SINGAPORE: Mixed reactions have emerged online after the Workers’ Party (WP) revealed yesterday (April 30) that it has formally reprimanded its secretary-general, Pritam Singh, following an internal disciplinary process linked to his conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee but most supporters remain loyal and steadfast.

The party said in a statement that its Central Executive Committee (CEC) convened over two days this week to review a report submitted by its disciplinary panel. Mr Singh did not take part in the deliberations, having recused himself alongside party chair Sylvia Lim and vice-chair Faisal Manap.

The panel concluded that Mr Singh had breached provisions under Articles 20(1) and 30 of the party constitution, which govern members’ conduct and discipline. These findings were based on the court’s earlier judgment, and the CEC said it accepted the panel’s conclusions.

Despite this, the party leadership determined that Mr Singh’s actions were not driven by any intent to undermine the party’s principles or interests. It said, “The CEC separately considered that, at all material times, Mr Singh did not have any intention to act in a manner contrary to the principles, aims, or objects of the party, or prejudicial to the welfare of the party, and his actions ultimately reflected judgment calls that he had to make.”

After weighing the circumstances, the CEC decided to issue a formal letter of reprimand. “We continue the work of building a more balanced political system for Singapore,” the party added.

The disciplinary action has split netizens, with some expressing disappointment and others saying it’s time to move on. One Facebook user asked, “This is really disappointing. If WP leaders want to hold the government accountable, they must hold themselves to the same standard of integrity. Otherwise, how can the public have confidence in their role as a check and balance?”

Another commenter wrote, “While the conclusion may be valid, the lack of transparency around how the assessment was conducted could undermine public confidence. Anyway is Wayang Party.”

One netizen commented, “Wah, reprimand only ah? Very strong action indeed,” while another jibed, “Don’t scold Pritam la.. he take mrt you know.”

Staunch opposition supporters, on the other hand, had a different take. Some commended the party for “doing a proper internal investigation”, while others urged the WP and its chief to “continue fighting.”

One commenter said simply, “Whatever! My family will continue to vote for the WP Punggol.”

The WP disciplinary panel was formed in January this year following the High Court’s decision in December 2025 to uphold Mr Singh’s conviction on two charges of lying under oath to a parliamentary committee.

Mr Singh had been found guilty in February 2025 in a case tied to his handling of a false statement made in Parliament in 2021 by former WP MP Raeesah Khan. He was subsequently fined S$7,000 for each charge, the maximum penalty.

In January 2026, Parliament passed a motion expressing regret over Mr Singh’s conduct and declaring him unfit to continue as Leader of the Opposition. Ten WP MPs and one Non-Constituency MP from the party voted against the motion.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong later removed Mr Singh from the role and invited the WP to nominate a replacement. The party declined, maintaining that the position should remain with the leader of the largest opposition party in Parliament.

This article (Supporters stay loyal despite WP reprimand of Pritam Singh) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s most prominent opposition party, the Workers’ Party (WP), issued its yearly Labour Day message at midday on Apr 30 (Thursday) titled Strengthening Social Solidarity in the Age of AI. The statement from Secretary-General Pritam Singh expressed appreciation for workers amid concerns for the future of jobs in Singapore as technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence, rapidly develops.

He pointed out the value of the contribution of every worker, from the Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) who drive Singapore’s innovation, to skilled tradespersons, care workers, and public servants.

“The progress of our nation is built on the collective effort of all workers, and we owe a profound debt of gratitude to those who continue to serve across all sectors of our society,” he wrote.

Transformation of work due to AI

The WP noted how AI is no longer a novelty but is redefining work and, moreover, will play an ever-increasing role in people’s work and everyday lives. However, the party underscored that “uniquely human capabilities—empathy, physical presence, critical thinking and creativity—are becoming more valuable than ever.”

When Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the national Budget in February, he emphasised Singapore’s push toward AI, with a new AI Council to be set up with himself as chairman. The message from the WP referred to this, but called at the same time for more proactive policies to support all workers.

More support for new graduates

The WP has expressed much concern over the dilemma new graduates face, as some entry-level professional roles are being replaced by AI-driven solutions. This could cause young professionals to miss out on the long-term development of skills vital for them to grow as future leaders, the WP warned, which is why stronger support for them is needed “to get past the taxiway and onto the runway.”

The party called for temporary wage subsidies to encourage companies to hire graduates in apprenticeship-style roles, which would help young workers gain essential experience while reducing hiring risks for employers. 

A call for redundancy insurance

As it has many times in the past, the WP again called for a redundancy insurance scheme to protect workers amid the risk of displacement in today’s global economy. This scheme should be given to workers of all income levels as it would provide protection against financial pressure.

“True security comes from a clear pathway: from redundancy to reskilling and finally to employment. We believe that retraining must be coupled with an assurance that such efforts will translate directly into new, stable jobs,” Mr Singh wrote.

The WP noted that a lack of a strong safety net for people’s basic needs would cause workers to shy from the qualities needed at this time of transformation, innovativeness and risk-taking.

The WP Chief ended the message by affirming the party’s commitment to continue to bring rational and constructive proposals in Parliament that would bring society forward.

“We envision a Singapore where every contribution is valued, and all workers are protected. #WeContinue forward—together, and with no one left behind. I wish all workers in Singapore a Happy Labour Day.” /TISG

Read also: WP MP Louis Chua: Now is the time to do more for Singapore’s fresh graduates

This article (WP’s Labour Day Message: We continue forward together, with no one left behind) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Chee Soon Juan has made a dig at recent comments Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong made, as he expressed concerns online about the rate of deforestation in the country.

The party chief is presently on a trip to the US and has been invited to give talks to a number of groups, including students at top American schools. He wrote in a social media post that he took a drive to a state park to see the famed California redwood trees and was left amazed at the sight of the giant trees.

He wrote, “It didn’t disappoint. Its magnificence is truly breathtaking. Some of them are more than 2,000-years old.”

Reflecting on the state of forests at home, Dr Chee added, “Meanwhile, in Singapore, we are clearing more forests for development, including more data centres. But no worries, the government says they are ‘green’ data centres. And to compensate for the immense heat generated, not to mention the enormous amounts of power and water needed, we just have to use more fans and less air-con.”

His tongue-in-cheek comment about using less air-conditioning is a reference to the DPM’s controversial energy-saving tips that recently went viral.

Mr Gan had advised in Parliament earlier this month that Singaporeans should take public transport instead of driving and use fans instead of air-conditioning units to do their part in conserving energy.

Netizens on social media, online forums, and messaging groups were quick to ask whether the DPM and his fellow ministers would lead by example and take buses and trains, and turn off the air-con in Parliament, to do their part.

Others described the remarks as “tone-deaf” and “out of touch,” with some suggesting they reflected a disconnect between policymakers and ordinary citizens.

This article (Chee Soon Juan mocks Gan Kim Yong’s controversial energy saving tips) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A fundraising appeal posted by The Reform Party (RP) on Facebook has sparked criticism online, after the party asked supporters to donate money to help maintain its bank account and cover recurring service charges.

Opposition supporters online noted that the party called on members and supporters to contribute funds to keep their bank account active, providing DBS banking details and a PayNow QR code for transfers. Donors were also asked to submit their transfer receipts for record-keeping.

Rather than drawing sympathy, the appeal triggered a wave of negative reactions. Many commenters questioned the party’s financial stability and organisational competence, with some asking whether a political party struggling to maintain a bank account could be trusted with public office.

Several users openly questioned how the party could manage larger responsibilities, such as overseeing a constituency or handling public funds, if it appeared unable to manage its own finances. Others cast doubt on its ability to undertake more ambitious political work, given the nature of the request.

More serious concerns were raised about the legitimacy and transparency of the appeal. A number of users questioned where the donations would go and who was responsible for collecting them, with some using terms such as “scam” and others even tagging the Singapore Police Force to query whether the appeal was lawful.

Although the post included bank account details and a PayNow option, it did not appear to provide additional information such as a named treasurer, a specific fundraising target, or a breakdown of how the funds would be used.

Alongside the criticism, the comment section was filled with ridicule. Users coined mocking nicknames for the party and made sarcastic suggestions about how it could raise money, including selling items or relying on personal funds. Some claimed, jokingly, to have made donations ranging from negligible sums to exaggerated amounts.

Some commenters argued that such parties risk fragmenting the opposition vote during general elections and suggested that they should either merge with more established parties or disband altogether.

Interestingly, RP did enter into an alliance with three other smaller parties ahead of the 2025 general election. The People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR) initially consisted of RP, People’s Voice, the Democratic Progressive Party and the People’s Power Party (PPP) before PPP withdrew from the alliance months before the polls.

The alliance contested in six constituencies and not only failed to win any ward but also lost its election deposits in two wards. Only one RP member was fielded in the 2025 general election, and he ran under the PAR banner at Queenstown SMC, which ended up seeing the biggest constituency-level share of the vote for the governing People’s Action Party (PAP).

RP withdrew from PAR in July, just two months after the election in May.

This article (RP’s donation appeal backfires as Singaporeans question party’s viability) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: In Parliament earlier this month, Workers’ Party Member of Parliament (WP MP) Louis Chua (Sengkang) raised questions concerning the latest graduate employment figures and asked if targeted assistance could be considered for graduates of degrees with lower full-time permanent employment levels.

He addressed the issue again in a Facebook post, asking, “How cooked are our fresh graduates?” in light of “worsening” graduate employment figures.

The latest graduate employment survey, which was released on March 5, showed that fewer Singapore university graduates found jobs within six months of finishing their exams. In 2024, 87.1% of graduates found employment within half a year. Last year, this figure went down to 83.4%. Moreover, those who found full-time permanent jobs have decreased from 79.4% to 74.4% between 2024 and 2025. The results of the survey showed a continuing decline from 2022.

“And those who applied but got NO OFFERS jumped to 8.5% in 2025 (from 5.7% in 2024, 4.1% in 2023),” wrote Mr Chua.

He also underlined that the fresh graduates from Arts, Design & Media courses “saw the most worrying decline in full-time permanent employment of 12%-pts compared to 2024, to just 50%,” which is why he called for further employment assistance to recent graduates, particularly targeted assistance for graduates of degrees with lower full-time permanent employment levels.

The MP noted that when asked in Parliament last September about the GRaduate Industry Traineeship (GRIT) Programme, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng had said that if necessary, the Government was ready to roll out further support.

“Given the current situation, I believe now is the time to do more for our fresh graduates,” the MP wrote.

In answer to Mr Chua’s questions, Education Minister Desmond Lee pointed to support for graduates through expanded career services at institutes, including more job fairs, employer connections, and personalised counselling. In addition, graduates may access national career support like coaching and job matching through Workforce Singapore, and are encouraged to stay flexible about career paths.

The Minister also pointed to traineeship programmes such as GRIT that help graduates gain work experience as well as bridge the gap to full-time employment, adding that extensions are now being planned for future cohorts. 

“We will continue to watch the trends in our graduate employment outcomes closely and provide more support to our new graduates where needed. Our graduates are among the most talented and well-prepared in the world. The current market conditions are temporary, but the quality of our education and the resilience of our graduates are enduring strengths,” he added. 

This is a topic that WP MPs and NCMPs have been vocal about. Last year, they raised various questions in Parliament, including whether the Graduate Industry Traineeships (GRIT) can help Singapore’s fresh graduates find jobs.

In August, NCMPS Andre Low and Eileen Chong invited new graduates to share their job search experiences, with Mr Low telling them that the struggles are “a systemic problem, and not yours to find alone.” /TISG

Read related: WP MPs ask if Singapore’s job market is leaving young people behind

This article (WP MP Louis Chua: Now is the time to do more for Singapore’s fresh graduates) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Ex-Minister Ng Eng Hen has posted a photo on social media showing himself on board an MRT train, sparking questions as to whether the veteran politician is trying to back Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Gan Kim Yong after the latter’s electricity saving tips caused controversy earlier this month.

Showing off his Passion Card, the former minister wrote on Facebook, “Took MRT to Maxwell Food Centre and had the laksa mee on Sunday. With this new long range capability, I can now target hawker food faraway!”

Comparisons to Mr Gan were immediate. He had said in Parliament earlier this month that Singaporeans should take public transport instead of driving and use fans instead of air-conditioning units to do their part in conserving energy.

Netizens on social media, online forums, and messaging groups were quick to ask whether the DPM and his fellow ministers would lead by example and take buses and trains, and turn off the air-con in Parliament, to do their part.

Others described the remarks as “tone-deaf” and “out of touch,” with some suggesting they reflected a disconnect between policymakers and ordinary citizens.

As the remarks continued stirring a sense of unease online, Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh was spotted travelling by train, winning widespread praise and comparisons to the DPM. DPM Gan was hot on Mr Singh’s heels and was spotted hours later on Friday (April 10) taking the Punggol LRT with an entourage following him.

However, just days after the LRT ride, DPM Gan has gone back to the comfort of car rides.

In a Facebook post on April 12, Mr Gan revealed he was on his way to Changi Airport for an official visit to the United States, where he is expected to meet government and business leaders, including in Austin, Texas. The post, which featured a photograph of him seated in a car, quickly drew attention online.

Critics asked whether the LRT ride had been a staged gesture and a one-off act rather than a genuine attempt to practice what he preaches.

The comments on Mr Ng’s post, meanwhile, include ones questioning whether he is “doing his part” and backing the DPM.

One commenter tagged the DPM himself and quipped, “Nowadays the trend is, taking mrt or public transport need to post online.”

Another netizen commented, “WP MP took MRT, DPM took MRT, SMOS took MRT. Now ex-Defence Minister also take MRT. We are suddenly so obsessed with MRT.”

Crediting Pritam Singh for starting a trend, a commenter said, “Now even ex minister joining the fab show started by PS.”

This article (Ex-Minister joins MRT bandwagon after DPM’s electricity saving tips cause unease) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.