GE2025: Multi-cornered fights to be expected in elections, will not deter WP from fielding candidates: Pritam Singh
As a small party, WP has to make considerations different from the ruling party, he adds
[SINGAPORE] Multi-cornered fights are to be expected during elections, but that should not dissuade parties from fielding candidates in these constituencies, said Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh on Thursday (Apr 24).
“I expected there to be three and four-cornered fights this election campaign, but that should not dissuade us from putting the value proposition forward to Singaporeans for a rational, responsible party in Parliament,” he said in response to questions about the party’s political strategy.
WP has fielded a five-member team in Tampines GRC, where the National Solidarity Party and People’s Power Party (PPP) have also staked claims, making this the first four-cornered fight for a Group Representation Constituency in a general election.
In his reply, Singh pointed to Ang Mo Kio GRC, which faces a three-cornered fight. The incumbent People’s Action Party (PAP) team, led by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, will square off with Singapore United Party and PPP.
This is even though Ang Mo Kio consistently performs well in the elections, since it is anchored by SM Lee, who was formerly the prime minister.
In GE2020, PAP clinched the win in Ang Mo Kio with 71.91 per cent of the votes, over a Reform Party team helmed by secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam.
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Small parties
Asked why Singh describes the WP as a small party, given its size relative to other opposition parties, he replied: “Would you disagree if I said it was, compared to the PAP?”
Unlike the ruling party, which can distribute its senior leadership across the island, WP still concentrates its efforts and resources in the East.
He was responding to a comment from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Wednesday that the deployment of Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong to Punggol GRC and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng to Chua Chu Kang GRC was to ensure that there is a better spread of senior leadership across Singapore.
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“I think it restates the point that we are a small party. We don’t think north, south, east, west,” said Singh. “The PAP has different considerations, I can understand that. The WP has different considerations.”
Singh was joined by WP’s Sengkang GRC team comprising leader He Ting Ru, incumbents Jamus Lim and Louis Chua, and newcomer Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik.
At the media interview, He elaborated on the team’s achievements, both in Parliament and in managing Sengkang town.
The first-term Members of Parliament (MPs) are seeking re-election, after winning with 52.13 per cent of the votes in GE2020, edging out a PAP team of two political office holders.
On the MPs’ contributions in Parliament, Associate Professor Lim said the party takes its role in formulating alternative policies seriously, and these suggestions stem from feedback received from residents.
“I think if you look at it honestly and from a balanced point of view, you will come to the conclusion that the spirit of a lot of the ideas that we put forward ultimately do get taken up in some form,” he said.
Added Prof Lim: “We won’t claim credit, per se, but we leave Singaporeans to judge.”
Earlier in the morning, the Sengkang team greeted residents and gave out flyers at a coffee shop at Sengkang Square. They were joined by WP chair Sylvia Lim, former secretary-general Low Thia Khiang and former Hougang MP Png Eng Huat.
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