On 8 February, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Chairman of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), took to Facebook to clarify the party’s stance on recent allegations against NCMP Leong Mun Wai.
His statement comes after Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam accused Leong of making racially insensitive comments during a parliamentary debate on 5 February.
In the Facebook post titled “Multi-racialism, National issues and Mature politics”, Dr Tan emphasised that PSP stands firmly for multi-racialism, addressing national issues head-on, and maintaining mature political discourse.
He argued that the Minister’s remarks risk inflaming sensitive racial matters and misrepresent the values PSP upholds.
Reiterating PSP’s commitment to multi-racialism
Dr Tan highlighted the party’s diverse representation in its leadership and candidate selections.
He pointed to PSP’s 2020 General Election slate for Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC), which included candidates from various racial backgrounds, such as Chinese, Malay, Indian, and even a Caucasian.
“PSP is a party where all races have a voice,” he said, adding that the party will continue to prioritise diversity to reflect Singapore’s multiracial society.
Addressing national issues without fear
Dr Tan further noted that PSP has not hesitated to discuss complex national issues, such as the Singapore-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and the Chinese-Malay-Indian-Others (CMIO) framework.
He acknowledged that such topics may have racial undertones, but emphasised that PSP’s primary concern is the well-being and livelihood of Singaporeans.
“We will continue to be fearless when speaking up in Parliament on national issues,” he asserted.
This sentiment mirrored Leong Mun Wai’s own defence following Shanmugam’s accusations.
In a Facebook post on 6 February, Leong denied the claims of racism, framing his critiques of CECA and the CMIO framework as legitimate inquiries into policies affecting minorities and job security for Singaporeans.
Calling for maturity in politics
Dr Tan criticised what he described as the unfair labelling of PSP and Leong as racist, stressing that isolated statements should not define a party’s principles.
He drew a comparison to a situation involving the People’s Action Party (PAP), where a minority Member of Parliament vacated her seat mid-term without replacement—most likely referring to Mdm Halimah Yacob, who vacated her seat to contest the 2017 presidential election, a reserved election for minorities.
“Would it be fair to say that the PAP cares little for minority representation?” he asked rhetorically. “One may be tempted to infer so, but mature politics will suggest otherwise.”
Dr Tan urged political leaders to avoid making sweeping accusations, particularly on sensitive racial matters, calling for a higher standard of dialogue.
Background on Shanmugam’s accusations
The controversy began during a parliamentary session on 5 February when Leong Mun Wai questioned whether the government intended to review the CMIO framework, which has faced criticism for its rigid classification of racial identities.
Shanmugam responded by accusing Leong of making racially charged statements in the past, particularly concerning CECA and public housing policies under the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP).
Shanmugam distributed handouts citing Leong’s previous remarks, arguing that they reflected a pattern of racially insensitive behaviour that undermined Singapore’s multiracial foundation.
In response, Leong clarified that his concerns about CECA were always rooted in its economic impact on local job security, not racial discrimination.
He warned against labelling individuals as racist for raising difficult socio-economic questions.
Public response to the debate
The accusations have ignited public debate across social media and online news platforms.
Some netizens criticised Shanmugam’s remarks as a diversionary tactic that shifted focus away from substantive policy discussions. Others called for more constructive debates in Parliament, describing the exchange as an unproductive political dispute.
Several commenters highlighted the ongoing relevance of the CMIO framework and the EIP in daily life, with some arguing that the policies disproportionately affect minorities.
A common grievance cited was the difficulty minority groups face when selling HDB flats due to EIP restrictions.
Other users questioned why Eurasians remain categorised under the “Others” label despite their historical role in Singapore’s development.
Some also suggested expanding integration efforts beyond public housing to private estates to address enclave formation.
Maintaining focus on national issues
Despite the controversy, Dr Tan reiterated that PSP remains committed to its core mission: serving Singaporeans across all communities and speaking up on issues that matter.
He called for political maturity and respectful dialogue as the nation grapples with sensitive socio-economic topics.
“For multi-racialism, for national issues, and for mature politics,” Dr Tan concluded. “Because we do it ‘For Country, and For People.’”
The incident is expected to remain a focal point of public discourse as Singapore approaches its next General Election.
