The Workers’ Party (WP) has introduced 11 potential candidates so far. Out of the 11 candidates, six of them are in their 30s. Party Secretary-General Pritam Singh said this shows WP’s ongoing effort to bring in new blood who can speak up for their generation in Parliament.
At WP’s candidate introduction on Saturday (April 19), reporters asked if this wave of younger candidates signals a generational shift.
Pritam shared that back in 2018, when former WP chief Low Thia Khiang told him he was planning to step down, his first instinct was to convince him to stay. “You’re not old yet,” he recalled saying.
But Low replied: “Pritam, I no longer understand the pulse of the younger generation.” That line, Pritam said, really stuck with him.
Pritam explained, “Political parties must grow, and they must always stay connected to the people of Singapore. That’s why WP must continue bringing in people who share the same hopes, dreams and worries of their generation, so they can speak up in Parliament. Parliament is the highest decision-making platform in Singapore, and our people’s voices must be heard there.”
He added that this generational renewal should continue, and that WP hopes to attract more passionate individuals from different backgrounds who want to speak up for their peers.
Over the past three days, WP has introduced 11 potential candidates, with another round expected on Sunday (April 20).
Among the newcomers, six are under 40:
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Eileen Chong Pei Shan, 33, former government scholar
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Sufyan Mikhail Putra Mohd Kamil, 33, a former associate director of a community-based law firm
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Alexis Dang Pei Yuan, 39, a senior director of publisher business development at media company Teads
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Andre Low, 34, product manager at a fintech firm
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Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, 36, senior property manager at Aljunied-Hougang Town Council
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Kenneth Tiong, 36, a tech entrepreneur
By the way, this isn’t the first time WP has fielded younger candidates.
Raeesah Khan, for instance, was just 26 when she ran in the 2020 General Election. The former WP MP was elected as an MP in Sengkang GRC, but in 2021, she admitted to lying in Parliament about a sexual assault case. The scandal led to a Parliamentary Committee of Privileges investigation, and she resigned from WP.
While it is nice to see WP bringing in younger people to give them a voice in Parliament, it’s more important to ensure they have the capabilities and are truly ready for the responsibilities of public office.
After all, Parliament is not a playground. An elected MP carries the duty of representing Singaporeans, shaping laws, and making decisions that affect lives. It’s not a role for trial and error.
