PSP founder Tan Cheng Bock to retire from electoral politics, not leaving party
SINGAPORE: Progress Singapore Party (PSP) founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock confirmed on Saturday (May 10) that he will retire from electoral politics.
He will, however, remain in the party, he told journalists before a walkabout at West Coast Market Square with about 20 PSP members and volunteers, including those who contested in West Coast-Jurong West GRC and Pioneer SMC.
"At the end of the day, we didn't do that well. I don't want to blame anybody now," Dr Tan added.
The PSP will not have a parliamentary presence following the General Election, as the results meant that the party loses its five-year hold over the Non-Constituency MP seats occupied by secretary-general Leong Mun Wai and first vice-chairperson Hazel Poa.
The party lost in all the constituencies it was contesting. It also received a smaller vote share in the ones it was re-contesting, including West Coast-Jurong West GRC, which saw the closest contest between PSP and the ruling People's Action Party in the 2020 General Election.
PSP went on a series of walkabouts on Saturday to thank Singaporeans who voted for them, said Dr Tan, who turned 85 in April.
"And also to show to those who didn't vote for us, we are not running away. We'll be back soon. We'll be back in maybe five years time," he added.
"By then, I hope a younger team will take over and we hope the people will look at us in a different way."
The party is looking forward to seeing how it can train its younger members to understand what politics is and "what is it like to represent the people", Dr Tan added.
He stood as a candidate in the 2025 General Election because he hoped to bring more young people into parliament, he said, noting that he had already been a Member of Parliament before.
"I tried my best. I think maybe they think we're not ready. But it's ok, because if Workers' Party took about 60 years to just gain 10 seats, I told them, don't be discouraged," Dr Tan said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Independent Singapore
38 minutes ago
- Independent Singapore
‘Make space for Singaporeans to dream': Business struggles spark debate featuring Calvin Cheng over rent, manpower, and the future of local business
SINGAPORE: A recent Facebook post by businessman and former Nominated Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng has stirred heated conversation online, after he suggested that rising rents are not the primary cause of Singapore's F&B crisis—and that the government should resist interfering in the free market, especially by imposing rental controls or mandating support for local entrepreneurs. Cheng didn't shy away from admitting that the closures have been heartbreaking—familiar neighbourhood hangouts, late-night bars where friends gathered, even family-run cafes that felt like home, have all folded one after another. Yet he urged us to pause before pointing fingers at landlords. 'Most mall spaces are still taken,' he reminded readers, suggesting that behind every lease negotiation is a landlord weighing risks—sometimes betting on higher rents only to discover too late that demand has shifted. In his view, it's not a matter of landlords callously letting spaces sit empty; it's a delicate, often agonising decision that can leave both tenant and landlord worse off if the timing or market dynamics don't line up. 'It is simplistic to just blame rentals,' he wrote. 'Most of the time, landlords also take a gamble during renewal… If they make the wrong decision, they may end up with a lower rent.' Cheng also claimed that many local F&B entrepreneurs overestimate their financial capacity and falter due to inexperience, rather than being unfairly priced out. Manpower shortages and government policy While defending the market's self-regulation on rents, Cheng was more critical of the government's stance on manpower quotas, especially in the service sector. He asserted that tight restrictions on hiring foreign workers could have led to increased labour costs and service inefficiencies. See also Stories you might've missed, June 16 'I am often served by young, inexperienced and/or disinterested local service staff who never see F&B as a long-term career,' he said. 'If the government really wants to do something, they should relax the quotas on foreign manpower.' Cheng concluded that excessive government intervention in the market often leads to unintended consequences: 'When local entrepreneurs shut down, everyone loses their livelihoods anyway.' Yet Cheng's criticism of young local workers in the F&B sector has struck a raw nerve among many Singaporeans, especially youth and their families, who see part-time service jobs not as careers, but as lifelines. In a country where the cost of living continues to rise sharply—from transport fares to food prices and education costs—40% of polytechnic and university students take up part-time work at cafés, fast-food chains, or bubble tea outlets simply to make ends meet. For some, it's pocket money. For others, it's helping to pay for tuition fees, rent, or to lighten the financial burden on their families. To many of these young workers, the implication that they are 'disinterested' or 'inexperienced' misses the point. The service roles they hold are rarely career pathways—they're a means of economic and social survival in the city. For every customer served with a weary expression, there may be a backstory of exams, caregiving duties, or savings goals stretched thin by the realities of urban school life. Backlash from entrepreneurs and advocates His remarks were met with swift rebuttals from industry figures and local entrepreneurs, many of whom argue that the state has a responsibility to protect small businesses in the face of mounting structural disadvantages. Credit: Calvin Cheng Facebook Wally Tham, owner of the social impact marketing agency Big Red Button, issued one of the most widely resonant rebuttals. 'If the government doesn't protect small local businesses, and Singapore cannot produce large enterprises, we won't have a local culture of business,' Tham wrote. 'Imagine all restaurants only serving Mala offerings and all services imported from the West.' Tham's emphasis on preserving space for uniquely Singaporean business voices—both literal and symbolic—was echoed by other commenters who see rental costs as more than just an economic issue. Cheng, however, dismissed this framing. 'Business is not a culture. Business is about making money,' he replied. 'Good service is a business proposition… Culture is just a misnomer.'hmm. The emotional economics of leasing In a separate comment, Kina Huang, who identified herself as having three decades of experience working with landlords, shared a more human-centred critique. She called attention to what she described as a growing ruthlessness in commercial leasing practices, even toward long-standing, loyal tenants. Credit: Calvin Cheng Facebook 'If a business has been around for more than 15 years, they must have been doing something right. And if they have to close, something external must have gone terribly wrong,' she said. See also MOM: 3 workplace fatalities in 2020 to date 'Lease renewal should be renamed Lease Increment Exercise,' she concluded her comment. Huang recounted how only one leasing agent she encountered in 30 years showed genuine empathy toward tenants, suggesting that most decisions in the space are coldly transactional. A bigger question: What kind of country do we want? Do we want a country where only the biggest players can afford the rent and survive, or do we want to make sure there's still breathing room for the smaller spots that give our neighbourhoods personality? It's tempting to let free-market forces decide—after all, high-profile brands bring in foreign investments and big leases fuel massive growth. But when a local hawker or startup can't renew their lease because the rent jumps too much, it isn't just a business closing: it's one less place where friends meet for kopi, one less corner of our community. If the sheer cost of business keeps squeezing smaller operators, soon there won't be any local names left on the storefronts—just global logos. The real test is whether we can find a way to let big and small businesses coexist, so that big brands, aspiring and small entrepreneurs feel at home here. That balance can shape what Singapore looks and feels like in the years ahead.
Independent Singapore
38 minutes ago
- Independent Singapore
S'poreans defend ministers' business class selfies after LinkedIn post sparks fuss
SINGAPORE: A woman caused a bit of a stir online after calling out in a LinkedIn post government officials who post selfies when they fly business class for official trips. In her post, the woman, whose bio says she is a joint managing partner at a law firm, writes an open letter to political officeholders. 'I know it's important to signal that you're hard at work and that promises made during the election period were not empty ones. I hereby clap for you. But sharing photos of you dashing about on work trips IN A BUSINESS CLASS SEAT is distinctly counterproductive. It's a humblebrag.' She added that the only acceptable situation for posting a selfie on the plane would be when one performs a heroic act, but took that back, saying it 'would not be cool either.' When a commenter on her post said that office holders could travel first class, and therefore the post had not been a humble brag, the post author doubled down, saying it was 'tone deaf from a comms angle.' Another commenter, who had seen a recent post of this nature from a top government official, wrote, 'It's literally just him with the headrest, talking about being glad to go home,' and added that the woman's post is 'so unnecessary.' The post author clarified that she was not referring to anyone in particular. 'I don't know who 'him' in your post refers to. I'm not talking about any specific POH or any specific post. I wouldn't be so cowardly as to do that without stating details. I've noticed a number of posts showing politicians doing this and think it's counterproductive from a comms perspective, and it's this trend I'm addressing,' she replied. The commenter fired back with, 'Regardless of who it is, I find virtue signalling on this or bringing this up in the tone that you did, tone deaf, when there are actual bread and butter issues Singaporeans really care about, than this. This just sounded like office water cooler gossip to me.' On Reddit, where the LinkedIn post was shared, and then later on, taken down, some of the commenters were more pointed. 'Why the snarky remarks? Only bigshot lawyers can take Business Class? Please… Stay in your own lane,' wrote one. 'I have zero issues with my taxpayer monies being used to fly a political office holder on business class for work. In fact, I want that for him. Better to have him well-rested and well-fed so that he can handle the important negotiations and discussions that affect the future of this country,' opined another. 'What is she trying to stir? Flying commercial in business class on work trips is not anywhere flaunting wealth or power lor. If the politician took selfies in a private jet, then can bring out the pitchforks and torches,' asked a Reddit user. /TISG Read also: Woman in LinkedIn post about meeting Piyush Gupta says her social media manager made up the story and demanded S$5K to take it down See also Hong Kong approves jail terms for 'upskirt' shots
CNA
15 hours ago
- CNA
'Culturally sensitive' mediation: Can a new China-led international outfit earn global trust?
SINGAPORE: A new international mediation group spearheaded by China - with most of its founding members from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean - could serve as a 'softer' alternative to existing dispute resolution bodies like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) that are perceived to be Western-led, analysts say. Signed into law on May 30 at a ceremony in Hong Kong presided over by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) aims to 'resolve world issues through dialogue and understanding'. 'The establishment of the IOMed helps to move beyond the zero-sum mindset of 'you lose and I win',' said Wang, who also hailed it as an 'innovative step in international rule of law'. 'It will fill an institutional gap in international mediation and serve as an important public good in the field of the rule of law for better global governance,' he added. Analysts observe that the IOMed is being positioned as a model that is more acutely attuned to cultural sensitivities. 'What sets IOMed apart from institutions like the ICJ or PCA is its philosophical orientation,' said Kun Fan, an arbitrator and associate professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). 'While those global bodies centre on binding adjudication, IOMed will adopt a softer, consensus-based model grounded in mediation, compromise and cultural sensitivity,' she added. Enthusiasm and support from developing countries have also signalled Beijing's efforts to court the Global South, experts noted. Global bodies like the ICJ, PCA and International Criminal Court (ICC), 'lack objectivity and neutrality and cannot be trusted to deliver justice in global governance', said Joyce Chimbi, a journalist from Kenya, one of 33 countries which joined the IOMed. 'Africa has long been dissatisfied with the existing world order, especially with international dispute settlement instruments bred in the West, which are often blind to the cultural sensitivities of African states and their societies,' Chimbi told the Chinese state tabloid Global Times after Friday's signing ceremony. She also noted the significant role China played in brokering a reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran back in 2023 - a deal hailed as a major step towards peace and stability in the Middle East. 'When China brokered a reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023, it proved that mediation comes with many advantages, including cultural sensitivities and inclusion. It is also cost-effective, flexible, convenient, fast and easy to implement,' Chimbi said. Yet not everyone is convinced by China's growing role as a global mediator. In an era of tariffs, trade wars and heightened geopolitical tensions, analysts said the Chinese-led mediation body will need to earn global credibility and demonstrate impartiality in resolving conflicts. 'What would happen if its rulings differ from the ICJ and other global courts?' said political scientist Chong Ja Ian from the National University of Singapore (NUS). WHO'S IN? Thirty-three countries so far have signed up. Among them, long-term Beijing allies like Cambodia, Pakistan and Belarus - and Pacific nations like Vanuatu, where competition between the US and China has been escalating. Also joining them are multiple African countries including Algeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Benin, Cameroon, Uganda, Sudan and Zimbabwe. 'The signatories definitely lean towards (being) more China-friendly, but they are also generally countries China wants to court,' noted China analyst Robert Rust from the US science advocacy nonprofit the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). 'Most are also countries in the Global South where China wants to position itself as a global leader.' Also on the list are Venezuela, Iran and Cuba, which Rust described as countries 'targeted or excluded by the US and its connected international bodies to varying degrees'. And for now, the usual China-friendly countries like Russia, as well as Central Asian states, have not signed up as members. 22:28 Min Fan from UNSW also noted that several countries are Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) member-states. 'These early signatories signal that the IOMed is an institution clearly positioned within the BRI ecosystem,' she said. "The aim is not simply to serve disputes but to offer more inclusive and culturally resonant institutional architecture that reflect BRI values and interests." 'NO LOSERS' IN MEDIATION The ICJ, which has its seat in The Hague, is the world's highest court - established after World War Two as a judicial organ of the UN to adjudicate disputes between countries and provide advisory opinions on issues arising under international law. The Chinese-led IOMed will also function on the basis of international law, according to officials, but with a focus on resolving global disputes through mediation. Its scope covers disputes between states, disputes between states and foreign nationals, as well as commercial disputes between private parties. 'Unlike the ICJ or the PCA, which adopt largely adversarial processes based on legal rights, the IOMed will use mediation,' said Lawrence Boo, a Singaporean professor and arbitrator, noting that there are 'no losers' in mediated settlements. While both arbitration and mediation involve neutral third parties, they differ in a crucial way. An arbitrator hears evidence and makes a binding decision. A mediator, by contrast, does not decide the outcome - instead they facilitate difficult conversations to help disputing parties find a mutually acceptable solution. 'Mediation creates space for win-win solutions that foster long-term relationships and preserve sovereignty - priorities that resonate not only with China's vision, but with many countries in the Global South that are seeking more balanced, inclusive dispute resolution mechanisms,' said Fan. 'In that sense, China's leadership in establishing IOMed is both a strategic effort to shape international legal norms and a response to broader demands for more cooperative and culturally sensitive governance frameworks.' IMPACT ON REGIONAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTRES The new mediation body, headquartered in Hong Kong, aims to cement the city's presence as a top centre to resolve disputes between countries, Chief Executive John Lee said. Work could begin as early as the end of this year, Hong Kong government officials said, revealing that the IOMed would later establish a secretariat and governing council. Signatory countries will be eligible to nominate their own nationals as mediators, said Hong Kong's Secretary for Justice Paul Lam. 'The acceptance and influence of the IOMed will depend much on how it will administer the organisation and more importantly, how professional are their mediators - they must get those in the field and not just political figures,' Boo said, adding that he was 'hopeful initial reservations and anti-China bias would give way to pragmatic acceptance'. Hong Kong is already an arbitration hub, tying with Singapore for second place, behind London, as the top choice for a seat of arbitration this year, according to the 2025 International Arbitration Survey conducted by Queen Mary University of London. While some view the China-led IOMed as a potential competitor to existing dispute resolution centres in the region, analysts say the initiative is more likely to complement rather than displace established players in the region. These include the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), both of which have earned reputations as leading institutions in Asia. 'We're witnessing the emergence of a more multipolar dispute resolution ecosystem,' said Fan, describing it as multiple tracks 'reflecting different legal traditions and institutional logics, which can be tailored to different users' needs'. Boo views IOMed's arrival as a positive step - particularly in raising global awareness of mediation as a viable and often underused method of resolving international disputes. 'There is now an international organisation willing to champion mediation as the more appropriate form of dispute resolution,' he said. Institutions like Singapore's SIMC and SIAC will 'continue to be relevant', Boo said, suggesting that IOMed might need the 'support of existing institutions to promote its cause'. In his view, increased global awareness of mediation could in fact raise caseloads for SIMC, rather than divert them. He added that arbitration and mediation are not mutually exclusive but 'different nodes of resolving disputes' which could 'grow in tandem without affecting the other'. But IOMed's primary focus would still be on state-to-state disputes as well as Investor-State Dispute Settlements (ISDS) - mechanisms in trade and investment agreements allowing for foreign investors to resolve disputes with foreign governments of countries they are investing in. This is distinctive from commercial caseloads that dominate Singapore's arbitration and mediation landscape, Boo said. 'IMPORTANT QUESTIONS' REMAIN While China has said that the IOMed would adhere to international law and the United Nations Charter, experts have raised questions about its impartiality and credibility. 'Like many major global powers, China often tries to ignore or go around international legal proceedings and rulings which are not in their favour,' said Chong from NUS, noting that Beijing's record of solving disputes tended to be 'primarily political rather than legal'. He recalled Beijing's dismissal of a 2016 landmark PCA decision in the Hague, which ruled in favour of the Philippines - concluding that China had no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the disputed South China Sea. 'China's new mediation body will ultimately serve as an alternative to the ICJ (by providing) a more suitable legal system which Beijing is comfortable with,' he said. However, major questions remain, Chong said. For instance, he questioned whether the IOMed would be able to rule against Beijing given that courts in both Hong Kong and mainland China have refused to do so in the past, and whether it could also re-litigate decisions made previously at the ICJ. 'Would this encourage other major powers to further ignore international law - if global rulings (elsewhere weren't in their favour)? Could these major powers start setting up their own courts that conform more with their own legal systems and comfort levels?' he asked. 'These are important questions that remain unresolved and ultimately, more questions remain than answers.'
