Former Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang has officially declared that he will not be contesting in the upcoming General Election. In a video shared on the WP’s Instagram account, Mr. Low was seen engaging with residents during a walkabout and distributing party newsletters. When questioned by a resident about his participation in the next GE, Mr. Low emphatically stated, “I am already retired,” dispelling any rumors of his candidacy. He further emphasized his decision by asserting, “I’m not participating in the election. We’ve got a younger generation that can move the party forward.”
Mr. Low, who retired from politics in 2020 and did not run in the previous General Election, held the distinction of being Singapore’s longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament. Having represented Hougang for two decades starting from 1991, Mr. Low assembled a team to contest Aljunied GRC in the 2011 General Election. The Workers’ Party clinched Aljunied with 54.72% of the votes that year, marking the first time an opposition party had secured a GRC victory. Despite a narrower margin, the party managed to retain Aljunied in 2015 with 50.96% of the votes.
Transitioning leadership in 2018, Mr. Low stepped down as the party’s Secretary-General, passing the mantle to current WP chief Pritam Singh. In the 2020 General Election, the WP secured a significant victory by winning 59.95% of the votes in Aljunied and clinching Sengkang GRC. Although formally retired from the forefront of politics, Mr. Low continues to serve as a member of the party’s central executive committee.
This valuable revelation from Mr. Low carries weight within the political landscape, highlighting the inevitability of generational shifts and reaffirming the dedication of the Workers’ Party to cultivate emerging leaders for Singapore’s future political narrative.
