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SINGAPORE: The leadership change in the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) is a conscious attempt to let the public know that the party “is not Tan Cheng Bock’s party” but “belongs to Singaporeans who care about Singapore” said the party’s founder. on Saturday (April 3).
The PSP announced Thursday that Francis Yuen would replace Dr. Tan Cheng Bock as general secretary, while Dr. Tan has been appointed chairman of the party’s new Central Executive Committee.
Dr. Tan founded the PSP in 2019 before last year’s general election.
READ: Francis Yuen replaces Tan Cheng Bock as PSP general secretary
Speaking at a press conference at the party headquarters on Saturday, Dr. Tan said: “This measure will be better for Singaporeans, because they will realize that we are actually making a conscious attempt to let Singaporeans know that the match PSP is not Tan Cheng Bock’s PSP belongs to Singaporeans who care about Singapore.
“This is a very conscious move, not only on my part, but also on the advice of all the leaders of my party here.”
He was responding to a question about whether the change would affect the party’s appeal.
The new PSP CCA contains eight new members, while retaining six of its previous members.
Dr. Tan said: “In the last year, the party has also attracted so much new talent, so it’s transforming, it’s like a metamorphosis. Things are changing, and as the party grows, we need to make room for improvement. leadership.
“There was a time when my direct input was crucial because the game was in its infancy, learning to walk. But now the game has grown and matured, and the new team must have the opportunity to use their strengths and abilities to move forward.” .
When asked if others tried to dissuade him from resigning, he said: “Of course, I am still the head of the party, but I want to … reposition. And that is very important because, we must be clear, the party is not just my party. The party is for Singaporeans who believe that this country can be improved if we make certain changes. ”
Mr. Yuen was previously Deputy Secretary General. With Dr. Tan taking over as party chairman, former chairman Wang Swee Chuang is now vice chairman.
The party named its incumbents at a meeting of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Wednesday.
Dr. Tan will now focus on reaching Singaporeans and walking the ground, he said.
“I want to focus on reaching Singaporeans that we did not reach before, that is very important. I want them to know what PSP stands for and that we are a party that they should consider in the future,” said Dr. Tan.
“Secondly, I want to help mobilize and strengthen our bases. I have always walked the ground and it is something I enjoy doing … It is part of me, it is part of my political DNA,” he added.
He will also continue to seek new talent and mentor party leaders, he said.
“Many have come to our party because they want to learn from me, and my role is to guide them. What I have learned over many years as a politician, I will pass my knowledge on to you, “he added.
When asked about their vision for the future of the match, Mr. Yuen said that they are “all aligned with Dr. Tan’s vision” when the match started.
“So the vision would be, we want to build a party of choice that people can relate to … We defend their interests and we defend the interests of Singapore,” he added.
“More than that, we have the ability, the people, the leadership to keep going for a long time.”
Responding to questions about whether Members of Parliament who do not belong to an electoral district, Ms. Hazel Poa and Mr. Leong Mun Wai were considered for the post of Secretary General, given their presence in Parliament, Dr. Tan He said: “I am not going to follow what is normal. The political structure is like that, because we are a progressive political party.”
READ: GE2020: Elections Department Confirms PSP’s Leong Mun Wai and Hazel Poa Elected NCMP
Both Ms. Poa and Mr. Leong were re-elected as members of the party’s highest decision-making body.
Adding that they were both considered for the position of secretary general, Dr. Tan said that both he and Yuen are grooming people to take over.
“When it comes to leadership, I will let the people choose their leaders. And if they are in Parliament, of course their stance is there, they have better traction, but at the end of the day the field should be open,” said Dr. . So.
Ms. Kayla Low and Mr. Phang Yew Huat were appointed treasurer and assistant treasurer of the party, respectively. They are among six new members of the CEC who were elected after the PSP held its second party conference on Sunday.
The other four new members are Dr. Ang Yong Guan, Ms. Wendy Low, Mr. Harish Pillay, and Ms. Jess Chua. Dr. Ang, Ms. Kayla Low, Mr. Pillay, and Ms. Wendy Low were PSP candidates in the 2020 general election.
Both Mr. Kumaran Pillai, who competed at Kebun Bahru SMC, and Mr. Taufik Supan were inducted into the CCA on Wednesday.
Dr. Tan and Mr. Yuen also responded to rumors of conflict within the party, after a website claimed that some party members were “gathering support” to demand that Dr. Tan resign from the party and hand over the leadership to “most talented rising stars.”
“It has been a great honor to assume this position, and I may add to say that nothing is further from the truth that (Dr. Tan) is obligated to make this decision,” said Mr. Yuen.
“It is his plan all the time, he has closely consulted myself, Mun Wai, Hazel and some other older people … It is very natural, the transition.”
Dr. Tan’s greatest asset is his goodwill to people, his reputation, his network and his political experience, the new secretary general said.
“You can’t stop taking advantage of all this,” Yuen added.
“We do not want to be elected in a future election because we are the default party because they are angry with a particular party in power,” he said, adding that his role now is to think about the succession.
Yuen said that for the PSP to be a “lasting and successful party”, it needs continuity.
“We need good plans, we need good structure, and most importantly, we need good leadership,” he said.
