Tan Cheng Bock & Hazel Poa retire from PSP leadership body

Progress Singapore Party (PSP) founder and former chairman Tan Cheng Bock, 85, as well as former first vice-chairperson Hazel Poa, 54, have retired from the party's central executive committee (CEC).

Both of them will remain as PSP members, with Tan, handing over the chairmanship to A'bas Kasmani, who previously served as party's second vice-chairperson, according to PSP's website.

Also stepping down is former treasurer S Nallakaruppan, 60.

In their place, three new members, Stephanie Tan, Sani Ismail, and Lawrence Pek Eng Leong, were brought into PSP's CEC, the party's top decision-making body, said PSP secretary-general Leong Mun Wai in a Jul. 5 Facebook post.

All three members were part of the PSP's slate for general election (GE) 2025, with Stephanie contesting in Pioneer SMC, Sani in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, and Pek in Choa Chu Kang GRC.

However, as of 12pm on Jul. 5, Stephanie, Sani, and Pek were still categorised as "members" on PSP's website, without specific CEC titles.

GE2025 'huge wake-up call'

In his Facebook post, Leong said the GE2025 results were "a huge wake-up call" and "a setback" for PSP.

During the election, the party lost all the parliamentary seats it contested and failed to retain the Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) seats, which were held by Leong and Poa after GE2020.

Despite the results, PSP still aims to be part of "political solutions" to address challenges it believes Singapore is facing, including global economic turmoil, rising geopolitical tensions, and cost-of-living concerns, Leong said.

As PSP is "not a party that seeks radical change", Leong said the party knows that "there is a lot of work that needs to be done to refresh our brand, revitalise our party, and connect with you better".

Leong also vowed that PSP will "listen with a humble heart" and "roll out plans to address what needs to be improved" over the next two years.

'Fresh start for progress'

With Tan, Poa, and Nallakaruppan stepping down from CEC to make way for new members, Leong said Jul. 5 "marks a new beginning" for PSP.

Giving his "biggest thanks" to his retired colleagues, Leong said he and other party members will be building a "stronger PSP" on the solid foundation laid by Tan and its founding leaders, "while still guided by their dream of a fairer, stronger, and more liveable Singapore."

Specifically, PSP will be working on four key areas: nurturing new leaders who are mentored by founding leaders, connecting and building real trust with Singaporeans on the ground, helping Singaporeans better understand government policies, and making PSP's voice louder online.

Nurturing new leaders

On nurturing new leaders, Leong said the party is "intentionally bringing new energy" into its leadership, and the three new CEC members, for instance, will "bring fresh ideas, different experiences, and lots of drive" to the party.

According to Leong, this is "part of a planned shift where [PSP's] founding leaders will take on mentorship roles, guiding the next generation and making sure [PSP's] core values stay strong".

In the meantime, PSP will also "keep actively looking for and developing young, community-minded leaders", especially those passionate about politics, dedicated to creating good policies, proficient with social media, and deeply committed to working with Singaporeans on the ground.

Connecting & building trust with Singaporeans

On connecting and building trust with Singaporeans, Leong said the "PSP has always seen groundwork as absolutely essential, not just an option".

While the party faces "limits with facilities and resources" as its members were not elected Members of Parliament (MPs) or grassroots advisors, Leong said PSP remains "committed to listening much more closely to what Singaporeans on the ground are worried about".

He also promised that the party "will find new and creative ways to reach out to Singaporeans on the ground", though he did not share further details.

Helping Singaporeans understand policies better

On helping Singaporeans understand government policies better, Leong stated that the PSP "will keep asking important questions and starting policy discussions".

Claiming that many Singaporeans "feel disempowered and disconnected from complex policy discussions", Leong said PSP will fill the gap by informing them how the government's policies directly affect all Singaporeans.

However, instead of "just pointing out flaws", Leong said PSP will aim to give "a full picture of the challenges" and its "proposed, workable solutions", as outlined in the party manifesto, as well as by Leong and Poa in their capacities as former NCMPs.

Making PSP's voice louder online

On making PSP's voice louder, Leong shared that the party will step up its efforts online as it did not have any seats in the 15th Parliament.

"Our social media channels will become more dynamic and interactive, enabling us to keep asking important questions, suggesting new solutions, and most importantly, holding the government accountable for what is does in the way that only public opinion can," wrote Leong.

Concurrently, Leong shared that PSP is also exploring "new platforms and ways" of reaching Singaporeans online and promised to use its platforms to "bring expert voices and compelling stories from the community" to its followers.

Top images via Progress Singapore Party/Facebook