Former People’s Action Party (PAP) MP and GE 2011 presidential election first runner-up Tan Cheng Bock returned to politics recently by setting up a new party.

On Jan. 16, Tan filed an application with the Registry of Societies to register a new political party called the Progress Singapore Party (PSP).

According to Tan, the party will be made up of "likeminded Singaporeans", including a handful of ex-PAP cadres.

Lee: Fortunate he stepped forward to serve S'pore

Lee Hsien Yang wrote a Facebook post on January 24, 2019, congratulating Tan on his new party.

Here is his post.

"Congratulations to Tan Cheng Bock and the Progress Singapore Party. I have known Cheng Bock for many years and he has consistently put the interests of the people first. We are fortunate that he has stepped forward to serve Singapore.

I only recently learned that Cheng Bock had his first clinic at Ama Keng at the far end of Lim Chu Kang Road, a remote and poor area. I didn’t know it at the time, but this was very close to where I used to serve as a young armour officer at Sungei Gedong.

Today, Cheng Bock will groom future Parliamentarians who will serve our country and people before party or self. This is good for the future of Singapore. Cheng Bock is the leader Singapore deserves."

Lee recently met up with Tan for breakfast on Sunday morning, Nov. 4 last year, for about an hour over at West Coast Food Centre.

Reactions from Ministers

Among the 4G leaders, Finance Minister and potential prime minister Heng Swee Keat gave the most prominent reply to Tan's return to politics.

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.

Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam also surreptitiously met him at a hawker centre in Chong Pang while on his morning walkabout.

Breakfast stories

Top photo from Gilbert Goh Facebook.