WORKERS' Party (WP) leader Low Thia Khiang believes the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has made the grade in its governance, and Singapore is now more politically open than before.

He also admits that his party will need some 20 years before it is ready to replace the PAP as the government.

Asked how he would grade the PAP government, he said it was 'definitely a pass'.

But in his interview with Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao ahead of the WP's 50th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, he declined to give marks to the ruling party.

'It is not up to me to give marks, it is up to the Singaporean voters. If I were to give them marks, there may be a sense of unfairness,' said the Hougang MP.

'This is because I'm looking at the problems from a different angle, so it is best that I don't give marks. I can only say that if I were to grade them, they would certainly get a pass, that is not a problem.'

But at the same time, he criticised some of the Government's policies, arguing that the recent Central Provident Fund (CPF) changes are unfair to the elderly.

He said that by delaying the draw-down age of the CPF Minimum Sum, the Government is essentially leaving older Singaporeans with no choice but to continue working.

While supporting the Government's moves on anti-terrorism, he expressed concern that it may increase the authorities' power.

Still, the WP secretary-general - who said he hoped that he will not be the party leader when it celebrates its 60th anniversary - insists it is not right for a political party to oppose for the sake of opposing.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.