Low Thia Khiang’s stepping down marks ‘end of an era’ for WP and Opposition, analysts say

SINGAPORE — Come next year, Workers’ Party (WP) chief Low Thia Khiang will surpass Mr Chiam See Tong as the longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament (MP). 

But 2018 will also mark the end of an era not only for the WP but the Opposition in Singapore, following Mr Low’s decision to step down as the party’s secretary-general, several political analysts and opposition figures said.

Whether the move would have significant impact on the WP or the Opposition in general hinges on what role the 61-year-old takes up thereafter, analysts said. 

“The WP may be vulnerable in the transition but stepping down next year gives his successors adequate time to quickly learn the ropes and call the shots before the next General Election (GE),” said Singapore Management University (SMU) law don Eugene Tan. The next GE must be held by January 2021. 

WP members whom TODAY spoke to were keen to play down the impact on the party, given that there are younger leaders capable of stepping up. 

Still, analysts expect Mr Low to remain active behind the scenes, pulling the strings. “In many respects, he will become Singapore's first Opposition ‘elder statesman’ - far too many opposition party leaders just cling on,” Assoc Prof Tan added. 

But in the unlikely event that Mr Low chooses to fade away from the political scene, this would create a void in the Opposition, the analysts added. Outside the WP, Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan is the only other opposition politician who has a similar profile.  

However, Assistant Professor Woo Jun Jie from the Nanyang Technological University’s School of Social Sciences believes that Dr Chee’s style of politics is too controversial. “The de facto opposition leader still have to come from WP (considering the other parties’ lack of reach and brand),” he added. 

Meanwhile, opposition figures whom TODAY spoke to hoped that Mr Low’s stepping down would pave the way for greater collaboration between the various parties.

Mr Low declared in 2013 that opposition unity is "an impossible goal". “WP has taken its own path and I believe that is the path on which we can build a credible party to offer Singaporeans a credible choice,” he had said.

On Friday (Nov 3), Mr Low announced during WP’s 60th anniversary dinner that he will not stand for the post of secretary-general – a position he has held since 2001 when he took over the late Opposition stalwart J B Jeyaretnam - in the party’s Central Executive Council Election (CEC) next year.

The announcement, which surprised political watchers but not party members who told the media that it was some time coming, would “enable the younger generation of party leaders to take over the party completely”, in Mr Low words – returning to a familiar theme of leadership renewal in recent years. 

WP CEC member Daniel Goh told TODAY that the move was a decade in the making. “Mr Low has been wanting to do this… he planned for it 10 years ago at the (WP’s) 50th anniversary to be able to announce this… it is something he has looked forward to achieve,” said Assoc Prof Goh, a sociologist who is a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament. 

OPPOSITION LEADERS HOPE FOR SUCCESSOR THEY CAN ‘WORK WITH’

WP chairman Sylvia Lim and assistant secretary-general Pritam Singh have been among the names thrown up by political observers as possible successors to Mr Low. 

"WP has options in Sylvia Lim or Pritam Singh. I would say Sylvia has the edge,” said Assoc Prof Tan. “(But) there could also be someone else in the CEC given that Sylvia and Pritam have the sword of Damocles hanging over them with the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) lawsuits.”

Assoc Prof Tan was referring to the civil law suits filed against Mr Low, Ms Lim and Mr Singh by an independent panel appointed by the WP's AHTC, as well as by the People Action Party's Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council, which now manages the affairs of one-time WP ward Punggol East.

Institute of Policy Studies deputy director for research Gillian Koh also felt that Ms Lim and Mr Singh “remain a political liability to the party till the legal actions come to an end and are settled in their favour”.

Still, National University of Singapore political scientist Bilveer Singh felt that Ms Lim, 52, has the clout on the national stage, compared to the other potential successors. He noted, however, that Mr Pritam Singh, 41, appears to be Mr Low’s choice, given his current position in the party. 

While Dr Singh felt that the WP assistant secretary-general’s youth could work against him, Asst Prof Woo said he “embodies a direction the WP seems to be going”. 

Noting the similar educational and professional backgrounds of the WP’s next generation of leaders such as Mr Pritam Singh, Assoc Prof Goh and Mr Leon Perera, Asst Prof Woo added: “Pritam Singh seems to have potential. Being the assistant secretary-general, he is given a lot of air space in terms of debates… the only problem is that he is also embroiled in the AHTC saga.”

Former Rhodes scholar Chen Show Mao, 56, is seen as the dark horse. The Aljunied GRC MP was touted as the WP’s “star catch” for the 2011 GE, but his stock has fallen due to his lacklustre performance in Parliament. 

At the WP’s biennial CEC election last year, Mr Chen mounted a leadership challenge – the first faced by Mr Low in his years helming the party. Mr Low won with 61 votes against Mr Chen’s 45.

The analysts felt that Mr Chen’s chances are slim, with Assoc Prof Tan expecting party members to “close ranks behind Mr Low’s preferred choice”. Arguing that Mr Chen’s attempted leadership grab was ill-advised, Dr Singh added: “Chen Show Mao might be a good man, but as a politician, he has a lot more to do.”

For People’s Power Party secretary-general Goh Meng Seng, Mr Chen would be a welcome choice. 

“He is a more reasonable guy who seems more open to other opposition party dynamics. My general feeling is he will work with us,” said Mr Goh, who was surprised by Mr Low’s decision given his comments in the WP’s 60th anniversary commemorative book on how the party now has the “foundation” to move towards its goal of becoming alternative government.

Asked for his thoughts on Mr Low’s announcement, Singapore Democratic Alliance chairman Desmond Lim would only say: “We are looking forward to work with any new leader of the Workers’ Party for the wellbeing of Singapore.”

Assoc Prof Tan does not rule out Mr Low – in his senior statesman role - from trying to bring about greater opposition unity, “if the other Opposition leaders let him and invite him”. 

“But let's be clear – this is not a role he has shown any interest in at all; he is acutely aware of the fractious nature of the Opposition and is not going to bang his head against the wall,” he said.