Hazel Poa 'willing to run' in SMC, PSP considering options

Progress Singapore Party (PSP) first vice-chairperson Hazel Poa Koon Koon has indicated to her party her willingness to run in a Single-Member Constituency (SMC) for General Election (GE) 2025, which must be held by November.

For now, however, the matter is "still subject to confirmation", as PSP is still considering whether to field her in the West Coast-Jurong West Group Representation Constituency (GRC) or an SMC, added Poa.

Poa, who is a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP), shared her plans with CNA during a walkabout at Block 851 Jurong West Street 81 on Mar. 31.

She was responding to a question about whether her appearance at the walkabout indicated that she would be contesting in the West Coast-Jurong West GRC, which the public housing block falls under in the upcoming GE.

Poa was part of the PSP team that contested in the West Coast GRC in GE2020, scoring 48.31 per cent of the vote share.

However, the GRC will be dissolved and become West Coast-Jurong West GRC in GE2025, following the recommendations of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee.

'Need for me to walk my talk': Poa

Elaborating on her decision, Poa referred to the motion she introduced in Parliament on Jul. 5, 2023 to abolish its GRC system, which eventually failed after most Members of Parliament (MPs) voted against it.

Speaking to CNA, she said:

"As you know, I actually filed a motion in Parliament previously about abolishing GRCs, and during the debate, Minister Chan sort of implied that I benefited from the system because I wrote on the coattail of Dr Tan. So I do feel that there's a need for me to walk my talk."

Earlier in the month, Poa was spotted alongside Tan at a walkabout at Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre on Mar. 16.

Top images via Hazel Poa/Facebook