WORKERS' Party (WP) held on to its stronghold of Hougang, beating the People's Action Party (PAP), with a winning margin of 29.6 per cent of the 24,560 votes.
Mr Yaw Shin Leong, 34, a relative newcomer, who moved into the single-seat ward where WP leader Low Thia Kiang was the incumbent MP since 1991, defeated PAP new face Desmond Choo, 33, a trade unionist, securing 14,833 votes (64.8 per cent). Mr Choo took 8,053 votes (35.2 per cent).
Mr Yaw, owner of an enrichment programme developing firm, led a WP team which unsuccessfully contested Ang Mo Kio GRC at the 2006 general election.
Victory seemed assured for the WP at about 10.30pm when the PAP asked for a recount of the votes.
Cheers erupted from WP supporters at Hougang Stadium, waving blue clappers, when the Returning Officer announced the WP had won.
An ecstatic but emotional Mr Yaw, thanking supporters after the results were announced, said: 'This is a very humbling moment for me because the people of Hougang have voted not just with their heart but with their minds.
'They know that the Hougang people have a role to play - a role that has national importance.'
He also thanked Mr Low, his mentor of more than 10 years.
In the 2006 general election, Mr Low beat PAP's Eric low with 62.7 per cent of the votes. The latter also lost to the WP leader in the 2001 polls.
In 1997, PAP's Heng Chee was also crushed by Mr Low.
A defeated Mr Choo said he would continue to work in Hougang, and declared: 'We will be back to fight a better fight.'
The voter turnout was 94.3 per cent.
Mr Yaw Shin Leong, 34, a relative newcomer, who moved into the single-seat ward where WP leader Low Thia Kiang was the incumbent MP since 1991, defeated PAP new face Desmond Choo, 33, a trade unionist, securing 14,833 votes (64.8 per cent). Mr Choo took 8,053 votes (35.2 per cent).
Mr Yaw, owner of an enrichment programme developing firm, led a WP team which unsuccessfully contested Ang Mo Kio GRC at the 2006 general election.
Victory seemed assured for the WP at about 10.30pm when the PAP asked for a recount of the votes.
Cheers erupted from WP supporters at Hougang Stadium, waving blue clappers, when the Returning Officer announced the WP had won.
An ecstatic but emotional Mr Yaw, thanking supporters after the results were announced, said: 'This is a very humbling moment for me because the people of Hougang have voted not just with their heart but with their minds.
'They know that the Hougang people have a role to play - a role that has national importance.'
He also thanked Mr Low, his mentor of more than 10 years.
In the 2006 general election, Mr Low beat PAP's Eric low with 62.7 per cent of the votes. The latter also lost to the WP leader in the 2001 polls.
In 1997, PAP's Heng Chee was also crushed by Mr Low.
A defeated Mr Choo said he would continue to work in Hougang, and declared: 'We will be back to fight a better fight.'
