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New Paper
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Paper
PSP's new leadership signals fresh start after GE2025 loss, says Stephanie Tan
Recent changes to the Progress Singapore Party's (PSP) senior leadership represent "the first step" of its plans to come back from a disappointing performance at the 2025 General Election, said PSP's Ms Stephanie Tan. Besides nurturing new leaders, the PSP intends to update its image by putting more of its younger members in the public eye, and to find new ways to engage Singaporeans on important national issues, Ms Tan told Straits Times correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah and host of ST's The Usual Place podcast during a live stream on July 10. On July 5, PSP announced that party founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock had stepped down from its central executive committee (CEC), alongside vice-chair and former Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) Hazel Poa. Party treasurer S. Nallakaruppan also relinquished his position. In their place, Ms Tan, 37, was co-opted as a new CEC member, together with Mr Sani Ismail and Mr Lawrence Pek. The three of them had been first-time PSP candidates in the May general election. Speaking on the podcast show, Ms Tan said PSP had been gathering feedback from Singaporeans in the two months since GE2025 to "know where we went wrong and how we can do better". PSP had fielded 13 candidates in six constituencies, but saw its vote share decline compared with its first electoral outing in 2020. It also failed to keep its parliamentary presence unlike in the previous term, when it had two NCMPs. "We might seem to have been a bit slow in coming up with a response right after the GE, but that's because we were hard hit, to be honest, and we took time (to) come up with a new plan to see how we can steer this ship forward," said Ms Tan, who ran in Pioneer against the PAP's Mr Patrick Tay. "In the next four to five years, we want to continue to make an impact even if we have no parliamentary presence." Ms Tan said one of the main things PSP is tackling is perceptions by some that it is an ageing political party, and added that the latest leadership shake-up has the support of party chief Leong Mun Wai and the CEC. "The party does have a pool of young talent," she said, citing the two elected CEC members who are younger than her: deputy organising secretary Soh Zheng Long, 36, and youth wing head Samuel Lim, 30. "It is just that, for the past few years, they have been working mostly behind the scenes." Going forward, the party will give more opportunities to its younger members to raise their public profile, although this has to be balanced with each individual's comfort level at being openly associated with an alternative party. PSP also intends to hold outreach events targeted at specific demographics, alongside the usual walkabouts and house visits. This could include visits to nursing homes to understand issues faced by elderly residents, their family members and the staff, which could be due to "certain gaps in the policies that we have", said Ms Tan. The party is also thinking of starting a podcast, and wants to up its game on social media to keep putting out its views on key issues, she added. On Dr Tan's move to step down as PSP's chairman, Ms Tan said this is to give party leaders "a clean slate to work from, away from his shadow". Dr Tan, 85, has been designated party adviser. Having set its foundations and core values, he trusts that the other party leaders can take PSP forward in the long political journey to come, said Ms Tan. "He said that he will not interfere on his own initiative. He will help when help is asked for," she said. A homemaker and former lawyer, Ms Tan said she sees her role on the CEC as a progression from leading her own campaign during the election, to making decisions at the party level. While the party is no longer in Parliament, she hopes that Singaporeans can take a long-term perspective on the PSP's journey. She noted that other opposition parties like the Workers' Party and Singapore Democratic Party have been around for decades, and their experience showed that it takes a lot of time and consistent effort to build a political party and gain the trust of voters. "Our commitment to Singaporeans is still that we want to continue to build ourselves to be a credible, rational alternative political party, to give Singaporeans a choice at the ballot box," she said.
Independent Singapore
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
PSP's Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa step down from CEC, undergo renewal after GE2025 ‘wake-up call'
SINGAPORE: The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has announced a renewal in its leadership as founding members Dr Tan Cheng Bock and S Nallakaruppan, along with former non-constituency member of parliament (NCMP) Ms Hazel Poa, stepped down from the party's central executive committee (CEC). The party has also co-opted three of its first-time candidates from the recent general election. The new additions to the party's top decision-making body are Mr Sani Ismail, Mr Lawrence Pek, and Ms Stephanie Tan. This was announced by the PSP in a media release and during a media conference at their headquarters at the Bukit Timah Shopping Centre on Saturday, July 5. Mr A'bas Kasmani will assume the role of the party's chairman, while Anthony Neo will be PSP's new treasurer, both taking over from Dr Tan and Nallakarupan, respectively. While Dr Tan, Ms Poa, and Mr Nallakaruppan have stepped down from the CEC, they remain as members of the party. '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 PSP's secretary-general Mr Leong Mun Wai in the media release. All three new CEC members contested the 2025 general elections. Mr Sani and Mr Pek were part of the West Coast – Jurong West GRC and Chua Chu Kang GRC team respectively, while Ms Tan was fielded at Pioneer SMC. PSP's media conference on July 5 to introduce the three new CEC members. In a Facebook post after the leadership renewal was announced, Dr Tan said that he is 'passing the torch with confidence and hope.' 'Today is a significant moment—for me personally, for our party, and for the future we are building together. 'When I started the Progress Singapore Party, it was never about personal ambition. It was about standing up for a better Singapore. A Singapore where compassion is not weakness, where diversity of views is respected, and where politics is guided by integrity and service,' shared the former People's Action Party MP for Ayer Rajah constituency. Dr Tan further added that he believes the 'purpose of leadership is to serve, not to stay, and to raise others up, not to hold on to power. 'I do so with peace in my heart, because I know the party is in good hands. I have worked closely with Mun Wai and I can say this with confidence—he has the courage, conviction, and clarity needed to lead PSP into the future,' explained Dr Tan who will take on the role as the party's adviser. A huge wake-up call for PSP PSP's secretary-general, Mr Leong, also outlined four key areas upon which the leadership and renewal process will be built, as he acknowledged that the 2025 general election results were 'a huge wake-up call' for the party. 'GE2025 was a setback. We will not sugarcoat that. But when we fall, we pick ourselves up. This applies to any person and to any party,' said Mr Leong on PSP's Facebook post. PSP fielded 13 candidates across six constituencies during the 2025 general elections. Their hopes were pinned on the newly-created West Coast – Jurong West GRC where they sent their A-team, which includes Dr Tan, ex-NCMPs Mr Leong and Ms Poa, to contest against the People's Action Party's slate helmed by Minister Desmond Lee. However, the PSP was hit with a setback as they garnered only 39.99% of the votes, a significant drop from the 48.32% which they secured in the 2020 polls. The decline in vote share for PSP was also mirrored in the other constituencies which they contested, including Chua Chu Kang GRC, where their votes plummeted from 41.36% to 36.41%. 'We know that there is a lot of work that needs to be done to refresh our brand, revitalise our party, and connect with you better. Over the next two years, we will listen with a humble heart and roll out plans to address what needs to be improved,' added Mr Leong. The four key areas that PSP will be focusing on as they rebuild the party after a disastrous electoral defeat are: 1. Nurturing new leaders, mentored by founding leaders; 2. Connecting and building teal trust with Singaporeans on the ground; 3. Helping Singaporeans better understand government policies; and 4. Making our voice louder online. The party believes that all these would culminate in a 'credible opposition for a tough future,' as Singapore is at a critical turning point, dealing with external global economic turmoil, and internally, Singaporeans are facing a rising cost of living and a worsening social inequality. The PSP Central Executive Committee Chairman: A'bas bin Kasmani Secretary-General: Leong Mun Wai Treasurer: Anthony Neo Woon Cheem Organising Secretary: Phang Yew Huat Deputy Organising Secretary: Soh Zheng Long Head, Women's Wing: Low Wei Ling, Wendy Head, Youth Wing: Lim Ngee Tong, Samuel Head, Internal Comms: Joseph Wong Chee Fong Member: Jonathan Tee Kow Loke Member: Lawrence Pek Member: Sani Ismail Member: Stephanie Tan
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches ‘renewal plan'
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 the party's 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 Mr A'bas Kasmani, who was previously second vice-chair, while Mr Anthony Neo, previously assistant treasurer, 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. Dr Tan has been designated party advisor. 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, contested West Coast-Jurong West GRC, while Mr Pek, a former secretary-general of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, contested Chua Chu Kang GRC. Ms Tan, a homemaker and former lawyer, ran in Pioneer – a single-seat constituency. 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. At a press conference at the party's headquarters in Bukit Timah Shopping Centre on July 5, party chief Leong Mun Wai thanked those stepping down and said this was a 'big moment' for the PSP. He said: 'We are launching a renewed party today.' The plan for renewal will involve four key areas, Mr Leong said. These are: nurturing new leaders, building a stronger trust with Singaporeans on the ground, helping Singaporeans to understand government policies better and making its voice louder online. He added that the result of GE2025 was a 'loud wake-up call' for the PSP, but that it has heard Singaporeans. 'We will continue to listen to you and strive to serve you better'. Ms Poa and Mr Nallakaruppan, who along with Dr Tan, are founding members of the party, were not at the press conference. Explaining their absence, Mr Leong said the press conference was focused on party renewal. Dr Tan added that Ms Poa has been 'not that well' and has had problems with her vision. He said: 'She felt that we have done quite enough for the party, and we want to leave it to the newer guys. 'So we consulted with each other, we discussed, and we felt that, I think it's better that we just leave and let them take over. But we are still members, and we will be always around to help that party.' Mr Leong added that the party leadership will miss her 'tremendously', but respects her decision to step down. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Progress Singapore Party (PSP) (@progresssingaporeparty) When asked if the leadership shake-up was a result of the election's results, where the party saw its vote shares decline across the board and it failed to keep its Parliamentary presence, Mr Leong said this was not the case. He said renewal has always been part of the party's plans, but before the elections, it was focused on the polls. If it had won seats, its focus would be for its MPs to fulfil their responsibilities, he said. He said: 'Now we have not gotten any seats in the Parliament. So our party focus now is to accelerate the renewal plan, because then we can devote all our energy into renewing the party.' 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. At the press conference, Dr Tan said he has always believed that the purpose of leadership is to serve and not to hold on to power, and it is in that spirit that he announced his stepping down. He said: 'I do so with peace in my heart, because I know that a party is now in good hands.' He added that the announcement was not just a farewell but also a renewal, and said Mr Sani, Ms Tan and Mr Pek are 'part of the new of the next generation who will carry the PSP banner forward'. Dr Tan, alongside Ms Poa, Mr Leong, Mr Sani and Mr Sumarleki Amjah, ran as part of PSP's A-team in West Coast-Jurong West GRC. They lost to a team led by Education Minister Desmond Lee who eventually got 59.99 per cent of the vote. 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 in the 2020 General Election. The result sent Ms Poa and Mr Leong into Parliament as NCMPs. Mr A'bas, his replacement, said Dr Tan's legacy as a compassionate, inclusive, responsible leader will continue to be the main guide in PSP. He added that his appointment is a 'challenge to lead the PSP to a higher level'. 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 that 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. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
CNA
05-07-2025
- Politics
- 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.'
Malay Mail
30-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
PAP's Marine Parade team splurged RM1.28m on Singapore polls campaign despite walkover, seven candidates spent nothing
SINGAPORE, May 30 – The People's Action Party's (PAP) Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team spent S$388,756 (RM1.28 million) during the recent general election, despite winning uncontested, according to the Elections Department's website. CNA reported that the five-member team was among the first 35 candidates to declare their expenses for the May 3 election, and the first group from PAP to do so. Marine Parade-Braddell Heights candidate Goh Pei Ming was the top spender with S$104,085, of which S$52,650 went to non-online advertisements. Former MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling spent S$84,128. Rounding out the team were Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng (S$74,693), new MP Diana Pang (S$74,437), and former Nee Soon MP Faishal Ibrahim (S$51,413), with the majority of their expenses directed at posters and flyers. Among their materials was a 48-page constituency plan brochure featuring Dr Tan See Leng, who switched to contest Chua Chu Kang Group Representative Constituency (GRC) in a last-minute change from his 2020 Marine Parade candidacy. Candidates must declare their expenses by June 16 to ensure transparency, with limits raised from S$4 to S$5 per elector to adjust for inflation. The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) reported strong early spending, with ten of its 13 candidates each spending over S$30,000. Leong Mun Wai led the party's spending at S$36,041 for his West Coast-Jurong West campaign. Independent candidates Jeremy Tan and Darryl Lo spent S$16,075 and S$12,213 respectively, with Tan allocating more than half to his solo rally. Red Dot United's (RDU) Kala Manickam recorded S$1,365 in disputed claims, covering food, transport, and flyer costs, which she paid out-of-pocket due to a lack of donations. RDU said its election expense processes followed electoral regulations. Disputed claims arise when an election agent does not settle a candidate's expenses within 28 days. Lower spenders included RDU's Ben Puah, who declared S$109 in expenses and S$280 in non-recordable donations, and the People's Power Party's Samuel Lee, who spent S$100. Seven candidates reported spending nothing at all, including members from RDU, the Singapore Democratic Party, the Singapore Democratic Alliance, and the Singapore People's Party.
