Goh Chok Tong, Low Thia Khiang exit politics as parties gear up for new battles

Singapore

NEW candidates continued to be introduced on Thursday for the general election, but political watchers also drew significance from the departure of two heavyweights from the arena - opposition leader Low Thia Khiang and former prime minister Goh Chok Tong.

The People's Action Party (PAP) announced that after almost half a century in politics, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh, 79, will not be standing for the coming elections.

Across the floor, the Workers' Party (WP) also announced that party elder Mr Low is stepping down, signalling the end of an era for Singapore opposition politics.

Joining him are WP party veterans Png Eng Huat and Chen Show Mao - a decision the individuals arrived at with the party's leadership, WP secretary-general Pritam Singh said on Thursday.

Speaking at a virtual press conference to unveil the party's first four candidates, Mr Singh said Mr Low himself had persuaded him on the importance of refreshing the party's line-up of MPs for the WP to remain relevant to all Singaporeans.

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Relating Mr Low's advice, Mr Singh recalled what he said: "If a Workers' Party MP becomes too detached from new norms and the changing shape of society, the Workers' Party will be less effective in speaking for Singaporeans in Parliament and run the risk of becoming irrelevant."

"The absence of new blood will set the party back in its growth as an institutionalised opposition in Singapore."

Political observers said the opposition stalwart's retirement from active politics leaves big shoes to fill.

Mr Low, 63, is the longest-serving opposition parliamentarian in Singapore, having spent almost two decades representing Hougang, and another nine years, to date, Aljunied. He led the party for 17 years from 2001 before handing over to Mr Singh in 2018.

Mr Png, 58, has been Hougang's MP since 2012, while Mr Chen, 59, has been serving at Aljunied since 2011.

The trio will continue to mentor young leaders, Mr Singh stressed. "They remain critical as the party's resource of information and experience."

While leadership renewal has been on the cards for the WP for a while now, political observers consider the simultaneous retirement of three veteran members - half of the party's elected MPs - a bold move.

"It's a big gamble. How do (the other candidates) fill the shoes of Mr Low?" asked Singapore Management University law professor Eugene Tan.

Associate Professor Tan said Mr Low rejuvenated the WP, which, under his leadership, broke an "important psychological barrier" among opposition parties by winning a Group Representative Constituency (GRC) in 2011. He is a 'street fighter' in parliament, a charismatic politician. His leadership showed how, even in a system where the ruling party is so dominant and governs the country well, that there is still a role for the opposition," he said.

On the other hand, Mr Low stepping down could fortify support for the opposition, Assoc Prof Tan noted.

"The departure of a stalwart like Mr Low will certainly get voters thinking, how are we going to continue to make sure we still have opposition politicians in parliament?"

Mustafa Izzuddin, senior international affairs analyst at public and business consultancy Solaris Strategies, observed: "What's surprising is that it's not just (Mr Low) stepping down, but also Png and Chen Show Mao."

This suggests that WP is looking beyond the polls and at "grooming young blood for the future", he said. "This is a political watershed for WP, a turning point in their party's development."

Dr Mustafa expects all three to still be actively involved in the party's campaign.

The retirement of Mr Goh, the chosen leader of the PAP's second generation leaders, was seen as less surprising, given how the PAP is already transitioning from its third generation leadership to the fourth.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister's Office shared an exchange of letters between Mr Goh and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, with Mr Goh expressing his wish to retire from politics.

Mr Goh, who has served as Member of Parliament for Marine Parade for 44 years, wrote that he made the decision although others urged him to stand for another term.

"But I should not. I would not have the same energy when I cross into my 80s," he said.

Mr Goh entered politics in 1976 and has been serving in Marine Parade since. He was appointed Singapore's prime minister in 1990 and handed over the nation's leadership to Mr Lee Hsien Loong in 2004.

In reply, Mr Lee acknowledged Mr Goh's leadership during past crises, such as the Asian Financial Crisis and the Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in 2003.

Mr Lee also wrote of their relationship: "Ours was a fruitful comradeship that spanned the entirety of my years in politics and most of yours - a close relationship between two prime ministers that would be the envy of many countries."

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