In what is now known as the change of an era, many veteran politicians, well-known to people in Singapore, are not contesting in the general election.
One is Goh Chok Tong, PAP MP and ex-PM of Singapore.
And from the Workers’ Party, Low Thia Khiang, Chen Show Mao and Png Eng Huat of the Workers Party have also announced that they’re not contesting on 25 Jun 2020.
Yes, the three powerhouses.
It was revealed by Workers’ Party leader, Pritam Singh, that the decision was made “some time back”.
The three MPs had wanted to step down at the end of the current term, he said.
Low Thia Khiang Reveals More About His Decision
In his first interview with the media since his fall, Mr Low explained why he decided not to contest for the General Election.
He said that he hoped that the Workers’ Party itself has the spirit, and not just “an individual or a few individuals”.
He also maintained that WP is not ‘Low Thia Khiang’ party, and it has since evolved from when he was the only WP member in parliament.
He pointed out that many of his fellow members had all done well in parliament, including the current leader, Mr Pritam Singh.
The current team, he says, do not lack experience in the parliament.
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I’ve Achieved Two Goals I’ve Set Out To Do
When he first took over from WP former leader, J. B. Jeyaretnam, back in 2001, he had set two goals for himself as party chief:
- To secure a Group Representative Constituency (GRC)
- Renew the ranks of WP and hand the leadership over to a new generation
The first, he had achieved in 2011 when he made history by leading his team to victory at Aljunied GRC.
This was the first time in Singapore’s political history that an opposition party has won a GRC.
And the second, he managed to achieve it when he stepped down as secretary-general and gave it to Mr Pritam Singh in 2018.
He had, over the years, made efforts to attract and field younger talents for the Workers’ Party.
Well, I’d say that from their current lineup, it seems like his efforts are paying off.
WP Has Evolved & It Will Keep On Evolving
There’s a reason why Mr Low has admirers on both sides of the field.
Yes, even from PAP’s PM Lee even though you can see more shades here than 50 shades of grey.
He pointed out that the Workers’ Party has evolved from his predecessor, J. B. Jeyaretnam’s, more ‘adversarial’ approach to his milder form of politics.
He described WP as a co-driver who would slap the driver (PAP) if they lost their way back in 2011.
And the new generation, Mr Low pointed out, has evolved again.
They’re less antagonistic and more open to sitting down to “talk about things”, which isn’t a bad thing in his opinion.
“Probably they are a different generation in terms of political debates. I would think that I’m more aggressive, but the younger generation like Pritam and Leon, maybe they want a different approach, which I think is not a bad thing.”
When asked if Workers’ Party will “lose its shine” after he stepped down, he dismissed the notion, saying that he doesn’t even know how many people voted because of him.
He added that in the previous term, WP has 6 MPs and 3 NCMPs in parliament and WP will be judged “based on their performance and interactions with voters”.
One thing for sure, though, he has adjusted pretty well to the life of a public figure:
“I do not have this hope that others will (remember me in any particular way). I have done what I should do, I have no regrets. Of course, everyone will have different views. And as a public figure, you have to accept them. That’s all. I would not be surprised if someone is scolding me; I accept it.”
But if you’re living in Hougang and you miss him already, don’t worry.
It seems like he’s not leaving WP behind completely.
Mr Singh has said previously that Mr Low isn’t retiring from politics completely, which means you might still be able to see Mr Low conversing with you in his perfect Teochew at a coffeeshop with his wide smile.
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