Dr Ang Yong Guan, assistant secretary-general of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), will not be participating in the upcoming General Election, the party confirmed on Wednesday (5 Feb).
This announcement follows the recent decision by the Court of Three Judges to extend Dr Ang’s suspension as a psychiatrist from two to three years.
Dr Ang, 70, was initially suspended after being found guilty of professional misconduct concerning his treatment of a patient, Quek Kiat Siong, who passed away in 2012, four days after receiving his last prescription.
The misconduct charges, as detailed in the judgment, relate to excessive dosages and improper prescription practices involving medications such as Mirtazapine and Zolpidem.
His prescriptions deviated from established standards, including exceeding permitted dosage limits and failing to properly account for risks posed by concurrent medications, such as opioids.
The Court of Three Judges found Dr Ang guilty of three professional misconduct charges under the Medical Registration Act. The judgment highlighted his failure to provide adequate medical justification for his actions, particularly regarding the risks associated with high-dosage prescriptions and the lack of informed patient consent.
The Singapore Medical Council had initially imposed a two-year suspension, but after appeals, the Court of Three Judges raised it to three years. The judgment referenced aggravating factors such as Dr Ang’s senior status and expertise as a psychiatrist, which meant higher professional accountability was expected of him.
In response to the court’s ruling, a PSP spokesperson stated that the party respects the court’s decision and will not be making further comments.
The spokesperson added that Dr Ang had already informed the party in January that he would not seek re-election when his central executive committee (CEC) term ends next month, nor would he contest the upcoming election.
Dr Ang has had a notable political career, having contested in three General Elections.
In 2011, he was part of the Singapore Democratic Party team contesting Holland-Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency (GRC), securing 39.92% of the vote. In 2015, he contested under the Singaporeans First banner in Tanjong Pagar GRC, garnering 22.29% of the vote.
His most recent election effort was in 2020, representing PSP in Marymount Single-Member Constituency, where he achieved a respectable 44.96% of the vote.
Dr Ang has been a practising psychiatrist for over 35 years, serving as the Singapore Armed Forces’ chief psychiatrist for 17 years until 2003. His contributions to the medical and political fields have been significant, but the court’s decision marks a pivotal moment in his career.
With the PSP preparing for the General Election without Dr Ang, the party will likely adjust its candidate lineup as it seeks to consolidate its position in Singapore’s political landscape.