Low Thia Khiang | |
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刘程强 | |
![]() Low in 2015 | |
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) Colony of Singapore |
Political party | Worker's Party (from 1982 ) |
Spouse |
Han Mui Keow (m. 1982) |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | Nanyang University National University of Singapore (BA) |
Profession |
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Low Thia Khiang | |||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 劉程強 | ||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 刘程强 | ||||||||||
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Low Thia Khiang (simplified Chinese: 刘程强; traditional Chinese: 劉程強; pinyin: Liú Chéngqiáng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lâu Thiâⁿ-kiâng; born 5 September 1956) is a Singaporean former politician, Secretary-General of the WP between 2001 and 2018 and de facto Leader of the Opposition between 2006 and 2011. A member of the Workers' Party (WP), he served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hougang SMC between 1991 and 2011, and also Aljunied GRC representing Bedok Reservoir — Punggol division between 2011 and 2020.
Low was one of the two opposition MPs in Parliament between 1997 and 2011. Low made his political debut in the 1991 general election where he contested in Hougang SMC as a WP candidate. He was appointed Secretary-General of the Workers' Party since 27 May 2001.[1][2]
During the 2011 general election, Low decided not to seek re-election in Hougang SMC and instead contested in Aljunied GRC and led the party into a breakthrough when his team won the first group representation constituency (GRC) from the governing People's Action Party (PAP). Low became one of five elected opposition MPs for Aljunied GRC in the 13th Parliament and represented the Bedok Reservoir–Punggol division between 2011 and 2020.
As part of a leadership renewal, Low was succeeded by Pritam Singh as Secretary-General in 2018, and also stepped down as the MP for Aljunied GRC prior to the 2020 general election, making him Singapore's longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament with 29 years in service.[3] He has indicated his desire to remain active in politics.[4]