WP CHIEF PRITAM SINGH TO BE GIVEN S$385,000 ALLOWANCE ANNUALLY

Workers’ Party (WP)’s secretary-general Pritam Singh, was formally designated as the official Leader of the Opposition (LO) on July 11 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The offices of the Speaker of Parliament and the Leader of the House said in a statement earlier today (July 28) that for his new position, Singh will be given additional resources as well as parliamentary privileges.

Singh will be accorded the following privileges:

• He will be given longer speaking duration for speeches that are equivalent to his political officerholders counterparts.
• On select matters of national security, external relations, national crisis or emergencies, he will receive confidential briefings by the government.

Singh will also be accorded the following resource:

• He shall be paid S$385,000 per year, which is twice the amount of an elected Member of Parliament (MP)’s allowance.
• He will be getting extra allowance as well to hire a maximum of three legislative assistants.
• A secretary will be assigned to help him with his administration.
• He will be given an office and a meeting room as well, in the Parliament House.

However, with great power comes great responsibility.

Singh will also have more duties as the new LO, he will be:

• Leading the opposition, presenting alternative views in debates on motions, policies, bills and etcetera in Parliament.
• Taking the lead in scrutinizing the Government’s actions and positons in Parliament.
• Consulted on the appointment of opposition members to Select Committees.

Singh will also be called upon as required to official state functions and taking part in visits and meetings with the Government.

Grace Fu, the Leader of the House, will formally set out the terms of LO with a statement in Parliament on August 24.

Singh has also pledged 50% of his LO salary (after taxes), for the following purposes:

• To assist low-income residents in Hougang SMC, Aljunied GRC and Sengkang GRC through the Workers’ Party Community Fund (WPCF) and/or the WP Grassroots Committee; or
• Community programs in Hougang SMC, Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC; or
• Charitable or worthy causes; or
• Workers’ Party specific needs.

Pritam Singh also gave his thoughts on the matter with a lengthy Facebook post: