Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Reuters

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has announced major changes in its top leadership following its disappointing performance in the 2025 General Election. On Saturday, July 5, PSP shared that its founder and party chairman, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, and its former secretary-general, Ms Hazel Poa, have both stepped down from the central executive committee (CEC), which is the party’s top decision-making body.

Despite leaving their leadership positions, both Dr Tan and Ms Poa will remain members of the party and will continue to support PSP through advice and guidance when needed.

Who is Taking Over Leadership Roles?

The party has announced that Mr A’bas Kasmani will take over from Dr Tan as the new party chairman. This change is part of PSP’s leadership renewal plan to bring in new faces and prepare for future elections.

In addition to Dr Tan and Ms Poa stepping down, PSP treasurer S Nallakaruppan has also left his role, although he will continue as an ordinary member of the party.

To strengthen its leadership team, PSP has added three new members to the CEC:

• Mr Sani Ismail
• Mr Lawrence Pek
• Ms Stephanie Tan

Meanwhile, Mr Leong Mun Wai will continue as the party’s secretary-general, a role he has held since taking over from Ms Poa before the recent general election.

What Did PSP Say at the Press Conference?

At a press conference on Saturday, Mr Leong Mun Wai addressed the party’s recent election results and shared the next steps for PSP. He said, “The last election is a loud wake-up call for PSP. But we have heard you, Singaporeans, and we will continue to listen to you and strive to serve you better.”

He added, “While we have lost, we are not giving up. To be the party that you can trust, PSP must get back up on our feet from where we have fallen.”

Why Did Dr Tan Step Down?

When asked about his decision to step down from the CEC, Dr Tan Cheng Bock explained that it was time to allow the new generation of leaders to take charge. He said, “I’m always around, and I think with my presence in the CEC, I fear they might not be able to express themselves more. So to be fair to them, I think I'd better stand aside, still responding to whatever advice they want from me.”

Dr Tan, who founded PSP in 2019 after leaving the People’s Action Party (PAP), has been a respected figure in Singaporean politics. His decision reflects his belief that younger leaders must be given space to grow and lead the party forward.

Why Did Ms Hazel Poa Step Down?

During the press conference, both Dr Tan and Mr Leong were asked about Ms Hazel Poa’s absence and her decision to step down from the CEC. Dr Tan explained that Ms Poa has not been feeling well and that her vision has become poor, which has made her work more challenging. Despite these health issues, she continued to serve the party with dedication.

Dr Tan said, “Now she felt that we have done quite enough for the party, and we want to leave it to the newer guys.” He added that they had discussed her decision, and both agreed it was time for her to step away from top leadership roles.

Mr Leong also said, “We will miss her tremendously. We respect her decision to step down and wish her all the best.”

PSP’s Performance in the 2025 General Election

The leadership changes come after PSP’s poor showing in the recent 2025 General Election, where it contested six constituencies but lost all of them. This result marked the end of PSP’s five-year presence in parliament through Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) seats.

In this year’s election, PSP’s flagship team contested West Coast-Jurong West GRC. The team included Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Leong Mun Wai, Ms Hazel Poa, and newcomers Sumarleki Amjah and Mr Sani Ismail. They received 39.99% of the votes, losing to the People’s Action Party (PAP) team led by Minister for Education Desmond Lee.

This was a significant drop compared to the 2020 General Election, when PSP contested West Coast GRC and received 48.32% of the votes. That team included Dr Tan, Ms Poa, Mr Leong, Mr Nadarajah Loganathan, and Mr Jeffrey Khoo. Their strong performance in 2020 secured NCMP seats for Ms Poa and Mr Leong, which helped PSP build its national profile and credibility.

PSP’s Renewal Plan for the Future

Mr Leong shared that PSP knows the “path to reform” will be long and challenging, but the party is determined to work hard and stay committed to its mission. He outlined PSP’s renewal plan, which focuses on four main areas:

• Nurturing new leaders: The party will train and guide new leaders under the mentorship of founding leaders like Dr Tan and Ms Poa.
• Building stronger trust with Singaporeans: PSP plans to engage with people on the ground, listen to their concerns, and work to serve them better.
• Helping Singaporeans understand government policies: The party wants to educate people so they can better understand policies that affect their lives.
• Making PSP’s voice louder online: PSP plans to improve its digital communication to reach more Singaporeans through social media and online platforms.

Mr Leong said, “We’re confident that we’re able to realise and build a stronger PSP for the next General Election.”

The departure of Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Ms Hazel Poa from PSP’s top leadership marks the end of an era for the young party. However, with new leaders stepping in and a clear plan for renewal, PSP hopes to come back stronger in the next election and continue its mission to build a better Singapore for all citizens.