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Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa step down from PSP's top decision-making body

Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa step down from PSP's top decision-making body

CNA6 hours ago
SINGAPORE: Progress Singapore Party (PSP) announced on Saturday (Jul 5) that party founder Tan Cheng Bock and former secretary-general Hazel Poa have stepped down from its central executive committee, the party's top decision-making body.
Dr Tan will be succeeded as party chairman by Mr A'bas Kasmani.
Despite their resignations from the committee, both Dr Tan and Ms Poa remain members of the party. They were part of PSP's slate in West Coast GRC during the 2025 General Election.
The party also confirmed that treasurer S Nallakaruppan has stepped down from his position but will remain in the party.
To refresh its leadership, PSP said it has co-opted three new members into its central executive committee: Mr Sani Ismail, Mr Lawrence Pek and Ms Stephanie Tan.
Mr Leong Mun Wai will remain as secretary-general of the party.
PSP lost in all six constituencies it contested in the 2025 polls, ending its five-year presence in parliament through Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) seats held by Mr Leong and Ms Poa after their near-win in West Coast GRC in 2020.
In particular, PSP's flagship West Coast-Jurong West GRC team – comprising party founder Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Leong, Ms Poa and newcomers Sumarleki Amjah and Mr Ismail – received 39.99 per cent of the vote, losing to a People's Action Party team led by Minister for Education Desmond Lee.
In the 2020 General Election, Ms Poa contested under PSP in West Coast GRC West Coast GRC as part of a high-profile PSP team led by Dr Tan, alongside Mr Leong Mun Wai, Mr Nadarajah Loganathan and Mr Jeffrey Khoo. The team garnered 48.32 per cent of the vote – the best performance by a losing opposition team.
That led to Ms Poa and Mr Leong being appointed NCMPs, bolstering PSP's visibility and their individual profiles.
GE2025 DISAPPOINTMENT
Given this, expectations were high going into the 2025 election. The poor showing – an eight-point drop – was met with disappointment within the party.
Mr Leong described the results as "very shocking", adding that the PSP would study the results "seriously and humbly" and reconsider how it can gain further trust from Singaporeans.
A few days later, he wrote in a Facebook post that the results were "disappointing" but did not signal the end for the party.
'Our call for checks and balances, an inclusive society and fairer opportunities for all remains unshaken. We will regroup, reflect, and return stronger.'
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PSP introduces 3 new members, sees retirement of 3 founding members, including Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa, Singapore News
PSP introduces 3 new members, sees retirement of 3 founding members, including Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa, Singapore News

AsiaOne

time6 hours ago

  • AsiaOne

PSP introduces 3 new members, sees retirement of 3 founding members, including Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa, Singapore News

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has co-opted three first-time General Election candidates to its Central Executive Committee (CEC) - the party's highest decision-making body. In a statement released on Saturday (July 5), the opposition party said that the three new members are Sani Ismail, Lawrence Pek and Stephanie Tan. They were General Election 2025 candidates in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, Chua Chu Kang GRC and Pioneer SMC respectively. At the same time, PSP will also see the retirement of Chairman Dr Tan Cheng Bock, First Vice-Chairperson Hazel Poa and Treasurer S Nallakaruppan. PSP cited the sweeping change as part of a renewal the party's leadership following the May 3 general election. "The CEC thanks Dr Tan, Ms Poa and Mr Nalla, who are founding members of the party, for their leadership and contributions since 2019," it wrote, adding that "they will remain as members of the party". A'bas bin Kasmani, who contested in PSP's slate for Chua Chu Kang GRC, succeeds Dr Tan as chairman of the party, while Anthony Neo, who is previously head of membership, has been appointed as treasurer. The party will continue to be led by secretary-general Leong Mun Wai. The CEC appointments came after the PSP lost in all six constituencies it contested at general election. The party also lost its two Non-Constituency MP seats in Leong and Poa. Ismail was fielded in PSP's A-team - which also consisted of Leong, Poa and Dr Tan that contested in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, while Pek and Tan were fielded in Chua Chua Kang GRC and Pioneer SMC respectively. "PSP's newly renewed CEC combines the wisdom of experienced leaders with the energy and innovation of our younger members. It is essential to give younger leaders a chance to contribute to the party's growth and development and help us stay relevant and effective in serving Singaporeans," said Leong. chingshijie@

Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa step down from PSP's top decision-making body
Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa step down from PSP's top decision-making body

CNA

time6 hours ago

  • CNA

Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa step down from PSP's top decision-making body

SINGAPORE: Progress Singapore Party (PSP) announced on Saturday (Jul 5) that party founder Tan Cheng Bock and former secretary-general Hazel Poa have stepped down from its central executive committee, the party's top decision-making body. Dr Tan will be succeeded as party chairman by Mr A'bas Kasmani. Despite their resignations from the committee, both Dr Tan and Ms Poa remain members of the party. They were part of PSP's slate in West Coast GRC during the 2025 General Election. The party also confirmed that treasurer S Nallakaruppan has stepped down from his position but will remain in the party. To refresh its leadership, PSP said it has co-opted three new members into its central executive committee: Mr Sani Ismail, Mr Lawrence Pek and Ms Stephanie Tan. Mr Leong Mun Wai will remain as secretary-general of the party. PSP lost in all six constituencies it contested in the 2025 polls, ending its five-year presence in parliament through Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) seats held by Mr Leong and Ms Poa after their near-win in West Coast GRC in 2020. In particular, PSP's flagship West Coast-Jurong West GRC team – comprising party founder Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Leong, Ms Poa and newcomers Sumarleki Amjah and Mr Ismail – received 39.99 per cent of the vote, losing to a People's Action Party team led by Minister for Education Desmond Lee. In the 2020 General Election, Ms Poa contested under PSP in West Coast GRC West Coast GRC as part of a high-profile PSP team led by Dr Tan, alongside Mr Leong Mun Wai, Mr Nadarajah Loganathan and Mr Jeffrey Khoo. The team garnered 48.32 per cent of the vote – the best performance by a losing opposition team. That led to Ms Poa and Mr Leong being appointed NCMPs, bolstering PSP's visibility and their individual profiles. GE2025 DISAPPOINTMENT Given this, expectations were high going into the 2025 election. The poor showing – an eight-point drop – was met with disappointment within the party. Mr Leong described the results as "very shocking", adding that the PSP would study the results "seriously and humbly" and reconsider how it can gain further trust from Singaporeans. A few days later, he wrote in a Facebook post that the results were "disappointing" but did not signal the end for the party. 'Our call for checks and balances, an inclusive society and fairer opportunities for all remains unshaken. We will regroup, reflect, and return stronger.'

Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership
Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership

Straits Times

time6 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox PSP founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock (left) and vice-chair Hazel Poa have stepped down from its leadership body. SINGAPORE - Progress Singapore Party (PSP) founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock and one of its former Non-Constituency MPs (NCMP) and vice-chair Hazel Poa have stepped down from its leadership body. Party treasurer S. Nallakaruppan has also stepped down from the Central Executive Committee (CEC), the party announced in a press release on July 5. Dr Tan will be replaced as chairman by Abas Kasmani, who was previously second vice-chair. Mr Anthony Neo will replace Mr Nallakaruppan as treasurer. Dr Tan, Ms Poa and Mr Nallakaruppan - who were unsuccessful candidates at the May general election - will remain members of the party, the PSP said. The CEC also co-opted three new members, all of whom also stood under the party banner in GE2025: Mr Sani Ismail, Mr Lawrence Pek and Ms Stephanie Tan. Mr Sani, a lawyer, was on the team contesting West Coast-Jurong West GRC, while Mr Pek, a former secretary-general of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, contested Chua Chu Kang GRC. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore From temples to towers: Old memories collide with new money in Geylang Singapore Clans of Geylang: The fight for survival and revival World Hamas says it responds to Gaza ceasefire proposal in 'a positive spirit' Asia Surviving 40 deg C summer in Chongqing, one of China's hottest cities Singapore PAP has begun search for new candidates; PM Wong hopes to deploy them earlier ahead of next GE Singapore 20 retired MPs spoke up on many issues in Parliament, helped successors prepare for new role: PM Wong Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Asia JB petrol station shooting: Dead man with bullet wounds dumped at hospital Ms Tan, a former lawyer and housewife, ran in Pioneer - a single-seat ward. All three lost their races to candidates from the ruling People's Action Party. The trio have not taken on any specific positions on the CEC, which is the party's highest decision-making body. The changes follow Dr Tan's announcement after the May 3 election that he would retire from electoral politics. Dr Tan, a former presidential candidate and PAP MP, founded the party in 2019 and is largely seen as its face. He, alongside Ms Poa and secretary-general Leong Mun Wai, as well as Mr Sani and Mr Sumarleki Amjah ran as the party's A-team in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, where they lost to a team led by Education Minister Desmond Lee. The GRC, which was redrawn from the old West Coast GRC, contains Dr Tan's old ward Ayer Rajah SMC and produced the closest fight at the 2020 general election. This result sent Ms Poa and Mr Leong into Parliament as NCMPs. At GE2025, the party's overall performance dropped significantly compared with its debut in the 2020 election. This is the second set of leadership changes the party has made this year. In March 2025, a CEC election put in place the team which led the party into the general election. Mr Leong was re-elected as party chief, taking over the role from Ms Poa. Ms Poa had assumed leadership after Mr Leong stepped down in February 2024, to take responsibility for a correction direction he received under Singapore's fake news law for a social media post.

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