Former Workers’ Party (WP) Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang has announced that he will not contest in the next general election, expected by November 2025. The veteran politician shared this decision through a video posted on the WP’s Instagram account on Saturday, December 7. This confirmation puts to rest speculation about his possible return to electoral politics.
During a WP community outreach event, Mr. Low was approached by a resident curious about his plans. In response to whether he would be contesting, he stated, “I’m already retired… That is not true; that’s rumours.” Despite stepping down as WP leader in 2018, he has remained active within the party, serving on its central executive committee and providing guidance to younger members. “We’ve got a younger generation that can move the party forward. They can do much better than me,” said the 68-year-old.
Mr. Low’s political career began with his first electoral contest in the 1988 general election, where he and his WP team unsuccessfully vied for Tiong Bahru GRC. However, his persistence paid off when he won Hougang SMC in 1991, defeating the People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate Tan Guan Seng with 52.82% of the vote. This victory marked the start of his 20-year tenure as the MP for Hougang, solidifying his reputation as a steadfast opposition figure.
In 2001, Mr. Low became WP’s secretary-general, leading the party to notable successes. His strongest performance in Hougang came during the 2006 general election, where he won 62.74% of the vote. In 2011, he took a bold step by contesting Aljunied GRC alongside Ms. Sylvia Lim, Mr. Chen Show Mao, Mr. Pritam Singh, and Mr. Faisal Manap. Despite facing a formidable PAP team led by George Yeo, the WP achieved a historic victory, securing their first GRC with 54.72% of the vote.
Although Mr. Low retired as secretary-general in 2018 and skipped the 2020 general election, his influence remained evident in WP’s successes that year, including retaining Hougang SMC and Aljunied GRC and winning Sengkang GRC. Should he stick to his decision not to run in 2025, his last electoral battle would be the 2015 general election, where WP defended Aljunied GRC with a narrow 50.96% majority. Mr. Low’s legacy as a pioneering opposition leader will undoubtedly continue to shape the Workers’ Party’s trajectory.
