Workers' Party Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang was in a feisty mood on Wednesday morning (Sep 2), during his party’s walkabout in their Hougang stronghold.

When a mainstream media reporter asked Low about the number of opposition candidates needed in parliament to form an effective government, the normally smiley Mr Low uncharacteristically raised his voice to say:

“The number counts! Let’s face the facts — I was in parliament for 20 years, and spoke on a lot of issues, but nothing has happened!

When I moved out (of Hougang) in 2011, and we had 7 elected MPs, you see the changes, so let's face the facts; numbers count!”

His face changed from this:

To this:

And then, very quickly, this:

Yep, politics is serious business indeed.

Watch him as he said this here: