Latest news with #PioneerSMC
CNA
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Deep Dive Podcast - PSP's Stephanie Tan on making the leap from homemaker to the political stage
After years of being a lawyer, Stephanie Tan became a stay-at-home mum to care for her two daughters. In the last 2 years, she has been using her law experience to help the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) with their parliamentary work. Now a first-time candidate contesting Pioneer SMC, Stephanie tells Otelli Edwards on the Deep Dive podcast how party chairman Dr Tan Cheng Bock inspired her to join politics, and how being a parent helps her connect better with residents.
Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: PAP wins West Coast-Jurong West GRC with 60% vote share, keeps Pioneer SMC
Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - The PAP has come out on top with 60.01 per cent of the vote in West Coast-Jurong West GRC against the PSP's team, which included its chair Tan Cheng Bock, a former PAP stalwart. The PAP also emerged victorious in Pioneer SMC, where it retained the constituency with 65.42 per cent of the vote. During the 2020 General Election, the PAP secured 51.68 per cent of the vote in a tight race with the PSP in the former West Coast GRC. As the 'best losers' of GE2020, two PSP candidates – party chief Leong Mun Wai and first vice-chair Hazel Poa – were offered seats in Parliament as NCMPs. In the latest rematch in the five-man GRC, the PAP received 88,347 votes or 60.01 per cent of the votes, while the PSP team garnered 58,863, or 39.99 per cent of the votes. The PAP team was led by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, 48. He took over as anchor minister following the departure of former transport minister S. Iswaran, who stepped down in 2024 after a corruption probe. Joining Mr Lee were Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Education Shawn Huang, 42, and three-term MP Ang Wei Neng, 58. The line-up also included two new faces: orthopaedic surgeon Hamid Razak, 39, and lawyer Cassandra Lee, 33. They went up against PSP chairman Dr Tan, 85, Mr Leong, 65, and Ms Poa, 54, along with newcomers Sumarleki Amjah, 53, and Sani Ismail, 49. In the case of Pioneer SMC, PAP's labour unionist Patrick Tay, 53, defeated PSP's Stephanie Tan, 37, who was contesting her first election. He secured 15,323 votes, or 65.42 per cent, while Ms Tan received 8,101, or 34.58 per cent of the votes. The PAP's Pioneer candidate Patrick Tay secured 15,323 votes, or 65.42 per cent. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY In GE2020, there was a three-way fight for the single-seat, with Mr Tay facing off against the PSP and independent candidate Cheang Peng Wah, and winning 62 per cent of the vote. This year's contest for the group representation constituency saw key members from both sides returning to the fray. Mr Lee and Mr Ang had been part of the PAP team contesting the then-West Coast GRC five years ago. The PSP had also fielded its top three leaders – Dr Tan, Mr Leong and Ms Poa – in the last election. The boundaries of West Coast GRC had been redrawn ahead of this election, with about 41,000 voters from Jurong GRC – mainly from Jurong Spring and Taman Jurong – added to the renamed West Coast–Jurong West GRC. Meanwhile, areas such as HarbourFront and Sentosa were shifted to Radin Mas SMC, and Dover and Telok Blangah to Tanjong Pagar GRC. The reconfigured five-member GRC now comprises Boon Lay, Nanyang, West Coast, Ayer Rajah–Gek Poh, Taman Jurong, and parts of Jurong Spring. The number of voters rose from 146,089 to 158,836. Speaking to reporters after the sample count results — which closely matched the final outcome — were announced at Bukit Gombak Stadium where PAP supporters had gathered, Mr Lee thanked voters in West Coast–Jurong West GRC. He acknowledged the PSP for mounting 'a very strong contest, for raising good ideas and for engaging with us for a better Singapo re'. Asked how he felt about the result, given the narrow margin of victory in GE2020, Mr Lee said it was not a result he expected because it was a very intense contest. 'But it was a very dignified one. It was robust. Everyone had very robust debates in public as part of the campaign. But I think ultimately we conducted it in a dignified way, and it's a maturing of our system, I think this bodes well for Singapore.' National Development Minister Desmond Lee taking a wefie with supporters at Bukit Gombak Stadium on May 3. ST PHOTO: ANDREW WONG In a statement released after the official results, Mr Leong thanked the voters who had supported the party and said that the party was shocked by the results. 'We will study seriously and humbly into our failure, and reconsider how we can gain further trust from Singaporeans. We may need to review our strategy and regroup ourselves to fight another day,' he said. Mr Lee's team had campaigned on a nine-point plan tailored for the GRC. Key proposals included measures to cushion the impact of rising living costs, help residents secure better jobs, improve the area's sustainability efforts and support seniors in ageing well. The PSP built its campaign on its ability to debate with the PAP on national issues, such as the GST hike and housing, citing its track record in Parliament over the past five years. Early on in the campaign, the PSP had challenged its opponents to a debate on national policies. This invitation later sparked an exchange of words between the PSP and Mr Lee on the role of an MP, with Mr Lee saying that the election season already provides multiple platforms for political parties to present and contest ideas, and that voters should instead ask contesting parties on their plans for the area. Boon Lay resident Sandra Rethinasamy, a 71-year-old healthcare worker who has lived at Boon Lay Place for more than 20 years, said she was heartened by the result. 'I really support Desmond Lee because I've been following him on his house visits over the past year, and he is very caring and kind,' she said. 'He always takes care of residents, and sometimes his Meet-the-People Sessions can go on until 3am or 4am.' Another Boon Lay Place resident, 79-year-old retired civil servant Mr Hashim Katon, who has lived in the area for over 30 years, was at Bukit Gombak Stadium to show his support for the PAP's West Coast–Jurong West GRC team. 'I am supporting Desmond Lee because he is very nice, doing a very good job, and always listens to residents no matter how long it takes,' said Mr Hashim. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
03-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
PAP's Patrick Tay wins Pioneer SMC with 65.42% of votes over PSP's Stephanie Tan, Singapore News
Results for Pioneer SMC in GE2025 Patrick Tay (PAP) 65.42% Stephanie Tan (PSP) 34.58% The People's Action Party (PAP) has won Pioneer SMC against the Progress Singapore Party (PSP). PAP's Patrick Tay received 15,323 votes while PSP's Stephanie Tan received 8,101 votes. Tay, 53, is the assistant secretary-general and director of the National Trades Union Congress, has served as Pioneer's MP since the 2020 election. He has also been the Chairman of West Coast Town Council since 2015. During the 2020 election, he won 61.98 per cent of the vote in a three-cornered fight that included PSP's Lim Cher Hong (35.22 per cent) and independent candidate Cheang Peng Wah (2.78 per cent). PSP's Stephanie Tan, 37, is a newcomer to electoral politics and has worked in both the public and private sectors. She also was an assistant director in the legal policy division of the Ministry of Law. Pioneer SMC has 25,207 electors. For our GE2025 microsite, visit here. editor@
Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
GE2025: PSP's 'anti-foreigner rhetoric' will affect jobs and businesses in S'pore, says Teo Chee Hean
SINGAPORE – The PSP's 'anti-foreigner rhetoric' will drive away international companies, as well as jobs and businesses for Singaporeans, said Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean. Singapore's unity, stable government, and its consistent and rational policies are strong attractions for such companies to operate here, he said at a rally in Pioneer SMC on April 27. The rally, held at Jurong West Stadium, featured speeches by the party's candidates for Pioneer SMC and West Coast-Jurong West GRC. In both constituencies, the party faces a challenge from the opposition PSP. Many companies are now seeking to rebalance their operations and find the best places to locate themselves, he noted. SM Teo said what the PSP is doing will 'make our pie smaller.' 'Instead of spending our energy like the PSP to try to pit one group against another group to snatch more of the pie, let us see how we can work together to make the pie bigger so that everybody can have a little bit more rather than trying to snatch from each other.' Singapore needs the politics of unity and not the politics of division, SM Teo said. He outlined challenges the country faces due to uncertainty over worldwide tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump. He said: 'The damage to the wider world trading system in the long term can already be seen.' The World Trade Organisation has forecast that world trade will shrink in 2025, and Singapore's economists and the International Monetary Fund's economists have forecast that Singapore will grow more slowly than earlier predicted, he added. SM Teo noted that the PSP has called these challenges fearmongering tactics by a PAP trying to retain its power. 'Really, is the PAP really so powerful that it can tell the IMF and the World Trade Organisation how to forecast the world?' To try and brush this away is 'just totally irresponsible', SM Teo said. PSP leaders had in April stated that the government's response to the US tariffs was 'overblown', with party chairman Tan Cheng Bock saying that the government's rhetoric might be aimed at swaying voters through fear. Party chief Leong Mun Wai later said the party had no intention of downplaying the tariffs. Both Dr Tan and Mr Leong are contesting West Coast-Jurong West GRC under the PSP banner. SM Teo asked: 'Has the PSP any solutions to this? Perhaps because the PSP knows that it has no solutions to offer, it tries to sweep aside these real problems with assertions that it is not a real problem.' He went on to detail the PAP's efforts to ensure Singaporeans can have good jobs and salaries, including policies aimed at making sure people have avenues to upskill. He said: 'These are real measures to address the real issues that Singaporean workers face, so that for the long term, our workers can continue to have good jobs and salaries that keep up, not just with inflation, but with the better quality of life that Singaporeans want for themselves and their families.' SM Teo said the PAP does not take risks with Singapore and Singaporeans, and must prepare for all eventualities. The PAP government does not have all the answers or the solutions yet, because it does not know the extent and the nature of the problem is yet, he pointed out. 'But we still must prepare,' he said. To do so, Singapore must strengthen itself as much as possible, not only in its financial reserves but also in its 'community reserves of social resilience and unity,' he said. SM Teo began his speech in Malay, saying that the conflict in Gaza has surfaced many emotions among Singaporeans. 'Rather than letting conflict elsewhere divide our community, Singaporeans, regardless of race and religion, have come together as one to send help to the victims in Gaza,' he said. The Government's stand is clear, he said, and it condemns the use of violence against innocent civilians, and has voted in support of a two-state solution. He urged Singaporeans to give Prime Minister Lawrence Wong a strong mandate so that he has the means to negotiate with the leaders of other countries. This will also give investors confidence to invest in Singapore, and create jobs for Singaporeans, he said. SM Teo, who announced his retirement after 33 years in politics on Nomination Day on April 23, also touched on why he is not contesting the general election. While on walkabouts in Pasir Ris and Punggol – where he was previously anchor minister – residents had asked him to carry on, he said. He said he told them he did not want to leave them either, but had to be sure that he could commit himself 'fully and energetically for the full five years, not just the 10 days of an election campaign.' 'Otherwise it's not responsible for me to ask you for your vote.' He added that he hopes his residents will have peace of mind knowing that they have 'good, strong teams to help take care of them for the full five years for the future, and not some group that comes along and campaigns for 10 days and says, I will look after you'. SM Teo added that the PSP has said that PM Wong does not need a strong team, as Singapore has overcome crises in the past and will weather this crisis as well. 'After all, we also have a very good civil service. This will see us through. Is it so simple? Is this like a driverless car on AI that would navigate through and then require a driver?' That is not the way running a country works, SM Teo stressed. 'It requires good leadership, good government and unity of the people… We need a strong government. We need unity.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: PSP's track record in Parliament could boost vote share in Pioneer SMC, says Stephanie Tan
Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - The opposition Progress Singapore Party's (PSP) track record in Parliament over the past five years could help boost the party's chances of winning Pioneer SMC, said Ms Stephanie Tan, the party's candidate for the single seat ward, on April 26. Speaking to The Straits Times on the sidelines of a walkabout in Pioneer, she said: 'I hope that is the case but the thing with an election is that you never know.' Ms Tan is a political newcomer who is contesting Pioneer SMC for the first time. In GE2020, the PSP had fielded a different candidate, Mr Lim Cher Hong, in the constituency. After GE2020, PSP's Mr Leong Mun Wai and Ms Hazel Poa - who contested West Coast GRC at the last election - entered Parliament as NCMPs. The party could send two representatives into Parliament by virtue of them being the 'best losers' that year. Ms Tan said 'the sensing on the ground has been pretty good', adding: 'I have been here quite often so the residents recognise me.' She said she has visited all 131 blocks in the constituency over the past few months. Ms Tan said young people she spoke to on her walkabouts have asked her questions on policies the party had raised in Parliament, in the area of jobs and housing, for example . 'First-time and second-time voters raised some very good questions,' said the 37-year-old. She said she answered these questions based on what the party had raised in Parliament. 'I hope that will give them more information to make an informed choice. They care about a range of issues - those in their 20s care about housing issues, fresh grads had questions about jobs, and I even had kids asking me about PSLE,' Ms Tan added. The homemaker and former lawyer added that she has heard good things on the ground about the incumbent PAP MP Patrick Tay. Pioneer SMC will see a straight fight between PSP and PAP on May 3. Mr Patrick Tay has represented Pioneer SMC since the last general election in 2020. In GE2020, Mr Tay won 62 per cent of the vote in a three-way race against PSP's Lim Cher Hong and independent candidate Cheang Peng Wah. 'We just do our best with what resources we have. When I do this, I don't really think too much about the outcome. I just enjoy the experience and take the opportunity to get to know the residents here,' Ms Tan said. 'If I do get elected, I hope to continue building relationships with them.' Ms Tan spoke to residents at a coffeeshop near Pioneer MRT station before making door-to-door visits at neighbouring blocks. On her strengths as a candidate against Mr Tay , a labour unionist, Ms Tan said they are both lawyers by training and can contribute to parliamentary processes in similar ways. 'But for me, I am also a full-time mother and I have been for many years. So, I think from the caregiving aspect and the experience that I have with taking care of people, I think that I can connect with the residents. 'I can get to know them and build personal relationships with them. I hope that I'll be given the chance to do that. That is the other important aspect of being an MP - taking care of the residents.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
