Progress Singapore Party (PSP) chairman Tan Cheng Bock has called for fairness and ethical behaviour in the lead-up to the next General Election, urging all parties to maintain Singapore’s high standards of conduct.
Dr Tan made these remarks on 12 January 2025 after a walkabout at Keat Hong Food Centre & Market.
Addressing reporters, Dr Tan emphasised the importance of fair competition, saying, “I would expect all my people here to conduct themselves well, because that’s what Singaporeans, from young, we’ve been taught to have fairness.”
The comments came in the wake of an incident involving allegations against PSP and People’s Action Party (PAP) volunteers.
A video released on 9 January by a self-proclaimed PAP volunteer alleged that a PSP volunteer had slapped him during a walkabout in Bukit Gombak on 4 January.
However, Dr Tan denied the allegations, stating in a Facebook post on 10 January that the video showed “no evidence of any slapping,” adding that the claims were supported only by subtitles.
He also disputed earlier accusations by Chua Chu Kang GRC Member of Parliament Low Yen Ling that a PSP volunteer had pulled the shirt of a PAP volunteer during the same incident.
Ms Low responded on Facebook, saying she would leave the matter to the police and that her volunteers would provide evidence to assist with investigations.
Dr Tan expressed concern over these developments. “The message to Singaporeans is that we want to fight a very clean fight. We don’t want to use tactics that shouldn’t be carried out in Singapore,” he said. “Let us not be involved in any rude or uncalled-for behaviour.”
PSP had previously accused PAP volunteers of shadowing their team during a visit to Bukit Gombak on 4 January, taking photos and videos without identifying themselves.
Reports from The New Paper revealed that most of the residents interviewed—apart from one—said they were not approached by the alleged PAP volunteers, while some were reportedly advised to close their doors to PSP members.
A PSP volunteer, Stella Stan Lee, has filed a police report over the incident. PSP Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Hazel Poa confirmed that the police have contacted the party regarding the matter, stating, “We’re just letting the police investigate this and hope that the truth comes out.”
Stella Stan Lee and Dr Tan Cheng Bock
Members of the public have questioned why the volunteers did not file a police report if they were certain about the alleged manhandling and slap by the PSP volunteers.
Dr Tan, who was accompanied during the walkabout by Ms Poa, Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leong Mun Wai, and other PSP members, shared his broader concerns about maintaining Singapore’s reputation for civility in politics. “We are a city quite well known for good behaviour. We cannot lower our standards,” he said.
The incident has added tension to an already competitive political climate ahead of the General Election, which must be held by this year.
Dr Tan acknowledged that such occurrences are not new, reflecting on “very terrible encounters” in the past, but reiterated the need for Singaporean politics to adhere to high standards.
