This Side of the House

Duckweed & Democracy: The Evolution of the NCMP with Sylvia Lim | #ThisSide 2

"NCMPs are like duckweed." Years ago, Mr Low Thia Khiang used this metaphor to describe Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs)—floating, rootless, and without a constituiency to call home. In 2006, Sylvia Lim lived that reality. Sitting in Parliament as an NCMP with Mr Low as the only elected Workers' Party MP, she couldn't even vote on the Budget. She had a voice, but no teeth. Today, the landscape has shifted. Andre and Eileen sit down with the Party Chair to unpack the journey from a "party of one" to a legislative team that tables amendments and challenges Bills. They discuss the "trial by fire" of their first quarter, the reality of having full voting rights without a constituency to call home, and whether the "duckweed" label still sticks in 2025. 00:00 – Intro: Welcome to This Side of the House 00:48 – Flashback 2006: Sylvia Lim on being an NCMP with Low Thia Khiang 03:31 – "I cannot vote": How NCMP rights have changed 04:56 – The "Duckweed" Metaphor: Floating without roots 09:34 – Behind the scenes: Crafting our maiden speeches 16:34 – Not Just "No": Why we proposed amendments to the Online Safety Bill 21:15 – "Mr Low was alone": From a party of one to a team 25:32 – NCMP vs NMP: What is the actual difference? 28:01 – Conclusion: Demystifying Parliament

100 days post GE2025: WP candidates on their first election, tears, laughter, and whether they'll do it again (ft. Alia & Sufyan) | #ThisSide 1

In this debut episode of This Side of the House, first-time Workers’ Party candidates Andre, Eileen, Alia, and Sufyan pull back the curtain on their 2025 election campaign. Join them as they candidly share the raw emotions, unexpected challenges and personal sacrifices of stepping into Singapore's political arena. From nerve-wracking press conferences and rally speeches to late-night strategy sessions and moments of doubt, they reveal the human side of political candidacy and share their dreams for Singapore’s future.