PSP goes on walkabouts in at least 5 constituencies but keeps mum on where it's contesting

SINGAPORE — The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) conducted walkabouts in at least five different constituencies on Sunday (June 21), though its party chief Tan Cheng Bock did not confirm if any of its members — some who have been announced as candidates — will be contesting in these areas. 

These walkabouts were at: Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC), West Coast GRC, Chua Chu Kang GRC, Hong Kah North Single Member Constituency (SMC) and Marymount SMC. 

This is the first few times that party members have walked the ground as a team at some of these places, doing so after the Government lifted more restrictions on movement and activities last Friday. 

At Nee Soon GRC, Mr Bradley Bowyer, Mr Sri Nallakaruppan, Mr Taufik Supan, Ms Kala Manickam and Mr Damien Tay joined their party chief for a walkabout at 10am around Chong Pang City Wet Market and Food Centre.

Dr Tan spoke to several residents having breakfast while party members gave out flyers. The party mascot, a sea otter named Otica, also made an appearance. 

Mr Nallakaruppan, Mr Bowyer and Mr Taufik were unveiled on Thursday as candidates that will be running for the upcoming General Election, which has to be held by April next year. 

Dr Tan said of the wards in which PSP is planning to contest: “We are looking at many, many areas, and one of the areas we are considering is Nee Soon.” 

This is the second time this group has been seen walking the ground at Nee Soon. On Saturday, Mr Nallakaruppan posted a picture on Facebook with the same five members, who had distributed masks and hand sanitisers to Nee Soon residents. 

Then, at about 12.30pm, Dr Tan turned up at 143 Teck Whye Lane, which is part of Chua Chu Kang GRC. He was present with party members Abdul Rahman, Francis Yuen, Tan Meng Wah, Choo Shaun Ming and Gigene Wong. 

Mr Yuen and Ms Wong were among the candidates unveiled on Thursday. 

The five members had gone door to door distributing flyers and spoken to residents around Teck Whye from 7am. It is the first time the five have walked the ground together. 

Mr Choo, 23, the youngest of the five, said that the party has “many young people” like him who have a stake in the country. 

“(Younger members) believe that what happens in the election will affect them because government policies will affect their lives especially when it comes to job opportunities, housing and cost of living,” he said. 

At Shunfu Mart Food Centre, TODAY also spotted Dr Ang Yong Guan, another potential PSP candidate, who was wearing the party polo tee and giving out flyers at about 10am on Sunday. 

When asked, he did not confirm if he would be running in the area, which is under the newly formed Marymount SMC — carved out of Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. 

Speaking to the media at a coffee shop in the area, Dr Tan Cheng Bock did not specify which party members will be candidates contesting at the constituencies they visited. 

“I think (potential candidates) must understand the ground,” he said. “My principle is that they must never expect to be voted. To earn their votes, they must go to the ground.

“(This) doesn’t mean you go to (just) one particular place. You must study every aspect of the ground from many places, then you have a better feel, a better understanding of the needs of the people around.” 

He added that in between visiting Nee Soon and Chua Chu Kang GRCs, he had stopped by Teban Market and Food Centre in West Coast GRC, where he is heavily touted to contest. 

Dr Tan is a former member of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) and had been the Member of Parliament for the former Ayer Rajah SMC — which was absorbed into West Coast GRC in 2006 — for six consecutive terms.

Potential candidate Tan Meng Wah said that they have been hearing the concerns of the residents — especially the senior citizens — which included the high cost of living as well as the Governments’ high spending on the Covid-19 crisis over four national budgets, amounting to close to S$100 billion. Some look at the numbers but do not feel that the money is getting to them, he added.

For the younger generation, Mr Choo said that climate change, workplace discrimination, and the way the underprivileged are treated are among the issues that will resonate with them and the party aims to address these. 

PSP has indicated that it would be announcing its remaining candidates during three more online meet-and-greet sessions on June 23, 26 and 29. They will be introduced six at a time, Dr Tan Cheng Bock had said. 

Over at Bukit Batok, which is in Hong Kah North SMC, Ms Gigene Wong continued conducting door-to-door visits of public housing blocks around the area at about 3pm. 

In an interview with media at 359 Bukit Batok Street 31, Ms Wong said that she had done two walkabouts in the two days before Sunday and has already knocked on the doors of about 80 per cent of households in the constituency. 

She aims to reach all households by Monday. 

The 54-year-old, who had spent 20 years working and living in China and holding roles in multinational corporations, had said earlier that she heeded a call by Dr Tan Cheng Bock to return to Singapore and enter politics. She did not reveal if she would be the candidate for the SMC.

Asked if her time away from Singapore would pose a challenge to her understanding the issues affecting society here, she said that while she was away, she constantly kept up with news from Singapore and when she took leave, she would return home. 

“In China, I have colleagues and friends, but my family and my roots are here,” she said. 

Hong Kah North SMC is now under the charge of Dr Amy Khor from PAP, who is Senior Minister of State for Health and for the Environment and Water Resources.