Finance Minister and potential prime minister Heng Swee Keat is the first person from the People's Action Party core leadership team to respond to former PAP MP Tan Cheng Bock's return to politics with a brand new party.

Heng said on Sunday, Jan. 20: "Singaporeans will have to decide on who can serve them better, and I will leave Singaporeans to make that judgment."

He made this brief comment on the sidelines of a community event in Tampines, as reported by The Straits Times.

Tan's move to form a political party is "a development that is not totally unexpected", Heng also said.

Heng tipped to be prime minister

Heng is first assistant secretary-general of the PAP and widely-tipped to be the next prime minister of Singapore.

The deadline for next general election is April 2021.

Tan's return

Tan, 78, has applied to to register the Progress Singapore Party that is made up of 11 other "like-minded Singaporeans", some of whom are former PAP cadres.

His return to politics to join the opposition camp has been met with cheers and some open arms.