Latest news with #TanChengBock
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.
AsiaOne
10-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
'We're not running away': PSP's Tan Cheng Bock reflects on GE2025, says party will move forward, Singapore News
The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) will continue their groundwork and return at the next election, said its founder Tan Cheng Bock. The PSP team for West Coast-Jurong West GRC — featuring Dr Tan, Leong Mun Wai, Hazel Poa, Sani Ismail and Sumarleki Amjah — made their rounds and greeted supporters and residents at West Coast Market on Saturday (May 10) morning, a week after the General Election (GE2025). "We are not running away. We'll be back soon," said Dr Tan. Despite the loss, he said that it was a good journey, having given the younger members a chance to experience "what it is like to fight in the election, with all the odds against you". The PSP failed to emerge victorious during the rematch in West Coast-Jurong West GRC against the People's Action Party (PAP) on May 3. The PAP slate, led by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, received 60.01 per cent of votes over the PSP who lagged behind with 39.99 per cent of votes. "At the end of the day, we didn't do that well," he said, adding that the focus now is to see how the PSP can move forward and train a new generation that will enter Parliament. Noting his 26 years of experience, he emphasised that his participation in GE2025 was in hopes of bringing more young people into Parliament. "I think maybe (the public) thinks we're not ready, but it's okay, because the Workers' Party took about 60 years to just gain 10 seats. I told them, 'Don't be discouraged'," he said. Dr Tan also confirmed that he will be retiring from electoral politics, but will remain in the party as an advisor. Leong reiterated Dr Tan's sentiments and said that the party will "reflect, regroup and return". He also said that internal discussions are still ongoing, and promised to make an official statement regarding the future of the party once it has been decided. The PSP's vote share for GE2025 was significantly lower than GE2020, where they received 48.31 per cent in West Coast GRC and earned two Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) seats. Following their losses in all six constituencies that were contested, the PSP did not secure any NCMP seats and will no longer have a presence in Parliament for the next five years. [[nid:717675]]
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.
Online Citizen
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Online Citizen
Leong Mun Wai vows PSP will regroup and return stronger despite GE2025 defeat
Leong Mun Wai, Secretary-General of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), has vowed that the party will not be deterred by its defeat in the General Election 2025, emphasising its enduring commitment to transparency, fairness, and an inclusive society. In a message posted on Facebook on the morning of 7 May 2025, Leong addressed supporters with what he described as 'a heavy heart,' but maintained a determined tone. 'Though this result is disappointing for us, it is not the end,' he wrote. 'Our call for checks and balances, an inclusive society and fairer opportunities for all remains unshaken. We will regroup, reflect, and return stronger.' Leong's remarks come in the wake of PSP's defeat in all six constituencies it contested in GE2025. These included West Coast–Jurong West GRC, Chua Chu Kang GRC, Pioneer SMC, Kebun Baru SMC, Marymount SMC, and Bukit Gombak SMC. In West Coast–Jurong West GRC — the contest that drew the most public attention and anticipation for the party — PSP's team, led by Leong, party chairman Dr Tan Cheng Bock, and vice-chair Hazel Poa, secured 39.99% of the vote. They were defeated by the People's Action Party (PAP) team, led by National Development Minister Desmond Lee, which garnered 60.01%. Final results confirmed on 4 May 2025 showed PAP with 88,347 votes and PSP with 58,863, out of 147,210 valid votes. A total of 1,437 ballots were rejected. Leong thanked residents, volunteers, and supporters, saying it had been an 'honour to walk alongside' the community and promising to continue advocating for the people. Despite the defeat, Leong congratulated PAP and Minister Desmond Lee, calling him 'a worthy opponent' and acknowledging the professionalism of the ruling party's campaign. The outcome marks a significant shift from GE2020, when PSP nearly won West Coast GRC with 48.31% of the vote and was awarded two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats. With a reduced vote share of 39.99% this year, PSP no longer qualifies for NCMP representation, leaving it without any parliamentary presence for the first time since its formation. This result also coincides with the planned retirement of PSP founder Dr Tan Cheng Bock from electoral politics. In a separate Facebook message on 4 May, Dr Tan acknowledged the party's defeat while highlighting systemic challenges. He cited 'boundary line changes and limitless resources' as key structural disadvantages faced by opposition parties during the campaign. The newly configured West Coast–Jurong West GRC, formed through changes that absorbed parts of Jurong and West Coast GRCs, expanded the electorate to 158,581. Dr Tan also congratulated the PAP team and praised their campaign conduct, while encouraging supporters not to be discouraged by the outcome. 'You have punched above your weight for PSP,' he wrote, urging supporters to continue engaging with the party's values. PSP's 2025 campaign, run under the slogan 'Progress for All,' proposed policy measures including a reduced Goods and Services Tax, a universal minimum wage, and mandatory asset declarations for Members of Parliament. Observers have drawn comparisons between GE2025 and GE2015, both of which saw electoral swings in favour of the ruling party during times of national uncertainty. Many analysts believe concerns over rising costs of living and global instability led voters to favour political continuity, even if the concerns themselves were linked to government policies. The loss of its two NCMP seats, previously held by Leong and Poa, removes a key avenue for parliamentary engagement and deprives the party of funding support tied to those positions. Leong and Poa had donated their annual NCMP stipends of S$28,900 to help finance party operations, including maintaining its headquarters in Bukit Timah. The loss of this funding may impact future organisational stability. Nevertheless, Dr Tan concluded his message with a call to PSP's younger members, stating that 'the scars we carry will not be marks of defeat, but lasting reminders that we dared to stand up… for the common good of all Singaporeans.' In his closing remarks, Leong reiterated his commitment to public service and PSP's founding principles. 'I will continue to speak up, to serve, and to uphold the values we hold dear — transparency, independence and accountability,' he affirmed.
