Workers’ Party officially opens first permanent home

SINGAPORE — At 110 square meters, it is roughly the size of a five-room public housing flat. But the Workers’ Party’s (WP) new home at 701 Geylang Road marks a milestone in how far the opposition party has come in the last six decades, party leaders said on Friday (Sept 29) at the official opening of its new headquarters.

“Over the past 60 years, the WP had persisted in serving Singaporeans amidst ups and downs. The party’s new headquarters can be described as Singaporeans’ confidence in our party as we journey with them,” said secretary-general and Member of Parliament (Aljunied) Low Thia Khiang.

The current space was purchased for S$870,000 and funded by donations from the public. It is also the party’s first permanent home.

“One of the serious impediments to political development in Singapore, is the lack of physical spaces for political activities. Opposition parties are forced to organise their political meetings and activities indoors, often incurring high costs, which become a financial burden,” said the WP in its programme booklet for the opening ceremony.

Added party chairman Sylvia Lim: “There were always uncertainties. First, we were at the mercy of market forces… And secondly, it was not always easy to get landlords who were willing to let premises to the Workers’ Party for one reason or another.”

The party has faced several setbacks -- including lawsuits -- in moving from place to place in the last 60 years.

Founded in 1957, the party was based at Serangoon Road up to 1963, after which it became dormant for a few years.

In 1971, the late Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam led a party revival and established a new office at Hill Street. Sited between the police barracks and the central police station then, the plot was gazetted for acquisition in December 1971. Despite being served with a quit notice, the WP refused to vacate. In 1981, it was taken to court for unlawful occupation of state land. The party lost its appeal and was evicted from the premises the next year.

It later found new homes in Colombo Court, Boat Quay and Silat Road, among other locations. Since 2004, it had been based at the upper storey of a shophouse unit at Syed Alwi Road.

The WP started raising funds for the property after the 2011 General Election, and started scouting for suitable spots late last year.

On having the milestone coincide with the party’s 60th anniversary, Ms Lim said: “In the last 60 years, the party has been through many ups and downs. We have had our exhilarating moments, our electoral victories… We have also had difficult and trying times, with the party embroiled in lawsuits and almost being wound up in 1999 when a petition was filed against it (in the High Court).”

The 1999 petition to wind up WP came after it failed to pay more than S$500,000 in damages and legal costs to the organisers of Tamil Language Week. The court ruled that they had been defamed by former Workers’ Party treasurer A Balakrishnan and Jeyaretnam in the party’s newsletter, The Hammer.

The existence of the party has been tested, said Ms Lim, a fellow Aljunied Member of Parliament.

“Despite it all, the party continues to thrive… Today, we are certainly very happy that we have a healthy breed of younger leaders and members in the wings, ready to take over when the need arises,” she said. The WP is on a journey in “adapting to the changing needs of our electorate”, she added.

The party will hold an anniversary dinner in November, where a commemorative book and documentary will also be launched.