PSP's Tan Cheng Bock & Leong Mun Wai reject Shanmugam's accusation of 'racist' comments

Tan Cheng Bock, Chairman of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), and Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai have responded to criticism made by Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam regarding Leong's comments in Parliament.

On Feb. 5, 2025, Shanmugam slammed Leong for supposedly "racist" comments he had previously made in Parliament about the Singapore-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).

Shanmugam also alleged that Leong "may not put much value in [Singapore's] multiracial approach".

The heated exchange occurred when Leong raised a question about whether the government is reviewing its longstanding Chinese-Malay-Indian-Others (CMIO) racial framework.

Leong: "Disappointed" by Shanmugam's allegations

The following day, Leong put up a Facebook post in which he said he was "disappointed" by the allegations Shanmugam made.

According to Leong, they had spent six years in Raffles Institution (RI) together.

Leong said, "Although we were never close friends in school, through our many common friends in our cohort, he should have known me better."

Leong also said he thought his question about the CMIO racial framework was a "reasonable question" and that he had been "caught unawares" by the minister bringing up old issues to accuse him of racial discrimination.

The NCMP acknowledged that when he raised the issue of CECA in Parliament in 2021, there will be some who will think there is a "racial undertone" to the issue.

Leong said:

"This is unfortunate, but I have clarified many times that CECA was only raised as a potential economic issue.

The debate was necessary because we believe the employment data provided by the Government is insufficient to form a full picture of the employment situation facing Singaporeans."

PSP supports EIP

As for the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP), Leong said his party is in support of it.

But he added a caveat that in PSP's view, the EIP may have caused "economic disadvantages" to minority communities which "need to be addressed".

"I was speaking to advance the concerns of minorities, and genuinely seeking to represent their interests as a Parliamentarian and fellow Singaporean," Leong said.

Leong then expressed his hope that ministers will not be so quick to label Singaporeans as racist when they want to clarify a socio-economic issue even when it touches on race.

"I have brought up many such sensitive issues, such as the sentences given to the PRC citizens involved in the $3 billion money laundering case," he said.

Leong then concluded his post by saying:

"After I graduated from RI, I have lived almost continuously for two decades overseas and have cultivated friendships with many schoolmates, co-workers and even customers.

These friendships have helped me to develop a deep appreciation of multiracialism and multiculturalism and above all democracy and rule of law. I will always stand for these values and never against them!"

Tan: PSP stands for "national issues"

In response to Shanmugam's remarks, and after Leong posted, Tan said in a Facebook post on Feb. 8 that he thought he should reiterate what PSP stands for, as Shanmugam's words affect public perception of the PSP.

According to Tan, PSP stands for multiracialism and stressed that members of the party, its central executive committee and its candidate slate are from "all races".

Tan said, "We readily fielded Caucasian, Chinese, Malay and Indian candidates, and will continue to do so. We are a party where all races have a voice."

In addition, the party stands for "national issues".

According to Tan, the PSP did not shy away from questioning the government on sensitive topics like CECA and the CMIO framework.

Tan said, "On the surface, these subjects have racial elements. But they also affect the well-being and livelihood of every Singaporean. As such, we will continue to be fearless when speaking up in Parliament on national issues."

What happened in Parliament on Feb. 5?

Left photo via PSP website, right photo via MCI