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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
CNA
05-07-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa step down from PSP's top decision-making body
SINGAPORE: Progress Singapore Party (PSP) announced on Saturday (Jul 5) that party founder Tan Cheng Bock and former secretary-general Hazel Poa have stepped down from its central executive committee, the party's top decision-making body. Dr Tan will be succeeded as party chairman by Mr A'bas Kasmani. Despite their resignations from the committee, both Dr Tan and Ms Poa remain members of the party. They were part of PSP's slate in West Coast GRC during the 2025 General Election. The party also confirmed that treasurer S Nallakaruppan has stepped down from his position but will remain in the party. To refresh its leadership, PSP said it has co-opted three new members into its central executive committee: Mr Sani Ismail, Mr Lawrence Pek and Ms Stephanie Tan. Mr Leong Mun Wai will remain as secretary-general of the party. PSP lost in all six constituencies it contested in the 2025 polls, ending its five-year presence in parliament through Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) seats held by Mr Leong and Ms Poa after their near-win in West Coast GRC in 2020. In particular, PSP's flagship West Coast-Jurong West GRC team – comprising party founder Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Leong, Ms Poa and newcomers Sumarleki Amjah and Mr Ismail – received 39.99 per cent of the vote, losing to a People's Action Party team led by Minister for Education Desmond Lee. In the 2020 General Election, Ms Poa contested under PSP in West Coast GRC West Coast GRC as part of a high-profile PSP team led by Dr Tan, alongside Mr Leong Mun Wai, Mr Nadarajah Loganathan and Mr Jeffrey Khoo. The team garnered 48.32 per cent of the vote – the best performance by a losing opposition team. That led to Ms Poa and Mr Leong being appointed NCMPs, bolstering PSP's visibility and their individual profiles. GE2025 DISAPPOINTMENT Given this, expectations were high going into the 2025 election. The poor showing – an eight-point drop – was met with disappointment within the party. Mr Leong described the results as "very shocking", adding that the PSP would study the results "seriously and humbly" and reconsider how it can gain further trust from Singaporeans. A few days later, he wrote in a Facebook post that the results were "disappointing" but did not signal the end for the party. 'Our call for checks and balances, an inclusive society and fairer opportunities for all remains unshaken. We will regroup, reflect, and return stronger.'
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.
