SINGAPORE- Reflecting on a year of robust debates in Parliament on issues such as digital security and anti-money laundering laws, Workers’ Party (WP) chairman Pritam Singh said the party would continue to work hard and secure popular support in the run-up to the elections. 2025 general elections.
In his New Year’s message posted on the WP’s Facebook page on December 31, the Leader of the Opposition said the WP strongly believes that “constructive parliamentary debates and policymakers’ diligent response to investigations” result in better policy outcomes for Singapore and Singaporeans.
“To achieve this goal, we have worked and played our role as a loyal opposition in Parliament in 2024,” Mr Singh said. His party has eight MPs in the House of Representatives.
In his message, he quoted former People’s Action Party (PAP) president and deputy prime minister Tony Tan, who said in his memoirs launched in March that he felt Singapore was moving towards a two-party system.
Mr Singh said: “The Workers’ Party has played its role in promoting a more stable political settlement for Singapore, where alternative views not only have a voice, but also a voice in Parliament.
“We have taken our parliamentary responsibilities seriously and raised issues including cost of living and HDB policy during this term of government.”
Singapore goes to the polls in 2025, with the general election in November.
After six decades of independence, the evolution of Singapore’s parliamentary democracy remains “stimulating and nascent”, and a House without elected opposition MPs is fully expected, Mr Singh said.
“These are the political margins in all constituencies of the WP and the structural advantages that the PAP gets through agencies such as the People’s Association, among others,” he said.
Within the party, it will also take significant efforts for the WP to expand its ranks with a new generation of Singaporeans who are willing to make sacrifices and contribute to the development and evolution of a more balanced and stable political system, he added.
Mr Singh summarized the party’s parliamentary record in 2024: MPs took part in a motion on digital security, examined the Bill against money laundering and other matters, and, among other things, became involved in the debate on reforming the process of revising electoral boundaries.
They had also spoken out during both parliamentary sessions in August and October, during which the issue was discussed The now failed deal between the German insurer Allianz and the local insurer Income Insurance.
WP MPs also spoke during the debate about the Platform Workers Act in September, in which a lengthy exchange between Aljunied took place GRC MP Gerald Giam and several PAP ministers and supporters about the ruling party’s close ties with the National Trade Union Congress.
Concluding his message, Mr Singh said the party was “encouraged and stimulated” by the public’s recognition of its parliamentary work.
“In 2025, we will continue to work hard and secure the people’s trust and support in the run-up to the general election,” he said.
- Goh Yan Han is a political correspondent at The Straits Times.
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