Advertisement

Hougang remains an Opposition stronghold

He was seen as a successor, not as a substitute.

Yaw Shin Leong of the Workers Party not only retained his party's seat in Hougang, but built on the mandate of previous representative Low Thia Khiang.

"It's a humbling moment for me," Yaw said at the podium at Hougang Stadium during his victory speech.

"The people of Hougang have voted with their hearts but [also] voted with their minds, because they know Hougang people have a role to play — a role that has nationalistic importance. For this victory and this mandate, there is person I want to think: my mentor of more than 10 years, Mr Low Thia Khiang.

"This victory would not be mine, not for the Workers Party but for the people of Hougang and fellow Singaporeans, who believe there's a need for us to strive for a balance in Singapore."

The increased margin was not a surprise for Hougang constituents. NUS student Cheryl Ling told Yahoo! Singapore that "Hougang has been a strong base for the Worker's Party. I'm not surprised at the result."

The investment by the Workers Party in the ward played a part in the retention and increase of support by voters. "Yaw Shin Leung was mentored by Low Thia Kiang. Low has been working the ground for the past 10 years. I've got faith in him," says a 23-year-old civil servant who identified herself as "Miss Ng." "The PAP only brought out their new candidate recently to contest here, so I don't really know what he could do."

That PAP candidate was Desmond Choo, the Youth Development deputy director for the NTUC. The Hougang campaign was his first run for a parliamentary seat.

Yaw ran as part of WP's Ang Mio Kio GRC team in the General Elections of 2006, and previously served at the grassroots level as a longtime student activist. He was WP's legislative assistant to Low Thia Khiang from 2001 to 2005.

Follow Yahoo! News on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.