• Pritam Singh's appeal against his conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee has been rejected.
• He has been fined S$14,000 for two charges linked to former WP member Raeesah Khan's false testimony.
• Singh admitted he took too long to address the issue and expressed disappointment but respects the court’s decision.
• Analysts note mixed potential political impacts on Singh's leadership and the Workers' Party.
• The Workers' Party is the only opposition party in Singapore’s parliament, maintaining 12 of 99 seats.

On December 4, Singapore’s High Court upheld the conviction of opposition leader Pritam Singh, leader of the Workers’ Party (WP), for lying to a parliamentary committee. The court confirmed a fine of S$14,000 imposed on Singh for providing false testimony regarding a scandal involving former WP member Raeesah Khan, who falsely claimed to have accompanied a rape victim to a police station, according to SCMP, Channel News Asia, and BBC.

Justice Steven Chong stated that Singh failed to encourage Khan to clarify her statements for an extended time after discovering the truth about her lies. Singh had previously testified that he urged Khan to come clean; however, the court determined his actions indicated he hoped to avoid the issue, according to Channel News Asia, Channel News Asia, and BBC.

In a statement to the media, Singh expressed that he was "disappointed" with the court’s ruling but accepted it "fully and without reservation." He acknowledged he "took too long" to respond to Khan’s falsehood. After the court's verdict, he paid the imposed fines and reiterated his commitment to serving the Singaporean public through his role in parliament, according to Channel News Asia and Channel News Asia.

Political analysts have varied in their assessments of the potential ramifications of Singh’s conviction. Some express concerns regarding his leadership credibility and decision-making abilities, while others suggest that his acknowledgment of mistakes could demonstrate a willingness to take accountability. Both positions indicate the importance of integrity among political leaders in Singapore, according to Channel News Asia.

Despite the conviction, some analysts predict limited political fallout for Singh and the Workers' Party, emphasizing that voters might prioritize the party's broader performance over individual incidents. The party's past electoral successes indicate resilience, ensuring that the impact of Singh's legal challenges may not significantly destabilize his leadership or the party's standing, according to Channel News Asia and Channel News Asia.