Workers' Party Chief Pritam Singh, Leader of the Opposition (LO)

[Tohto]

https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/parliament-sets-out-duties-and-privileges-of-leader-of-the-opposition-pritam-singh?utm_source=STSmartphone&utm_medium=share&utm_term=2020-07-28+17%3A07%3A04

Parliament sets out duties and privileges of Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh

SINGAPORE - As the official Leader of the Opposition (LO), Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh will be given certain parliamentary privileges like the right of first response among MPs.

He will also have the right to ask the lead question to ministers on policies, Bills and motions, subject to existing speaking conventions, the offices of the Speaker of Parliament and the Leader of the House said in a joint statement on Tuesday (July 28).

The statement set out the duties of the new role, as well as the parliamentary privileges and resources accorded to Mr Singh, who is an MP for Aljunied GRC.

He 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 statement said.

As the LO, Mr Singh will also have more time for his speeches, equivalent to that given to political office-holders.

According to the Standing Orders of Parliament, all MPs are allowed to speak for 20 minutes in response to questions raised, and can address a committee of the whole of Parliament for up to 10 minutes.

Ministers and parliamentary secretaries are entitled to speak for up to 40 minutes.

In terms of additional resources, Mr Singh will receive an allowance that is double that of an elected MP, or $385,000 a year, the statement said.

As for staff support, he will receive additional allowance to hire up to three additional legislative assistants, on top of the allowance that all MPs receive to hire one legislative assistant and a secretarial assistant.

He will also be provided a secretary to support him administratively with parliamentary business.

Mr Singh will have an office and the use of a meeting room in Parliament House.

[inlinesix]

Quote

Parliament sets out duties and privileges of Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh

https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/parliament-sets-out-duties-and-privileges-of-leader-of-the-opposition-pritam-singh

[Ysc3]

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/leader-of-the-opposition-pritam-singh-parliament-12970080

Pritam Singh to be accorded additional parliamentary privileges, double allowance as Leader of the Opposition

[Fcw75]

Happy for 别担心 and WP.

[Wt_know]

finally WP can grow with extra $$ and added resources ... it’s a good start

Edited July 28, 2020 by Wt_know

[Kopites]

1 hour ago, inlinesix said:

https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/parliament-sets-out-duties-and-privileges-of-leader-of-the-opposition-pritam-singh

Still not mention of scraping void desk for meet the mp session.

[Throttle2]

Wah lau PermSec get only $400k++  

mediocre!!!!!!! According to gCT.

[inlinesix]

17 minutes ago, Kopites said:

Still not mention of scraping void desk for meet the mp session.

It is 2 separate matter.

Setting up of Office of Opposition Leader is good move ahead.

MPS in void deck is to save cost la.  Need to pay rental to HDB.

[Freeder]

1 hour ago, Wt_know said:

finally WP can grow with extra $$ and added resources ... it’s a good start

It’s about time..

Anyway, it’s our money...

Best investment so far by the Gov...

[Fcw75]

This is one payment using taxpayers money that I am very happy about.

[Alg]

1 hour ago, Throttle2 said:

Wah lau PermSec get only $400k++  

mediocre!!!!!!! According to gCT.

Should be Parliamentary Secretary...

Perm Sec maybe $300k++ nia....

[Yewheng]

2 hours ago, Ysc3 said:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/leader-of-the-opposition-pritam-singh-parliament-12970080

Pritam Singh to be accorded additional parliamentary privileges, double allowance as Leader of the Opposition

Look like pm Lee might be thinking far ahead like what if wp took over government next ge? So they are preparing pritam Singh should he would to took over as pm. 

[Fcw75]

15 minutes ago, Yewheng said:

Look like pm Lee might be thinking far ahead like what if wp took over government next ge? So they are preparing pritam Singh should he would to took over as pm. 

I don’t think so lor. I think he will find ways to fix Pritam. 

LHL leh...

[Yewheng]

10 minutes ago, Fcw75 said:

I don’t think so lor. I think he will find ways to fix Pritam. 

LHL leh...

By looking at what is given to him as an opposition leader. It seems like he is preparing if there is freak outcome in next ge leh. No? 

 

Look at this sentence.. 

 

It's a good news for wp.. Coz now wp is up 1 level compared to other opposition party. I think pm Lee have no choice, coz for singapore good he would have to prepare for the worst outcome should wp took over the government. If not later singapore will be quite messy. 

Edited July 28, 2020 by Yewheng

[Carbon82]

6 hours ago, Tohto said:

https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/parliament-sets-out-duties-and-privileges-of-leader-of-the-opposition-pritam-singh?utm_source=STSmartphone&utm_medium=share&utm_term=2020-07-28+17%3A07%3A04

SINGAPORE - As the official Leader of the Opposition (LO), Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh will be given certain parliamentary privileges like the right of first response among MPs.

He will also have the right to ask the lead question to ministers on policies, Bills and motions, subject to existing speaking conventions, the offices of the Speaker of Parliament and the Leader of the House said in a joint statement on Tuesday (July 28).

The statement set out the duties of the new role, as well as the parliamentary privileges and resources accorded to Mr Singh, who is an MP for Aljunied GRC.

He 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 statement said.

As the LO, Mr Singh will also have more time for his speeches, equivalent to that given to political office-holders.

According to the Standing Orders of Parliament, all MPs are allowed to speak for 20 minutes in response to questions raised, and can address a committee of the whole of Parliament for up to 10 minutes.

Ministers and parliamentary secretaries are entitled to speak for up to 40 minutes.

In terms of additional resources, Mr Singh will receive an allowance that is double that of an elected MP, or $385,000 a year, the statement said.

As for staff support, he will receive additional allowance to hire up to three additional legislative assistants, on top of the allowance that all MPs receive to hire one legislative assistant and a secretarial assistant.

He will also be provided a secretary to support him administratively with parliamentary business.

Mr Singh will have an office and the use of a meeting room in Parliament House.

Of all the "privileges", the part in bold are more significant. I am not being negative, but it goes to show the unfair treatment given to opposition MPs in the past (and even now). Restriction on speech time, not getting essential information, as well as cannot ask lead questions on policies, Bills and motion, etc. no wonder opposition are always perceived to be not doing much...

Power come with responsibility. Now that Pritam Singh is given all these privileges, he is expected to do more, especially with policies debating (and proposing alternatives), and if he cannot show his worth, it would spell trouble for the rest of the 11 opposition MPs, which we all don't hope to see.

[RH1667]

 

 

[Weez911]

6 minutes ago, RH1667 said:

Full of respect and admiration for WP. 👍👍👍

[Fcw75]

He will do well. A good leader for WP. 

LTK has mentored him well and he know when to let go. Not like someone 死赖着不走。

Edited July 28, 2020 by Fcw75