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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
CNA
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
PSP founder Tan Cheng Bock on why he, Hazel Poa stepped down from PSP's CEC
Scroll up for the next video X PSP founder Tan Cheng Bock on why he, Hazel Poa stepped down from PSP's CEC
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
Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
New Sejong Institutes to open amid growing demand for Korean language classes
SEOUL - Amid surging global interest in Korean language and culture, the King Sejong Institute Foundation, which oversees Korean language education abroad, is expanding its network to ease waitlists and meet growing demand for Korean classes worldwide. In 2025, 11 new King Sejong Institutes, named after King Sejong the Great (1397-1450), who created the Korean alphabet Hangeul, will open across nine countries, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on July 4. With the additions there will be a total of 252 institutes in 87 countries. In Egypt, where the only KSI in Cairo faced a waitlist of more than 1,200 students, two new centers will open at Ain Shams University and Alexandria University to accommodate learners eager to study Korean for academic, professional, and cultural reasons. The expansion reflects the growing presence of Korean businesses in Egypt, which has increased local demand for Korean language skills for employment. Uzbekistan, which already hosts seven KSIs, will gain an additional center at Ajou University in Tashkent, responding to rising demand among students preparing for study in Korea and seeking Korean language proficiency for employment opportunities. The country now sends over 12,000 students to Korea each year, the fourth highest after China, Vietnam and Mongolia. In Asia, new KSIs will open in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Dubai in United Arab Emirates, Shenyang in China, Taipei in Taiwan, and Munoz in the Philippines, while Europe's expanding Korean language demand has led to new centers in Bonn in Germany, Turin in Italy, and Miskolc in Hungary. In 2024 alone, a total of 210,374 students studied Korean both online and offline at King Sejong Institutes worldwide. This is a significant increase from 2007, when the first King Sejong Institute opened in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with just 13 centers in three countries opening that year, with 740 students. The ministry said that it planned to gradually expand the number of King Sejong Institutes to more than 350 by 2030 to ensure that Korean language learners worldwide can access classes as demand continues to grow. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore From temples to towers: Old memories collide with new money in Geylang Singapore Clans of Geylang: The fight for survival and revival Asia Magnitude 5.4 quake shakes south-western Japan islands as temblors continue Singapore Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership Life 'I applied to over 300 jobs': What people wish they knew before they got laid off Asia Dream wheels, Malaysian deals: Singaporean car lovers find affordable indulgence across the border Asia How a Singaporean heatproofs himself to cope with 40 deg C summer in Chongqing
Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Members using the platform will see a personalised dashboard, with content and resources tailored to their current life stage. SINGAPORE - The Central Provident Fund (CPF) has rolled out a new digital platform that gives members access to financial planning tools, to make better use of their savings. With the 'Plan Life Ahead, Now!' (PLAN) platform, which is available on the CPF app and website, members can project their retirement savings and payout, calculate their home purchase budget, and assess the affordability of health insurance premiums. Members using the platform will see a personalised dashboard, with content and resources tailored to their current life stage. The platform was rolled out on July 5 during CPF's 70th anniversary commemorative book launch event. CPF Board CEO Melissa Khoo said PLAN is being rolled out to empower members to take charge of their financial health. With the retirement payout planner, members can map out their payout goals, and explore ways to leverage CPF to achieve their goals, such as through top-ups. The home purchase planner shows CPF members their home purchase budget, loan options and how their housing decisions can impact their retirement payouts. 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 Asia Magnitude 5.4 quake shakes south-western Japan islands as temblors continue Life 'I applied to over 300 jobs': What people wish they knew before they got laid off Singapore Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership Asia Dream wheels, Malaysian deals: Singaporean car lovers find affordable indulgence across the border Asia How a Singaporean heatproofs himself to cope with 40 deg C summer in Chongqing World Hamas says it responds to Gaza ceasefire proposal in 'a positive spirit' With the health insurance planner, members can compare premiums and key features across different Integrated Shield Plans and make informed decisions about their healthcare coverage, CPF said. The platform also provides educational resources on financial planning, and a financial fitness questionnaire that allows users to assess their overall financial health beyond CPF matters. Developed in collaboration with national financial education programme MoneySense, it asks questions such as: 'How much savings do you have available in case of an emergency?', and provides relevant tips. In her speech, Ms Khoo said CPF has a deep sense of purpose in being a cornerstone of Singapore's social security system, adding that the fund will continue to innovate as part of a commitment to its members. She said: 'As retirement aspirations become more diverse and with healthier longevity, I believe these values will continue to steer us in meeting future needs.' To commemorate its 70th anniversary, CPF Board on July 5 launched the 'Save & Sound: 70 Years of CPF' book which chronicles the organisation's journey through the years. PLAN with CPF features a personalised dashboard for CPF members to explore retirement payout, home purchase and health insurance planners, among other functions. PHOTO: CPF BOARD It includes behind-the-scenes perspectives from current and former Ministers, leaders and staff of CPF Board, and stories from people of how CPF impacted their lives. The book is not for sale. A digital copy is available at . Members of the public can visit an exhibition about CPF's history at Our Tampines Hub till July 10, where they can also try 'PLAN with CPF'. Talks on housing, healthcare and retirement will be available on July 5 and 6.
