POSSIBLE SUCCESSORS
When asked who are the possible successors to the office, political analysts said that the list is a short one.
For a start, this would have to be a sitting WP MP and be a senior member of the party’s top decision-making body, the Central Executive Committee, and also not be linked to the events leading to Mr Singh’s removal.
The criteria stated by Mr Wong mean that WP chair Sylvia Lim is ineligible to be nominated.
Wednesday’s motion meant that the High Court’s judgment and COP findings have implications for Ms Lim and WP vice-chair Faisal Manap, which have to be considered separately.
Dr Mustafa noted that Ms Lim would have been the prime candidate, as she is the most experienced of the current WP MPs in parliament.
Of the party’s remaining nine elected MPs, three are first-term newcomers – Aljunied GRC MPs Kenneth Tiong and Fadli Fawzi, and Sengkang GRC MP Abdul Muhaimin.
Political analysts pointed to WP’s head of policy research Gerald Giam and organising secretary Dennis Tan as potential candidates for the role of Leader of the Opposition.
SMU’s Assoc Prof Tan identified them as the frontrunners as they are the most experienced MPs after Ms Lim and Mr Singh, and importantly are “trusted by the party leadership”.
Assoc Prof Tan from IPS said that Mr Giam has served as both Non-constituency MP and elected MP before last year’s general election and “is kind of a veteran by now”.
“He is visible in terms of his active participation in parliamentary speeches and debates,” he added.
Meanwhile, his fellow MP Dennis Tan holds the support of the Hougang base – the longtime stronghold held by the WP since 1991 – and also sat in the COP, said Dr Felix Tan.
Mr Malminderjit Singh, managing director of political consultancy Terra Corporate Affairs, identified party treasurer Ms He as a frontrunner, due to the “more senior role” she holds in the WP’s highest decision-making body.
Dr Felix Tan also said that second-term MP Jamus Lim “has been quite vocal in parliament and active as an MP of Sengkang GRC”, which makes the WP deputy head for policy research another possible candidate for the WP’s nomination.
