WP will remain rational and responsible, says new chief Pritam Singh

SINGAPORE — Workers' Party (WP) new chief Pritam Singh said on Sunday (Apr 8) the opposition party will build on the work of his predecessor, Mr Low Thia Khiang, and continue to be "rational, responsible and respectable", as it seeks to work with all Singaporeans to "take on the form and the shape of a loyal Opposition".

Speaking to the media after he was elected unopposed to the top post, Mr Singh, 41, said he has "big shoes to fill" after succeeding Mr Low who has "driven the party forward with a lot of perseverance and dedication".

"It's important for the party to build on the foundation that he has laid and to continue forward as a rational, responsible and respectable party," said the lawyer who joined the party in 2010.

WP held its biennial Central Executive Council (CEC) elections - lasting about three hours - on Sunday at its headquarters along Geylang Road. This year's elections mark the first leadership change in the WP in almost two decades.

Mr Singh was tipped to succeed Mr Low after the long-time chief made a surprise announcement at WP's 60th anniversary dinner last November that he would not contest the secretary-general post – a position he has held since 2001 – at the CEC elections.

The party conference was attended by more than 100 cadres. A total of 14 CEC members were elected, including Mr Low who received the joint highest number of votes - together with Mr Faisal Manap - to remain on the party's decision-making body. Apart from Mr Singh and Ms Sylvia Lim - who was elected as chairman again - the positions for the other CEC members will be decided later.

Two new faces were elected: Lawyer Terence Tan, 46, who was part of the WP Marine Parade GRC slate in the 2015 General Election (GE), and Dr John Yam, 56, who stood in the 2011 GE in Nee Soon GRC. They replace Mr Kenneth Foo and Mr Tan Kong Soon, both 41.

Mr Singh said his immediate plans are to reach out to the party membership for their "views, wishes and vision" for the party. He stressed that it will be important for the party to move forward as a team and the process will be "quite consultative".

"Teamwork will be a very important theme for the new team that moves forward, for the next two years, and we look forward to working with not just the party, its volunteers but all Singaporeans to take on the form and the shape of a loyal Opposition which is interested in Singapore and Singaporeans. They always must be at the heart of what we do," said Mr Singh.

Ms Lim, who was speaking to the media alongside Mr Singh, called the leadership change a "milestone" for the party and reiterated its commitment towards leadership renewal.

She said the party was "very happy" that Mr Low decided to continue to contribute as a CEC member. "We certainly look forward to this new era... and look forward to serving Singaporeans in the best way possible," she added.

As party leaders and members arrived at the WP headquarters on Sunday afternoon, most appeared to be in good spirits as they greeted the media pack, which Mr Low jokingly remarked was as big as the turnout for a GE.

While the posts of secretary-general and chairman were uncontested, there were 23 candidates vying for the other 12 posts.

Ms Lim said the keen contests were a "very healthy phenomenon", and showed that people in the party want to assume the leadership positions. "We've come a long way from the past where we couldn't even fill the positions in the council. So I think it's a happy state to be in," she added.

At the conference, the party cadres also approved changes to its constitution, which Ms Lim said were to remind cadres that diversity is an "important goal" for the party. This means encouraging more women to come on board, for instance.

ELECTIONS WERE 'SMOOTH AND UNEVENTFUL'

WP members told TODAY that the party elections went about smoothly and were "uneventful".

Mr Mohammed Rahizan Yaacob, 61, said the results were quite predictable and was a sign of continuity and stability within the party. "We have given our so-called consensus for (Mr Singh) to carry out his duties. It is reasonable to give him the opportunity to have a few years to make the necessary accomplishments for the betterment of the party," he said.

"One thing about him is that he is willing to listen to feedback from the ground, so that is very important," added the businessman.

Agreeing, a cadre who declined to be named said Mr Singh would try to understand members' concerns before making a decision. But she also reiterated that WP is run by a team and not by "personalities".

Another party member who did not want to be named said the results were a "show of unity" by the party to rally around an individual to lead the party. He also noted how the party's "potential competitors" had banded together to back Mr Singh.

TODAY reported in February that Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP) Daniel Goh, Leon Perera, and Dennis Tan as well as former NCMP Gerald Giam backed Mr Singh to succeed Mr Low, and cited his extensive parliamentary and town council management experience as the key reasons why he should be the next party chief.

In the previous CEC election in 2016, Mr Low's fellow Aljunied GRC MP Chen Show Mao mounted an unsuccessful challenge for the secretary-general post. Then, Mr Chen lost with 45 votes to Mr Low's 61. Party members had earlier told TODAY they did not expect a leadership challenge from Mr Chen or anyone else at this year's CEC elections.

Nanyang Technological University Assistant Professor Woo Jun Jie said Mr Chen's challenge two years ago showed a "rift within the party", and that "would not have changed in any way in this short period of time".

"Pritam Singh will need to work very hard internally to gain the support of his colleagues," said Asst Prof Woo.

He added: "Fundamentally, you're putting in someone who's very young, although he has had a lot of experience in Parliament… so how does he get his support from older and more experienced politicians, and how does he engage the ground given that WP's (support) has (come from the) traditionally quite middle-aged and Chinese-speaking, and even Teochew speaking (group)."

However, Institute of Policy Studies deputy director Gillian Koh said the fact that Mr Singh was elected unopposed shows that there has been some "groundwork done" to ensure that "senior members of the party all understand they would rally around Mr Singh".

"Mr Low must have assured the more senior members of the party that he will find a way to ensure that they are represented as well… as long as Mr Singh was unopposed, it must demonstrate that there must have been a process," said Dr Koh.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said while Mr Singh's position may be secure for now, the leadership faces challenges such as the ongoing multi-million-dollar civil lawsuit over financial management lapses at its town council.

Mr Low, Ms Lim, and Mr Singh are being sued by Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council and independent auditors appointed by WP's Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC).

As to whether Mr Singh has solidified his position given Sunday's results, Assoc Prof Tan said it was too early to tell. "A lot depends on what he makes of this opportunity, I don't think it's a done deal, much will depend on how the party performs and how it is brought together," he added.