The Workers’ Party (WP)’s candidates for Aljunied group representation constituency (GRC) in the coming general election mingled with residents on their Bedok North Market walkabout on Saturday morning (27 June).
Party secretary-general Pritam Singh, chair Sylvia Lim and central executive committee (CEC) member Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap were seen distributing flyers and chatting with hawkers, vendors and patrons at the market this morning.
CEC members Gerald Giam and Leon Perera, announced by Mr Singh yesterday as among WP members to be fielded as candidates in this year’s election, were also seen during this morning’s walkabout.
In the previous general election in 2015, former secretary-general Low Thia Khiang and former CEC member Chen Show Mao stood for Aljunied GRC alongside Mr Singh, Ms Lim and Mr Faisal.
WP nearly lost Aljunied in GE2015 by a small margin of 1.9 per cent of votes against the People’s Action Party (PAP).
Mr Low became the first-ever alternative party leader in Singapore’s history to have won a GRC through his team’s victory in Aljunied GRC in the 2011 election.
Other than its stronghold Aljunied, WP, Mr Singh announced on Thursday, will be contesting the Marine Parade, East Coast and Sengkang GRCs.
The party will also field its candidates in the single-member constituencies (SMCs) of Hougang and Punggol West.
Organising secretary Dennis Tan will be contesting in Hougang after two-term MP Png Eng Huat’s decision not to contest in GE 2020. Mr Low and Mr Chen similarly decided not to do so.
Noting that their “collective” decision not to contest in GE 2020 — which was made “some time ago” — is not an indication of their retirement from politics, Mr Singh said that Mr Low, Mr Chen and Mr Png will still be involved in mentoring and training newer members to prepare to take up the mantle of the party’s leadership.
“For the party to grow, new and younger leaders require parliamentary and town council experience. If there is no renewal of Workers’ Party MPs, over time, the Party will not be able to attract new members to join and aspire to serve Singapore and Singaporeans as opposition MPs,” he stressed.
