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Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, has dismissed the leader of the opposition in parliament, citing the lawmaker’s criminal conviction as the reason for dismissal.
The decision followed a parliamentary vote on Wednesday declaring Workers’ Party leader Pritam Singh unfit to continue as opposition leader.
In a statement on Thursday, Wong said that after careful consideration, Singh’s criminal convictions, combined with Parliament’s determination that he was unsuitable for the role, made it untenable for him to remain leader of the opposition.
“Having considered the matter carefully, I have decided that Mr Singh’s criminal convictions, taken together with Parliament’s considered view of his unsuitability, make it no longer tenable for him to continue as the leader of the opposition. “
He added that the immediate termination was necessary to uphold the rule of law and protect the dignity and integrity of Parliament.
The Prime minister also confirmed that he had formally written to the Workers’ Party, inviting it to nominate a successor to Singh.
Singapore remains one of the few democracies where the ruling party holds the authority to appoint or remove the parliamentary opposition leader, a system critics argue weakens legislative independence.
Singh, 49, was convicted of lying to a parliamentary committee, a verdict upheld by the High Court on appeal in December.
Despite the conviction, Wong had reappointed him to a second term as opposition leader after last year’s general election, which extended the People’s Action Party’s uninterrupted rule to more than six decades.
The Workers’ Party acknowledged receipt of the letter, saying its members would deliberate on the matter and respond in due course.
