As we welcome 2026, we look back on a very eventful and pivotal year in our nation’s history. We began 2025 with a clear objective: to earn the people’s trust through serving residents in their constituencies and by ensuring their concerns were aired and debated in Parliament. We sought to demonstrate that our commitment to the people transcends the ballot box and remains rooted in the daily struggles and aspirations of every Singaporean family.
The General Election (GE) in 2025 was a defining moment for our democracy. It reinforced the importance of political diversity and the necessity of an opposition that provides a constructive check on the government and alternative ideas that can take our country forward. While the GE saw the Workers’ Party (WP) consolidate its position in Aljunied, Sengkang and Hougang, in constituencies where the WP was absent in GE2025, the PAP regained significant ground, achieving margins that were last seen in GE2015. This fact alone makes it clear how difficult opposition politics in Singapore truly is and will continue to be moving forward.
We are heartened that Singaporeans have chosen to walk this journey with us, acknowledging that a balanced political system is not a luxury, but a requirement for a stable and resilient Singapore. “Working for Singapore” was more than a campaign slogan—it was a promise to be your voice in the chambers of power, ensuring that policy outcomes are improved through rigorous scrutiny and debate.
Our parliamentary record in 2025
In the first few months of the 15th Parliament, WP MPs have worked to scrutinise government policy across a wide spectrum of issues. As Leader of the Opposition, I emphasised that questioning the government is a vital feature of our system designed to ensure better results for all. This included calling for transparency following the spate of rail disruptions that affected so many commuters. Sylvia Lim (MP for Aljunied GRC and WP Chairperson) urged the government to consider using economic tools such as sanctions on individuals to disrupt international scam centres and called for greater legal clarity in new doxxing laws to ensure that the protections for public servants and their families are well-defined and visible.
In education and social support, Kenneth Tiong (MP for Aljunied GRC) in his adjournment motion advocated for a preschool voucher proposal to fund the child rather than the operator, seeking to preserve diversity and affordability in the early childhood sector. Eileen Chong (Non-Constituency MP) pushed for the equalisation of preschool subsidies regardless of maternal employment status and called for paid caregiving leave, highlighting the immense value of unpaid care work. Gerald Giam (MP for Aljunied GRC) proposed a Junior SkillsFuture Credit for lower-income households and a National Career Mentorship Programme to democratise access to the social and cultural capital that often dictates professional success.
On the economic and housing front, Louis Chua (MP for Sengkang GRC) scrutinised the impact of high state land prices on development costs and called for a rethink of our economic playbook to focus on indigenous growth. Muhaimin Malik (MP for Sengkang GRC) highlighted the precariousness of housing for single unwed parents and vulnerable families, while also advocating for a more data-driven approach to close the educational attainment gap in the Malay community. He Ting Ru (MP for Sengkang GRC) spoke on the power of community-led initiatives and the need for a developmental dashboard that measures progress beyond mere GDP.
We also addressed the tangible pressures of daily life. Associate Professor Jamus Lim (MP for Sengkang GRC) proposed a needs-based COE discount framework for parents, caregivers, and the disabled, arguing that efficiency in public policy should not come at the expense of equity. Dennis Tan (MP for Hougang SMC) sought increased resources for Active Ageing Centres and the removal of Annual Value as a means-testing criterion for healthcare subsidies. Fadli Fawzi (MP for Aljunied GRC) spoke about the importance of human dignity, calling for free off-peak travel for the elderly to ensure they remain active and respected members of our collective society. Andre Low (Non-Constituency MP) outlined a strategy for a thriving people in the age of artificial intelligence, calling for a comprehensive redundancy insurance scheme to support those between jobs and advocating for the right to human review for workers, particularly platform workers managed by algorithms.
Securing our future through checks and balances
As we have shared in the WP’s National Day statement in August this year, geopolitical conflicts and trade barriers have marked 2025 so far and it is likely to remain so for the future. Over the longer-term, international geopolitical developments can threaten to cause domestic strains, particularly in light of our multi-racial and multi-religious society. While national survival and success drive our national interests, the primacy and importance of upholding international law and norms is in our national interest too. This is particularly critical for a small state like Singapore.
As we look to the year ahead, the importance of robust checks and balances has never been more critical. We live in an era of unprecedented disruption. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace, bringing both opportunity and the risk of displacement for many of our workers.
In such times, the government must not only be efficient but also fair. Singaporean workers and families deal with Singaporean cost-of-living issues, job insecurities, and social realities which require policy empathy. There is no kampung or hometown for Singaporeans to return to where they can retire or slow down the pace of life. Our lives are rooted in Singapore, and it follows that outcomes for Singaporeans and how they are doing on the ground will continue to matter greatly to the Workers’ Party.
The Workers’ Party will continue to defend the rights of workers and all Singaporeans. We believe that true security is found in a society that trusts its people with information and genuine dialogue. We will continue to call for institutional safeguards, such as Parliamentary Select Committees for each Ministry and a Freedom of Information Act, to ensure that the governance of our country remains transparent and accountable to the people it serves.
The journey ahead will be challenging, but we remain energised by the trust you have placed in us. To all our residents, volunteers, and supporters, thank you for your unwavering belief in a better Singapore. Let us continue to work together to build a nation where every individual can lead a life of dignity, and where we look out for each other, regardless of our lot in life.
I wish all Singaporeans and friends of Singapore a year of good health and progress. Happy New Year!
Pritam Singh
Secretary-General, The Workers’ Party
Leader of the Opposition
MP for Aljunied GRC
