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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.

Finally I know why the SG Bonus was issued now, just in time for Singaporean to use the $100 - $300 payout to buy popcorn while enjoying the "show"... Channel NewsAsia Multimillion-dollar civil suits against 3 Workers’ Party MPs go to trial An 'egregious, cavalier misuse of public funds': Town council lawyers rip into Workers' Party leaders Workers' Party MPs, AHTC town councillors acted in good faith, did not breach duties: Defence The Straits Times AHTC trial starts today: WP MPs Pritam Singh, Sylvia Lim and Low Thia Khiang in court AHTC trial: WP MPs created system where 'checks and balances were thrown to the wind' by appointing FMSS AHTC trial: 'No room for doubt' that town councillors and officers of town councils are custodians of public monies 新明 and 晚报 All articles seems to have concluded that the 3 are guilty, from the way the case were being reported. If this is NOT smearing, I don't know what else is... Conflict of interest?? Someone should take reference from appointment of AIM for PAP TC's system management and CEO for Temasek in the lawsuit...