SDP's Paul Tambyah appears at PSP's Tan Cheng Bock's birthday celebration

Paul Tambyah, chairman of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), made a guest appearance at Tan Cheng Bock's 85th birthday celebration on Apr. 26.

They cheered for each other, complimented each other's rally speeches, and encouraged residents to vote for each other's parties.

At the birthday breakfast at Teban Gardens Food Centre, Tambyah also called Tan "an old friend of the family".

"My dad knew him, in fact he was a houseman while my dad was an MO (medical officer)," he said.

"And my dad told me early on, you listen to Dr Tan. He knows what's going on in healthcare on the ground."

Turning 85

After a traditional birthday breakfast of red eggs and noodles, prepared by one of the stall owners at the food centre, Tan reflected on turning 85.

"I'm enjoying myself, right? I'm able to take questions from you people," the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) chairman told reporters.

"I am living a happy life, even at my age. I'm only 85."

While he earlier said that he would be taking on more of a mentorship role this election, Tan added that he still hopes to "contribute in whatever small way".

"I will represent active ageing," he quipped.

He, along with secretary-general Leong Mun Wai and vice-chair Hazel Poa, also spoke about their plans for West Coast-Jurong West GRC.

The trio will contest alongside fellow candidates Sumarleki Amjah and Sani Ismail against a People's Action Party team led by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee.

The party intends to tap on the "unique strengths" of each member — Tan in healthcare, Leong in finance, Poa in education, Sani in estate management, and Sumarleki in business — to bring services to the residents.

For instance, Poa could provide educational services for lower-income families, Leong financial counselling, and Tan healthcare counselling.

Foreign interference

Both Tambyah and Tan responded to questions about foreign interference in Singapore politics.

Yesterday, the government said it had identified three foreigners who had attempted to influence Singaporean voters in GE2025.

In all three cases, the Infocomm Media Development Authority directed Meta to block their Facebook posts from Singaporean users.

It is an offence for foreigners to direct, fund, or in any way influence Singapore's elections.

On the PSP's stance, Tan said: "We don't want foreigners to interfere. We are our own strength...we don't need foreigners to come and tell us what to do."

"And I'm sure Singaporeans are not so stupid...[foreigners] are from the outside, they don't know what's happening here."

Tambyah agreed, saying that SDP is "dead-set against foreign interference of any kind".

"I totally agree with Dr Tan, politics in Singapore is for Singaporeans. Foreigners have no place in trying to hijack worthy causes," he said.

He added that the party is also concerned about foreign-operated bots, which copy posts by "high-profile opposition politicians" and repost them on blank Facebook pages.

He then called on the Ministry of Digital Development and Information to take action against such accounts, saying that foreign bots have had "very devastating impacts" in other countries' elections, such as in the U.S.

A U.S. intelligence report said that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election, and possibly in 2021 as well. Russia denied all allegations.

Top image by Ilyda Chua