‘We're not running away': Dr Tan Cheng Bock retires from Singapore's electoral politics at 85, says PSP to ‘regroup and return' after GE loss
SINGAPORE, May 11 – Progress Singapore Party (PSP) founder Dr Tan Cheng Bock announced yesterday that he will no longer contest in general elections (GE), although the party intends to continue participating in future polls.
The Straits Times reported Dr Tan and party secretary-general Leong Mun Wai making the announcement at a walkabout at West Coast Market, a week after PSP failed to win any of the six seats it contested in the poll earlier this month.
'Today, it's just to come here and say thank you to those who voted for us, and also to show to those who didn't vote for us [that] we are not running away. We'll be back in maybe five years' time. By then, I hope a younger team will take over.'
'It's been a good journey for us, for the younger people. They know what it's like to fight in the direction [with] all the odds against you,' he was quoted saying, acknowledging the party's loss but urging members to remain optimistic.
Dr Tan, who turned 85 on April 26, said he would stay on in the party to advise younger members and help groom them for future political challenges.
Having spent 26 years in Parliament previously, the PSP chairman said he stood in this election to encourage younger candidates and hoped voters would eventually give them a chance.
'I told them, don't be discouraged. At least we were given the initial chance. But never mind, we will learn and come back,' he said, referring to PSP members.
Leong echoed Dr Tan's sentiments, stating: 'PSP is not going to run away. We'll reflect, regroup and return,' and added that the party was currently reviewing its performance before announcing any plans.
PSP's vice-chairman Hazel Poa also attended the walkabout, during which the party planned to visit four other locations, including Boon Lay Place and Jurong West.
Leong and Poa, who served as Non-Constituency MPs, also lost their seats after the party's defeat in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, where they ran alongside Dr Tan.
The People's Action Party (PAP) team led by Minister Desmond Lee secured 60.01 per cent of the vote in the GRC, compared to 51.68 per cent in 2020 when PSP had significantly narrowed the gap.
The GRC had been renamed from West Coast to West Coast-Jurong West following boundary changes announced in March, with 158,581 voters allocated to the five-member constituency.
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