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Malay Mail
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
PSP founder Dr Tan Cheng Bock retires from Singapore electoral politics, urges party to regroup after GE2025 loss
SINGAPORE, May 10 — Progress Singapore Party (PSP) founder and chairman Dr Tan Cheng Bock confirmed today that he will be stepping away from electoral politics, following the party's disappointing performance in the country's 2025 General Election last weekend. Speaking ahead of a thank-you walkabout at West Coast Market Square with about 20 PSP members and volunteers today, Channel News Asia (CNA) reported that Dr Tan said he would remain active within the party but will no longer contest elections. 'At the end of the day, we didn't do that well. I don't want to blame anybody now,' said Dr Tan, who turned 85 in April. The PSP failed to win any seats in Parliament and also lost its hold over the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) positions previously occupied by secretary-general Leong Mun Wai and first vice-chairman Hazel Poa. The party saw a dip in vote share across the constituencies it contested, including in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, where it had come closest to unseating the People's Action Party (PAP) in 2020. Despite the setback, Dr Tan remained defiant and optimistic about the party's future. '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 was quoted as saying. 'By then, I hope a younger team will take over and we hope the people will look at us in a different way.' Dr Tan said he had contested this election not for personal political ambition — having previously served as an MP — but in the hopes of ushering a new generation of leaders into Parliament. '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,' he said. The party, he added, is focused on preparing its younger members for leadership. 'We are looking forward to seeing how we can train them to understand what politics is and what it is like to represent the people.' PSP secretary-general Leong Mun Wai echoed Dr Tan's sentiment. 'PSP is not going to run away. We will reflect, regroup and return,' he said. 'At this moment, we cannot share much because we are still doing our internal deliberation. When we are ready, we promise that we'll give a full presentation to all of you as to what PSP is going to do.' According to CNA, party representatives did not take further questions from the media, citing a tight schedule for the rest of the day.
CNA
10-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
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.
CNA
07-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: Results ‘disappointing' but not the end for PSP, says Leong Mun Wai
SINGAPORE: Progress Singapore Party (PSP) chief Leong Mun Wai said that while its General Election results were disappointing, it respects voters' decision, and it is not the end for the opposition party. In a Facebook post on Wednesday (May 7), Mr Leong said it has taken him a few days to recover from the 'shock result' of the May 3 election. 'The results of this GE2025 are not what we at PSP had hoped for. We accept the decision of the people with humility and respect,' Mr Leong wrote. 'Democracy speaks through the ballot box. We honour that voice, even though it brings disappointment.' The outcome of GE2025 resulted in PSP's exit from parliament, ending the party's five-year hold over the Non-Constituency MP seats occupied by Mr Leong and PSP 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 (PAP) in the 2020 General Election. In his Facebook post, Mr Leong promised that the party would regroup after the 'disappointing' results. 'To fellow Singaporeans, though this result is disappointing for us, it is not the end,' Mr Leong wrote. 'Our call for checks and balances, an inclusive society and fairer opportunities for all remains unshaken. We will regroup, reflect, and return stronger.' He also thanked the residents of West Coast-Jurong West GRC, the party's volunteers, campaign team and supporters. 'We may have fallen short this time, but this journey has only strengthened our commitment to you and to the future of this nation,' he added. PAP scored a landslide victory in this General Election, winning 65.57 per cent of votes and securing 87 out of 97 seats. In West Coast-Jurong West GRC, the PSP received 39.99 per cent of the vote, down from the 48.3 per cent the party secured in 2020. It fielded its flagship team, comprising party founder Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Leong, Ms Poa and newcomers Sumarleki Amjah and Sani Ismail. They were up against the PAP team led by National Development Minister Desmond Lee, alongside incumbents Shawn Huang and Ang Wei Neng, as well as new candidates Cassandra Lee and Hamid Razak. Congratulating the PAP on its victory, Mr Leong described Mr Lee as a "worthy opponent'. 'We have learnt a lot from the way PAP has executed this campaign,' Mr Leong said. 'We urge them to continue listening to the residents and to deliver on their promises.' Mr Leong promised to continue to speak up, serve and uphold the values of the party. 'Thank you for walking with us,' he wrote. 'Our journey continues.'
Business Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
Singapore election 2025 sample count: PAP leads in West Coast-Jurong West GRC with 61 per cent of votes
[SINGAPORE] The People's Action Party (PAP) is leading in newly formed West Coast-Jurong West GRC with 61 per cent of the sample vote count. The PSP has 39 per cent of the sample vote share. Given the traditionally low error margin between the sample and actual vote count, this points to a victory again for the ruling party in its rematch with the PSP's A-team in a constituency whose boundaries were redrawn for the current election. For GE2025, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee leads the PAP team with incumbents Ang Wei Neng and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Education Shawn Huang, as well as newcomers Hamid Razak, an orthopaedic surgeon, and lawyer Cassandra Lee. The party's GE2020 team was led by former transport minister S Iswaran, who was jailed in October 2024 for accepting gifts in his capacity as a public servant. Returning for the PSP are Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) Hazel Poa and Leong Mun Wai. They are joined by first-timers Sumarleki Amjah, a silat practitioner, and legal counsel Sani Ismail. The fight for West Coast-Jurong West GRC is among the closely watched battles after the PAP eked out its slimmest win in the 2020 election with 51.68 per cent of the vote in West Coast GRC, against a PSP team including Dr Tan, Hazel Poa and Leong Mun Wai. The PSP's top-loser vote count paved the way for Poa and Leong to join Parliament as NCMPs. For GE2025, the constituency's boundaries were redrawn to incorporate areas such as Jurong West and Taman Jurong. The revised West Coast-Jurong West GRC has 158,836 registered voters. Note: As this is a sample count, the election result could be different. Counting is still in progress. The public should wait for the announcement of the election result by the returning officer, Han Kok Juan, which will be broadcast live on television. For more election coverage, visit our GE2025 microsite
AsiaOne
01-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
'Let's worry about ordinary Singaporeans instead': PSP says losing a few ministers won't weaken govt, Singapore News
The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) disagreed with the notion that losing some cabinet ministers would weaken the government, stating that voters need not worry for the People's Action Party (PAP) and should "worry about ordinary Singaporeans instead". At the party's final rally this general election on Thursday (May 1), PSP vice-chair Hazel Poa said: "PAP also says that if you vote for opposition, they could lose ministers. "But look at Minister Ong Ye Kung. He lost in GE2011 in Aljunied GRC, but he was brought back in the next election through a different GRC. "So do not worry for PAP. Let's worry about ordinary Singaporeans instead," she added. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Ong were some of the PAP candidates who made similar statements during the election period. These came as the focus was sharpened on the battleground ward of Punggol, where PAP had deployed Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong to fend off Workers' Party's advances. PSP secretary-general Leong Mun Wai also chimed in on the topic during the rally held at Jurong West Stadium. "Has the government been weakened since it lost George Yeo, Lim Hwee Hua and Ng Chee Meng?" he asked. "Could a weak government have raised GST (Goods and Services Tax) during high inflation? Could a weak government have passed laws like Pofma (Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act) and Fica (Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act)? Could a weak government have amended the constitution to create the reserved presidency in 2017? "The PAP government will not be weakened if they lose a few ministers, because the opposition will come in and provide more ideas," Leong added, calling the sentiment "rubbish". Party chairmain Tan Cheng Bock also addressed the matter as the rally concluded. Referring to NTUC secretary-general Ng, who this time is PAP's candidate for Jalan Kayu SMC, Dr Tan said: "When they say they are worried that... [they] will lose him as a minister, I worry. "Because on the one hand, they say [a] minister must be tough, must be strong, must be decisive... but he wasn't. "That episode that was related by Mun Wai and Hazel, the Allianz episode concerning NTUC, reflects the quality of that leadership, and you want him to be a minister? You better think twice," he added. Last year, German insurer Allianz had offered $2.2 billion in cash for at least 51 per cent of shares for Income Insurance, in which NTUC Enterprise has a majority stake. But the government intervened in October, pausing the deal as it decided it would not be in the public interest. Two months later, Allianz pulled out of the deal. Ng addressed the saga on April 27 at a rally, apologising while explaining the circumstances. During her speech, Poa also called on fellow West Coast-Jurong West GRC candidate Shawn Huang to clarify whether alleged plans by his PAP volunteers to disrupt a PSP walkabout were true and if they were executed. These plans were allegedly discussed in a WhatsApp group linked to grassroots volunteers of Huang's, she added. Supporters fill stadium for final rally A large, boisterous crowd was present for the PSP's final rally for the 2025 General Election. Some supporters came with flags, signs and party merchandise in tow and cheered loudly as candidates delivered their speeches. The rally also saw a surprise host: former Workers' Party MP Leon Perera, who has been spotted volunteering with PSP since last year. PSP is contesting in Chua Chu Kang and West Coast-Jurong West GRCs as well as Pioneer, Kebun Baru and Marymount SMCs. The party's West Coast-Jurong West team consists of Dr Tan, Leong and Poa alongside newcomers Sumarleki Amjah, 53, and Sani Ismail, 49. At the last general election in 2020, PSP contested in West Coast GRC where the PAP won by a whisker — getting 51.59 per cent of votes to PSP's 48.31 per cent. [[nid:717557]]
