WP unveils line-up of office bearers in central exco

WP unveils line-up of office bearers in central exco

Several first-term Workers' Party (WP) Members of Parliament are now office bearers in its top decision-making body, even as the party's main leadership remains unchanged.

In a statement issued last night announcing the line-up of its Central Executive Council, the WP named Mr Chen Show Mao as its new treasurer. Mr Pritam Singh and Ms Lee Li Lian were also named as new organising secretaries.

Mr Chen and Mr Singh, who are Aljunied GRC MPs, were previously council members, while Ms Lee, the Punggol East MP, was the the party's deputy webmaster.

The trio were among 14 WP members elected to the Central Executive Council on July 24 for a two-year term.

That election last month also saw two new faces voted into the council: former council member John Yam, who was not re-elected in 2012; and newcomer L. Somasundaram, a polytechnic lecturer who contested as part of the WP's team in Moulmein-Kallang GRC in the 2011 General Election.

The WP did not disclose its line-up of new office holders after the July 24 council election, but its statement last night said the new council held its first meeting yesterday.

There were no changes to the top three leadership posts.

Aljunied GRC MP Sylvia Lim remains party chairman and Mr Mohammed Rahizan Yaacob is its vice-chairman.

Mr Low Thia Khiang, also an Aljunied GRC MP, is the secretary-general, a post he has held since 2001.

The top three posts and three MPs who became office bearers aside, there was also a reshuffle which saw members taking on new responsibilities.

Former treasurer Yee Jenn Jong, a Non-Constituency MP, is now webmaster; while former WP youth wing president Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap, also an Aljunied GRC MP, is a council member.

Three new faces appear to have been given larger roles.

Mr Somasundaram was appointed deputy treasurer, assisting Mr Chen; while sociologist Daniel Goh was made youth wing president, taking over from Mr Faisal.

Lawyer Dennis Tan is the new vice-chairman of the media team, helping Mr Gerald Giam, a Non-Constituency MP who keeps his post as head of the WP's Media Team.

Rounding up the 14-member CEC is Hougang MP Png Eng Huat.

The council is expected to be the team that will lead the WP at the next general election, which must be called by early 2017 at the latest.

tohyc@sph.com.sg

This article was published on Aug 6 in The Straits Times.

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