Comment: Millennials join WP's leadership ranks with 'class of 2025' co-opted CEC members

The Workers' Party (WP) announced changes to its Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Jun. 18, following the general election of 2025 which took place a month earlier.

The party co-opted four new members into its ranks, Abdul Muhaimin bin Abdul Malik, Kenneth Tiong, Andre Low and Eileen Chong.

New roles

While some of the new appointees are relative newcomers to frontline politics, getting a CEC role may provide an opportunity to be mentored by and gain experience from a more seasoned party member.

Abdul Muhaimin, as Deputy Organising Secretary, will be working with organising secretary Dennis Tan and longtime party members like Ang Boon Yaw and campaigners like Kenneth Foo.

Tiong will work with Sengkang GRC leader He Ting Ru, who is the party's Treasurer, and GE2020 and GE2025 candidate Nathaniel Koh.

Meanwhile, Low will take up a role with the media team, working with Louis Chua and Lee Li Lian, current and former MPs.

Chong will take over the role of Youth Wing President from Jamus Lim, who remains the Deputy Head of Policy Research.

Taking on such posts could be the first step on a path to bigger things.

Looking at previous holders of such roles, names like Dennis Tan (Vice Chair of Media Team, 2014), Gerald Giam (Media Chair, 2014), Leon Perera (Media Chair, 2021, Youth Wing President 2018) and Daniel Goh (Youth Wing President 2014) stand out.

All were fielded in several general elections, and given the opportunity to win seats in Parliament.

Some became MPs and NCMPs, and went on and become even more senior members of the CEC - Organising Secretary and Media Chair.

Higher profile

With all four members in their 30s, Chong being the youngest at 32, the appointments signal WP's blooding of its new recruits.

With the first wave of Millennials joining the WP's leadership ranks, the newly-co-opted members will have a seat at the table during important party discussions, and bring the fresh perspective of a younger generation.

Low and Chong in particular, with roles in the Media and Youth Wing teams, will be leaned on to ensure the party remains relevant and accessible to a generation of younger voters turning 21, eager to make their own voices heard at the ballot box.

After the departure of Nicole Seah from the party, Jamus Lim took over as Youth Wing President.

But as he turns 49 this year, Chong is perhaps better suited to the role.

The CEC appointments will lend the co-opted members greater prominence within the eyes of not just the party, but the public as well.

According to longtime WP campaigner Yee Jenn Jong, in his book, "Journey In Blue: A Peek Into The Workers' Party Of Singapore", it is almost a given that a sitting WP Parliamentarian will be in the CEC.

He added that it provides the member the opportunity to show "leadership ability".

"In 2011, after the general election, Chen Show Mao, Pritam Singh, and I were co-opted as Low Thia Khiang felt that those who had made it to Parliament should be on the CEC.

Prominent members who had been co-opted prior to them becoming parliamentarians include Dennis Tan, Daniel Goh, and Leon Perera. By co-opting into the CEC, the leadership team becomes strengthened.

The co-opted member also has the opportunity to show leadership ability and thereby stands a better chance to be elected in future CEC elections."

Background

In GE2025, Abdul Muhaimin and Tiong won seats in Parliament as part of WP's Sengkang and Aljunied GRC teams, respectively.

Meanwhile, Low won one of two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats by performing the best in defeat against Ng Chee Meng of the PAP.

Low won 48.53 per cent of the total vote, losing to Ng by about 800 votes.

The last NCMP spot went to the WP team in Tampines GRC.

Their performance of 47.37 per cent of the total vote was just enough to pip Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party to a seat in Parliament, as he finished with 46.82 per cent.

WP chose Eileen Chong out of the five-member team to fill the last seat.

Earlier in Jul. 2024, WP co-opted Fadli Fawzi to the CEC, taking up the post of Deputy Organising Secretary.

Fadli would go on to win a Parliamentary seat in GE2025, also as part of the Aljunied GRC team.

Top image from WP YouTube.