Low Thia Khiang

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Family name hatnote Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". Script error: No such module "infobox". Low Thia Khiang (Template:IPAc-en; Template:Zh; born 5 September 1956) is a Singaporean former politician and the secretary-general of the Workers' Party (WP) between 2001 and 2018. A member of the opposition Workers' Party (WP), he was elected as a committee member of the Workers' Party Central Executive Committee (CEC) since 2022. Low served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hougang Single Member Constituency (SMC) between 1991 and 2011, and the Bedok Reservoir–Punggol division of Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) between 2011 and 2020. Under his leadership, the Workers' Party has maintained its position as the largest opposition party in Parliament, holding six elected seats following the 2011 general election and 2015 general election.

Low was one of the two opposition MPs in Parliament between 1997 and 2011. Low made his political debut in the 1991 general election where he contested in Hougang SMC as a WP candidate. He was appointed secretary-general of the Workers' Party on 27 May 2001.[1][2]

During the 2011 general election, Low decided not to seek re-election in Hougang SMC and instead contested in Aljunied GRC, leading a team of five to win the first Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in opposition history and unseating the People's Action Party (PAP). Low became one of five elected opposition MPs for Aljunied GRC in the 13th Parliament and represented the Bedok Reservoir–Punggol division between 2011 and 2020.

As part of a leadership renewal, Low was succeeded by Pritam Singh as secretary-general in 2018, and also stepped down from Parliament prior to the 2020 general election, making him Singapore's longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament with 29 years in service.[3] He has indicated his desire to remain active in politics.[4]

Early life

Low studied at Lik Teck Primary School and Chung Cheng High School[5] before he attended Nanyang University, where he majored in Chinese language and literature, and government and public administration. In 1981, he completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Chinese studies at the National University of Singapore. In 1982, he completed a diploma in education. He worked as a teacher for a few years before starting his own business.[6]

Political career

Low joined the WP in 1982, and was subsequently appointed as its Organising Secretary. At the 1984 general election, he was the election agent for the party's secretary-general, J. B. Jeyaretnam, in his successful campaign to retain Anson Constituency.

Low was well known for giving speeches in Teochew,[7] which won him much support from a large number of Teochew-speaking residents in Hougang SMC.[8]

In the 2016 Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections for the WP, Low's position of secretary-general was contended by fellow Aljunied MP Chen Show Mao. This was the first time Low was challenged for the post since he took it up in 2001. Low retained his seat with 61 votes, to Chen's 45.[9]

Low announced at his party's 60th anniversary dinner that he would not be contesting for the post of secretary-general for the 2018 party elections and would step down to renew leadership in the WP after being at its helm for 17 years.[10] Low formally stepped down as WP chief on 8 April 2018. Chan Chun Sing, the Minister for Trade and Industry, subsequently praised Low at a Parliament sitting on 15 May 2018 for the role he played in Parliament, acknowledging him as "a fellow Singaporean and very much part of Team Singapore", and saying that the PAP appreciated his "efforts to work together to build a better Singapore" despite disagreements on perspective and methods.[11]

1988 General Election

In 1988, Low represented the WP in a televised debate with the PAP government on proposals to create an elected presidency for Singapore, during which he engaged Ong Teng Cheong and Lee Hsien Loong, who later became the President and Prime Minister of Singapore respectively. In the general election later that year, Low, together with Gopalan Nair and Lim Lye Soon, contested Tiong Bahru GRC against the PAP and lost with 47.63% of the vote to the PAP's 52.37%.[12]

1991 General Election

In 1991, Low, as the Workers' Party's assistant secretary-general, won the single-member constituency (SMC) of Hougang in the 1991 general election and entered Parliament. In 1992, Low was appointed by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong as a member of the Cost Review Committee.[13]

1997 General Election

File:Low Thia Khiang 3.jpg
Low with a constituent

Low was re-elected as the MP for Hougang SMC with increased votes at the 1997 general election, his second election victory in Hougang.[14]

2001 General Election

On 27 May 2001, Low became the secretary-general of the Workers' Party, replacing J. B. Jeyaretnam. He was re-elected again as the MP for Hougang at the 2001 general election.[15]

2006 General Election

At the 2006 general elections, Low won his fourth straight term for the Hougang constituency. He received 13,987 of the votes cast, a 62.74 per cent victory margin which was an increase of 7.74% from the last general election in November 2001. His opponent from the People's Action Party, Eric Low, received 8,306 votes.[16]

2011 General Election

Between 1997 and 2011, Low and Chiam See Tong from the Singapore People's Party (SPP) were the only elected opposition Members of Parliament (MP) in Parliament.

During the 2011 general election, Low and Chiam left their respective strongholds in Hougang and Potong Pasir SMC to challenge the ruling PAP in Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs). Low's team along with Pritam Singh, Sylvia Lim, Faisal Manap and Chen Show Mao challenged the ruling PAP in Aljunied GRC, while Chiam contested Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC, leading Benjamin Pwee, Wilfred Leung, Jimmy Lee and Mohamad Hamim Bin Aliyas. In doing so, the two opposition MPs caused a risk of there being no elected opposition MPs in Parliament if both lost.[17]

File:Low Thia Khiang at a Workers' Party general election rally, Bedok Stadium, Singapore - 20110430.jpg
Low Thia Khiang at a Workers' Party general election rally, Bedok Stadium, Singapore.

Low led the WP to a victory in Aljunied GRC. On the other hand, Chiam was defeated, while his wife lost Potong Pasir SMC for the SPP by a margin of 114 votes.[18] The WP win marked the first time that an opposition party won a GRC. As a result of the victory, the party had a total of six elected MPs in Parliament, including the seat in Hougang SMC (which was retained by Yaw Shin Leong).[19][20]

2015 General Election

At the 2015 general election, Low's team along with Pritam Singh, Sylvia Lim, Faisal Manap and Chen Show Mao won and retained their seats in Aljunied GRC. However, as part of a national swing to the PAP, the team's votes share decreased to 50.96%, a drop of 3.76%, with a narrow margin of 1.9% (2,626 votes). As the margin was within the 2% range, there was a recount. This was Low's sixth continuous win as an elected opposition MP (four in Hougang SMC and two in Aljunied GRC). He was one of few elected opposition MPs to successfully defend a GRC as an incumbent; he also tied with Chiam for being elected the most number of times as an opposition candidate, with six terms.[21]

2020: Post-political career

On 30 April 2020, Low was hospitalised at an intensive care unit in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital as a result of a head injury.[22] While he was recuperating, the WP announced that he would not contest in the 2020 general election in a move to "broaden its leadership base and also remain in touch with the ground" as the Singaporean population changed.[23]

In interviews following the decision not to contest, Low stated that he was unlikely to make a political comeback in the future.[24] Low felt that he had achieved his goals of securing a GRC, which he did with the 2011 general election, and renewal of the party leadership. Pritam Singh succeeded Low as secretary-general.[25] Low would remain involved with the party in a mentoring role, advising the succeeding leadership when asked.[24]

Personal life

Low first met Han Mui Keow while they were students at Chung Cheng High School in 1973.[5] They were married in 1982[26] and had two sons and a daughter. He is a Buddhist.

On 4 May, having previously been admitted to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital for his aforementioned head injury, Low was transferred to the general ward,[27] and remained until he was discharged on 21 May.[28][29] The injury affected his olfactory nerve centre, disabling his sense of smell.[30]

References

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Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Unofficial Leader of the Opposition
2006–2018 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Member of Parliament for Hougang
1991–2011 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC
2011 –2020
Served alongside:
(2011-2015): Pritam Singh, Faisal Manap, Chen Show Mao, Sylvia Lim
(2015-2020): Pritam Singh, Faisal Manap, Chen Show Mao, Sylvia LimTemplate:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Secretary-General of the Workers' Party
2001–2018 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

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Template:Workers' Party (Singapore)

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