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AsiaOne
05-07-2025
- Politics
- 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@
Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Business
- 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.
Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
‘We never take your support for granted', says PSP's Tan Cheng Bock after losses in GE2025
PSP founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock acknowledged that the party had gone through a 'rough night'. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG 'We never take your support for granted', says PSP's Tan Cheng Bock after losses in GE2025 SINGAPORE - Opposition PSP founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock has thanked his supporters following its GE2025 losses. In his first remarks after the party lost all six constituencies it contested in, Dr Tan acknowledged on May 4 that the party had gone through a 'rough night'. 'To those who voted PSP, we offer our deepest and most heartfelt thanks. We never take your support for granted,' he wrote in a Facebook post. 'I share your hurt and disappointment... Together, we stood not just against political opponents, but against an entire machinery who came at us with boundary line changes and limitless resources. And yet, you brought courage, heart and an unquenchable spirit,' he said. For those who did not vote for PSP, Dr Tan said the party respects their choice and pledges to work harder to earn their trust in the future. He also congratulated Minister of National Development Desmond Lee and his team for winning and said that Mr Lee has conducted his campaign admirably. 'My team and I offer our sincere congratulations for your electoral success. I especially thank you for your gracious message to PSP last night, for 'putting up a strong contest, for raising good ideas, and for engaging with us for a better Singapore',' wrote Dr Tan. Dr Tan's team - which included PSP chief Leong Mun Wai and party vice-chair Hazel Poa - contested the West Coast-Jurong West GRC against the PAP team led by anchor minister Mr Lee. The party had said during the campaign that the 2025 General Election will likely be the last one that Dr Tan, 85, will contest. PSP had fielded 13 candidates in six constituencies, and obtained between 24.17 per cent and 39.99 per cent of the vote share. The PSP also contested Chua Chu Kang GRC and the Pioneer, Bukit Gombak, Kebun Baru and Marymount SMCs. The results also mean the PSP will lose its parliamentary presence since NCMP seats are given to the top losers in the polls – a title that now belongs to the WP. Dr Tan called on its young supporters to not lose heart. 'Today, we tend to our political wounds. But in time, those wounds will heal. 'And the scars we carry will not be marks of defeat, but lasting reminders that we dared to stand up, we dared to speak out, and together, we made sacrifices - not just for ourselves, but for the common good of all Singaporeans.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
01-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
'It misleads the voters': ESM Goh Chok Tong calls out claims that losing ministers won't weaken govt, Singapore News
Claims from opposition parties that losing political office holders won't weaken the government is "plain and simple" electioneering, said Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. In a Facebook post on Wednesday (April 30), ESM Goh provided his take on the potential impact that losing ministers could have on the government, using the analogy of a football team. He wrote: "If four seasoned members of a football team's starting 11 are absent, will the team be weaker? According to the opposition, the answer is 'no'. Because you can use the reserves, they say." ESM Goh, who turns 84 later this month, questioned this train of thought, and stated that, even with "capable substitutes", nothing beats having "your first team on the field". Continuing with his analogy, he provided the potential scenario of The Workers' Party (WP) winning all 26 seats they are contesting in and the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) winning five seats in West Coast-Jurong West GRC. ESM Goh asked: "What is the scoreline then? Sixty-six PAP (People's Action Party) MPs and 31 opposition MPs. Ten political office holders lost, including four seasoned Cabinet ministers." The ministers referred to are Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong who is a Punggol GRC candidate; Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong who's running in East Coast GRC; Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli running in Tampines GRC and National Development Minister Desmond Lee running in West Coast-Jurong West GRC. ESM Goh, who was the Prime Minister of Singapore between 1990 and 2004, stressed that such an outcome would make it "difficult" for PM Lawrence Wong to compete with other nations on the world stage. "In a world at risk of becoming 'might is right', we need the strongest team for our little red dot. If the opposition continues to assert that the government will not be weakened, that is electioneering, plain and simple. It misleads the voters," he added. "Singapore deserves the best team to lead us domestically and internationally. It also deserves honest political debate." 'Voters cannot have both' In a separate Facebook post on April 25, ESM Goh urged voters to consider the impact of their votes. He noted that voters want PAP to form the government while "understandably" also wanting to return more opposition candidates to parliament. But, according to ESM Goh, "voters cannot have both" and must decide to choose one or the other. For our GE2025 microsite, visit here. [[nid:717359]] amierul@
CNA
30-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: PSP makes assertions with ‘little regard for facts', says PAP's Desmond Lee on claims that he remained silent on housing issues
SINGAPORE: Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said it was concerning that the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) is making assertions with 'little regard for facts', after the opposition party's chief Leong Mun Wai claimed that Mr Lee had remained silent on housing issues. In a statement on Wednesday (Apr 30), Mr Lee said: 'It is indeed a matter of concern when the PSP makes assertions with little regard for facts. I would like to urge the public to consider the facts and concrete plans that each side has presented when making their choice during this General Election.' On Wednesday morning, Mr Leong spoke to reporters on the sidelines of a walkabout at Jurong West Street 91, claiming that Mr Lee – who is the anchor candidate of the People's Action Party (PAP) team contesting in West Coast-Jurong West GRC – had yet to respond to several policy questions raised by the party. Among other housing issues raised, Mr Leong said he did not address concerns about the rising cost of Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, lease decay and the lack of lift upgrading for certain flats in Singapore. On Wednesday, Mr Lee said these claims were 'untrue' and urged the public to consider the facts from both sides, adding that he had addressed national housing issues on 'multiple occasions' throughout the campaigning period. These included the launch of the West Coast-Jurong West GRC manifesto on Apr 23, another occasion when he spoke to the media last Friday, and his rally speech last Sunday. At the launch of the West Coast-Jurong West manifesto on Nomination Day, Mr Lee and his team outlined their achievements, including converting roads into Silver Zones and Friendly Streets to enhance safety for seniors, as well as implementing the Home Improvement Programme for public housing. Speaking to the media on Apr 25, Mr Lee had highlighted efforts to reduce the non-selection rate among home buyers, and said there was a 'determination' to support different groups of Singaporeans in achieving home ownership. Mr Lee said on Wednesday: 'Prior to the election campaign, the topic of housing has also been extensively debated in parliament.' He added that during his rally speech on Apr 27, he acknowledged concerns that Singaporeans have about housing, noting that the pandemic had caused the 'worst construction crisis' in decades, leading to high demand in flats and, in turn, higher housing prices. During the rally, Mr Lee said his team had spoken to residents over the past five years and had heard their aspirations for good jobs and homes as well as concerns over cost of living. 'I assured Singaporeans that we have completed building all the homes that had been delayed and significantly ramped up the supply of new housing,' said Mr Lee. He added that the housing market 'will stabilise', and that the government will be able to offer more affordable homes under the Standard, Prime and Plus framework. Mr Lee noted that the government is also exploring more public housing options for higher-income young couples and singles. 'These are topics that PM Lawrence Wong has spoken about, and public housing is a part of the PAP National Manifesto,' said Mr Lee. The PAP manifesto outlines plans to build 50,000 new flats over the next three years and increase the supply of homes with shorter waiting times. It also sets out to keep flats in prime locations such as Kallang-Whampoa, Bayshore and Mount Pleasant accessible to more applicants, while rejuvenating older HDB towns through the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme, or VERS. Mr Lee's teammates in West Coast-Jurong West GRC are Mr Shawn Huang, Mr Ang Wei Neng, Ms Cassandra Lee and Dr Hamid Razak. Come May 3, the team will go head-to-head with a PSP slate made up of the party's chairman Tan Cheng Bock, secretary-general Leong Mun Wai and first vice-chairperson Hazel Poa, as well as Mr Sani Ismail and Mr Sumarleki Amjah. 'We are clear about our commitment to keeping housing affordable and accessible for Singaporeans, through the ramping up of supply and cooling measures where necessary,' said Mr Lee.
