February 16, 2018, 10:56 PM 
An anonymous message circulating via messaging apps claiming to report on an insider account on infighting within the Workers' Party's ranks has been dismissed as a complete fabrication.
Pure work of fiction
The denunciation of the message and its entire contents about possible rifts in WP was made by Yee Jenn Jong, one of the candidates who ran and almost won in Joo Chiat SMC in the 2011 General Election and became a Non-constituency Member of Parliament.
His Feb. 13 post condemned the fake message, saying it was "calculated to cause mischief" and "a pure work of fiction without any basis".
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False claims of insider info
To make the message sound credible to outsiders, it claimed to originate from a source inside WP.
It proceeded to elaborate on the internal party dynamics that are supposedly fraught with competing interests and personal ambition taking precedence over party, effectively pitting
• Dennis Tan against Daniel Goh,
• Low Thia Khiang against Sylvia Lim,
• Chen Show Mao against Dennis Tan,
• and Low Thia Khiang against Chen Show Mao.
Fake messages goes back to GE2015
Yee also wrote in his post that such fake messages were at work as early as the last general election in 2015.
At that time, there was a spread of unverified information about WP emerging as bookies' favourite at winning certain constituencies closer to Polling Day, which inadvertently could have tampered voters' enthusiasm for an opposition victory.
Yee wrote:
I recall during GE2015, loads of fake messages were circulated, such as WP winning East Coast and Marine Parade by landslide margins according to the bookies and other messages calculated to cause concerns amongst certain voting groups about WP's policies on moral issues or the character of some of the candidates.
Yee said he was not aware of anyone who managed to place bets during the GE.
This was what the fake message about infighting in WP said:
A key reason infighting between CSM and Dennis Tan is because Dennis is Low Thia Khiang’s favourite. And Low blames Slyvia for bringing in CSM, “overshadowing” him at GE 2011. Most WP cadres initially prefers CSM to be the next Sec-Gen due to his better credentials (Rodhes Scholar) over Dennis, but these cadres have been removed by Low at the last party conference. CSM brings to the table a host of experience as a previously high flying lawyer, handling multi billion $$ deals. As he tried to probe into Town Council matters, he was side-lined by Low. This has further deepened the rift between those two. Many WP members object to Dennis Tan because they are worried that he is not grounded enough, and Pritam, too young and not steady.
Dennis Tan is still Low Thia Khiang’s favourite as he has demonstrated his loyalty. During EXCO meetings, CSM has repeatedly expressed reservations over the payment methods at TC – dampening the mood of Low. Slyvia is caught in between as she has recommended CSM, and had expected CSM to back her for her own bid to take control of the party. Sylvia is also upset with CSM asking about TC funds.
Cadres are also puzzled when Low praised Dennis Tan, asking themselves “How Dennis has contributed”, they feel that he is aloof and has very weak communication skills.
Although his first choice is not Pritam Singh, Low wants Pritam because Pritam listens to him. Low is afraid that his legacy will be destroyed by the seemingly righteous CSM and is strongly wary of CSM’s inseparable bond with his residents at Paya Lebar. He knows that without CSM, they would have lost Aljunied GRC in 2015. Ultimately, Low is hoping that the cadres Re-nominate him as Sec-gen given the circumstances.
The next Sec-gen should be announced by April this year and it shld be interesting to watch as the weakened party sought to “elect” its new leader.
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