Disciplinary Panel Formed to Investigate Pritam Singh’s Conduct

The Workers’ Party (WP) has established a disciplinary panel to investigate the conduct of its secretary-general, Pritam Singh. The panel includes current MPs He Ting Ru and Jamus Lim, along with former Hougang MP Png Eng Huat. This decision comes in the wake of Singh’s conviction last year for lying to a parliamentary committee, raising significant questions regarding his leadership within the opposition party.

The formation of this panel aims to assess whether Singh has violated the WP’s constitution. The current inquiry is set against the backdrop of a previous disciplinary investigation into former WP MP Raeesah Khan, which was conducted by Singh himself, party chair Sylvia Lim, and vice-chair Faisal Manap. All three are now entangled in the current controversy.

Panel Composition and Implications

The inclusion of Png Eng Huat in the panel is notable, as typically, such panels are composed solely of members from the central executive committee (CEC), the party’s leading decision-making body. According to former and current party cadres, Png’s appointment may be intended to provide additional credibility, as he previously served as an MP for Hougang from 2012 to 2020. One cadre remarked, “In all past incidents, the panels comprised CEC members,” indicating that this formation is indeed atypical.

The CEC has established a three-month deadline for the inquiry to be completed. The party announced earlier this month the intention to form a disciplinary panel, which underscores the seriousness of the allegations against Singh. Political analysts suggest that the WP will likely wait for the outcome of this inquiry before determining future actions regarding Singh’s position as party leader.

Political Context and Future Actions

Last week, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong removed Singh from his role as Leader of the Opposition, just one day after Parliament voted to deem him unsuitable for the position due to his conviction. Wong has invited the WP to nominate another elected MP to assume this critical role in parliament.

In February, over 20 party cadres had signed a letter advocating for a special conference to discuss Singh’s future within the party. However, the CEC has decided that this conference will only take place following the conclusion of the disciplinary process, emphasizing the need for due process.

The political landscape in Singapore continues to shift as these events unfold. As the WP navigates this challenging period, the decisions made by the disciplinary panel will significantly influence the party’s direction and Singh’s future within it. The party has been contacted for further comments regarding the panel’s formation and its implications for the upcoming inquiry.