Tan Cheng Bock joins PSP walkabout in Chua Chu Kang GRC 1 week after alleged harassment incident

A Progress Singapore Party (PSP) team was seen at Keat Hong Food Centre & Market on a walkabout on Jan. 12.

PSP's chairman Tan Cheng Bock was among them in the northwestern part of Singapore, having previously said on Jan. 8 that he would show support for PSP volunteers by visiting the Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) with them over the weekend.

Tan's post on Jan. 8 came after a founding member of the PSP, S Nallakaruppan, alleged that he and his team were harassed by People's Action Party (PAP) members during a recent walkabout in the GRC.

The allegations were followed up by counter-accusations from the PAP that the PSP team had exhibited harassing behaviour, with one PSP volunteer allegedly slapping a PAP volunteer twice.

On Jan. 10, Tan commented further on the counter-accusations and on the publication of video footage, which a PAP volunteer, Azman Ibrahim, said supposedly showed him being slapped.

Tan said the PSP volunteers were "firm" in their view that the allegations against them were untrue, and said the footage posted by Azman did not show evidence of him being slapped, or of his shirt being pulled.

The PAP MP for the area, Low Yen Ling, noted Tan's Jan. 10 post and said on the same day that she would "leave the matter to the police".

Low also addressed a post by Hazel Poa, PSP's secretary general, who shared her account of encountering PAP representatives while on a previous walkabout in November 2024.

Poa's recollection included an experience with a man in a black shirt who she said recorded her conversation with resident but stayed silent when asked who he was and why he was taking a video.

Addressing Poa's post, Low said the current discussion "started with PSP making allegations about what happened on Jan. 4", and had "turned to November 2024" after she set out what happened and after the publication of videos by Azman.

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

Poa also described the recent incident as a "learning experience for everyone" and said the PSP would "continue to emphasise" dos and don'ts during its internal training, given that it was "possible" that PSP volunteers "may have behaved somewhat unwisely".

Low similarly said she had "taken the opportunity to refresh our briefing and training for all volunteers" earlier in the week, adding that "the recent lessons" could be taken as "timely reminders to keep focused" on the PAP's goals.

Showing up in Chua Chu Kang

Tan's appearance in Chua Chu Kang on Jan. 12 was publicised on PSP's Facebook page, and by Nallakaruppan.

Tan was accompanied by PSP members and the party's Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) Hazel Poa, and Leong Mun Wai.

Nallakaruppan said the walkabout "went quite smoothly without any disturbance whatsoever", in contrast to the previous week's "unpleasant experience".

"Clean fight"

Tan spoke to the media after the walkabout, saying the PSP wants to fight a "very clean fight" as it prepares for the upcoming general election (GE), CNA reported.

Singapore's last election was held in 2020 and the next one must be held no later than Nov. 23, 2025.

“I would expect all my people here to conduct themselves well, because... Singaporeans, from young, we’ve been taught to have fairness," Tan said.

Opposition politician Desmond Lim, of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) also showed up at the market and posted a photo of himself with Tan.

Top photos via PSP on Facebook