Analysis: Outcomes of WP cadre conferences conclude Raeesah Khan saga, attention turns to party renewal

Almost five years and countless hours of committee and court hearings later, the Raeesah Khan saga has culminated in one Sunday afternoon of votes among the Workers’ Party (WP) cadres on the fate of their Secretary-General, Pritam Singh.

This was the first time Singh's leadership had been tabled for questioning among WP cadres since he took over the reins of the party in 2018.

Singh won the secret ballot, part of the special cadre members conference requisitioned by 25 cadre members, with what was described as a "supermajority".

He went on to be re-elected, unopposed, as the WP Secretary-General in the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections.

This outcome represents a turning of the page for the WP on the Raeesah Khan saga, but leaves open a central question about the opposition party: leadership renewal.

"Supermajority"

When asked by the media about the outcome of the cadres' secret vote, Singh mentioned "supermajority", acknowledging the media's interpretation and definition of "supermajority" in parliament.

In other words, two-thirds or more of the WP cadres present voted in favour of Pritam during the special cadre members' conference (SCMC).

It isn't known how many cadre members were present during the Jun. 28 conference, but, according to The Business Times, the party has roughly 100 cadres.

According to The Straits Times, Singh secured about 80 per cent of the votes.

This outcome was unsurprising, analysts told Mothership.

Low Thia Khiang the kingmaker?

One key reason was WP's ex-chief Low Thia Khiang.

Prior to the Jun. 28 conferences, ST reported the rumour that Low had ended his support for his handpicked successor, and that this might prove consequential for Singh's continuation as Secretary-General.

As Low entered the meeting venue on Jun. 28, he was approached by the media and was asked if he would support Singh.

Low answered yes, local media reported.

His reply to the media can be seen as a telegraph to all the other cadres on where he stood.

"Singh prevailed not only because he had the numbers to win any vote, but also because former party boss and Singh's mentor, Low Thia Khiang, did not withdraw support for Singh," Eugene Tan, a political analyst and professor of law at Singapore Management University (SMU), noted.

Closing ranks

Teo Kay Key, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, made note of the fact that the party's senior members have stuck by Singh even before Sunday.

"We have seen the elected members stand behind him in the parliamentary proceedings relating to this case, and the party decision to not nominate any other person for the Leader of the Opposition (LO) position," Teo said.

All 11 WP members present voted against the Parliamentary motion, which stated that Singh was unsuitable to continue as the LO, owing to his conviction.

Independent political analyst Felix Tan, however, was surprised that Singh's Secretary-General bid went unopposed, given that there were some "initial disagreements among party members".

Despite this, Tan noted that the entire process was "a reflection of the process of democracy within the party and that there have been proper checks and balances within the party".

"While there are still some who have voted against him, the 'supermajority' would imply that many would like to finally find some closure to this entire saga," Tan also said, noting that this did not mean that the WP disagreed with the court ruling.

The dust settles, internally

With Sunday's outcome, the Raeesah Khan saga is now firmly in the rearview mirror, as far as the WP is concerned.

It is also an indication that the party stands firmly behind Singh, who might have emerged stronger as the party chief.

"A clear line has been drawn on this matter, and the proverbial albatross around [the WP's and Singh's] neck is no longer there," SMU's Tan opined.

"Singh's grip on his party has probably tightened, even though the room for any major missteps has closed significantly," Tan also commented.

Tan added that Singaporeans have largely made up their minds on the matter. "But it cannot be denied that this is a blemish that both the WP and Singh, with hindsight, would rather not have happened."

Independent analyst Felix Tan opined, "This will clearly demonstrate how unified the party is behind Pritam Singh as their leader. I don’t think this will hamper their work in parliament, but instead strengthen their position as the main opposition."

"By formally putting it to a vote, the party as a whole has also decided on their support for Pritam as their leader," Teo said.

There is still the question of whether Parliament will take action against party chair Sylvia Lim and former vice-chair Faisal Manap, but this is a separate issue.

"That would be seen as something outside the WP's control, even as they will put up a stout defence," SMU's Tan said.

Looking ahead

While Sunday's outcome closes a chapter, it leaves open another to ponder about: who will be able to lead the WP beyond its current leaders?

Low's telegraphing of intentions and the subsequent results are an indication that the party veteran, who turns 70 this year, still holds significant sway over cadres and the party.

The question is then who will succeed him as the respected party elder within the WP.

That Singh went unopposed, despite some murmurings that disgruntled cadres had wanted an alternative MP (like Sengkang's Jamus Lim) to step up, is also telling.

Party leaders themselves have not shied away from the fact that leadership succession and renewal are central issues to be tackled.

When asked if her chairmanship was challenged on Sunday, Lim, who is 61 this year, acknowledged that she has been the party chair for 23 years.

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"We're very conscious of the fact that leadership renewal is very critical to the organisation, so we have been looking at that," Lim said.

Lim went on to say that since the cadres gave her "their vote of confidence this time", she was going to "do [her] best in the role".

The core of the 2011 Aljunied GRC team still forms the backbone of the WP leadership today, as Pritam, Lim, Faisal Manap, and Low all retain their seats on the CEC.

New face on the CEC

The new WP CEC, which was announced alongside the outcome of the secret cadres' ballot, might offer hints.

Notably, Punggol GRC candidate Harpreet Singh, 60, was the only new face who won a spot on the party's highest decision-making body.

Harpreet, a senior counsel, had also come out quickly to assure supporters that the cadres' decision was made with full respect for the recent High Court judgment, without seeking to minimise or sidestep it.

He noted that a person's full history matters when assessing character and that the decision is a good one for WP.

The exclusions of Aljunied GRC MP Fadli Fawzi and Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Andre Low raised eyebrows, due to the party's usual practice of having its parliamentarians be on the CEC.

However, analysts highlighted that the CEC can still co-opt members, just like its announcement post-GE 2025, and that the CEC appointments have yet to be decided.

Eileen Chong and Kenneth Tiong, both in their 30s, also did well, as they were elected into the CEC for the first time, following their co-option a year ago.

Comfortable victory

Whatever and whoever it is, Singh, having comfortably been re-elected as Secretary-General, will have ample time to decide.

Low led the party for 16 years before passing on the baton to Singh.

Singh has been the party's chief for eight years so far.

Taking history as a guide, Singh and the WP will have about eight to 10 years to figure it out.

For now, with the Raeesah Khan saga behind them, it's back to business.

As Singh himself put it,

"I think nothing has changed for us, so we continue to move forward as a party that wants to give Singaporeans a serious choice, and also a party that wants to provide some important, critical, I would say, political balance in Singapore, in a rational and responsible way. And in a way that makes Singapore stronger. And I think we are stronger as a country with good opposition."