Workers’ Party Member of Parliament Jamus Lim (Sengkang GRC) is in the United States for a few weeks but has left his duties in “more-than-capable” hands.
He wrote in a Facebook post on Monday (Jul 18) that two former WP MPs will temporarily fulfil his responsibilities—Mr Low Thia Khiang, who led the Workers’ Party from 2001 to 2018, and Mr Png Eng Huat.
The two men, Assoc Prof Lim wrote, “generously offered their (retirement) time.”
They will be aided by “the ever-reliable #TeamSengkang volunteers,” he wrote, adding that “Both gentlemen have helped out at #Anchorvale before, and I am grateful for such able and experienced support.
He went on to explain that he will be attending a summer fellowship at Stanford University in California, but will be available to assist virtually “via the usual channels.”
Assoc Prof Lim added that he will be “back in time for National Day and its related festivities, and I look forward to catching up with our residents then!”
Aside from being the former WP chief, Mr Low is the longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament, having served as an MP for 20 years.
Mr Low represented Hougang SMC from 1991 to 2011, then led the WP to a first Opposition win of a Group Representation Constituency when it took Aljunied GRC from the PAP in 2011.
The former WP chief, 65, who accompanied Assoc Prof Lim on a Seeking Walk last January, had announced before the 2020 General Election that he would not stand for election, but would remain active in politics. He had been hospitalised following a bad fall at home that April.
Mr Png, who represented Hougang SMC in Parliament from 2012 to 2020, stepped in to cover Assoc Prof Lim’s Meet-the-People sessions in September of last year as the Sengkang MP’s quarantine winded down.
He also said prior to the 2020 GE that he would not be seeking re-election. Hougang SMC is now represented by the WP’s Dennis Tan.
Assoc Prof Lim took a trip to the US in August of last year for “family reasons” and was quarantined upon his return.
“I am thankful for all the support I’ve received from #TeamSengkang in helping steer the ship during my absence, and last night, from #TeamHougang too!
#workersparty ex-MP PNG ENG HUAT kindly offered to step in, and I’m certain residents who swung by #Anchorvale last night benefited from his deep well of experience. #SengkangGRC,” he wrote at the time.
/TISG
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