The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has announced its first batch of six candidates today (June 18) at a Zoom press conference.

Six new candidates

The candidates, who were introduced by PSP Secretary-General Tan Cheng Bock, are:

1. 1. Francis Yuen, 70, an SAF scholar, who has held senior roles in MNCs, including being the CEO of industrial conglomerate Hong Leong Asia. He was appointed to PSP’s CEC earlier this year.
   2. Hazel Poa, 50, Vice Chairman of PSP’s CEC, a PSC scholar who currently runs an education business she founded, and the former secretary-general of the National Solidarity Party.
   3. Muhammad Taufik Bin Supan, 40, an IT professional.
   4. Bradley Bowyer, 53, who has a background in media, and was previously involved in politics as a member of two other parties, PAP and PVP.
   5. Sri Nallakaruppan, 56, an Investment Specialist in capital markets. He has a role in the party’s CEC as treasurer.
   6. Gigene Wong, 54, who has held senior roles in China MNCs over the years.

More on the candidates:

1. Francis Yuen

Yuen is an SAF scholarship holder who graduated with an NUS BBA and MBA. He also attended the Advanced Management Program at Wharton School.

His career has taken him through roles in various MNCs, including a stint as the CEO of industrial conglomerate Hong Leong Asia.

Yuen shared that he would be bringing his experience as a former Lieutenant Colonel to the table, as well as his business experience.

Yuen also spoke about restructuring the economy in light of the fact that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) had been worst-hit in the current economic downturn.

He was appointed to PSP's CEC earlier this year.

2. Hazel Poa

Poa, Vice Chairman of PSP's CEC, is a PSC scholar who graduated from Cambridge University, before entering the Administrative Service.

As a public servant, she served at various ministries, including the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Division.

She currently runs an education business, which she founded after deciding to move into the private sector to challenge herself.

Poa is the former secretary-general of the National Solidarity Party, and stood for election previously in 2011.

3. Muhammad Taufik Bin Supan

Taufik, an IT professional, persevered through long distance learning, funded with income from various jobs, to attain a master's degree in IT.

He was introduced by Tan as "an ordinary Singaporean coming from a middle income family", who "never had any scholarship."

Taufik spoke about the growing income gap between social classes, and being a "catalyst for that change to make life better for Singaporeans, especially to those underprivileged".

4. Bradley Bowyer

Bowyer, who has a background in media, spoke about the need for the support of the mainstream media to highlight the work of political parties such as PSP.

This was especially relevant in light of Covid-19 movement restrictions creating challenges for parties by limiting their ability to employ conventional campaign strategies.

Bowyer has been involved in politics as a member of two other parties, including the incumbent People's Action Party (PAP), but said that he "realised that staying with the establishment was legitimising something that I no longer believe in".

He was also previously a member of the People's Voice Party (PV).

5. Sri Nallakaruppan

Currently an investment specialist in capital markets, Nallakaruppan is in the party's CEC as treasurer.

He is also one of the party's founding members.

Nallakaruppan called attention to the issue of government communications on masks as an example of the danger created by policies that were initially announced, and "quietly withdraw[n]".

"If they conduct the elections now, they can win the battle, but lose the war", Nallakaruppan opined, saying that the safety of Singaporeans should be prioritised.

5. Gigene Wong

Wong has held senior roles in China MNCs over the years, including a role as the CFO of Foshan Electrical & Lighting Co., Ltd, a company listed in Shenzhen, China.

Introducing herself, Wong recalled her humble beginnings of being born into a poor family.

"I call myself a S$30 listed company CFO", she said, referring to a S$30 accounting course which marked the start of her career in accounting.

Since then, Wong has held varied senior management roles in China Multinational Corporations over the last twenty years.

Previous hints of constituencies to be contested

The party did not announce the constituencies where the six candidates would be fielded.

The constituencies where PSP will be contesting had been hinted at previously with a massive walkabout in West Coast in January, a Facebook page named "PSP West Coast" created in April, and weekly virtual meet-the-people sessions with West Coast and Pioneer Residents via Zoom on a sign-up basis.

Tan was the ruling People's Action Party (PAP)'s Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayer Rajah SMC for 26 years until he retired in 2006. The SMC then became part of the West Coast GRC.

In advance of the announcement on June 18, PSP had previously started to engage some residents in the west via video conference, hinting at the possibility of contesting in West Coast GRC and Pioneer SMC.

West Coast GRC will likely see a three-cornered fight in this coming general election, if the Reform Party (RP) continues to contest there.

RP contested against the PAP in West Coast GRC in the last two elections, in 2011 and 2015.

Top image via PSP