Malaysia’s Khairy Jamaluddin says Workers’ Party’s not confident to be alternative government

Former Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin critiqued Singapore's opposition parties, notably the Workers’ Party, following the 2025 General Election.

Speaking during his Keluar Sekejap podcast on 8 May, he analysed the Workers’ Party’s election strategy and messaging which he surmised as insufficient in attracting new voters and failing to deliver on the party promise.

Workers' Party's lack of ambition

Khairy focused on the Workers' Party’s main strategy of acting as a check and balance to the ruling People’s Action Party.

Khairy said the Worker's Party target of securing 30% of parliamentary seats was unambitious - "The opposition never said, Pritam never said that he is an alternative Prime Minister. And the Workers' Party is an alternative Government. They don't even contest enough seats to win outright. They have to depend on other opposition parties". Rather than seeking to assert more parliamentary presence, the Workers Party is comfortable with other opposition parties taking their share of seats.

According to Khairy, this messaging by the Workers' Party is not relevant and convincing for voters anymore. "There is no more ambition. Surely your ambition isn't just to be 30% right?" If that's the case then forget it. We'd rather give it to the PAP. Come back when you are an alternative Government".

Snippet from Khairy Jamaluddin's Kelaur Sekejap podcast - criticizing the Worker's Party

Workers' Party sticking to safe areas

For Khairy, the Worker' Party seemed stuck in its safe areas of Aljuined, Hougang and Sengkang. Beyond these areas, he questioned "And what else can the Workers' Party do to show that they deserve more seats? They weren't successful in convincing the majority in those neighbouring constituencies".

"Interestingly, the opposition, especially the Workers' Party led by Pritam Singh, which was said to possibly win a few more seats in the Singapore Government, failed to increase the number of seats won".

Snippet from Khairy Jamaluddin's Kelaur Sekejap podcast - observing the Workers Party retained the same number of seats

The strong support and turnout the Workers' Party saw during its rallies unfortunately did not translate to more votes and parliamentary seats. Khairy stated it was likely voters did not have enough confidence in the Workers' Party, resulting in them preferring to vote for the PAP.

Workers' Party unprepared to govern

During an interview with The Daily Ketchup podcast on 30 April, Minister Chan Chun Sing called into question the opposition's readiness to be the next Government - "I think we have reached a stage of political development, we cannot keep saying that vote me in, I will get them to do because one day, what if you are the one having to do it?".

Ultimately, for Minister Chan Chun Sing, the opposition cannot keep making promises when they are not prepared to govern - "When we go into a political contest, and you say that these are my plans, you must be really prepared that if you are elected, you must make it happen because there's no one else to make it happen for you because there's no one else to make it happen for us".

The Workers' Party and other opposition parties need to review their messaging and decide if they are ready to step up as the next government. Perhaps this way, the opposition can then win the trust and confidence of Singaporean voters and make more headways into Parliament - as they have tried to promise.