Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh still commands the support of his party, say political observers.
SINGAPORE: The criminal charges laid on Workers’ Party (WP) secretary-general Pritam Singh on Tuesday (Mar 19) have raised questions about the party’s future heading into the next general election, which must be called by November 2025, political analysts said.
The charges are “a setback that you would rather not have to deal with, because now time and resources will have to be invested in preparing the defense,” said Associate Professor Eugene Tan of the Singapore Management University (SMU). “But given that things have come to where they are, I think we can expect the Workers’ Party – as they have indicated – that they will take it in their stride, and they will not let this matter be a distraction for them.”
Singh was charged with two counts of giving false answers to a parliamentary committee investigating the conduct of former WP MP Raeesah Khan, who lied in parliament about a rape case that she claimed was mishandled by police. He is accused of lying to the Committee of Privileges in December 2021 regarding two exchanges he had with Ms Khan in August and October of 2021 about her false statements in Parliament.
Singh pleaded not guilty. Each charge carries a punishment of up to three years in jail and a fine of up to S$7,000 (US$5,200).
Under laws passed in May 2022, individuals are disqualified from standing for election if they are jailed for at least one year or fined at least S$10,000. This disqualification lasts for five years. The prosecution intends to ask the court to impose a fine, and Singh’s status as an MP depends on how the court interprets the Constitution, legal experts told CNA earlier.
Following his court appearance, Singh stated that he would continue with all his parliamentary and town council duties – as MP for Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) – “until the legal process comes to a complete close.”
If Singh is found guilty before the next general election (GE), his credibility would be affected, leading to “reputational damage” for the WP, which would need to prove that it is as “scrupulous” as the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), Assoc Prof Tan noted. However, a guilty verdict would likely not change the minds of staunch opposition supporters and may only impact voters unaffiliated with any political party.
If the case remains unresolved by the time the GE is called, independent political analyst Dr. Felix Tan said it could be used to dissuade voters from supporting the WP, encouraging them to vote for the PAP instead, as they might be perceived as more reliable.
However, Dr. Gillian Koh, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), pointed out that the WP contested the 2015 and 2020 elections with the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council case “hanging over them”. Despite this, the WP teams, including Singh, were still re-elected.
“They put themselves forward as being unfazed by these threats and challenges, and therefore try to convey how courageous and committed they are to serving the people,” Dr. Koh added.
SINGH HAS PARTY’S SUPPORT, SAY ANALYSTS
Political observers noted that at this stage, the charges would not affect Singh’s ability to serve as Leader of the Opposition and WP secretary-general. Most analysts agree that he still commands the support of his party.
SMU’s Assoc Prof Tan said the WP would be “determined to close ranks” behind Singh, ensuring that the case does not impede their efforts to serve their constituents.
IPS’ Dr. Koh added that supporters might view the case as reinforcing Singh’s standing and role as a leading opposition politician in Singapore, while others might question his actions in the matter concerning Ms. Khan. “It will be up to Mr. Singh to decide if he wants to step aside, as it is very unlikely that any (younger leaders) would want to push him out,” she said.
“He has a strong standing among their supporters in WP-held constituencies, and the WP leaders would want to hang on to that political capital and build on it.”
The only potential challenge Singh may face would be if there is a “preponderance of opinion” within the WP or among influential former members that “he defends himself so robustly as to embarrass Ms Khan badly or is unfair to her when disputing her version of the facts” at the Committee of Privileges.
“We can only tell when Mr. Singh is before the court,” Dr. Koh said. She does not foresee Singh stepping down voluntarily from parliament if found guilty, as long as the penalties do not disqualify him as an MP.
If Singh steps down as secretary-general, or is forced to, Dr. Koh believes younger leaders in the party would step up to take his place. Dr. Tan even suggested that retired WP chief Low Thia Khiang might return temporarily to fill the role of secretary-general.
OPPOSITION’S ROLE
In his statement, Singh also said: “When I first entered politics some years ago, I was under no illusion as to the challenges that lay ahead in building a more balanced and democratic political system in Singapore.”
Independent analyst Dr. Tan noted that opposition members in Singapore have always faced tests within the political system to prove their reliability and honesty. “No matter what, as long as he comes from the opposition political party, there will always be these certain constraints on the opposition party members,” Dr. Tan said.
Dr. Koh added that Singh’s remarks were a reminder to voters of the importance of the opposition, and that despite the obstacles, the WP remains committed to ensuring that democracy is fully realized in Singapore.
While the situation may reinforce the WP’s message of providing alternative voices in Parliament, Dr. Koh emphasized that integrity is central to the political values in Singapore, and it is what the broader set of voters expect from both governing and opposition parties.
She concluded that the future expansion of the WP would depend on reinforcing their political outreach at the grassroots level and campaigning on the need for alternative voices in Parliament. This, she argued, is an important part of denying the PAP a clean sweep and supporting the political underdog—a perception that Singh’s developments could serve to reinforce.
