GE: WP's election strategy a struggle but calculated risk: Low Thia Khiang
By Ken Teh | Posted: 27 April 2011 2323 hrs
Workers' Party Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang
Special Report
•Vote 2011
SINGAPORE : The Workers' Party (WP) said this election could end in the party losing all its elected seats in Parliament.
And its Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang said he won't take up a Non-Constituency MP position, if he loses in the GRC.
It was one of the most significant moves of the day – the WP chief himself, Mr Low, moving out of Hougang to lead the charge in Aljunied.
In the last election, WP Chairman Sylvia Lim led the Aljunied team to achieve nearly 44 per cent of the votes against the PAP team.
WP's team in Aljunied now comprises the party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, Chairman Sylvia Lim, corporate lawyer Chen Show Mao, postgraduate law student Pritam Singh and freelance counsellor Muhamad Faisal Manap.
Mr Low said: "The stake is high, the risk is very high. The correct thing to do of course is to stay put in Hougang, hopefully my party chairman will lead a team and win a GRC or some others, but win a single seat.
"But I believe that is only wishful thinking, based on the way the PAP gerrymander at every election with the re-drawing of boundaries, especially to use the GRC as a tool. So we are here to break through a GRC and let them learn a lesson."
Mr Low admitted this could end up badly for his party and is a decision he has contemplated for many years.
He said: "This election is going to be a watershed election for Singapore as well as for the opposition. On 7th of May, we could end up with no elected opposition member in Parliament."
He did not want to say what he would do if his party loses the fight, except that he wouldn't take up a Non-Constituency MP seat.
He said it would be up to the party to decide who would take up an NCMP position - if the party is eligible.
Mr Low acknowledged his opponents' strength, the team led by Foreign Minister George Yeo.
Mr Low said: "I'll use one Chinese phrase to give you an answer - Aljunied is a tough fight because George Yeo has been working the ground, that is 'Ming Zhi Shan You Hu, Pian Xiang Hu Shan Xing'. That is the spirt of the Workers' Party. Translated it means we know there is a tiger in the mountain, but we are moving towards that. We are taking it head on; we are taking the challenge and we believe the voters will make the right choice."
The single ward of Hougang will be left to Yaw Shin Leong to contest. He has been active in the Town Council and grassroots work.
"I had been working the ground and walking, do house to house visits for about three years together with Shin Leong. By now, every household in Hougang should have a namecard by Shin Leong, so we have prepared ground in Hougang. We have prepared the ground in Aljunied and thereby the decision is implemented today," said Mr Low.
"This is a very heavy responsibility, very, very heavy, but I always make myself available for Workers' Party deployment. I'm quite familiar with the Hougang ground and I will do my best," said Mr Yaw, who is contesting in Hougang.
By placing its highest profile candidates in one constituency, Aljunied, including Mr Low himself, the Workers' Party runs the risk of losing its seat in Hougang as well as Aljunied.
But its leaders said its banking on its improved slate of candidates, as well as what Mr Low said 'a sweeter ground', to score a double win in these areas.
- CNA /ls
