05-05-2025
Eileen Chong may be WP's best choice for NCMP, not Michael Thng
Following the 2025 General Election, the Workers' Party (WP) secured 10 elected seats in Parliament.
In addition to these, WP has also been offered two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats.
This offer stems from the WP's narrow defeats in Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC — two contests where WP recorded the highest vote percentages among the losing opposition candidates.
In Jalan Kayu SMC, WP's Andre Low garnered 48.53% of the vote, falling short by just 806 votes.
In Tampines GRC, the WP team comprising Faisal Manap, Michael Thng, Ong Lue Ping, Eileen Chong, and Jimmy Tan secured 47.37% of the vote — the second-closest result for a losing team.
Under Singapore's electoral framework, the NCMP scheme ensures that up to 12 opposition voices are present in Parliament, even if they are not directly elected.
The scheme allows the 'best-performing' losing candidates from opposition parties to take up these seats.
With WP having already filled its elected seats and coming closest in these two contests, the party is entitled to both of the available NCMP slots.
It is expected that Andre Low will be offered one NCMP seat.
The question now turns to who from the Tampines slate will take the other.
Much attention has been focused on Michael Thng.
Thng, 37, drew praise during the campaign after representing WP in Mediacorp's English-language live political roundtable, where he spoke confidently without notes.
His educational background and polished delivery have made him a perceived frontrunner.
However, there is a compelling argument for Eileen Chong to be considered instead.
Chong, 33, represented WP in the Mandarin-language political debate — a platform WP could not participate in during the 2020 election due to the lack of Mandarin-proficient representatives.
Her inclusion this year not only filled that gap but also underscored her strength in engaging Mandarin-speaking audiences.
This matters deeply for WP, which already has a number of capable English-speaking MPs, including Jamus Lim, Gerald Giam, and its Secretary-General himself, Pritam Singh.
What the party currently lacks is a parliamentary figure who is articulate in Mandarin — an increasingly vital skill in reaching both older Chinese voters and new citizens from China, who often consume Mandarin media.
Chong's language skills are complemented by a cheerful, relatable personality and her prior experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Her seven years of service as a diplomat suggest she is more than capable of engaging with policy matters and international affairs, qualities that would enrich parliamentary debate.
Additionally, her selection would support WP's efforts toward gender diversity.
At present, the WP has only two female MPs among its 10 elected seats — Sylvia Lim and He Ting Ru.
Lim, speaking at a rally on 28 April, openly highlighted the need for more female representation, especially in the opposition.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by The Workers' Party, Singapore (@wpsgp)
Adding Chong as an NCMP would be a concrete move in that direction.
While Thng is undoubtedly competent and well-spoken, WP's long-term interests may be better served by broadening its demographic reach.
Chong offers a rare combination: linguistic agility, policy experience, and the ability to resonate with a key voter base that WP must court more seriously if it hopes to expand beyond its current electoral strongholds.
Choosing Thng would reflect a safe, conventional move.
Opting for Chong, on the other hand, would show a party thinking strategically — one that understands that elections are not won solely through eloquent English debates, but by connecting meaningfully with every segment of the electorate.
In the next general election, the ability to speak to Chinese-speaking voters in their preferred language — and with sincerity — could prove decisive in a tight race.
Chong is uniquely equipped to do exactly that.
