The Straits Times (ST) today published an article which shone light on the next generation of leaders of the Workers’ Party (WP). None of the WP members spoke on record to the newspaper about its fourth-generation leaders.
WP contested the last election making leadership renewal of the party a central plank of its electoral campaign message. After David Marshall, and J B Jeyaretnam, and Low Thia Khiang, who will take on the mantle of leadership?
The newspaper today plainly suggested that the Chairman of Aljunied GRC and second-term MP, Pritam Singh is the anointed one. Some like Facebook user Min Zheng said that the report cannot be taken seriously because it had no direct input from anyone from WP.
But now, former Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Gerald Giam has shared the ST article. He did not append his thoughts or comments to the link, but the sharing itself may suggest that there may be some truth to the newspaper’s report.
The leadership of the WP chose Mr Giam over Mr Eric Tan for the NCMP position soon after the 2011 General Election. Mr Tan squarely pointed his fingers at Mr Low for that decision at that time.
At the last internal party leadership election, MP for Aljunied GRC, Mr Chen Show Mao, challenged Mr Low for the position of secretary-general. Mr Low won the contest with 61 votes going to him and 45 to Mr Chen.