The Workers’ Party (WP) in a Facebook video on Tuesday (23 June) presented faces likely to be its candidates in the upcoming General Election (GE) slated to be held next month, following the dissolution of Parliament by President Halimah Yacob today.
Among key party figures included in the video — simply titled “GE2020: Coming Soon” — are secretary-general Pritam Singh, chairman Sylvia Lim, and central executive committee member Leon Perera.
Advertising executive Nicole Seah — who contested in GE 2011 as a National Solidarity Party candidate — and social activist Raeesah Khan are among the new faces spotted in the video.
Mr Singh, in a separate Facebook post after the dissolution of Parliament was announced, said that it was WP’s “privilege” to serve the people of Singapore.
“Until we meet again,” he added.
WP — the only alternative party to have representation in Parliament currently — is seeking to contest fewer wards in the coming GE in a bid to consolidate its resources and secure its stronghold Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC).
Party members told The Straits Times on condition of anonymity that other than Aljunied, WP will be fielding its candidates in the GRCs of East Coast, Marine Parade and the new Sengkang one, as well as Hougang Single Member Constituency (SMC).
Hougang SMC is the longest opposition-held ward in Singapore to date, starting with former WP chief Low Thia Khiang’s victory over the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) with over 52 per cent of votes in the 1991 GE.
WP will likely field Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Dennis Tan as its candidate in Hougang in the next GE.
ST reported on Monday (22 June) that party sources have indicated that Mr Tan will be taking over from fellow party member and MP Png Eng Huat, who has served the constituency for two terms.
According to ST, it has yet to be known if Mr Png will be contesting in a different constituency or if he will be retiring from politics altogether.
TOC understands from its sources that it is indeed the case. Furthermore, Mr Tan is not an unfamiliar face in Hougang, as he has been seen walking the ground with Mr Png and has been helping out the latter in the Meet-the-People sessions since last year.
Residents of Bedok Reservoir, Punggol, Paya Lebar, Serangoon and Anchorvale have also reportedly been visited by WP volunteers and members in the past several days.
ST earlier reported lawyer Fadli Fawzi — a town councillor at the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council — as well as several others such as information technology professional Peter Tan and economics professor Jamus Lim — have been seen walking the ground recently.