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Independent Singapore
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Hazel Poa urges AGC to release findings on volunteer harassment case
SINGAPORE: The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has renewed calls for transparency from the authorities, urging the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to release the outcome of investigations into a controversial walkabout incident that took place earlier this year at Bukit Gombak. Speaking at a rally held at Bukit Gombak Stadium on Friday evening (25 Apr), PSP vice-chair Hazel Poa pressed the AGC to make its findings public. Ms Poa, who is standing for election in West Coast–Jurong West GRC, revisited the events of 4 Jan. She recounted that PSP volunteers were shadowed by individuals dressed in white, later identified as People's Action Party (PAP) volunteers, who filmed and photographed PSP members without providing any clear explanation for their actions. 'This was not the first time we faced unpleasantness at Bukit Gombak,' Ms Poa said, referencing a similar experience during a walkabout at Hillview Estate in November 2024. The January incident escalated when PAP MP for Bukit Gombak, Low Yen Ling, accused a PSP volunteer of slapping a PAP supporter. Ms Poa criticised Ms Low's handling of the situation, suggesting that rather than addressing the conduct of her own volunteers, Ms Low had made serious allegations against PSP members without substantial evidence. The matter attracted further attention after PSP volunteer Stella Stan Lee lodged a police report on 5 January, alleging that she was harassed by three individuals who followed her and filmed her at close range throughout the walkabout. Ms Lee described the experience as invasive and said it left her feeling unsafe. She further claimed that the harassment continued into a car park, where the individuals allegedly photographed vehicle number plates without consent. In a public Facebook post, PSP member S Nallakaruppan supported the PSP volunteer's account, saying he too had witnessed similar behaviour during the same event. He also raised concerns about a pattern of such incidents, pointing to an earlier encounter in November at Hillview Estate. The situation took another twist when PAP volunteer Azman Ibrahim came forward, identifying himself as the alleged victim. He uploaded two edited videos to social media, purporting to show interactions from the day. However, critics noted that the videos lacked continuity and did not provide evidence of any assault. PSP later released unedited footage that appeared to show Mr Azman closely tailing PSP volunteers while filming them, and allegedly taunting them. According to Ms Lee, police investigations were completed by mid-February, and the findings were referred to the AGC for review. Speaking at Friday's rally, Ms Poa questioned why the findings had not yet been made public. 'If the accusation that a PSP member had slapped a PAP volunteer is baseless, do you agree that an apology is due to the poor fella who is falsely accused of assault?' she asked the crowd. Ms Poa stressed that political leaders have a duty to uphold fairness, adding that unfounded allegations could tarnish reputations and erode public trust. She called on the AGC to promptly release the findings and for those responsible to apologise if the accusations are proven to be false.
CNA
26-04-2025
- Business
- CNA
GE2025: Recent missteps have 'chipped away' at trust in PAP government, says PSP's Hazel Poa
SINGAPORE: From the SimplyGo saga to the blocked Income-Allianz deal, recent incidents have chipped away at trust in the ruling party, said Progress Singapore Party's (PSP) Hazel Poa on Saturday (Apr 26) night. Speaking at the PSP's second rally at Bukit Gombak Stadium, she also highlighted the last-minute change to the People's Action Party's (PAP) team in Chua Chu Kang GRC as something that has damaged trust. The party's vice chairperson said building trust can be painstaking, but that Singapore's first-generation leaders managed to do so with the bulk of the population. "It would be a waste to chip away at that," she said. "Unfortunately, there have been many incidents in recent years doing exactly that." RECENT MISSTEPS Although the Land Transport Authority ultimately reversed its decision on SimplyGo, it only did so after 'huge public outcry', the former Non-Constituency Member of Parliament said. She said members of the public had already given feedback on the shortcomings of SimplyGo, but the government still wanted to go ahead with phasing out the older system and pushing users to SimplyGo. 'The question is, were the decision makers not aware of the public feedback?' she asked. If they were not aware, it is a case of poor management. If they were aware but disregarded the feedback, it is a case of poor judgement, she added. 'Either way, not a world-class performance commensurate with world-class salaries,' she said. Ms Poa also brought up the Income-Allianz deal which was blocked, with Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong telling parliament that the deal in its current form "would not be in the public interest". 'I find it astounding that NTUC supported the deal while being unaware of the capital reduction exercise to the tune of S$1.85 billion (US$1.41 billion),' she said, adding that she believes that NTUC and Income Insurance did not perform their duties responsibly. 'I suspect that if any of these were to happen during the time of our first-generation leaders, heads would have rolled,' she said. Another incident she brought up was the food poisoning cases which were reported by some students after they consumed ready-to-eat (RTE) meals that were handed out as part of a Total Defence exercise. The Singapore Food Agency and Ministry of Health said earlier this month that there was no conclusive evidence linking the gastroenteritis cases to the RTE meals. Ms Poa said this is a cause for concern. She added: "Is our public service falling in competence as compared to before? There are many instances telling us that it is important for us to have more opposition in parliament to check on the government." CHANGES TO CHUA CHU KANG SLATE The opposition party leader also suggested that trust may have been broken when Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong unexpectedly left Chua Chu Kang GRC to be fielded in Punggol GRC. She noted that Mr Gan had said he would lead the Chua Chua Kang team around 10 days before the surprise on Nomination Day. 'I'm sure CCK residents were shocked as well, to lose their long-time MP so suddenly. What made the PAP go back on their public announcement?' she said, asking where the line should be drawn between what can be believed and what cannot be believed. She said she would have preferred if the PAP did not announce its slate for Chua Chu Kang, rather than change its mind after doing so, adding: "This is so damaging to trust." Citing Health Minister Ong Ye Kung's comments that there is nothing wrong with switching constituencies as long as candidates are upfront about it, she said: 'I totally agree. PAP should practice what he is preaching." In her rally speech, Ms Poa also called on the government to release the outcome of the investigation into police reports made by PAP and PSP after volunteers clashed in January. PSP claimed that PAP volunteers intimidated them while they were distributing flyers to residents, while Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling said PSP 'twisted the truth'. Ms Poa said she understands that the police have finished investigations and that the matter is now with the Attorney-General's Chambers. 'If the accusation that a PSP member has slapped a PAP volunteer is baseless, do you agree that an apology is due to the poor fellow who is falsely accused of assault?' she asked supporters at the rally. 'This is only fair and it is the standard we expect,' she said. A total of 10 PSP candidates spoke at the rally on Saturday night. PSP is fielding 13 candidates across two GRCs and four SMCs.
Online Citizen
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Online Citizen
GE2025: PSP's Leong Mun Wai challenges PAP's Desmond Lee to public policy debate
The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has issued a direct challenge to the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) for a public debate on policy matters, setting the tone for a contest focused on ideas rather than personalities in the West Coast-Jurong West Group Representation Constituency (GRC). PSP chief Leong Mun Wai extended the invitation to National Development Minister Desmond Lee and his team during his speech at the Nan Hua High School nomination centre on 23 April, 2025. Speaking to supporters, Leong declared: 'We would like to invite Minister Desmond Lee and his team to debate on policies. Let the voters decide who has better ideas.' He was joined by PSP first vice-chair Hazel Poa and candidate Sumarleki Amjah, who also echoed the party's commitment to engage voters through substantive policy discussions. At a separate media interview held later at Block 505 Jurong West Market & Food Centre, Leong elaborated further, saying, 'For a healthy election, we must debate policies. We don't just criticise one another.' He added that both he and Poa have actively presented alternative policy proposals in Parliament over the past five years in their roles as Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs). 'We believe we have a strong manifesto, and we are willing to accept the debate in any form, on any topic,' Leong added. In response, Lee maintained that existing election platforms allow for such debates, stating that manifestos provide a means for voters to assess the policy direction of each party. 'Political parties who say they have walked the ground should also be able to put out detailed proposals and local plans to benefit residents,' he said. Lee noted that the PAP had presented its constituency plans during a post-nomination press conference and urged the PSP to do the same. The West Coast-Jurong West contest pits PSP's top leaders, including founding chairman Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Leong, and Poa, against a PAP slate led by Lee. Also on the PSP team are newcomers Sumarleki Amjah and in-house legal counsel Sani Ismail. The PAP's line-up includes Senior Parliamentary Secretary Shawn Huang, incumbent MP Ang Wei Neng, and first-time candidates Dr Hamid Razak and lawyer Cassandra Lee. In the 2020 General Election, the PAP narrowly won the predecessor West Coast GRC with 51.68 per cent of the vote, the slimmest margin among all constituencies. Poa highlighted that the primary responsibility of Members of Parliament is to debate policies and make decisions in the legislature. 'That should be the primary consideration for voters,' she said. She noted that many residents had raised issues such as rising housing prices and the cost of living—key topics the PSP believes need policy-level responses. Dr Tan added a personal note, commenting on the age and relative newness of his PAP opponents. 'I'm not too sure whether they are as knowledgeable about the constituency as us,' he said, citing his 26-year tenure as a former PAP MP for Ayer Rajah, which now falls within the GRC. When asked about expectations for the 2025 campaign, Leong expressed optimism. 'We are looking forward to better support from the residents, and we will strive to make a breakthrough this election.' He reiterated that the best way to reach voters is through clear and credible policy proposals. Dr Tan, now 84, has earlier indicated that this election may be his last, but said he remains committed to mentoring younger politicians and championing democratic participation. Reflecting on national developments, Leong expressed disappointment at the uncontested win for PAP in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC. He stressed the importance of giving Singaporeans a chance to vote. Elsewhere, the PSP is also contesting Chua Chu Kang GRC and four single-member constituencies: Marymount, Kebun Baru, Bukit Gombak, and Pioneer. Commenting on the PAP's decision to deploy Manpower Minister Tan See Leng to Chua Chu Kang GRC, Leong said the PSP respects all opponents and will focus on appealing to residents. In 2020, the PAP won Chua Chu Kang GRC with 58.64 per cent of the vote against a PSP team.
Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Winning a constituency would help PSP attract young talent: Hazel Poa
SINGAPORE – Among the political aspirants that have been introduced to voters ahead of the May 3 General Election, those from the opposition PSP stand out for being older. Compared with those in the PAP and WP, the Progress Singapore Party's potential new candidates are on average older, with just one under 40 years old. PSP vice-chairperson Hazel Poa said the party has trouble finding young blood to stand as its candidates. 'Facts are facts. We have been trying to reach out to younger voters and also to recruit younger candidates but the problem that we have been facing is that they're usually more hesitant,' said Ms Poa. 'A lot of them actually worry about their career prospects if they are seen to be opposition candidates.' Winning a constituency in the upcoming election would help the party overcome this hurdle and persuade more would-be candidates to join, she said. Ms Poa was speaking on The Straits Times' current affairs podcast The Usual Place on April 22, where she was asked about what the party was doing to shake off its image that it was composed of mostly older members. The discussion with ST correspondent and podcast host Natasha Ann Zachariah also featured Ms Poa's husband, potential PSP candidate Tony Tan, who is likely to run in Kebun Baru SMC. The PSP's only candidate under the age of 40 is Ms Stephanie Tan, a 37-year-old homemaker with a law degree who will likely be contesting Pioneer SMC. Meanwhile, political pundits say the other two political parties with a parliamentary presence are entering this general election with party renewal high on the agenda. Almost half of the PAP's 32 new faces are in their 30s, and eight out of 14 of the WP's new candidates are under 40. Asked about the PSP's pitch to young voters, Mr Tan urged these people to get involved in politics and not be afraid of speaking up. 'If they feel that certain things are not working, they must have the courage to speak up… if there are certain things that they want, they ought to push for it,' he said. Ms Poa also said that the PSP has been open in suggesting new ideas and felt this would appeal to young voters. 'Age is just a number. (What's) more important is the mindset. I feel that to be young in your mindset means that you must be open-minded to new ideas and willing to test out new ideas and think of new ways of doing things,' she said. 'In PSP I think we have been rather forthcoming in challenging the norms and bringing forth new ideas.' Ms Poa said people had initially joined the party mainly because of party founder Dr Tan Cheng Bock, but more recent additions had been drawn to PSP because they could relate to the issues that she and party secretary-general Leong Mun Wai had raised in Parliament. Both Ms Poa and Mr Leong are outgoing NCMPs. In the 2020 general election, they were part of the PSP's West Coast GRC team that narrowly lost to the PAP. This general election, they will be part of the PSP A-team that will contest the newly formed West Coast-Jurong West GRC with party chairman Dr Tan. Asked about whether this would amount to putting all the party's eggs in one basket, Ms Poa said PSP had considered diversifying this risk. ' At one stage , the party did agree that I can go to (an) SMC but subsequently, they re-evaluated and they felt that it is best for the three of us to be in the same team in West Coast-Jurong West GRC . I've had to change my plans on quite short notice actually,' she said. 'Eventually I think we feel that because it was the West Coast residents who sent me and Mun Wai into Parliament as NCMPs... We should stay (in West Coast).' PSP vice-chairperson Hazel Poa (left) and potential PSP candidate Tony Tan at The Usual Place podcast. ST PHOTO: JAMIE KOH In this election, electoral boundary changes have moved some 41,000 voters from the Taman Jurong and Jurong Spring wards of the old Jurong GRC, into the new West Coast-Jurong West GRC. Noting that the changes have made it more challenging for the team and 'moved the bar higher' for them, Ms Poa said the party is undaunted. 'Over the past four and a half years, we have maintained our interactions with the West Coast residents,' said Ms Poa, adding that reception has been 'fairly warm'. For the residents in Taman Jurong and Jurong Spring, she added that the responses have been 'quite encouraging'. Mr Tan is running under the PSP banner for the first time, but it will not be his first time contesting an election. He contested the 2011 General Election with the National Solidarity Party. Mr Tan pointed out that in Kebun Baru there are 'quite a lot of elderly folks' and he hopes to come up with programmes to support them, and young parents who have to juggle between looking after the elderly and children. '(These families) remind me of when I was younger… my mom had to be on her own when I went overseas to study,' said Mr Tan, who was raised by a single mother. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former LSU women's basketball guard lands at rebuilding Big 12 school
Last-Tear Poa committed to Arizona State, according to a report from On3's Talia Goodman on Sunday, following three seasons with LSU women's basketball. The junior guard entered the transfer portal the same week as Sa'Myah Smith after the Tigers fell to UCLA in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. Tear-Poa started 15 games and played 10 or more minutes in five of LSU's six postseason games this season. Advertisement Poa was a part of the program's national championship season in her first year with the team. She totaled six points and two assists but struggled to cement herself as a true scoring threat throughout her time with the Tigers. The 5-foot-11 guard played two seasons with former LSU All-American Angel Reese, two with Aneesah Morrow and three with Flau'Jae Johnson. She served as the facilitator for the team's offense but couldn't separate herself as head coach Kim Mulkey's go-to point guard. Poa joins an Arizona State team led by first-year head coach Molly Miller. The Sun Devils went 10-22 last season and 3-15 in the Big 12. They also secured a commitment from former Penn State guard Gabby Elliott as four players from last season entered the transfer portal. This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Former LSU women's basketball guard finds new home in transfer portal
