Compare WP's slate against backbench team of PAP, Pritam Singh tells voters

WP offering a serious line-up so S'poreans can consider their choice carefully, he says

- Wong Pei Ting

WP chief Pritam Singh urged voters to compare the opposition party's slate against that of PAP backbenchers, as it is not contesting enough seats to form the next government.

"My proposition to voters to consider is to understand that backbencher-for-backbencher, you've got a serious choice there," he told reporters alongside party chair Sylvia Lim at Bedok 85 Fengshan Hawker Centre, where WP's East Coast GRC team was on a walkabout.

"The Workers' Party has put forward a serious slate of individuals, so that Singaporeans can consider their choice carefully. And I respect whatever choice Singaporeans make," he added.

Mr Singh was responding to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's remarks made in a rally speech on April 24 evening that there was already a sizeable opposition in Parliament. WP won 10 out of 93 seats in the 2020 General Election.

PM Wong had urged voters to not give the opposition a free pass, adding: "Apply the same standards to them as you do to the PAP, in terms of integrity, competence and readiness to serve."

Asked to react to PM Wong's comments, Mr Singh said he can understand why the Prime Minister would have that view, as he wants as many PAP MPs in Parliament as possible.

But WP's vision - that at least one-third of parliamentary seats should be filled by opposition MPs - differs from PM Wong's, said Mr Singh.

"We have a difference of opinion there as to what are sufficient MPs at this point in time, in terms of the evolution of our political systems," he added.

WP is contesting 26 out of 97 seats this time round across five group representation constituencies - Aljunied, Sengkang, East Coast, Punggol and Tampines - and the single seats of Hougang, Tampines Changkat and Jalan Kayu.

If elected, the 26 candidates will become backbenchers, Mr Singh said.