WP Leader Pritam Singh Fires Back at Loyalty Questions
June 21 – A Sweet Spot for Singapore’s Sovereignty
When Law & Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam tried to pry into the Workers’ Party’s (WP) allegiance in Parliament, Pritam Singh—chief and head of opposition—shot straight back with a clear, confidence‑filled reply. “Sovereignty is a no‑fuss matter for us,” he said, making it clear that the WP’s record with Singapore’s national interests is solid.
What Set the Debate Off
- Alfian Sa’at & The “Loving Critic” Label – WP’s Pritam Singh praised the poet‑playwright’s stance during the Fortitude Budget debate. Linguist Tan Wu Meng slammed him on the PAP website, calling him a “loving critic” and complaining about Alfian’s past Facebook posts during a maritime spat with Malaysia.
- Minister’s “Clarity” Request – Shanmugam demanded that WP clarify its position on these remarks, suggesting Singh hadn’t made it clear.
Singh’s Reply (on Facebook)
“The phrase ‘loving critic’ was originally coined by Ambassador‑at‑large Professor Tommy Koh to describe Alfian and folks like him. I’ve always appreciated theatre practitioners in Singapore – no matter their race or language – pushing the envelope on sensitive topics. If it sparks thought, it does Singapore good.”
“But if a Singaporean openly rejects our Constitution or pushes a political agenda abroad, neither I nor the WP will stand for it.”
Key Points He Made
- He noted that Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan once said the opposition hasn’t interfered with Singapore’s foreign policy, making Singh’s job easier.
- He recalled a 2018 press release that defended Singapore’s troops after a Malaysian vessel entered waters off Tuas West.
- He jabbed at Tan’s delayed criticism, suggesting it was a political move meant to split Singaporeans into “Pro‑or‑Against‑Singapore” and “PAP‑vs‑WP” camps.
Moving Forward
Singh urged that PAP ministers ask WP MPs to clarify everything on the spot, and that WP MPs do the same for PAP ministers. “This is just normal parliamentary courtesy, not a power play.” he said.
Bottom Line
WP leaders firmly stand with Singapore, pointing out that criticism from the arts or from any side of politics is fine as long as it never undermines the nation’s foundation. Any attempt to paint the WP in a negative light for challenging a single artist’s viewpoint is seen as political smearing.
