Low Thia Khiang

Low Thia Khiang^[a] (born 5 September 1956) is a Singaporean former politician who served as secretary-general of the Workers' Party (WP) from 2001 to 2018. A prominent figure in opposition politics, Low was elected to Parliament in the 1991 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hougang Single Member Constituency (SMC), a position he held for two decades before contesting in Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in 2011. That year, he led a landmark victory that saw the WP secure the first GRC won by an opposition party, representing the Bedok Reservoir–Punggol division of Aljunied GRC until his retirement from electoral politics in 2020. His tenure in Parliament, spanning 29 years, remains the longest of any opposition MP in Singapore's post-independence history.

Throughout his political career, Low was widely recognised for his tenacity and measured pragmatism. As one of only two opposition MPs in Parliament between 1997 and 2011, he played a pivotal role in maintaining parliamentary opposition representation during a period dominated by the People's Action Party (PAP). Under his stewardship, the WP consolidated its position as the principal opposition party, securing six elected seats in both the 2011 and 2015 general elections. His leadership style, often characterised by consensus-building and party discipline, was credited with transforming the WP into a cohesive and electorally credible force.

In 2018, as part of a deliberate leadership renewal strategy, Low stepped down as secretary-general and was succeeded by Pritam Singh. He did not seek re-election in the 2020 general election but remained an influential presence within the party, continuing to serve on its Central Executive Committee (CEC) from 2022.

Born and raised in Singapore during British colonial rule, Low was Chinese-educated and attended Lik Teck Primary School followed by Chung Cheng High School.^[1] He later enrolled at Nanyang University, where he majored in Chinese language and literature as well as government and public administration. In 1981, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Chinese studies from the National University of Singapore. The following year, in 1982, he obtained a diploma in education. Low worked as a teacher for several years before venturing into business.^[2]

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.^[3]

Low was well known for giving speeches in Teochew,^[4] which won him much support from a large number of Teochew-speaking residents in Hougang SMC.^[5]

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%.^[6]

In 1991, Low, as the Workers' Party's assistant secretary-general, won the Hougang SMC 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.^[7]

Low was re-elected as the MP for Hougang SMC with increased votes at the 1997 general election, his second election victory in Hougang.^[8]

On 27 May 2001, Low became the secretary-general of the Workers' Party, replacing J. B. Jeyaretnam.^[9][10] He was re-elected again as the MP for Hougang at the 2001 general election.^[11]

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.^[12]

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.^[13]

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.^[14] 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).^[15][16]

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.^[17]

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.^[18]

In 2017, Low announced at WP'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.^[19] Low formally stepped down as WP chief on 8 April 2018. Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing subsequently praised Low during the 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.^[20]

In 2020 while Low was recuperating in hospital, 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.^[21] When the parliament was dissolved prior to 2020 general election, Low was Singapore's longest-serving opposition MP with 29 years in service.^[22][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 had indicated his desire to remain active in politics and be involved with the party in a mentoring role, advising the succeeding leadership when asked.^[24]

Low first met Han Mui Keow while they were students at Chung Cheng High School in 1973.^[1] They were married in 1982^[26] and had two sons and a daughter. He is a Buddhist.

On 30 April 2020, Low sustained a head injury after a fall at his home and was subsequently hospitalised in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. He remained in the ICU for five days before being transferred to the general ward on 4 May.^[27] He continued his recovery in the general ward until he was discharged from hospital on 21 May.^[28][29] The injury reportedly affected his olfactory nerve centre, resulting in a loss of his sense of smell.^[25]

• List of Singapore opposition party MPs elected