Leader of the Opposition (Singapore)

Leader of the Opposition
Ketua Pembangkang 反对党领袖 எதிர்க்கட்சித் தலைவர்
Incumbent Pritam Singh since 24 August 2020[1]
Parliament of Singapore
Style	Leader of the Opposition (informal) The Honourable (formal)
Abbreviation	LO
Appointer	Prime Minister
Term length	No term limit
Inaugural holder	Pritam Singh (de jure) Lee Kuan Yew (de facto)
Formation	24 August 2020; 17 months ago (2020-08-24) (de jure) 22 April 1955; 66 years ago (1955-04-22) (de facto)
Salary	S$385,000 annually (including S$192,500 MP salary)

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The leader of the opposition (LO)^[2] is an official parliamentary appointment in the Parliament of Singapore. The leader of the opposition is the leader of the majority political party in Parliament that is not in the government.^[3] If one party wins outright, the role is offered to the elected party leader of the second-largest political party in the Parliament.

The first de jure leader of the opposition is Pritam Singh, who is the current secretary general of the Workers' Party.^[4]

History[]

The leader of the opposition was formerly an unofficial de facto position in the Parliament of Singapore, as the constitution and standing orders of Parliament did not provide for such a position.^[5] The formal office was established in the aftermath of the 2020 general election, which saw the opposition Workers' Party winning ten seats in Parliament. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the creation of the formal office and that the leader of the opposition would be provided with the appropriate manpower support and resources^[6][7] to perform the parliamentary role.^[8][9] As in other Commonwealth countries with a Westminster parliamentary system of government, the parliamentary appointment is supported with a secretariat and is additionally given office space in the Parliament buildings.^[3]

Due to its former status as a de facto role, the leader of the opposition did not draw any additional allowance by virtue of holding the position and were entitled only to the usual ordinary remuneration allowance granted to other regular Members of Parliament. With the creation of the formal office, Parliament announced that the appointment holder will draw an annual salary of S$385,000, double the salary of a regular MP.^[5][10]

Seating in Parliament[]

The leader of the opposition sits on the left side of the Parliament chamber, directly opposite the prime minister and for a short time in the 13th Parliament, the deputy prime minister.

Duties[]

The leader of the opposition is expected to lead the opposition in presenting alternative views in parliamentary debates on policies, bills and motions, and organise the scrutiny of the Government’s positions and actions in Parliament and be consulted on the appointment of opposition members to Select Committees, including Standing Select Committees such as the Public Accounts Committee.

In addition to his parliamentary duties, the leader of the opposition may be called upon to take on other duties such as attending official state functions and taking part in visits and meetings alongside members of the Government and the Public Service.^[11]

Power & Resources[]

In Parliament, the leader of the opposition will generally be given the right of first response among Members of Parliament, and will be allowed ask the lead question to the ministers on policies, bills and motions, subject to existing speaking conventions. The leader of the opposition will also be given a longer speaking duration for speeches, equivalent to that given to political officeholders.

In addition to the government data or information available to other MPs, the leader of the opposition will receive confidential briefings by the Government on select matters of national security and external relations, and in the event of a national crisis or emergency.

The leader of the opposition will be provided an office and the use of a meeting room in Parliament House. He will also receive allowances to hire up to three additional legislative assistants. This is in addition to the allowances all MPs receive for one legislative assistant and one secretarial assistant. The leader of the opposition will also be provided with a secretary to support him administratively with parliamentary business.^[11]

List of leaders of the opposition[]

Portrait	Leader of the Opposition	Party		Took office	Left office	Parliament
	Lee Kuan Yew MP for Tanjong Pagar (1923–2015)		People's Action Party	22 April 1955	31 March 1959	1st Legislative Assembly
	Lim Yew Hock MP for Cairnhill (1914–1984)		Singapore People's Alliance	1 July 1959	3 September 1963	2nd Legislative Assembly
	Lim Huan Boon MP for Bukit Merah (born 1929)		Barisan Sosialis	22 October 1963	8 August 1965	3rd Legislative Assembly
				9 August 1965	31 December 1965	1st Parliament
	Chia Thye Poh MP for Jurong (born 1941)		Barisan Sosialis	1 January 1966	7 October 1966
Vacant (1966-1981)
	J. B. Jeyaretnam MP for Anson (1926-2008)		Workers' Party	22 December 1981	4 December 1984	5th Parliament
				25 February 1985	10 November 1986	6th Parliament
	Chiam See Tong MP for Potong Pasir (until 1988) MP for Potong Pasir SMC (from 1988) (born 1935)		Singapore Democratic Party	10 November 1986	17 August 1988
				9 January 1989	14 August 1991	7th Parliament
				6 January 1992	17 May 1993	8th Parliament
	Ling How Doong MP for Bukit Gombak SMC (1934–2021)		Singapore Democratic Party	17 May 1993	16 December 1996
	Chiam See Tong MP for Potong Pasir SMC (born 1935)		Singapore People's Party	26 May 1997	18 October 2001	9th Parliament
			Singapore Democratic Alliance	25 March 2002	20 April 2006	10th Parliament
	Low Thia Khiang MP for Hougang SMC (1991-2011) MP for Aljunied GRC (2011-2020) (born 1956)		Workers' Party	2 November 2006	19 April 2011	11th Parliament
				10 October 2011	25 August 2015	12th Parliament
				15 January 2016	8 April 2018	13th Parliament
	Pritam Singh MP for Aljunied GRC (born 1976)		Workers' Party	8 April 2018	23 June 2020
		De jure office established
			Workers' Party	24 August 2020	Incumbent	14th Parliament

See also[]

• Prime Minister of Singapore
• Leader of the Opposition

References[]