Singapore GE2025: WP chief Pritam Singh to remain Leader of the Opposition, says PM Wong
SINGAPORE: Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh will remain the Leader of the Opposition with staff and resources to carry out his duties, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
'The WP fielded a strong slate of candidates, and put up a tough fight in this election,' said PM Wong, who added that he had spoken to Pritam.
WP has also consolidated and increased its presence in Parliament, the Prime Minister added in a Facebook post on May 5.
The opposition party retained Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC, returning 1ten elected MPs to Parliament.
As the 'best losers' at the polls - narrowly losing to the ruling PAP in Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC - the party will be able to take up two Non-Constituency MP seats in Singapore's 15th Parliament.
In the five constituencies that it did not win, WP candidates polled above 40 per cent.
PM Wong said: 'I look forward to the contributions of the Workers' Party members in Parliament,' he added.
Pritam was appointed Leader of the Opposition by former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong after the last general election in 2020, which saw WP win its second GRC - Sengkang.
The Leader of the Opposition's role is to lead the opposition in presenting alternative views in parliamentary debates on policies, Bills and motions.
His duties also include leading and organising scrutiny of the government's positions and actions in Parliament.
On May 3, WP triumphed in its traditional strongholds of Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC, returning its core leaders - including Pritam, its secretary-general - to Parliament.
Despite a national swing towards the ruling party, the five-member WP team in Aljunied GRC maintained its hold over the constituency, with 59.68 per cent of the vote.
In Hougang, WP polled 62.17 per cent. The party also held on to Sengkang, winning 56.31 per cent of the vote.
While the party did not win any new constituency, it polled above 40 per cent in the constituencies where it lost, namely the Punggol, East Coast and Tampines GRCs, as well as the Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat SMCs. - The Straits Times/ANN
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Malaysia
an hour ago
- Herald Malaysia
Timor-Leste downplays Myanmar's objection to its ASEAN membership
A file picture of Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta. (Photo: Facebook) Timor-Leste has dismissed Myanmar's reported objection to it becoming the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as 'inconsequential and irrelevant.'Myanmar has formally objected to Timor-Leste's accession to the Southeast Asian regional bloc, accusing Dili of violating the bloc's core principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other nations, media reports said on July José Ramos-Horta dismissed the accusation as inconsequential, while reaffirming that the path to full membership of ASEAN has already been secured.'Myanmar's opposition is irrelevant. The formal decision for Timor-Leste to join ASEAN has already been made and is reflected in the final communiqué,' said Ramos-Horta, adding that the 'ceremony to mark our full membership is scheduled for the ASEAN Summit in October this year.''If the ASEAN Chair wishes, they may respond to Myanmar's objection, but preparations for Timor-Leste's accession are well underway,' he added. Media reports said Myanmar submitted an official letter to Malaysia, the current ASEAN Chair, asserting that Timor-Leste "does not adhere to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter." Valentin da Costa, executive director of the Timor-Leste NGO Forum (FONGTIL), also pushed back against Myanmar's accusations, saying the objection stems from Timor-Leste's consistent support for democracy and human rights in Myanmar. Timor-Leste's firm support for democratic values in Myanmar has been consistent. In August 2023, Prime Minister Gusmão warned that his country might reconsider its ASEAN membership bid if the bloc continued legitimizing military regimes. As preparations continue for Timor-Leste's formal ASEAN induction this October, the country positions itself not only as the bloc's newest member but also as a vocal advocate for human rights, civic freedoms, and democratic integrity in Southeast
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Pakistan-US trade talks in final stretch
Pakistan hopes to avert the reimposition of a 29 per cent US tariff on Pakistani exports — primarily textiles and agricultural products. - Dawn/ANN WASHINGTON: With just a week remaining before the July 9 tariff deadline, Pakistan and the United States have entered the final stretch of crucial trade negotiations that could determine the future of Pakistan's key export sectors. A Pakistani delegation, headed by Commerce Secretary Jawad Paal, reached Washington this week, hoping to secure a long-term reciprocal tariff agreement that would avert the reimposition of a 29 per cent US tariff on Pakistani exports — primarily textiles and agricultural products. The tariff relief was temporarily paused earlier this year, but a final decision hinges on the outcome of the ongoing talks. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that Washington may allow limited flexibility on the deadline if meaningful progress is visible, potentially pushing the cutoff toward Labour Day. However, Pakistani officials say they are working to complete the deal this week to remove any uncertainty for exporters and investors. The proposed framework includes increased Pakistani imports of US goods — particularly crude oil — alongside incentives for American investment in Pakistan's mining, infrastructure, and energy sectors. Key projects under discussion include the Reko Diq copper-gold mine and associated energy infrastructure. The agreement is also expected to pave the way for greater engagement through the US Export-Import Bank. Pakistani negotiators are optimistic that a deal can be finalised this week, ensuring continued access to the US market. - Dawn/ANN
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Singapore's Wong urges restraint in Thai-Cambodia border dispute
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (left) meeting his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet in Phnom Penh on July 2, 2025. - AP SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has called for restraint and dialogue between Thailand and Cambodia, urging an amicable resolution to their border dispute in line with international law. "In today's uncertain global environment, Asean countries cannot afford to let disputes divide us,' Wong said in a Facebook post late Wednesday (July 2) following a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh. "It is in our collective interest to work together to preserve peace, strengthen regional stability, and deepen Asean integration.' Tensions escalated after troops from both countries exchanged fire on May 28 in a disputed border area, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier. Since then, the two countries have shut several border crossings in tit-for-tat moves, massed troops along the frontier and closed or shortened the operational hours of key land routes that serve as vital trade links. - Bloomberg
