Low Thia Khiang
Encyclopedia
Low Thia Khiang is a politician
and businessman
from Singapore
. He is currently the leader of the opposition
Workers' Party
, and since 1991 has been a Member of Parliament
(MP) representing the constituency of Hougang
until 2011 where he contested and won in Aljunied GRC
. He is in charge of the Bedok Reservoir – Punggol Division.
Low is currently one of only six elected opposition MPs in Singapore's 12th Parliament, which includes his fellow 5-man Aljunied GRC team members and Hougang MP Yaw Shin Leong
.
, before going on to study at Nanyang University
where he majored in Chinese Language & Literature, and Government & Public Administration. In 1981, he completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
degree 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.
, J.B. Jeyaretnam
, in his successful campaign to win the parliamentary constituency of Anson.
In 1988, Low represented the Workers' Party in a televised debate with the PAP government on proposals to create an elected Presidency for Singapore, where he engaged Ong Teng Cheong
and Lee Hsien Loong
(who would later become 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 the Group Representation Constituency
of Tiong Bahru and finished second with 42.2% of the vote.
In 1991, Low, as the Workers' Party's Assistant Secretary-General, won the Hougang constituency in the 1991 Singapore General Elections
and entered Parliament. In 1992, Low was appointed by Singapore's then Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong
, to be 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.
Low was re-elected as the MP for Hougang at the 1997 general election.
On 27 May 2001, he became the Secretary-General of the Workers' Party, replacing J.B. Jeyaretnam. He was re-elected again as the MP for Hougang at the 2001 general election.
At the 2006 general elections
, Low won his fourth straight term for the Hougang constituency. He received 13,987 of the votes cast, a 62.74 per cent victory margin which is an increase of 7.74% from the last general election in November 2001. His opponent, Eric Low
, from the ruling party, People's Action Party
, received 8,306 votes.
Between 1997 and 2011, Low and Chiam See Tong
were the only two elected opposition Members of Parliament (MP) in Singapore's Parliament, which had 83 seats. However, he led the Workers' Party to a historic breakthrough in the 2011 Singapore General Elections, with a victory in Aljunied GRC. The win marked the first time ever that an opposition party had won a GRC, bringing an additional five Workers' Party MPs into Parliament.
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Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. He is currently the leader of the opposition
Opposition (politics)
In politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government , party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country...
Workers' Party
Workers' Party of Singapore
The Workers' Party of Singapore is a centre-left opposition political party in Singapore. The party currently has six elected seats in Parliament, with the party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, Chairman Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Muhamad Faisal Manap and Pritam Singh serving as Members of...
, and since 1991 has been a Member of Parliament
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
(MP) representing the constituency of Hougang
Hougang Single Member Constituency
Hougang Single Member Constituency is a Single Member Constituency whose borders roughly enclose the town of Hougang, located in the north-eastern area of Singapore. The boundary includes a portion of Hougang and is an opposition held seat with its Member of Parliament the Workers' Party's Yaw...
until 2011 where he contested and won in Aljunied GRC
Aljunied Group Representation Constituency
Aljunied Group Representation Constituency is a five-member group representation constituency in the north-eastern region of Singapore. The GRC consists of a large part of Hougang, Serangoon Gardens, a portion of Bedok and Aljunied...
. He is in charge of the Bedok Reservoir – Punggol Division.
Low is currently one of only six elected opposition MPs in Singapore's 12th Parliament, which includes his fellow 5-man Aljunied GRC team members and Hougang MP Yaw Shin Leong
Yaw Shin Leong
Yaw Shin Leong is currently the Treasurer of The Workers' Party of Singapore, and a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Hougang after the 2011 Singapore General Elections.-Personal profile:...
.
Background
Low was educated at Lik Teck Primary School and Chung Cheng High School (Main)Chung Cheng High School
Chung Cheng High School is a Special Assistance Plan secondary school in Singapore. It was opened in 1939 at Kim Yam Road by Aw Boon Haw and other businessmen...
, before going on to study at Nanyang University
Nanyang University
Nanyang University was a university in Singapore from 1956 to 1980. During its existence, it was Singapore's only Chinese language post-secondary institution...
where he majored in Chinese Language & Literature, and Government & Public Administration. In 1981, he completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Chinese Studies at the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
. In 1982, he completed a Diploma in Education. He worked as a teacher for a few years, before starting his own business.
Political career
Low joined the Workers' Party in 1982, and was subsequently appointed its Organising Secretary. At the 1984 general election, he was the election agent for the party's then Secretary-GeneralSecretary-General
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
, J.B. Jeyaretnam
Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam was a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He was the leader of the Workers' Party from 1971 to 2001...
, in his successful campaign to win the parliamentary constituency of Anson.
In 1988, Low represented the Workers' Party in a televised debate with the PAP government on proposals to create an elected Presidency for Singapore, where he engaged Ong Teng Cheong
Ong Teng Cheong
Ong Teng Cheong was the first directly elected President of the Republic of Singapore. He was the nation's fifth President, and served a six-year term from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1999.-Early life:...
and Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
(who would later become the President and Prime Minister of Singapore respectively). In the general election
Singaporean general election, 1988
General elections were held in Singapore on 3 September 1988. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won 80 of the 81 seats...
later that year, Low, together with Gopalan Nair and Lim Lye Soon, contested the Group Representation Constituency
Group Representation Constituency
A Group Representation Constituency is a type of electoral division or constituency in Singapore, the Members of Parliament of which are voted into Parliament as a group...
of Tiong Bahru and finished second with 42.2% of the vote.
In 1991, Low, as the Workers' Party's Assistant Secretary-General, won the Hougang constituency in the 1991 Singapore General Elections
Singaporean general election, 1991
General elections were held in Singapore on 31 August 1991. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won 77 of the 81 seats...
and entered Parliament. In 1992, Low was appointed by Singapore's then Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
, to be 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.
Low was re-elected as the MP for Hougang at the 1997 general election.
On 27 May 2001, he became the Secretary-General of the Workers' Party, replacing J.B. Jeyaretnam. He was re-elected again as the MP for Hougang at the 2001 general election.
At the 2006 general elections
Singapore general election, 2006
The 2006 Singapore parliamentary general election was held on 6 May 2006. 1.22 million out of the 2.16 million eligible Singaporeans voted for Members of Parliament and elected their next government. The People's Action Party , in its first election under Lee Hsien Loong, won 66.6% of the overall...
, Low won his fourth straight term for the Hougang constituency. He received 13,987 of the votes cast, a 62.74 per cent victory margin which is an increase of 7.74% from the last general election in November 2001. His opponent, Eric Low
Eric Low Siak Meng
Eric Low Siak Meng is a Singaporean Chinese politician and a member of the People's Action Party , the dominant ruling party of the politics of Singapore. He is also a general manager...
, from the ruling party, People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
, received 8,306 votes.
Between 1997 and 2011, Low and Chiam See Tong
Chiam See Tong
Chiam See Tong is a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He is the country's longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament . Between 1984 and 2011, he represented the constituency of Potong Pasir in Singapore's Parliament....
were the only two elected opposition Members of Parliament (MP) in Singapore's Parliament, which had 83 seats. However, he led the Workers' Party to a historic breakthrough in the 2011 Singapore General Elections, with a victory in Aljunied GRC. The win marked the first time ever that an opposition party had won a GRC, bringing an additional five Workers' Party MPs into Parliament.
Current posts
- Secretary-General, Workers' Party of SingaporeWorkers' Party of SingaporeThe Workers' Party of Singapore is a centre-left opposition political party in Singapore. The party currently has six elected seats in Parliament, with the party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, Chairman Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Muhamad Faisal Manap and Pritam Singh serving as Members of...
- Chairman, Aljunied Constituency Committee (AJCC)
- Vice Chairman, Aljunied-Hougang Town Council
Electoral record
Personal life
Low is married with two sons and a daughter.|-