Low Thia Khiang, the former Workers’ Party (WP) secretary-general and longtime MP, has been seen in public again — this time joining a WP walkabout in Sengkang.

According to a Facebook post by Sengkang GRC MP and Sengkang Town Council chair He Ting Ru, the WP team visited the Rivervale and Anchorvale estates on Jan 11, bringing along copies of Hammer, the party’s newsletter. A group photo shared by He showed Low standing alongside her and WP secretary-general and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh.

A familiar face, now seldom seen

Once one of Singapore’s most recognisable opposition politicians, Low has largely kept out of the spotlight since stepping away from parliamentary politics. His appearance in Sengkang therefore drew attention, particularly because he is not often photographed at community events in recent years.

The Jan 11 walkabout was attended by several senior WP figures. Besides Singh, WP chair Sylvia Lim was also present. The group included members of the Sengkang team and individuals described as GE2025 alumni, including WP candidates who contested various constituencies in the most recent General Election cycle.

Among those mentioned as part of the walkabout group were WP’s Punggol GRC candidates Harpreet Singh, Siti Alia Mattar and Alexis Dang, as well as Tampines GRC candidates Michael Thng and Jimmy Tan, and East Coast GRC candidate Paris V Parameswari.

Not the first sighting in the past year

While Low has rarely appeared publicly, he has surfaced on a handful of occasions.

He was previously seen at another walkabout in Sengkang in April 2025, the day after Nomination Day. He also attended WP’s final rally of the GE2025 campaign at Anderson Serangoon Junior College, according to Mothership’s earlier reporting.

More recently, he was photographed at an “All God’s Birthday” celebration held at Kaki Bukit on Jan 7, where he appeared in casual attire alongside Aljunied GRC MP Fadli Fawzi.

A significant moment as WP faces renewed scrutiny

Low’s reappearance also comes at a time when the party’s current leadership is facing fresh political pressure.

Mothership reported that Singh is set to face a parliamentary motion filed by Leader of the House Indranee Rajah, which will debate his continued suitability to hold the position of Leader of the Opposition. The motion references Singh’s court conviction linked to the Raeesah Khan case, as well as findings from the Committee of Privileges (COP), and argues that the role carries responsibilities and privileges that could be undermined by the controversy.

The motion also notes that the court outcome and COP findings have implications for Sylvia Lim and WP vice-chair Faisal Manap, and that these should be considered separately. Faisal is no longer an MP after moving from Aljunied to contest Tampines in GE2025, where the team did not win.

At the party level, WP’s Central Executive Committee has directed that a disciplinary panel be formed to assess whether Singh breached the party’s constitution.

Why Low’s presence still matters

Even without holding office, Low remains an influential symbol for many WP supporters — a steady, familiar figure associated with the party’s earlier electoral breakthroughs and its long-term presence in Singapore politics.

So while the Jan 11 walkabout was, on the surface, a community engagement activity in Sengkang, the brief public appearance of a veteran opposition leader is likely to be read by observers as a reminder of WP’s political lineage — particularly at a moment when the party’s current leadership is under intense attention.