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Business Times
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
WP co-opts 4 rookie MPs into CEC, NCMP Eileen Chong to head youth wing
[SINGAPORE] The Workers' Party has co-opted two of its rookie MPs and its two new Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) into its central executive committee – its highest decision-making body. Sengkang GRC newcomer Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik has been appointed deputy organising secretary, while Aljunied GRC rookie Kenneth Tiong has been appointed deputy treasurer, the party said in a statement on Jun 18. NCMP Eileen Chong will be the new president of the party's youth wing, while fellow NCMP Andre Low is now the deputy head of its media team, it added. Chong will take the post from Sengkang MP Jamus Lim. In its statement, the WP expressed its appreciation to Dr Lim for his contributions to the youth wing's development. These appointments followed a CEC meeting on Jun 17, the statement added. There are no other changes in appointments to the other CEC members, who will continue to be led by secretary-general Pritam Singh and chair Sylvia Lim, it said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up They were elected at the Cadre Members' Conference of the Party almost a year ago, on Jun 30, 2024. It added: 'The Workers' Party is confident that our new CEC members will play a vital role, as we continue to serve Singaporeans and working for Singapore.' All four are political newcomers who stood for election for the first time under the WP banner at the 2025 General Election on May 3. They are four of five rookie MPs who will form part of the largest WP contingent of 12 in Parliament when it reopens on Sep 5. The party's fifth first-time MP Aljunied representative Fadli Fawzi was already on the CEC as deputy organising secretary. THE STRAITS TIMES
Straits Times
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
WP co-opts 4 rookie MPs into CEC, NCMP Eileen Chong to head youth wing
WP members (clockwise from top left) Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, Kenneth Tiong, Eileen Chong and Andre Low have been co-opted into its central executive committee. PHOTOS: WORKERS' PARTY SINGAPORE - The Workers' Party has co-opted two of its rookie MPs and its two new Non-Constituency MPs (NCMP) into its Central Executive Committee - its highest decision-making body. Sengkang GRC newcomer Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik has been appointed deputy organising secretary, while Aljunied GRC rookie Kenneth Tiong has been appointed deputy treasurer, the party said in a statement on June 18. NCMP Ms Eileen Chong will be the new president of the party's youth wing, while her fellow NCMP Mr Andre Low is now the deputy head of its media team, it added. Ms Chong will take the post from Sengkang MP Jamus Lim. In its statement, the WP expressed its appreciation to Dr Lim for his contributions to the youth wing's development. These appointments followed a CEC meeting on June 17, the statement added. There are no other changes in appointments to the other CEC members, who will continue to be led by secretary general Pritam Singh and chair Sylvia Lim, it said. They were elected at the Cadre Members' Conference of the Party almost a year ago on June 30, 2024. It added: 'The Workers' Party is confident that our new CEC members will play a vital role, as we continue to serve Singaporeans and working for Singapore.' All four are political newcomers who stood for election for the first time under the WP banner at the 2025 general election on May 3. They are four of five rookie MPs will who form part of the largest-ever WP contingent of 12 in Parliament when it reopens on Sept 5. The party's fifth first-time MP Aljunied representative Fadli Fawzi was already on the CEC as deputy organising secretary. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Independent Singapore
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Better support system needed for Serangoon seniors for accessing public services, says WP MP Kenneth Tiong
SINGAPORE: Newly minted Member of Parliament (MP) from the Workers' Party (WP), Kenneth Tiong (Aljunied Group Representation Constituency [GRC]), shone a light on the difficulties some seniors in Serangoon, the ward he represents, have with the digital delivery of public services, and added that a better support system is needed for them. In a Facebook post on Monday (Jun 16), Mr Tiong wrote that he had been at Serangoon North last weekend for food distribution and a walk around the area's coffee shops. He shared that some of the feedback he had heard from the people he talked to involved the frustrations of the older residents of Serangoon when it comes to dealing with digital services. 'A lot of our elderly residents are not tech-savvy, and they do not perceive Singapore's Digital-First delivery of public services as an ally in helping them navigate these services. ServiceSG is intended to be a key part of this, streamlining access to digital government functions,' he wrote. See also People still applying to join PSP despite Covid-19 outbreak Mr Tiong outlined the problems a senior resident might face, giving the example of a resident who, having found been unfamiliar with a specific digital platform, would be redirected to a ServiceSG centre for assistance with government digital services. 'This redirection immediately poses a significant hurdle,' he wrote, adding that there are no ServiceSG centres in Serangoon. The nearest one is at One Punggol, which could take around 45 minutes to get to. This would be a substantial effort on the part of the senior, particularly for those who are older, who have mobility issues, or who need to take a leave from work to do so. He also wrote that in February, when his fellow WP MP at Aljunied, Gerald Giam, asked for a ServiceSG Centre in Parliament, Minister Chan Chun Sing said, 'There is no plan in the short term to start a ServiceSG Centre in Serangoon town.' If and when the senior does take the trip to a ServiceSG centre, they may discover that the specific function they need, such as a certain application from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, may not be handled by ServiceSG. 'This critical information is often only revealed after they have expended time and effort to travel to the centre,' he noted, adding, 'This frustrating scenario is exacerbated by the absence of readily available phone numbers for ServiceSG. Residents cannot easily call beforehand to confirm if their specific enquiry can be addressed, or what documents to bring, leading to potentially wasted trips.' In cases when services do fall under the purview of ServiceSG, according to some residents, they were told, 'We cannot help you, please go to the agency.' 'This chain of experiences—from initial redirection, to a lengthy journey (especially for Serangoon residents), to discovering service gaps only upon arrival, compounded by a lack of pre-emptive phone support and sometimes unhelpful encounters—needs improvement to be the supportive, ally-like system we aspire to have,' he added. /TISG Read also: One to watch: WP's Kenneth Tiong may take Leon Perera's place at Aljunied
Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: WP retains strongholds in Aljunied and Hougang despite national swing to PAP
The WP's Aljunied GRC candidates (from left) Kenneth Tiong, Fadli Fawzi, Pritam Singh, Gerald Giam and Sylvia Lim on May 4. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG GE2025: WP retains strongholds in Aljunied and Hougang despite national swing to PAP Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – The WP retained its traditional strongholds of Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC with little drama, returning its core leaders secretary-general Pritam Singh and chair Sylvia Lim to Parliament. Despite a national swing towards the ruling party, the WP five-member team in Aljunied GRC maintained its hold over its PAP challengers to take the constituency with 59.68 per cent of the votes, to the PAP's 40.32 per cent. This is in line with its previous showing during the Covid-19 polls in 2020, when it won the five seats with 59.93 per cent of the votes. WP candidate Dennis Tan, 54, was also re-elected for his second consecutive term in WP's storied home base, Hougang SMC – a seat the party has held since 1991. He was the rare opposition MP to buck the national trend and improve his winning margin. His 62.17 per cent is a 1 percentage point increase from his 2020 victory of 61.19 per cent. His rival, PAP newcomer Marshall Lim, 38, secured 37.83 per cent of the vote. The elected Aljunied GRC MPs are Leader of the Opposition Mr Singh, 48; Ms Lim, 60; Mr Gerald Giam, 47; Mr Fadli Fawzi, 44 – who had contested Marine Parade GRC in 2020 – and newcomer Kenneth Tiong, 36. The losing PAP slate was led by second-time Aljunied GRC candidate Chan Hui Yuh, 48, and included four PAP new faces. They are Mr Faisal Abdul Aziz, 37; Mr Adrian Ang, 42; Mr Jagathishwaran Rajo; 37, and Mr Daniel Liu, 40. Mr Singh thanked supporters at Serangoon Stadium, saying: 'Your support has been so important in the mission of achieving and working towards a more balanced Parliament. That work also continues. 'As the team committed to you, we serve everyone equally. I look forward to working with you to make Aljunied our best home yet.' Speaking to The Straits Times after the sample count for Aljunied GRC was announced at 10pm, the PAP's Mr Liu said at Bedok Stadium that he was proud of his team. He said: 'The five of us have never been parliamentarians. It's a big accomplishment for us.' PAP team lead Ms Chan said in her concession speech: 'This past campaign has been amazing – blood, sweat and tears from all of us. It was not easy, but we persevered. We went with our eyes open, and we did our best with no regrets.' The WP had wrenched Aljunied GRC from the PAP in 2011, making history by becoming the first opposition party to win a GRC since the system was introduced in 1988. During hustings, it focused its campaign mostly on party-wide, national issues. A constant refrain was the need for a more balanced political system with credible opposition, with it having proven its mettle in both parliamentary and municipal issues. Mr Singh's conviction earlier in 2025 over lying to a parliamentary committee under oath went largely unmentioned, except by the PAP's Ms Chan at her team's final rally on May 1. Mr Singh has said he would be appealing against the verdict. With the PAP moving Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong to Punggol GRC, WP's Ms Lim also sought to use the party's 2011 victory over the PAP team in Aljunied GRC as a precedent for how losing PAP ministers need not be exaggerated. Then, the PAP team included two ministers, George Yeo and Lim Hwee Hua. Ms Lim had said: 'Since the PAP lost, has Singapore been weakened? Life goes on and guess what? One of the Workers' Party's unknowns is now the Leader of the Opposition.' Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean accompanied the PAP Aljunied GRC slate on its walkabouts, though overturning WP's hold on the constituency ultimately proved too much of an ask. Members of the PAP Aljunied GRC team had brushed aside questions of it being without an anchor minister and being a 'suicide squad'. They argued this allowed them more time to walk the ground, and they were focused on serving residents. As for Hougang SMC, the WP has frequently cited it as one of the finest examples of voters' resistance to PAP's former policy of upgrading opposition wards last, proving that voters cannot be bought. The party also produced Hougang The Documentary, released in November 2024, which charted how former WP chief Low Thia Khiang – who spoke fluent Teochew – convinced voters to take a chance on the WP. The WP's Mr Tan was mostly content to allow his party's leadership and newer candidates to take the limelight during hustings, but said during WP's May 1 rally that Hougang must remain a beacon of democracy in Singapore. Mr Michael Lai, 75, who was among those celebrating the WP's victory at Serangoon Stadium, said he had hoped for a lower vote share for the ruling PAP. The director of an engineering company said the WP MPs had fulfilled their duties well. He said: 'They've argued against the GST (goods and services tax) and COE (certicate of entitlement) increase in Parliament. The estate is also clean and well maintained.' Businessman Joel Tan, 34, said he took issue with Mr Lim's comments about himself being a fighter and that Hougang did not belong to the WP. Said Mr Tan: 'I didn't really like his attitude when he spoke about Hougang. It's a stronghold, so I expected 68 per cent for the WP.' There were 144,298 voters in Aljunied GRC and 29,464 voters in Hougang SMC in 2025. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
GE2025: WP's Pritam Singh leads team with two new faces Fadli Fawzi, Kenneth Tiong against PAP in Aljunied GRC
[SINGAPORE] Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh will lead a team comprising two new faces, without incumbent Faisal Manap, to defend Aljunied GRC against the ruling People's Action Party at the May 3 general election. Faisal, who made his political debut in 2011, will be leading WP's team of of four first-timers in Tampines GRC The WP team for Aljunied GRC comprises Singh, who is Leader of the Opposition, two incumbents – party chair Sylvia Lim and Gerald Giam, as well as Fadli Fawzi and Kenneth Tiong. Fadli, a lawyer, first contested as part of the WP's Marine Parade GRC team, whereas Kenneth Tiong, a first-timer, is an AI startup founder. Ahead of Nomination Day, there had been speculation that one of WP's senior party leaders may strike out elsewhere, with Aljunied GRC now come to be seen as one of WP's stronghold. Faisal's move mirrors that of former WP chief Low Thia Kiang, who ventured out of Hougang SMC after 20 years to contest in Aljunied GRC in GE2011. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The PAP's team led by Chan Hui Yuh, who contested in the previous election, consists of four first-timers: company director Adrian Ang, managing director of an urban planning consultancy Daniel Liu, dental surgeon Faisal Abdul Aziz and unionist Jagathishwaran Rajo. Meanwhile, WP's Dennis Tan, the incumbent at Hougang SMC, will defend his ward against PAP new face and lawyer Marshall Lim. Both parties arrived at Poi Ching School, one of the nine Nomination Centres across Singapore, at shortly before 11am on Wednesday (Apr 23), flanked by supporters. Both parties' candidacies were confirmed at 12.30pm, with no objections raised by any of the candidates. Aljunied GRC became the first GRC to be won by the opposition in GE2011, when WP's historic victory unseated three political heavyweights in one fell swoop, including then-foreign affairs minister George Yeo. The GRC has come to be seen as one of WP's two crown jewels, alongside Hougang SMC, which the party has held since 1991. The PAP has not been able to reclaim the GRC despite coming very close in 2015, when WP scraped a victory with a much smaller margin – securing just 50.96 per cent of the votes. That year, all wards saw a big swing towards the ruling party as Singaporeans celebrated SG50 and mourned the death of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. However, WP bounced back by GE2020, held in the middle of a global pandemic, when they took a decisive 59.95 per cent of the votes. The party also won its second GRC — Sengkang GRC — the same year. If elected, Tiong will replace former MP Leon Perera, who resigned in 2023 after his extramarital affair with fellow party member Nicole Seah was exposed.
