The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) is gearing up for an intense battle in the upcoming General Election on 3 May 2024, with founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock leading a five-member team for the newly formed West Coast-Jurong West Group Representation Constituency (GRC). Joining him are party chief Leong Mun Wai and vice-chairperson Hazel Poa, making for a formidable lineup in a closely watched contest.
Strong Contenders in a Shifting Landscape
This election marks a rematch for the three key PSP leaders who came heartbreakingly close to clinching victory in the last election, held in 2020, where they lost by a mere 51.68% of the vote to the People’s Action Party (PAP). Their slate will also include newcomers Sumarleki Amjah, 53, and Sani Ismail, 49.
PAP’s Slate and Boundary Changes
The PAP, led by National Development Minister Desmond Lee, will contest with former MP Ang Wei Neng and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Shawn Huang, along with two newcomers—orthopaedic surgeon Dr Hamid Razak and lawyer Cassandra Lee. The GRC itself has undergone significant changes, now comprising 158,581 voters, after absorbing parts of Jurong West and Taman Jurong.
Race Heats Up in West Coast-Jurong West
- Dr Tan, 84, stated the party’s strategy focuses on fewer candidates for GE2025.
- PSP previously fielded 24 candidates in GE2020, the largest opposition slate at the time.
- The party aims to improve its performance in the face of PAP’s longstanding dominance in the region.
As Singapore prepares for the polls, the PSP’s team aims to build upon the momentum from 2020, leveraging changes in the constituency and a fresh approach. With boundary adjustments shifting previous constituencies, both parties will need to appeal to the electorate’s evolving needs.
In the lead-up to the election, the PSP also plans to contest Chua Chu Kang GRC and Bukit Gombak SMC, hoping to broaden their reach and increase their representation in Parliament.