logo
WP co-opts 4 rookie MPs into CEC, NCMP Eileen Chong to head youth wing

WP co-opts 4 rookie MPs into CEC, NCMP Eileen Chong to head youth wing

Straits Times18-06-2025
WP members (clockwise from top left) Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, Kenneth Tiong, Eileen Chong and Andre Low have been co-opted into its central executive committee. PHOTOS: WORKERS' PARTY
SINGAPORE - The Workers' Party has co-opted two of its rookie MPs and its two new Non-Constituency MPs (NCMP) into its Central Executive Committee - its highest decision-making body.
Sengkang GRC newcomer Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik has been appointed deputy organising secretary, while Aljunied GRC rookie Kenneth Tiong has been appointed deputy treasurer, the party said in a statement on June 18.
NCMP Ms Eileen Chong will be the new president of the party's youth wing, while her fellow NCMP Mr Andre Low is now the deputy head of its media team, it added.
Ms Chong will take the post from Sengkang MP Jamus Lim. In its statement, the WP expressed its appreciation to Dr Lim for his contributions to the youth wing's development.
These appointments followed a CEC meeting on June 17, the statement added.
There are no other changes in appointments to the other CEC members, who will continue to be led by secretary general Pritam Singh and chair Sylvia Lim, it said.
They were elected at the Cadre Members' Conference of the Party almost a year ago on June 30, 2024.
It added: 'The Workers' Party is confident that our new CEC members will play a vital role, as we continue to serve Singaporeans and working for Singapore.'
All four are political newcomers who stood for election for the first time under the WP banner at the 2025 general election on May 3.
They are four of five rookie MPs will who form part of the largest-ever WP contingent of 12 in Parliament when it reopens on Sept 5.
The party's fifth first-time MP Aljunied representative Fadli Fawzi was already on the CEC as deputy organising secretary.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Three top students with passion to serve awarded President's Scholarship
Three top students with passion to serve awarded President's Scholarship

Straits Times

time28 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

Three top students with passion to serve awarded President's Scholarship

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE - From championing justice and inspiring young scientists to build a greener, more inclusive home, the three President's Scholarship recipients for 2025 share a common drive – to serve. Ms Hilary Chee, 18, Ms Clarissa Nguyen, 19, and Mr Kaleb Teo, 19, each turned a personal passion into projects serving the community, which include integrating migrant workers into the larger society, mentoring girls in astronomy and organising programmes for underprivileged families. They received their scholarship awards from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at a ceremony held at The Fullerton Hotel on Aug 14. About 70 guests were in attendance, including Defence Minister and Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing and Mr Tharman's spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi. While the public sector awards many scholarships each year to promising young Singaporeans, the President's Scholarship is awarded to those whom the Public Service Commission (PSC) assessed to have the most outstanding package of traits, including all-round excellence and leadership potential, said Mr Tharman. Mr Teo, from Hwa Chong Institution, will be heading to Oxford University. Ms Chee and Ms Nguyen, both from Raffles Institution, will be heading to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University respectively. In his speech, Mr Tharman stressed that receiving the President's Scholarship is a privilege. 'Don't let it get to your head, or mistake excellence for superiority,' he said. 'The scholarship does not set you for life.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Bukit Merah fire: Residents relocated as town council conducts restoration works Singapore askST: What to do in the event of a fire at home Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF Singapore askST: What are the fire safety rules for PMDs? Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at wrong airport in South Korea Opinion Could telco consolidation spell the end of attractive mobile plans? Singapore Change in law proposed to pave the way for public-private sector data sharing Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength What it does, said the President, is put on its recipients an added commitment – to put their every ability into serving the people of Singapore. The award also comes with the responsibility on scholarship holders to keep developing through the course of their public service careers. This mean staying informed about new ideas, thinking deeply about alternative options and building relationships with a wide range of people, said Mr Tharman. 'Always look for ways to collaborate with others and build team strengths, both within the public service and with groups in civic society.' While the Republic has to face today's more profoundly uncertain world as a small island state with no natural resources of its own, Mr Tharman said Singaporeans know the country's future does not depend on what it has, but on its people, its collective aspirations, drive and ability to work together at home and with partners abroad. On its part, the public service must keep evolving to respond both to external challenges and Singaporeans' changing needs. Its officers must have greater depth of expertise than before, drawing on diverse views, and be prepared to adapt or retire policies that no longer serve the country well, he added. Yet public policy must also continue to be underpinned by the overarching moral principles that have guided Singapore from the early years till today, said Mr Tharman. '(This is) the conviction a better society is possible, where every individual and community is equally worthy of respect, and where we only uplift ourselves when we uplift others with us.'

Forum: Address housing needs of vulnerable groups
Forum: Address housing needs of vulnerable groups

Straits Times

time15 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Forum: Address housing needs of vulnerable groups

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox W e are pleased that the Government is reviewing the age floor for singles buying Housing Board flats with a view to lowering it. However, there remain those who, due to their life circumstances, find themselves ineligible or severely restricted from buying an HDB flat as singles. This leaves them in precarious housing situations – often dependent on rental markets they cannot afford, or in temporary arrangements that hinder their ability to rebuild their lives. Four groups merit urgent attention: Unmarried single parents Many are primary caregivers doing the heavy lifting of raising children alone, often with limited income and support. Yet because their children are considered 'illegitimate' under current rules, they cannot form a recognised family nucleus with them, making it harder to secure a home. Transnational parents of children who are Singaporeans or permanent residents These are foreigners who are widowed, divorced, or separated parents who are the caregivers of their children. Despite the children's right to grow up in Singapore, such parents can face significant obstacles in securing stable housing, leaving families in uncertainty. Single survivors of domestic abuse Leaving an abusive relationship is already an act of immense courage, but current housing rules can trap survivors in unsafe environments or force them into unstable arrangements that risk retraumatisation. Access to stable housing for this vulnerable group of people should be prioritised. Young adults leaving residential care homes at 21 Unlike peers growing up with their parents, they lack the support, guidance, or safety net of a family home as they navigate adulthood. At this stage, many are financially precarious – still studying, serving national service, or working in jobs that do not pay very much. HDB could provide the option of affordable rental housing for such young adults to share, giving them a stable starting point in life. The existing eligibility rules for singles do not adequately account for exceptional circumstances where housing is a basic necessity, not a lifestyle choice. We need clearly defined, compassionate exceptions in HDB policy that recognise these groups as urgent cases, allowing them to qualify for public housing regardless of age or marital status. Such provisions would not only address immediate shelter needs, but also prevent downstream social costs. Ensuring that these vulnerable individuals have a secure roof over their heads is a measure of our collective humanity. Sugidha Nithiananthan Director, Advocacy and Research Association of Women for Action and Research

'Our role is to make ourselves obsolete': First-time WP candidates reflect on GE2025 and whether they'll run again, Singapore News
'Our role is to make ourselves obsolete': First-time WP candidates reflect on GE2025 and whether they'll run again, Singapore News

AsiaOne

timea day ago

  • AsiaOne

'Our role is to make ourselves obsolete': First-time WP candidates reflect on GE2025 and whether they'll run again, Singapore News

Workers' Party (WP) candidates said that their decision to contest in Singapore's next general election will not depend on personal choice, but on whether the party attracts more qualified candidates. WP candidates Siti Alia Abdul Rahim Mattar and Sufyan Mikhail Putra sat down with fellow party members and hosts of This Side of the House, Eileen Chong and Andre Low. In a 42-minute-long debut episode uploaded to the party's social media channels on Monday (Aug 11), the first-time candidates reflected on GE2025 and their personal experiences stepping into Singapore's political arena as newbies. When asked about their plans to run again at the next election in five years, Siti Alia said that it would depend on what is best for the party. "It's always a question of if there are better candidates, more experienced candidates, more trained candidates — people that the party feels would be a better fit," she said. Siti Alia said it may not be necessary to field the same candidates, but that it might be more important for the party to continue contesting in the same constituencies. "I feel like when people say 'don't give up', I think they're telling the party: 'Don't give up on our constituency'," she said, giving the example of Punggol GRC where she contested. Chong agreed, adding that the decision to contest again would be reliant on what the party believes the Singapore electorate is looking for. She also recalled being teary-eyed on the team's perambulating vehicle the day after election results were out, where residents ran up to thank her for contesting and asked her to try again in five years. "It's hard to turn your back on what we're all building together," said Chong, who said she felt encouraged by the support shown throughout the nine days of campaigning. Low also agreed with Siti Alia's perspective, reflecting that the longer term goal as an opposition party is to "to make ourselves obsolete". "I hadn't thought about it that way, but if we zoom out a little bit, our role as opposition politicians is really to make ourselves obsolete. "We want to push and forward the opposition cause in Singapore to a point where there are so many qualified people who feel like they should step up and contribute," he explained, adding that there will be no guarantee that the four of them will still contest in the next election, should there be more qualified people for the job. "The moment we become replaceable, that's actually brilliant for Singapore," he said. Chiming in, Sufyan said that WP has had various people joining their outreach efforts in all the constituencies after GE2025, and that "the talent that [they've] seen is very encouraging". Singapore's 15th parliament to open on Sept 5 Siti Alia was part of the four-person team that contested in Punggol GRC. The team received 44.83 per cent of votes, losing to the People's Action Party (PAP) team led by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong. Sufyan contested in the five-member East Coast GRC team led by Yee Jenn Jong. The team received 41.24 per cent of votes and ceded defeat to the incumbent PAP team led by current Minister for Law, Edwin Tong. Low contested in Jalan Kayu SMC and received the highest percentage of votes (48.53 per cent) among the unelected opposition candidates, and was chosen as the first Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) following the conclusion of GE2025. Chong had contested Tampines GRC alongside Faisal Manap, Michael Thng, Ong Lue Ping and Jimmy Tan in a four-way fight, losing to a People's Action Party (PAP) team led by Masagos Zulkifli. Chong's team received the second highest percentage of votes (47.37 per cent) among the unelected opposition candidates, and Chong was subsequently elected NCMP. The first session of Singapore's 15th parliament will open next month on Sept 5, with Low and Chong to appear alongside WP's 10 MPs from Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC. [[nid:720962]]

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store