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PSP gives ‘unified’ support to NCMPs, says Ceca debate not about race but jobs for Singaporeans

SINGAPORE — The opposition Progress Singapore Party (PSP) said that a closed-door meeting on Sunday (July 18) concluded with a “unified stand of commitment and support" for the party’s two parliamentarians Leong Mun Wai and Hazel Poa.

Members of the Progress Singapore Party at a press conference in April 2021. First row (from left to right): Mr Leong Mun Wai, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Francis Yuen and Ms Hazel Poa.

Members of the Progress Singapore Party at a press conference in April 2021. First row (from left to right): Mr Leong Mun Wai, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Francis Yuen and Ms Hazel Poa.

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  • PSP held a closed-door meeting to address party members’ concerns about its stance on Ceca 
  • The meeting ended with PSP taking a “unified stand of commitment and support” for the party’s NCMPs 
  • During the meeting, party leaders “re-emphasised” that the debate on the Singapore-India trade deal is about the jobs of PMETs 
  • It has nothing to do with race, the party said

 

SINGAPORE — The opposition Progress Singapore Party (PSP) said that a closed-door meeting on Sunday (July 18) concluded with a “unified stand of commitment and support" for the party’s two parliamentarians Leong Mun Wai and Hazel Poa. 
 
Its statement came three days after some PSP members expressed concerns about the party’s stance on a bilateral trade deal between India and Singapore, saying that Mr Leong and Ms Poa's emphasis on it during recent Parliament sessions gave the impression that PSP was singling out a certain race and nationality.

In a statement published on its social media page on Monday, PSP said that the party’s secretary-general Francis Yuen and chairman Tan Cheng Bock held a closed-door meeting with several party members on Sunday to address their concerns.
 
“In the meeting, party leaders re-emphasised the party’s stand that the debate is about the jobs of professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) and has nothing to do with race.
 
“The focus is on the fair treatment of Singaporeans and protection of Singaporeans’ jobs and wages,” it said.
 
It added that there was an “exchange of candid views” between party leadership and members during the meeting.
 
TODAY understands that about 30 party members attended the two-and-a-half-hour meeting. 
 
Mr Leong Mun Wai, who is a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) was not at the meeting. 
 
Mr Yuen told TODAY last week that Mr Leong would be present at the meeting whereas he himself would not be.
 
Earlier this month, Mr Leong and Ms Poa, who is the other NCMP from PSP, engaged in testy exchanges in Parliament with government ministers over the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (Ceca).
 
While the NCMPs conceded that the movement of people under Ceca was not used “as a bargaining chip” during trade negotiations, they did not unequivocally withdraw their claim that Ceca allowed the unfettered entry of certain Indian professionals here.
 
In its statement on Monday, PSP said that it will always stand up and speak up for the concerns and livelihoods of all citizens. 
 
“We will continue to focus on the importance of protecting, growing and developing our Singapore core, the foundation of our economy and the future of our country.”
 
Some PSP members who voiced concerns earlier over the party’s stance on Ceca declined comment when approached by TODAY on Monday. 
 
These members included a senior PSP member who had described the party’s focus on Ceca alone as “cheap politics”. The senior PSP member declined to be named.
 
PSP cadre member Khush Chopra, who said last week that the party should adopt a “holistic approach” to identifying the reasons for PMET job displacement, rather than target Ceca, also declined to comment or confirm if he had attended the meeting.
 
TODAY has reached out to PSP for further comment.

Related topics

PSP leung mun wai Ceca race India

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