The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) Chief Dr Tan Cheng Bock announced the official launch of his party to the media at a press conference on July 26.
In answering a question about whether his name was tied to the party, Dr Tan said, “I don’t want to be Prime minister. I want to help Singaporeans to come together”.
He added, “I have a very short time frame and I have to do it quickly”.
While speculation was rife and many were hoping Lee Hsien Yang, the Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s younger brother, would join Dr Tan’s party, the latter was quite tight-lipped.
With the younger Mr Lee not present at the event, many still harbour hopes his official involvement in the party will be announced at a later date.
In the weeks leading up to the official launch of PSP, there has also been much speculation as to whom Dr Tan’s other party members are.
Thus far, Dr Tan has kept mum about other members who would join him on his new political venture with the exception of the following:
Mr G K Singam, 81 -Vice-chairman
Mr Anthony Lee, 39 – Assistant secretary-general
Wang Swee Chuan, 68
Mr S Nallakaruppan – Treasurer
Mr Wong Chow Seng
Mr Kassim Syed Mohamed
Ms Michelle Lee
Ms Hazel Poa
Mr Brad Bowyer
Mr Ravi Philemon
Registered in March this year, PSP was founded by Dr Tan Cheng Bock who served 26 years as the PAP Member of Parliament for the Ayer Rajah Constituency.
Dr Tan was also a candidate in the Presidential Election of 2011, where he lost to the eventual winner, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, by a thin 0.35% margin.
When asked about reasons he started PSP, Dr Tan expressed a desire to have a credible alternative to the current ruling party.
-/TISG