn in on Monday.
Mr. Singh will take on more duties and be granted additional privileges in his role as leader of the opposition, authorities said in a statement on Tuesday, outlining details of the new post.
“Similar to other Westminster parliamentary systems, Mr Singh will lead the opposition in presenting alternative views in parliamentary debates on policies, bills and motions,” the Speaker’s Office said. and the House leader’s office in a joint statement.
He will also lead and organize the review of government positions and actions in Parliament and be consulted on the appointment of opposition members to special committees, such as the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr. Singh, who is also a lawyer, will receive an annual package of S $ 385,000 (US $ 2,79025.98) as compensation for his new role.
Prime Minister Lee said on July 11 that Singh would be appointed Leader of the Opposition.
After being sworn in on Monday, Lee said the election results showed a strong desire among Singaporeans for a greater diversity of views in politics and the trend is here to stay.
“We need to give it expression and evolve our political system to adapt it while maintaining our cohesion and our sense of national purpose,” Lee said.
“As with any new political appointment, the role of the LO (leader of the opposition) will evolve as our political system develops,” said the parliamentary statement.
“We look forward to working with LO to create a robust but stable political system serving the interests of Singapore and Singaporeans,” he said.
The statement adds that these duties and privileges have been vested in Mr. Singh, and the House leader will make a statement to Parliament formally setting out these conditions.
Singapore’s 14th Parliament will hold its first sitting on August 24.
