Low Thia Khiang
Low Thia Khiang | |
---|---|
刘程强 | |
8th Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 2 November 2006 – 8 April 2018 | |
Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
Preceded by | Chiam See Tong |
Succeeded by | Pritam Singh |
8th Secretary-General of the Workers' Party | |
In office 27 May 2001 – 8 April 2018 | |
Preceded by | J. B. Jeyaretnam |
Succeeded by | Pritam Singh |
Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC (Bedok Reservoir–Punggol) | |
In office 7 May 2011 – 23 June 2020 | |
Preceded by | George Yeo |
Succeeded by | Gerald Giam |
Member of Parliament for Hougang SMC | |
In office 31 August 1991 – 6 May 2011 | |
Preceded by | Tang Guan Seng |
Succeeded by | Yaw Shin Leong |
Personal details | |
Born | Low Thia Khiang 5 September 1956 (age 67) Worker's Party (from 1982 ) |
Spouse |
Han Mui Keow (m. 1982) |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | Nanyang University National University of Singapore (BA) |
Profession |
|
Low Thia Khiang | |
---|---|
Hanyu Pinyin | Liú Chéngqiáng |
Southern Min | |
Hokkien POJ | Lâu Thiâⁿ-kiàng |
Low Thia Khiang (
Low made his political debut in the
During the
As part of a leadership renewal, Low was succeeded by
Early life
Low studied at Lik Teck Primary School and Chung Cheng High School before he attended Nanyang University, where he majored in Chinese language and literature, and government and public administration. In 1981, he completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Chinese studies at the National University of Singapore. In 1982, he completed a diploma in education. He worked as a teacher for a few years before starting his own business.[5]
Political career
Low joined the
Low is well known for giving speeches in
In the 2016 Workers' Party Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections, Low's position of secretary-general was contended by fellow Aljunied MP Chen Show Mao. This was the first time Low was challenged for the post since he took it up in 2001. Low retained his seat with 61 votes, to Chen's 45. Chen remains in the CEC as a member.[8]
Low announced at his party's 60th anniversary dinner that he would not be contesting for the post of secretary-general for the 2018 party elections and would step down to renew leadership in WP after being at its helm for 17 years.
1988 General Election
In 1988, Low represented the WP in a televised debate with the PAP government on proposals to create an elected Presidency for Singapore, during which he engaged Ong Teng Cheong and Lee Hsien Loong, who later became the President and Prime Minister of Singapore respectively. In the general election later that year, Low, together with Gopalan Nair and Lim Lye Soon, contested Tiong Bahru GRC against the PAP and won 42.2% of the vote while the PAP won 57.8% of the vote. [11]
1991 General Election
In 1991, Low, as the Workers' Party's assistant secretary-general, won the single-member constituency (SMC) of Hougang in the 1991 general election and entered Parliament. In 1992, Low was appointed by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong as a member of the Cost Review Committee. After a year of intensive study, Low decided to produce his own independent report as he had a different perspective from the other members of the committee.[12]
1997 General Election
Low was re-elected as the MP for Hougang SMC at the 1997 general election, his second election victory in Hougang.[13]
2001 General Election
On 27 May 2001, Low became the secretary-general of the Workers' Party, replacing
2006 General Election
At the
2011 General Election
Between 1997 and 2011, Low from WP and Chiam See Tong from the Singapore People's Party (SPP) were the only elected opposition Members of Parliament (MP) in Parliament.
During the 2011 general election, Low and Chiam left their respective strongholds in Hougang and Potong Pasir SMC to challenge the ruling PAP in Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs). Low's team along with Pritam Singh, Sylvia Lim, Muhamad Faisal Manap and Chen Show Mao would challenge the ruling PAP in Aljunied GRC, while Chiam would contest the Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC. In so doing, Low and Chiam risked a situation where there would be no elected opposition MPs in Parliament had they lost.[16]
Low's gambit paid off as he led the Workers' Party to a historic breakthrough in the election, with a victory in Aljunied GRC but Chiam lost in Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC.[17] The win marked the first time that an opposition party won a GRC. As a result of the victory, the Workers' Party had a total of six elected MPs in Parliament, including the seat in Hougang SMC (which was retained by Low's party member, Yaw Shin Leong).[18][19]
2015 General Election
At the
2020: Post-political career
On 30 April 2020, Low was hospitalised at an intensive care unit in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital as a result of a head injury.[21] While still recuperating, Workers' Party announced that Low would not contest in the 2020 general election in a move to "broaden its leadership base and also remain in touch with the ground as Singapore's population changes".[22]
In interviews following the decision not to contest, Low stated that it is unlikely he would make a political comeback in the future.[23] Low felt that he had achieved his goals of securing a group representation constituency, which he did with the 2011 general election, and to renew the party leadership. Pritam Singh succeeded Low as the secretary-general.[24] Low would remain involved with the party in a mentoring role, advising the present leadership when asked.[23]
Personal life
Low first met Han Mui Keow while they were students at Chung Cheng High School in 1973. They were married in 1982 and had two sons and a daughter. He is a Buddhist.
On 30 April 2020, Low was hospitalised at an intensive care unit in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital as a result of a head injury.[21] On 4 May, Low was transferred to the general ward,[25] and remained until he was discharged on 21 May.[26][27] The fall affected his olfactory nerve centre, robbing him his sense of smell.[28]
References
- ^ "Low Thia Khiang: From teacher to opposition icon". www.todayonline.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ "Lee family feud is a serious matter, not a 'Korean drama show': Low Thia Khiang". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ "A man whose 'heart is with Singapore': A look back at Low Thia Khiang's political career with Workers' Party". TODAY. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ "Low, Chen and Png stepping down". The Straits Times. 25 June 2020. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Curriculum Vitae". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
- ^ Tan, Audrey (9 July 2020). "Singapore GE2020: WP's Low Thia Khiang delivers trademark Teochew speech in video". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ Ong, Tanya (26 June 2020). "Why Hougang SMC, the longest-held opposition ward in S'pore, is significant in GE2020". mothership.sg. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ "Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang retains post after challenge by Chen Show Mao at party's internal election". The Straits Times. 29 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- ^ "Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang to step down as secretary-general by next party election". CNA. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- ^ Seow, Bei Yi (15 May 2018). "Minister thanks opposition veteran Low Thia Khiang". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ "Singapore Parliamentary General Election 1988 > Tiong Bahru GRC". www.singapore-elections.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ "Singapore Parliamentary General Election 1991 > Hougang". www.singapore-elections.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ "Singapore Parliamentary General Election 1997 > Hougang". www.singapore-elections.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ "Singapore Parliamentary General Election 2001". www.singapore-elections.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ "WP chief Low Thia Khiang wins fourth term as Hougang MP". AsiaOne. 6 May 2006. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
- ^ "Stakes and risk very high for opposition: WP chief". 1 May 2011. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "PAP wins General Election, loses Aljunied GRC". www.asiaone.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ Lim, Kenneth. "2011: PAP loses Aljunied GRC to WP". The Business Times. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ "WP wins Aljunied GRC, makes key breakthrough". Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ hermesauto (12 September 2015). "GE2O15: Workers' Party retains Aljunied GRC with 50.95 per cent of the vote". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Former WP chief Low Thia Khiang conscious and recovering in ICU after fall at home". Straits Times. 24 June 2020. Archived from the original on 3 May 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ "Singapore GE2020: Workers' Party's Low Thia Khiang, Chen Show Mao and Png Eng Huat step down, will not contest next GE". Straits Times. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ a b "GE2020: Political comeback unlikely, says former Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang". CNA. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ hermesauto (25 June 2020). "Singapore GE2020: 'I felt my work was done', says former WP chief Low Thia Khiang who will not stand in election". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- ^ hermesauto (5 May 2020). "Former WP chief Low Thia Khiang out of ICU after 5 days following fall, now in general ward". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- from the original on 22 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ "Workers' Party MP Low Thia Khiang discharged from hospital following fall at home". Straits Times. 22 May 2020. Archived from the original on 22 May 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ hermesauto (25 June 2020). "Singapore GE2020: 'I felt my work was done', says former WP chief Low Thia Khiang who will not stand in election". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.