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Singapore:
Pritam Singh, Singapore’s first designated Leader of the Opposition, will allocate half of his allowances to assist low-income residents in his constituencies, a media report mentioned right this moment.
Mr Singh, 43, was designated Leader of the Opposition for the primary time in Singapore’s parliamentary historical past on Tuesday after the Indian-origin politician led the Workers’ Party as its Secretary-General to a document 10-seat win within the July 10 common elections.
He can be accorded extra privileges and obtain double the allowance of an elected Member of Parliament, the parliamentary authorities introduced.
In a Facebook submit on Tuesday, Mr Singh mentioned he had mentioned the extra remuneration along with his spouse Lovleen Kaur Walia and its implications.
As the Opposition chief, he’s to obtain 385,000 Singapore {dollars} (USD 280,014) yearly.
“Both of us felt strongly that a percentage of the salary should be used for a greater purpose,” the Channel News Asia quoted Singh as saying within the Facebook submit right this moment.
Mr Singh mentioned he would allocate “50 per cent of the salary after taxes” to help low-income residents in Hougang Single Member Constituency and the 2 Group Representation Constituencies (GRC) of Aljunied and Sengkang, from the place voters gave Workers’ Party a 10-seat win.
The elections for 93 seats had been dominated by the ruling People’s Action Party of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The PAP received 83 seats within the common elections and his authorities was sworn in on Monday.
Mr Singh would additionally spend a part of his 50 per cent allowances on varied wants of his Workers’ Party and different causes.
“It is an honour for me to serve as an elected MP in Singapore. Equally, it is a privilege to be appointed as the Leader of the Opposition,” mentioned Mr Singh.
“My Workers’ Party colleagues and I are lucky to have the opportunity to serve Singapore,” he mentioned.
Mr Singh, a lawyer, mentioned the appointment of Leader of the Opposition would additionally require extra funding of his time and longer hours away from his household.
“The Leader of the Opposition appointment carries with it many additional responsibilities that I will have to shoulder.”
“The road ahead will not be easy, but I thank Singaporeans for their support and encouragement,” he mentioned.
Mr Singh has been a member of parliament for Aljunied GRC since May 7, 2011.
Singapore’s 14th Parliament may have its first sitting on August 24.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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