[SINGAPORE] One major reason for the general election’s outcome is that concerns about the wider international environment resonated with some voters, said Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh on Sunday (May 4).
But given a nationwide swing of 4.34 percentage points towards the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), the WP’s performance is “very commendable”, he said. The WP took 50.04 per cent of the vote in constituencies it contested, just a shade lower than its 50.49 per cent share in the last GE in 2011.
There were 10 WP candidates elected in GE2025, with the party’s teams in Tampines GRC and Jalan Kayu SMC losing with the slimmest margins – meaning that the party is likely to be offered two Non-Constituency MP seats.
Asked who would fill them, party chair Sylvia Lim said the leadership has not yet met to decide, but this could be an opportunity for the WP to bring in new blood to refresh its ranks.
She further noted that of the 10 elected candidates, three – Fadli Fawzi, Kenneth Tiong and Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik – will be first-timers to Parliament.
“So these are our up-and-coming young leaders that will now have a seat in Parliament and can demonstrate what they can do and what the party can do for our electorate, for Singaporeans.”
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A difficult election
At the noon-time interview at Eunos Market, Singh congratulated Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for the strong mandate he received.
That was a second reason that Singh cited for the electoral result: The desire of voters to give PM Wong a mandate for his first GE at the helm. The PAP won 65.57 per cent of the votes, an improvement from the 61.23 per cent it gained in the last election.
“It was a very difficult fight for the WP,” said Singh. “As you know, for any opposition party in Singapore to make inroads into our political system, the challenges are real.”
But the party still put up “strong performances”, he said. In Hougang, Aljunied GRC and Sengkang GRC, where it is the incumbent, the party has “consolidated (its) position”.
As for the constituencies which it contested but did not win – East Coast GRC, Punggol GRC, Tampines GRC, Tampines Changkat SMC and Jalan Kayu SMC – Singh commended the candidates for putting up a good fight.
On the view that the WP could have improved its chances in Tampines GRC and Jalan Kayu SMC by fielding stronger candidates or fewer newcomers, Singh said that might mean weakening other teams, such that the party’s overall strategy is no longer in equilibrium.
“Ultimately, you’ve got to make a decision based on your understanding of the ground. And we had a particular perspective,” he said.
As for whether former Aljunied MP Faisal Manap will continue to walk the ground in Tampines, where he led the WP’s slate this GE, Singh said it is too early to discuss the WP’s next steps.
Goodwill and boundaries
Asked whether the results differed from the party’s sense on the ground, Singh said that while its candidates received support, the party never takes this goodwill for granted.
“We never assume that just because there’s a lot of support online or on the ground, that will translate into votes. That is really up to the Singaporean voter to determine.”
“But our job is to make sure we put up a good slate and put up a good proposition for Singaporeans. And I’m very proud of the team.”
As for whether the boundary changes made by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) affected the WP’s chances, Singh said it is important that the party not be boxed in by the report and “have the capacity to break out and move into other areas and do well”.
“No matter what the EBRC does, I think we must be on our toes,” he said. “That has to be something that any political party worth its salt must keep in mind.”
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