Both the ruling party and opposition are preparing to move on from established leaders. Their choices will set up the upcoming electoral battle and define the national issues over the next decade
http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/polit...itics-change-its-parties-shift-gen-next-winds
Neat and well-lit, the unit is more humble than haughty. At just 110 square metres – roughly the size of a large public housing flat – it cost the Workers’ Party (WP) about S$900,000 (US$685,000) last year.
The purchase alone is hardly significant in property-mad Singapore. But in a political scene where opposition parties are so weak that many struggle to even rent an office, a permanent home signals an increasingly confident outfit craving ownership both in postcode and polling counts.
It is a transition that will further gather pace from this weekend, as Singapore’s second-oldest active party elects a new leader, moving on from current chief and opposition leader Low Thia Khiang, who has steered the ship for almost two decades.
The front runner to become the next WP chief appears to be a study of stark contrast to Low, a Chinese-educated former teacher and businessman.
A trained lawyer, 41-year-old Pritam Singh speaks with a crisp accent during Parliamentary debates. At election rallies, the Indian politician is a crowd pleaser, peppering his English speeches with witty jokes and snarky jibes at the PAP.
In fact, should Singh take over, the party is unlikely to change very much, analysts said.
For one thing, Low will retain strong influence in the party, operating from the back, rather than leading from the front, said Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Eugene Tan.
“It would be hard to match Low’s experience. Low will still play a big role within WP. He’s not quitting politics nor is he fading away,” he said.
For one thing, Low will retain strong influence in the party, operating from the back, rather than leading from the front, said Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Eugene Tan.
“It would be hard to match Low’s experience. Low will still play a big role within WP. He’s not quitting politics nor is he fading away,” he said.
“Pritam will be extending Low’s legacy and imprint on the party. So a vote for him is a vote for Low,” said a party veteran of more than 20 years, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
RUMBLINGS IN WP
But there could be surprises ahead. There is a group of disgruntled WP party veterans who are unhappy with Low for the way he has treated them over the years.
They complain that he has been giving opportunities to new members, rewarding them with leadership positions and chances to stand at the election, while ignoring the hard work of the old-timers.
“We built the party through our sweat and tears. J.B. Jeyaretnam [the former WP chief] lost his home and his family for the party, and we followed him,” said a party source, who has been with the WP for more than 25 years. “What has the newer bunch of members done?”
The bitterness nearly boiled over two years ago. Backed by the unhappy old-timers, Chen Show Mao, part of the team that won Aljunied, launched a surprise bid to wrest the leadership post from Low at the party’s election in 2016.
Chen was a star catch for the WP when he stood under the party’s banner in 2011. A top lawyer, he advised Agricultural Bank of China on its US$22 billion initial public offering, the second biggest IPO in history.
Despite his credentials, Chen didn’t succeed. Low beat Chen with a vote count of 61 to 45, after the party brought in 28 new cadre members, rumoured to be Low’s supporters. WP’s leadership has since played down the 2016 takeover bid, calling it part of a “healthy democratic process”.
Ahead of the party election this weekend, sources in the party said
Chen is unlikely to mount another challenge despite Low stepping down.
“He is not keen and wants to lie low. He could be waiting for the right opportunity down the line,” said a source close to Chen.
That opportunity might come as soon as next year.
The top three WP leaders – Low, Singh and WP chairman Sylvia Lim – are facing a lawsuit over alleged improper payments made to third-party vendors amounting to some S$33 million.
Should the leaders survive the lawsuit,
the WP will be energised and could even galvanise Low and Lim into heading out of Aljunied to attack the PAP in other wards such as East Coast and Marine Parade, both of which could face a change in their incumbent team leaders. Both are mega wards which total nine seats between them. Winning them will allow the WP to make a huge step towards the goal of taking more than a third of the seats, which gives them the power to veto changes in the Singapore constitution.
“I think the WP team will probably disperse and confront the new faces or younger ministers of the PAP,” said political analyst Bilveer Singh from National University of Singapore. “Yes, it will be stupidity for the WP ‘A’ Team, (Low and Lim) to remain where they are, especially in view of the many new talented faces WP has today.”
