Singapore’s opposition leader, Pritam Singh, has lost his title as Leader of the Opposition following a court conviction for lying under oath. The decision came after a parliamentary vote dominated by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) on Wednesday.

Singh, who is the secretary-general of the Workers’ Party (WP), will continue as a member of parliament but will no longer receive special allowances or have the right of first reply in debates. He was the first person in Singapore to hold the Leader of the Opposition role.

The conviction stems from a case linked to former WP lawmaker Raeesah Khan. In 2021, Khan admitted she had lied in parliament about police misconduct. During a parliamentary committee investigation, Singh was accused of encouraging Khan to continue the false story.

In February, a court found Singh guilty of lying under oath and fined him. He appealed the conviction but lost in December. Singh has consistently said he is innocent and that he wanted to give Khan time to handle the situation.

During the parliamentary debate, Singh defended himself, saying his conscience remains clearand that the motion labelling his actions as “dishonourable and unbecoming” was unfair. All 11 WP members present voted against the motion.

Al Jazeera News reported that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Singh could no longer serve as Leader of the Opposition and invited the WP to nominate another MP for the role. Singh responded to the news with a single word: “#WeContinue.”

The Workers’ Party holds 12 of 108 seats in Singapore’s parliament and is reviewing the situation before responding publicly.

This case highlights Singapore’s strict approach to parliamentary conduct and the challenges faced by opposition lawmakers in the country.