Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh announced that Low Thia Khiang, Chen Show Mao and Png Eng Huat would not be standing as candidates in GE2020.

The surprise announcement caught many off-guard, as the three are considered veterans of the only opposition party with seats in Parliament.

Pritam's announcement came at the end of the new candidates unveiling press conference, without questions taken from the media, and without further comment from other members of the party.

The announcement was made without much fanfare.

Pritam expands on announcement in Facebook post

Subsequently, Pritam took to Facebook to further hash out the thinking behind the trio's standing down, even though they are not retiring.

The step back from electoral politics, Pritam said, was a collective decision to allow WP to remain relevant to Singaporeans because leaders do get old and society's values changes.

Pritam explained: "If a Workers’ Party MP became too detached from new norms and the changing shape of society, the Workers’ Party would be less effective in speaking for Singaporeans in Parliament and run the risk of becoming irrelevant."

A move of the three experienced MPs into another role would also allow others to step up.

This would free up space in the party and within the town council, for younger members to gain the necessary experience.

Pritam wrote: "The absence of new blood will set the Party back in its growth as a credible and institutionalized opposition in Singapore."

These senior trio would also help groom the next batch of leaders in this new backseat capacity.

You can read Pritam's full post here:

At our first candidate introduction today, I announced that Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Chen Show Mao and Mr Png Eng Huat would not be standing as candidates in GE2020. The party leadership came to this collective decision with Mr Low, Mr Chen and Mr Png respectively some time back, when all three shared their wish to step down at the end of the current term of Parliament. However, their decision to step down is not a retirement.

This collective decision is based on three considerations, all of which are anchored on the continued political success of The Workers' Party.

1. Broaden Leadership Base. For the Party to grow, new and younger leaders require Parliamentary and Town Council experience. If there is no renewal of Workers’ Party MPs, over time, the Party will not be able to attract new members to join and aspire to serve Singapore as opposition MPs. The absence of new blood will set the Party back in its growth as a credible and institutionalized opposition in Singapore.

2. Mentorship and Training. As the Party grows, it is important to ensure that a cadre of individuals can provide mentorship and train younger leaders. The time is right for the Workers’ Party to have senior leaders contribute in a different capacity. They remain critical as the Party's resource of information and experience.

3. Staying in touch with Singapore. The above two, were reasons that Mr Low and I agreed on. But I took some time to reflect on the third reason before I was eventually persuaded. Mr Low shared with me that it was critical for the Workers’ Party to remain relevant to all Singaporeans, be they new citizens, seniors, middle-aged and younger voters. He was concerned that as the elder generation of the Party ages, even as values and wisdom remain timeless, an MP must have his or her pulse on Singapore society. If a Workers’ Party MP became too detached from new norms and the changing shape of society, the Workers’ Party would be less effective in speaking for Singaporeans in Parliament and run the risk of becoming irrelevant.

The Workers’ Party and our supporters have been fortunate to count on the leadership of Mr Low, Mr Chen and Mr Png for many years, and many Singaporeans are in their debt for their decision to serve the country through the Workers’ Party. For the upcoming elections, Gerald Giam and Leon Perera, both experienced NCMPs will stand in Aljunied GRC, and the Party Organising Secretary Dennis Tan, another NCMP, will stand in Hougang SMC.

The party leadership, and all of us at The Workers’ Party will continue working and walking together, standing on the shoulders of the values Mr Low and other elder members have built. We will strengthen and carry the Workers’ Party forward to greater heights.