SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party (WP) top brass will remain largely unchanged ahead of Singapore’s next general election, after secretary-general Pritam Singh and chairwoman Sylvia Lim were reelected at a party conference.
Former Punggol East SMC MP Lee Li Lian also returned as a member of WP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), having previously stepped down from her role in 2021.
At a cadre members conference on Sunday (Jun 30) held at HUONE Singapore, a total of 14 members, including Mr Singh and Ms Lim, were voted into the CEC, which is the party’s top decision-making body.
HUONE Singapore is an event venue at Clarke Quay.
The other CEC members are:
Mr Ang Boon Yaw, 42
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis, 37
Mr Foo Seck Guan Kenneth, 47
Mr Gerald Giam, 47
Ms He Ting Ru, 41
Mr Nathaniel Koh, 41
Dr Jamus Lim, 48
Mr Low Thia Khiang, 68
Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap, 49
Mr Tan Kong Soon, 47
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong, 54
The one new face is Ms Lee. The 46-year-old was formerly the Member of Parliament for Punggol East SMC between 2013 to 2015. Ms Lee was edged out by then-People’s Action Party (PAP) MP Charles Chong at the 2015 GE with 51.76 per cent of votes.
During the 2020 GE, Punggol East SMC was dissolved and folded into Sengkang GRC, which was won by WP. Ms Lee, who did not contest then, is currently serving Sengkang Town Council as its town councillor.
Notably, ex-WP chief Mr Low, who handed over the reins of the party to Mr Singh in 2018, remains in the CEC.
Prior to the meeting, Ms Lim and Mr Singh both declined comment when approached by CNA.
“Fantastic result. We’re looking forward to working with this CEC for the next two years,” Mr Singh told reporters when leaving.
“This wasn’t about candidature, this was an internal party election, so my comments will be restricted to that.”
CNA also approached several other attendees of the meeting, all of whom declined comment.
Other party members observed by CNA at the meeting included Mr Jamus Lim (WP-Sengkang), Mr Louis Chua (WP-Sengkang) and Mr Gerald Giam (WP- Aljunied).
“The CEC appointment-holders will be announced in due course,” said a WP statement.
“The new CEC has taken office, with a mix of members of different ages and backgrounds; and has started work with immediate effect.”
At the last party conference in November 2022, the WP elected three new members to the CEC, for a total of 15.
However, this number was whittled down by two after senior members Leon Perera and Nicole Seah resigned after having an extramarital affair.
They both stepped down after a video clip uploaded to social media, appeared to show Mr Perera – then a Member of Parliament for Aljunied – dining with 2020 GE candidate Ms Seah, while holding and stroking her hands.
Mr Perera headed the media team while Ms Seah was the youth wing president.
