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Independent Singapore
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
GE2025: PSP A-team reunite to take on West Coast-Jurong West GRC
PSP's media doorstop at Clementi Market and Food Centre. (Photo credit: Progress Singapore Party) Featured News Singapore Politics SINGAPORE: Progress Singapore Party (PSP) chair Tan Cheng Bock, secretary-general Leong Mun Wai, and vice-chair Hazel Poa have reunited to contest West Coast-Jurong West Group Representation Constitueny (GRC), alongside two new faces. The PSP team was successfully nominated on Wednesday (23 Apr) to contest the ward, which it nearly won in the 2020 general election, with 48.32% of the votes. The high vote share led to Ms Poa and Mr Leong joining Parliament under the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme. The PSP team is set to face off against three incumbents and two new People's Action Party (PAP) candidates. The anchor minister for the ruling party team is Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, who will be accompanied by ex-West Coast MP Ang Wei Neng and former Jurong GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Shawn Huang. This contest will likely be Dr Tan Cheng Bock's last electoral race. The 85-year-old told the press earlier this week that if he is elected, he will serve as a mentor, guiding his young team to efficiently manage their constituency. Speaking with CNA, Dr Tan said his team has planned for who will be in charge of specific matters, such as the town council, if they are elected. He also reiterated his desire to train and promote the younger generation of leaders within his party as best as possible. When asked what had kept him going all this while, he told CNA, 'I think it's the love for the country.' He added that looking back on his political career, he sees that it has been a fruitful one. He said, 'For me, this is a rewarding journey. Every election brings me new things, new ways of managing affairs and engaging with the public, and meeting new faces. It is truly a very valuable experience.'


Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Struggling footy coach is blasted for setting a poor example for his players as shock vision emerges
It's been a torrid start to the 2025 season for new Sydney Swans boss Dean Cox. After agonisingly missing out on winning last year's AFL Grand Final, the Swans appear to be struggling to get back to their best, having gone 2-3 at the start of the new campaign. The Bloods' woes were further compounded on Sunday while they suffered their second defeat on the bounce - a disappointing 10.17 (77) - 13.7 (85) defeat by Port Adelaide - which saw Cox's side slump to 14th in the AFL ladder. After taking over from John Longmire last season, Cox is already finding himself under some scrutiny, despite the ex-West Coast man being a very popular figure among many in the AFL. Their performance on Sunday was underwhelming. The Swans were outgunned by the Power in the first three terms at the SCG, with the home side mounting a late comeback in the final quarter, but it was to no avail, with Cox's side going down by eight points. The statistics painted a damning picture for the Swans, who by the figures, had looked the better side, barring one stat. The home team managed 76 more disposals, 83 more handballs and eight more inside 50s than their opponents. THE SWANS ARE 2-4 IN THE DEAN COX ERA 🔥 #AFLSwansPower — outbreezy (@outbreezyWC) April 20, 2025 But it was their efficiency with the ball inside 50 that was costly, with Sydney putting through 17 minor scores to Port Adelaide's seven. And as they wasted opportunities throughout the match, the body language of their coaching team in the dugout began to look more and more disheartened by the performance. Cox, notably, cut a frustrated figure on the touchline during the match. The Swans boss was seen holding his head in his hands and scratching his forehead in despair. It was a concerning look for the former West Coast ruckman, who won the AFL premiership with the Eagles back in 2006. Speaking on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters, reporter Caroline Wilson said that the vision of Cox holding his head in his hands was a concerning look. 'What concerned me a lot when he came to the bench during that Port Adelaide game was there was just too much drama (going on),' she said. 'I think if you're seeing that as a player ... I don't think you want to see that.' Former Port Adelaide midfielder, Kane Cornes, agreed, saying: 'If you're going to be on the bench, there needs to be positivity. 'You've got to be engaging with your players, talking instructions, otherwise, get up to the box where your players can't see it.' Dale Thomas also agreed, revealing why he believed it's a bad look for the players. 'I'm happy with that being in the box but you can't be doing that if you are down on the ground because that sends a horrible message to your players who are doing their absolute best,' Thomas added. 'Just look at the lack of cohesion once this ball is won back from Port Adelaide… Are they a pressing defence? Are they a collapsing defence? There are players going in all sorts of directions. 'They have no idea what they're doing coming forward. There's a loose handover in there … That's an end-to-end transition through the middle of the ground that they play better than any other side. 'That is, again, confusion, and no doubt that is why time and again we're seeing Dean Cox with that frustration.'


Independent Singapore
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
PAP's West Coast-Jurong West slate blends fresh blood with battle-hardened vets
SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Desmond Lee said on Sunday (Apr 20) that he respects the People's Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Tan Cheng Bock for his longtime contributions. However, he hopes to offer residents of West Coast-Jurong West Group Representation Constituency (GRC) a team of young contenders and more experienced candidates to address the new challenges that Singaporeans will face in the coming years. He was speaking at the launch of a job fair at Boon Lay Community Club initiated by the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). The media asked questions about the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) team challenging the PAP in the constituency. Asked about the likelihood of a 'second go' between PSP and PAP in this election, Mr Lee emphasised that the contenders on both sides are 'known quantities' that have liaised with each other for some time. 'We know each other. We've interacted with each other over the years in Parliament but also in the community,' said Mr Lee. He also added, 'These are things that Singaporeans know, and so it's not a matter of uncertainty coming into this General Election and in a way, I think, better give Singaporeans the opportunity to decide.' The GRC, formerly known as West Coast, was the most fiercely contested constituency in the 2020 General Election. The PAP won the GRC with 51.69% of the vote. The PSP, however, secured two Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) seats for Mr Leong and Ms Poa as the 'best losers' for having lost the election most narrowly. At the job fair launch on Sunday, Mr Lee was joined by a new face, Dr Hamid Razak, who is part of the PAP team contesting West Coast-Jurong West GRC. The five-member slate also includes Cassandra Lee, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Shawn Huang, and ex-West Coast GRC incumbent MP Ang Wei Neng. The constituency has been substantially redrawn following the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee's recommendations. It now consists of portions of Jurong West and Taman Jurong, leading to its new name: West Coast-Jurong West GRC. The constituency has grown to include 158,581 voters. Apart from Dr Hamid, PAP's new face and trade unionist Natasha Choy was also seen at the event. At the e2i's 'Bringing Jobs to Your Doorstep' event, Mr Lee engaged with community participants, inked a memo to aid Singapore workers, and met with job seekers from the district. The event was intended to make job- and skills-related resources more easily available to residents in the GRC. Over 3,500 job positions were highlighted at the fair.