On 10 May, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Chairman of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), announced that he would not be contesting in the next general election.
Speaking to the media at West Coast Market, Dr Tan said that while he would step back from the frontlines, he remained committed to advising the younger generation within the party.
He stated: “Today, it’s just to come here and say thank you to those who voted for us, and also to show to those who didn’t vote for us that we are not running away. We’ll be back soon. We’ll be back in maybe five years’ time. By then, I hope a younger team will take over.”
Dr Tan’s remarks came during a doorstop statement ahead of PSP’s thank-you walkabout at Block 726 West Coast Road, seven days after the party’s defeat in the 2025 General Election.
PSP contested six constituencies and failed to secure any parliamentary seats, leaving it without representation in the 15th Parliament.
Reflecting on the election results, Dr Tan acknowledged the challenges faced by younger candidates, expressing his wish that they would learn from the experience. “It’s been a good journey for us, for the younger people. They know what it’s like to fight in the direction with all the odds against you,” he said.
Despite the loss, Dr Tan remained optimistic, highlighting that political success takes time and persistence. Drawing parallels with the Workers’ Party, he noted that it took decades for them to secure seats.
“I told them (PSP members), don’t be discouraged. At least we were given the initial chance. But never mind, we will learn and come back.”
Dr Tan, who turned 85 on 26 April during the campaigning period, reiterated his commitment to guiding younger members. He stated that his motivation for participating in this election was to encourage more young people to enter politics and gain experience in Parliament.
Leong Mun Wai, PSP’s Secretary-General, also addressed the media, reaffirming the party’s commitment to reflection and renewal.
“PSP is not going to run away. We’ll reflect, regroup and return,” he said. Leong thanked voters for their support and explained that the party was still reviewing its performance and plans.
Hazel Poa, PSP’s first vice-chair, was also present at the briefing. Following the media session, the PSP team continued their walkabout, visiting four other locations, including Boon Lay Place and Jurong West.
In the recent 2025 General Election, PSP’s A-team, led by Dr Tan, Leong, and Poa, contested the West Coast-Jurong West GRC but lost to the People’s Action Party (PAP) team, which secured 60.01 per cent of the vote. The PAP team was led by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee.
In the previous 2020 General Election, PSP had made significant gains by narrowing the PAP’s vote share in West Coast GRC to 51.68 per cent, sending Leong and Ms Poa to Parliament as Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs). However, in the latest election, both Leong and Poa lost their NCMP seats.
Leong, who was among the most active MPs in the 14th Parliament in terms of questions and debate participation, stressed that the party remains committed to community engagement and political renewal.
The West Coast-Jurong West GRC, newly formed for the 2025 General Election, includes parts of the former West Coast GRC and Jurong GRC. It has a voter base of 158,581 and remains a five-member constituency.
Dr Tan concluded by expressing his hope that the younger PSP members would continue to grow and learn from the experience, with the aim of eventually securing a stronger presence in future elections.
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