PAP MP Low Yen Ling responds to PSP's Tan Cheng Bock & Hazel Poa's latest posts about altercation between volunteers

Progress Singapore Party (PSP) Tan Cheng Bock issued a statement on Friday, Jan. 10 to address a video released by a People's Action Party (PAP) volunteer on Thursday, alleging that a PSP volunteer had slapped him during a walkabout in Bukit Gombak.

This is the latest development in a spat between the PSP and the PAP over how their volunteers apparently got into verbal and physical altercations with each other.

What did Tan Cheng Bock say?

Tan wrote in his post that there was "no evidence of any slapping, merely subtitles alleging so" and urged Low Yen Ling, PAP Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang GRC, to release evidence of the allegations.

He wrote: "For Ms Low to have made such serious allegations, she must have clear evidence of the alleged manhandling. She needs to make this evidence available."

Addressing the earlier allegations by Low that a PSP volunteer had pulled the shirt of another PAP volunteer, Tan wrote that he "did not see any evidence of shirt pulling as alleged".

What did Low Yen Ling say?

Low responded in another Facebook post on Friday — her second post on this issue — that she will let the police handle the case and that her volunteers will hand over all evidence.

She wrote that the police had been in touch with her after the incident.

Low's post also addressed PSP secretary-general Hazel Poa's statement, which was posted on Facebook on Jan. 10.

What did Hazel Poa say?

In her post, Poa also refuted the allegations against PSP volunteers.

She then recounted a previous incident that she said occurred on Nov. 9, 2024, where several PAP members had allegedly followed the PSP team during house visits at Hillview Estate in Choa Chu Kang.

She said this incident was her first "unpleasant encounter" with PAP volunteers.

Poa wrote that the PAP activists took photos and videos of the PSP activists, even after being told not to do so.

In response, PSP members took photos of the PAP volunteers.

Poa added that she is prepared to share the photos with Low if she were to investigate the matter.

Regarding the latest case, Poa wrote: "While it is possible that some of our volunteers may have behaved somewhat unwisely, it is understandable if they were provoked."

Low Yen Ling's response

Addressing Poa's point, Low acknowledged that her volunteers had encountered PSP volunteers in November last year.

"Our volunteers are regularly in the estate, engaging residents, holding community events and outreach events. Occasionally, they encounter volunteers from PSP. Nov ‘24 was one such occasion," Low wrote.

However, she pointed out that the current discussion originated with the PSP's allegations about the latest Jan. 4 incident.

"I do not think that residents’ interests are served in having a further to-and-fro on this," Low wrote.

Low added that she agreed with Tan that there should not be any violence when engaging in political activities, and that she has refreshed the party's "briefing and training for all volunteers" following this incident.

Top photos via Low Yen Ling, Tan Cheng Bock & Hazel Poa