On 17 April 2025, the Workers’ Party (WP) formally launched its General Election 2025 (GE2025) manifesto and introduced four new potential candidates at a press conference.
They are: Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, Kenneth Tiong, Eileen Chong Pei Shan, and Siti Alia Binte Abdul Rahim Mattar.
All four are expected to be fielded in GE2025, with Muhaimin and Tiong confirmed for Sengkang GRC and Aljunied GRC, respectively.
According to Lim, Tiong has been with the party since 2023, volunteering actively and contributing to WP’s policy team.
Tech founder Kenneth Tiong pushes for homegrown innovation and future-ready workforce
A former Head Quant Developer at Brahman Capital, Tiong is now Director of tech start-up Sensemake AI.
He began his career at McKinsey & Co., later holding roles at Millennium Hedge Fund and Brahman Capital.
A Brown University graduate in Applied Mathematics-Computer Science and Philosophy, he believes Singaporeans can lead in global innovation.
At the press conference, Tiong said Singapore must become a place to build the future through homegrown ideas and a secure, valued workforce.
He envisions a hopeful future for young Singaporeans, free from burdens like housing and job insecurity.
Tiong joined the Workers’ Party in October 2023, became Legislative Assistant to Opposition Leader Pritam Singh in May 2024, and Serangoon Coordinator in January 2025.
Abdul Muhaimin draws on personal struggles to represent everyday Singaporeans in Sengkang GRC
Abdul Muhaimin, who will be a first-time father soon, drew on his personal experiences during his introduction, emphasising economic struggles faced by everyday Singaporeans.
“I know what it is like to worry about issues such as housing loans, daily expenses and whether there are sufficient retirement funds,” he said.
He explained that these were also concerns raised by residents he has met while on the ground.
“That’s why I’m stepping up to speak up for them, to highlight their struggles and concerns, and be their voice,” said Muhaimin.
“I want to build a future that works for people like us, one that works for Singapore.”
Muhaimin, a Senior Property Manager at Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, has been actively involved with the Workers’ Party since late 2019, assisting in house visits.
Lawyer Siti Alia hopes to advocate for families and elderly amid rising costs of living
Another new candidate, Siti Alia, works as legal counsel in a multinational company and joined the WP as a volunteer nearly a year ago.
She spoke in both Malay and English during her introduction and shared her desire to see more representation in Parliament.
She identified herself as part of the sandwich generation—juggling the responsibilities of raising her three children while caring for her elderly father.
Her main concerns include the rising cost of living and the affordability of Housing Board flats for future generations.
She also expressed a wish to champion better support for older citizens, especially in managing the cost of chronic illness treatments.
Alia began her legal career in private practice before serving at the Monetary Authority of Singapore from 2008 to 2016, where she handled contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, and legislative drafting.
She later worked in legal roles within the investment and corporate sectors, and has been a Legal Counsel in a multinational company since 2017.
In 2024, Alia began volunteering with the WP, participating in house visits and organising community outreach,
Former diplomat Eileen Chong enters politics to shape a more empathetic and inclusive Parliament
Eileen Chong, the fourth potential candidate, currently works in the social impact sector with the Asia Philanthropy Circle.
Her focus areas include early childhood development, youth mental health, and education.
A former diplomat, Chong has served with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2017 to 2024, working on relations with countries such as China and Thailand, and was stationed at the Singapore embassy in Beijing.
Chong joined WP in the latter half of 2024 as a volunteer. She has participated in house visits and now volunteers as a caseworker at Meet-the-People Sessions in Aljunied GRC with MP Gerald Giam.
Explaining her motivation for entering politics, she stated: “I care deeply about Singapore’s tomorrow.”
She added that she hoped to bring more kindness, empathy, and openness into Parliament if elected.
WP admits one-third seat goal out of reach for GE2025, calls every election a challenge
Despite introducing new talent and launching a wide-ranging manifesto, the WP acknowledged the uphill battle ahead in the upcoming election.
Singh, responding to questions during the press conference, conceded that the party will not be able to meet its medium-term goal of securing one-third of parliamentary seats in GE2025.
“We will not be able to meet that one-third number of candidates to fill one-third of Parliament opposition MPs,” Singh admitted.
He further stressed that every general election poses a significant challenge for any opposition party.
He addressed what he described as the mistaken perception that constituencies like Aljunied GRC are “done deals” for the WP.
Citing the narrow margin of victory in 2015, Singh emphasised the importance of every vote. “There are no done deals. Every vote is important to us,” he stated.
He called on Singaporeans who support a more balanced political landscape to reflect that belief at the ballot box.
On the topic of candidate quality, Singh rejected the notion that WP was focusing on attracting only elite candidates. He praised the courage and initiative shown by all new candidates, stating that what unites them is not their backgrounds but their willingness to step forward.
“The real strength that the new candidates have is their courage and gumption to walk through the door,” he said.
He also described WP’s candidate slate as a “broad church” representing Singaporeans from various walks of life, whose collective aim is to amplify diverse perspectives in Parliament.
Funding, Singh noted, continues to be a persistent issue for the party, especially in the current climate of rising living costs.
The party recently issued a public appeal for donations to sustain its efforts and to remain a “credible, responsible, and constructive voice for Singaporeans.”
WP’s “Eastfront” strategy
At the previous General Election in 2020, WP fielded 21 candidates—fewer than the 28 it ran in 2015.
During GE2020, it contested constituencies located in the east and northeast, including Hougang and Punggol West SMCs and Sengkang, Aljunied, East Coast, and Marine Parade GRCs.
The party retained Hougang SMC and Aljunied GRC with increased margins, and made gains in Sengkang GRC, where it secured four new seats.
With GE2025 approaching, the WP is expected to maintain its eastern strategy. WP may contest the newly created Punggol GRC and could also return to its longstanding base in Tampines.
However, no specific confirmation of the constituencies it plans to contest was made at the 17 April press conference.
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