LiveIndranee raises motion to debate Pritam’s suitability as Leader of the Opposition

Parliament will consider Sylvia Lim and Faisal Manap’s matters separately at another time

The court judgments have implications for Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Faisal Manap, Ms Indranee says.

But the extent and degree of their conduct differ from Mr Singh’s, and so the motion proposes that their matters be considered separately on another occasion, she adds.

Ms Lim is WP’s chairwoman and an MP for Aljunied GRC, while Mr Faisal is the WP’s vice-chair but is no longer in the House, after unsuccessfully contesting Tampines GRC in the May 2025 General Election. 
 

Prime Minister will decide whether to remove Pritam Singh as Leader of the Opposition

The motion does not operate to remove Mr Singh as Leader of the Opposition (LO), Ms Indranee says.

As the role is designated by the Prime Minister, the decision on whether Mr Singh should continue rests with him, not Parliament, she adds.

But MPs are entitled to and have an obligation to express a view on Mr Singh’s suitability to continue in the role, she says.

“It will then be for the Prime Minister to decide what to do after that.”

PM Lawrence Wong had, after the May 2025 General Election, said Mr Singh would continue in the role, which he was appointed to by then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after GE2020. Mr Singh is Singapore’s first formally designated LO. 
 

Parliament is not being asked to impose penalties or sanctions on Pritam Singh

The House is not being asked to impose penalties or sanctions on Mr Singh, Ms Indranee clarifies.

Parliament is able, under the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act 1962, to sanction its members with penalties such as a fine or suspension.

What is being asked is for the House to “express a view of his conduct”, Ms Indranee says, and if it agrees that such conduct is not acceptable, to express its regret at such conduct. 

Lies ‘strike at trust’ Singaporeans place in Parliament

When an MP lies to Parliament or its committees, it is not just a personal lapse or tactical misjudgment, says Ms Indranee.

It strikes at the trust Singaporeans place in parliamentarians and undermines the high standards of integrity and incorruptibility which make the Singapore system work and for which the Republic is known.

The authority of the House does not rest on law alone, but on the confidence and trust that Singaporeans have in it and its processes and members.

“This confidence and trust can be lost,” she says, and that is why Parliament must insist that its members always speak truthfully and act with integrity, even when it is politically inconvenient to do so.

This is why she has brought this motion before Parliament today, Ms Indranee says.

She goes on to reiterate her motion, which asks the House to:

• Affirm that honesty and integrity are fundamental pillars of Singapore’s parliamentary system; 
• Note the findings of the High Court and the COP;
• Express regret at the conduct of Mr Pritam Singh, which was dishonourable and unbecoming of an MP;
• Consider that such conduct renders him unsuitable to continue as Leader of the Opposition, a parliamentary leadership position carrying important responsibilities, duties and privileges, and that his continuation in this role would undermine the standing of Parliament and public confidence in the integrity of Singapore’s political system; 
• Note that the High Court judgment and the COP findings have implications for Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Faisal Manap, which have to be considered separately; and 
• Call on all MPs to uphold their solemn duty to respect and abide by the law, act with integrity at all times, and honour the trust placed in them by Singaporeans.

Matter began with Raeesah Khan’s lies to Parliament and has come ‘full circle’ back to Parliament: Indranee Rajah

Ms Indranee begins with a summary of events so far, starting with former WP MP Raeesah Khan’s lies to Parliament four and a half years ago.

“That lie led to another, and another, and yet another, and then to an inquiry by the Committee of Privileges (COP), where more lies were told – this time under oath.”

This led to a referral to the public prosecutor, and in December 2025, the High Court upheld WP chief Pritam Singh’s conviction for two counts of lying before the COP, Ms Indranee says.

Now, the matter has come full circle back to Parliament, she adds.

This is a serious matter, she says, and the misconduct in question is not trivial. It involves multiple lies to different persons at different times, guiding a junior MP to do the wrong thing, and a failure of leadership.

In Singapore’s democracy, honesty and integrity are not abstract ideals nor optional virtues but the foundation of public trust, she adds.
 

Indranee speaks first on motion on Pritam Singh’s suitability as Leader of the Opposition

With all the Bills on the agenda passed, Leader of the House Indranee Rajah rises to speak on her motion on Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh’s suitability to continue in his role.

The front bench is full – all ministers are in the House today.

Deputy Leader of the House Zaqy Mohamad also moves that the time limit be removed for Ms Indranee's speeches on this motion. The usual time limit is 40 minutes. The House consents.

Speaker Seah Kian Peng reminds MPs of the Standing Orders before the motion on Pritam Singh’s suitability as LO

Before Leader of the House Indranee Rajah starts her motion, Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng sets out some rules.

He says MPs should refrain from raising irrelevant issues or party issues, or the conduct of other party members or MPs.

He also says that Parliament is not “relitigating the case” and the intent of the motion is not to reopen the case or dispute the findings of the court. 

Mr Seah says he will disallow any remarks that will infringe the rules. 
 

Bill to formally recognise chess, e-sports and others as sports passed in Parliament

Parliament passes the Bill with no amendments. Mind sports such as chess and bridge, along with e-sports, will be formally recognised as sports.

It will also update the roles and functions of Sport Singapore (SportSG) to better support Singaporeans’ diverse sporting aspirations.

Last few MPs speak on the sports Bill

We hear from Ms Elysa Chen (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), Mr Lee Hong Chuang (Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC) and Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC) before Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo rounds up the debate.

Question time ends

Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng wraps up question time, and we resume the debate on the Singapore Sports Council (Amendment) Bill.

Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang) speaks first.