
If you were strolling past Block 147 Bedok Reservoir Road on Friday evening, 28 August 2026, expecting the usual ambient chatter from a Hungry Ghost Festival dinner, you might have been caught completely off guard. Standing right out in the carpark, mic in hand, was Singapore’s Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh—giving it his absolute all to Taiwanese singer Yeh Chi-tien’s iconic Hokkien classic, 《愛拼才會贏》 (Ai Piah Cia Eh Yia).
Who is Pritam Singh?
Before he was belting out dialect tunes under HDB blocks, Pritam Singh was already a central figure in modern Singapore politics:
- Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party (WP): Took over the leadership from political veteran Low Thia Khiang in 2018.
- First Official Leader of the Opposition: Following the historic 2020 General Election—where WP secured two Group Representation Constituencies (Aljunied GRC and Sengkang GRC)—he was formally recognized as Singapore’s first official Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
- Background: A former SAF combat engineer officer, NUS history graduate, and practicing lawyer with a master’s degree in War Studies from King’s College London.
- MP for Aljunied GRC: Has served as a Member of Parliament for the Eunos division of Aljunied GRC since 2011.
The Bedok Carpark Concert
The viral video—which quickly trended on social media after being filmed by a resident leaning over a 2nd-storey corridor—captured the exact moment event organizers directed Pritam to step out from under the void deck into the open carpark.
Holding the mic like a seasoned guest star, he launched straight into the lyrics of “Work Hard to Win,” instantly drawing cheers from residents seated at red plastic tables below and watching from surrounding flats above.
Right after wrapping up his performance and waving goodbye to the crowd, he didn’t head straight home—he stayed back to work on event details for the upcoming Eunos Mid-Autumn Festival gathering at Block 137 on 19 September.
Wholesome Heartland Moments Through the Years
This Bedok carpark gig isn’t an isolated event. Behind the formal suits in Parliament lie several viral, down-to-earth moments:
- The 50th Birthday Premier League Surprise: Just days before his viral singing clip, Eunos residents surprised Pritam for his 50th birthday. Knowing his well-documented obsession with Manchester United, they presented him with a custom football-themed birthday cake.
- Relatable Football Analogies: During political rallies, Pritam frequently drops sports references to explain parliamentary dynamics to younger voters, famously remarking, “If Wayne Rooney doesn’t play for Manchester United, Manchester United does not collapse.”
- The Post-2011 Election Routine: After winning his seat in the dead of night during the historic 2011 General Election, instead of partying, Pritam drove straight to his parents’ home in Jurong. He waited up in his bedroom for his housewife mother and lawyer father to return from Hougang Stadium, sharing that hearing them say they were proud of him was “the best thing a son can hear.”
Whether sharing a Premier League debate with a neighbor or grabbing a microphone under a carpark tentage to sing Hokkien classics, Pritam’s ground presence highlights why the heartland connection remains at the very core of Singapore’s local community spirit.
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