The Usual Place Podcast
Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh no longer Leader of the Opposition. What’s next for WP?
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What does this all mean for the LO office, the Workers’ Party, and politics in Singapore?
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Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh has been removed as Leader of the Opposition by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, former MP Raeesah Khan’s conduct in Parliament
PM Wong has invited the WP to nominate another elected MP. But the person put forth has to be an MP who has not been implicated in the earlier findings of the Committee of Privileges that looked into
The saga started in 2021 when Ms Khan lied in Parliament. It led to an inquiry by the COP to uncover the sequence of events of who knew what, and when. Mr Singh was later convicted by the courts for lying to the COP. some cadres have called for a special conference?
What happens now, and are cracks beginning to show within the party, especially as
On this episode to discuss the Parliament debate and the implications of Mr Singh losing the role are:
Mr Peh Shing Huei, a regular commentator on Singapore politics and a former ST news editor. He is also the founding partner of content agency The Nutgraf, and author of several books about politicians and people in government, and
Singapore Management University’s Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan, who is a political analyst. He was also a former Nominated Member of Parliament.
Highlights (click/tap above):
3:40 Lifting of the WP whip for debate about Pritam Singh
7:01 “It wasn’t a good day at the office for Parliament.”: Prof Tan
11:50 Pritam vs Tharman: What’s the difference in cases?
16:15 Will there be a political cost to the PAP for this motion?
19:07 Was it the right move for WP MP to bring up PAP MP’s indiscretion?
24:16 Fatigue about the matter
27:16 “This is closing the loop.”: Prof Tan
29:48 Are the cracks showing in the WP, despite show of unity in Parliament?
32:08 Possible leadership challenge within the WP?
36:22 This issue an “albatross” around the WP’s neck: Prof Tan
43:44 Peh on why Pritam didn’t resign first
44:50 What does removing the LO office mean for S’pore politics?
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Filmed by: Studio+65
Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi
Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis
Editorial producers: Elizabeth Law
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