Journey in Blue: A Peek into the Workers' Party of Singapore
Published by World Scientific
After decades of overwhelming political domination by the People's Action Party (PAP), Singapore has entered a phase of political transition. It started with the loss of a Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the 2011 general election (GE2011). After a huge rebound in the fortunes of the PAP in the 2015 general election following the death of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the transition resumed in the 2020 general election with the loss of yet another GRC. This book looks at the Workers' Party, Singapore's leading opposition party, through the eyes of Yee Jenn Jong, former Non-constituency Member of Parliament and Central Executive Committee member of the party.
Jenn Jong took an unexpected leap into opposition politics just weeks before GE2011 and came out with a narrow loss of just one percent of the popular votes. In this book, he recounts his three contests in the general elections from 2011–2020, parliamentary work, and other activities in opposition politics. This book hopes to let readers better understand the nature of the work by opposition politicians in Singapore, which has been dominated by the PAP's narrative since 1959. The author also shares his thoughts on the shape of Singapore's politics going forward.
About the author
Yee Jenn Jong is a former Non-constituency Member of Parliament, serving from 2011–2015. He contested in Joo Chiat Single Member Constituency under the Workers' Party in 2011 and came within 388 votes of winning. He contested in Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency in 2015 and 2020. Jenn Jong served in the Workers' Party Central Executive Committee from 2011–2016. He is also an education entrepreneur. Jenn Jong has served on several government policy committees, such as the Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) Startup subcommittee, and the advisory boards of schools and several other organisations.