Tuesday, June 24, 2025
31.3 C
Singapore
type here...
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 124

French Open to pay tribute to retired tennis legend Rafael Nadal on opening day

By
Aiah Bathan
-
0
Photo: Instagram.com/Rafael Nadal

FRANCE: This year’s French Open will honour Rafa Nadal, the record 14-time champion, on the opening day of the tournament next month. 

This tribute comes a year after the Spanish tennis legend played his final match at Roland Garros before his retirement. Nadal suffered an early exit in 2024 with a first-round loss to Alexander Zverev. He officially ended his career after playing for Spain in the Davis Cup last November. 

Now, the organisers are paying tribute to his incredible legacy at the Grand Slam. He will return to the French Open to celebrate his incredible achievements. 

The tournament director and two-time Grand Slam champion, Amelie Mauresmo, said: “Rafa made history at Roland Garros, and his 14 titles will perhaps remain unequalled…The ceremony in honour of Rafa will take place at the end of the day session on May 25 on Court Philippe Chatrier… The idea is to have a vision for the future and also to celebrate those who thrilled us in the past.” 

Moreover, the tournament will also pay tribute to Mary Pierce, the 2000 women’s champion, and Richard Gasquet, another local crowd favourite. 

More about the French Open 

The prize money for the French Open, which runs from May 25 to June 8, has been set at  56.352 million euros (S$64.11 million), a 5.21% increase from 2024. 

The increase in prize money follows demands from top players, who recently sent a letter to the four Grand Slam tournaments calling for higher payouts. The French Open stated that it is willing to have discussions on this. 

Gilles Moretton, head of the French Tennis Federation, confirmed that the French Open will still use line judges.  It will not adopt electronic line calling like the other Grand Slam tournaments. Wimbledon will start using electronic line calling this season, joining the US Open and the Australian Open. 

Morretton admitted: “I think we are right to keep our referees and linesmen at Roland Garros. The federation wants to keep our referees for as long as we can… I hope we’ll be able to maintain it in our tournaments in the future.”

A social media post made by Roland Garros stated: “Major announcements from the 2025 Roland-Garros press conference:
🔸 A tribute to Rafael Nadal will take place on Sunday 25 May, following the day session’s three fixtures.
🔸 Centre Court will commemorate the 25th anniversary of Mary Pierce’s twin titles, between the two women’s semi-finals.
🔸 A tribute will also be paid to Richard Gasquet on the conclusion of his last game at Roland-Garros.
🔸 A free fan zone on Place de la Concorde, one of the capital’s most iconic locations, from Wednesday 4 to Monday 9 Jun.
🔸 The second men’s singles semi-final, scheduled for Friday 6 Jun on Philippe-Chatrier, will not start before 7:00 p.m. (local time)”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros)


Netizens commented on the post and said: “Excited for the Rafa tribute 🙌❤️”, “What a fabulous celebration for legends of the game. Love this ❤️ 🙌🔥🇦🇺”, “Yes to line judges! This is what we want. It’s not just hearing the fake automated out call. We, and players, need to see the hand gestures too. That is just as important as the verbal out call, if not more important”, and “Finally, Roland Garros decides to celebrate Mary Pierce!!! Bravo and thank you because she is the last French player to have won the singles title in Paris! A celebration fully deserved.” 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce unleashes Olympic speed at her son’s school sports day

By
Aiah Bathan
-
0
Photo: Instagram.com

JAMAICA: The three-time Olympic gold medallist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, didn’t hold back at her son’s sports day as she showcased her Olympic skills and dominated the parents’ 100m race, leaving the other moms far behind her. 

For obvious reasons, the 38-year-old Jamaican sprinting legend, who has eight Olympic medals in total, easily won the race and proudly shared some snippets of the fun and memorable family day on her Instagram account. 

In her social media post, the athlete mentioned the events that happened: 

“Here we go!😃 1. My champion boy always!🥇2. Race 1…I was too excited so yea 🤣 3. Had to ask @loudboss for her video 🙌🏾😣😁 4. Proud of my champion🥹🥰 5. The smile crossing the line was everything😍 (I turned my phone over this time 🤣) 6. Podium Pryce 🙌🏾 7. Daddy was in the mix #TeamPryce 8. They haven’t banned me yet so I’m at the line 🤣🤣🚀 9. When them say a duss 🤣 (thanks Andrew for the shot)🥹 10. This ❤️ 11. Till next time 🙌🏾🙏🏾” 


Netizens shared their reactions in the comments and said: “The fact that you didn’t let up has me cryinnnnnnnnn🤣🤣🤣🤣”, “These Olympians are just outrageous at sports day we need a law 😂😂😂😂 as I see them I know I’m not entering okkkkk😂😂😂😂😂”, “Defending the mommy world title shelly 🤣🤣💖”, and “We all knew who was gonna win the race on slide #8😂😂” 

This wasn’t her first win at her son’s sports day. In 2023, she delivered a similarly dominant performance, showing that when it comes to winning, she doesn’t believe in slowing down, no matter whether the competition is world-class or school-level.

Her comeback 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, known to be Jamaica’s sprint sensation, is set to return to the sport. 

A social media post shared by the athlete highlighted a video featuring her greatest races, and it ended with the phrase “unfinished business.” The post caption also read: “Time will honour your greatness… 2025🚀”


She won the Olympic 100m gold twice in a row — at the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games.

Moreover, she claimed five world titles in the 100m, including two wins after she gave birth in 2017. 

However,  at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she had to pull out ahead of the semi-finals due to an injury that she sustained during her warm-up. She was also unable to compete at the 4x100m relay because of this. 

Serena Williams responds to Jannik Sinner’s doping suspension, says she would’ve ‘gotten 20 years’

By
Aiah Bathan
-
0
Photo: Instagram.com

INTERNATIONAL: Serena Williams shared that if she had failed a drug test like Jannik Sinner, she would have possibly been banned for 20 years.

Sinner, who is currently ranked number one in men’s tennis, is serving a three-month suspension after testing positive twice for a banned substance called clostebol in March 2024. The athlete, who currently holds the Australian Open and US Open titles, is expected to  make his comeback at the Italian Open on May 7.  

Williams recently gave an interview to Time Magazine. In a social media post, the athlete shared this achievement and said: “@TIME‘s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the world is out. I’m honoured to be a part of this group.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)


Netizens showed their support in the comments section by saying: “Congratulations! Always an inspiration❤️”, “We’ve been influenced 😍 Congrats, Serena!”, “YES!!!! 👏🙌❤️ So proud of u!!!”, and “BREATH TAKING + insanely well deserved!!!!!! 🙌❤️💯”.

In the interview, Serena talked about Sinner and said: “Fantastic personality. I love the guy, I love this game. He’s great for the sport.” 

She also added: “I’ve been put down so much, I don’t want to bring anyone down. Men’s tennis needs him… If I did that​ [tested positive for doping], I would have gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me.”

The former world No. 1 joked that if she had been involved in a performance-enhancing drug scandal like Jannik Sinner, she would’ve ended up “in jail”. Moreover, she also showed support for Maria Sharapova, who was banned for two years in 2016 after testing positive for meldonium. Like Sinner’s case,  Sharapova’s doping was considered unintentional but she was still banned for two years. The ban was later reduced to 15 months after an appeal.

“​Just weirdly and oddly, I can’t help but think about Maria all this time… I can’t help but feel for her,” Williams said. 

Novak Djokovic, who has 24 Grand Slam titles, commented that Sinner was shown “favouritism” in his doping case. The athlete said: “A majority of the players don’t feel that it’s fair… A majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening. It seems like it appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers.”

Unfortunately, several top-ranked players in tennis have failed drug tests. In 2024, Iga Swiatek served a one-month ban after testing positive for trimetazidine. Former world No. 1 Simona Halep received a much harsher punishment of four years after testing positive for roxadustat.

Jannik Sinner’s comeback 

Sinner is scheduled to make his comeback at the Italian Open on May 7. This tournament is his home ATP Masters 1000 event. He will make history as the first Italian player to play in the Rome Masters as the world number one.

After CDL fallout, analysts push for clearer governance in Singapore’s family-run firms

By
Mary Alavanza
-
0
City Developments Limited (CDL)
Photo: Facebook/City Developments Limited

SINGAPORE: Property giant City Developments Limited’s (CDL’s) public boardroom dispute between father and son has sparked calls for tighter rules on family-owned businesses. An analyst said regulators should require family-owned companies in Singapore to disclose their governance frameworks to help prevent future succession conflicts.

Balagopal Vissa, a professor of entrepreneurship and family enterprise at INSEAD, said family governance disclosures are a “structured approach to managing family dynamics, wealth, and legacy” and told the Singapore Business Review that such disclosures could supplement the same requirements in the corporate world.

He added that this usually includes creating a family constitution that outlines the family’s vision, mission, values, and policies on how family members take part in the business. He noted that family governance also covers practical processes like family meetings, family councils, succession rules, and ways to handle disputes.

According to Forbes, tensions in CDL’s boardroom reportedly surfaced after the company’s net profit dropped 37% to S$201.3 million. Earlier in February, Singapore real estate billionaire and CDL’s executive chairman Kwek Leng Beng filed court papers against his son, Sherman Kwek, CDL’s group chief executive officer, due to an alleged “attempted coup”.

However, the younger Mr Kwek denied it was an attempt to oust the chairman, saying it was to ensure CDL’s highest standards of governance. Instead, he blamed his father’s long-time adviser, Dr Catherine Wu. However, on March 4, the older Mr Kwek announced Dr Wu’s “irrevocable resignation” from CDL’s hotel arm, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (M&C), as an “unpaid independent adviser.”

The dispute caused CDL shares to drop and even prompted the Securities Investors Association (Singapore) (SIAS) to seek clarification from the property giant on how it plans to protect its shareholders amid concerns over the company’s performance.

Although the older Mr Kwek later dropped the lawsuit against his son, the incident led to fresh scrutiny in family-run businesses.

Mr Vissa said making family governance frameworks public could help with appointing independent directors, adding that those with professional, not personal, ties to the family are better suited to step in during conflicts.

Ellyn Tan, licensed insolvency practitioner and a partner at Forvis Mazars, said that family companies’ independent directors should have strong mediation skills. She said they should also know when to bring in outsiders when needed.

Ms Tan said succession planning is often “clouded” by personal preferences and bias. She noted that third-party professionals, who bring a more objective view, often use a method called “visioning”. It allows family members to share their goals and expectations, helping different generations align their direction for the business.

As family businesses grow, managing them becomes more complex. Mr Vissa said that at some point, companies should think about hiring professional managers. Meanwhile, if the family prefers to maintain management, he suggested asking tough questions, such as how family CEOs are evaluated, what criteria are used for promoting family executives, and how to ensure achievements are genuine, not fabricated.

Ms Tan said the days of passing the business by birthright are over, and succession now needs to be based on merit.

“Perhaps this is the right time for business families to think more broadly about succession,” Mr Vissa added.

Mr Vissa said that while passing on the business is common, long-term success requires a renewed entrepreneurial spirit. He said, “Rekindling the founder mindset in the next generation is perhaps important; in today’s world, it is also much more feasible.” /TISG

Read also: Kwek Leng Beng and son Sherman Kwek receive lower pay for FY2024 after CDL’s boardroom dispute

‘Depression is setting in:’ Employee desperately seeks advice on how to handle a ‘legendarily bad boss’

By
Yoko Nicole
-
0
Photo: Depositphotos/ realinemedia (for illustration purposes only)

SINGAPORE: An exhausted employee took to social media to ask how he could possibly deal with a “legendarily bad boss”.

Posting on the r/askSingapore forum, the employee shared that he had worked at the company for eight years. However, three months ago, he was reassigned under a manager with a notorious reputation.

“[In] the first month, everything was OK because I was an understudy, learning the new job and all, [but] the moment I took over, things took a really bad turn,” he said. “I started getting bombarded with emails from other units and branches, as well as constant hounding from this boss for updates, expecting me to get my work done fast.”

He went on to share that he wasn’t alone in his experience. According to murmurs from other departments, the manager in question has a long-standing reputation for toxicity. Staff who have worked with her in the past have reportedly raised concerns. In his current team alone, one person has resigned, another broke down in tears on their final day, and a third has slipped into what appears to be a deep depression.

Feeling demoralised, burnt out, and emotionally drained, the employee said he had already appealed to higher-ups for a transfer, but no action has been taken.

“I’m actively looking for a new job, tailoring my resume for every job I apply for. My hands are tired, and depression is setting in,” he wrote. “In the meantime, what the heck do I do with this boss? Complaining hasn’t helped.”

“Document everything in black and white to cover yourself.”

In the discussion thread, one Singaporean Redditor responded, “I feel you; I am dealing with a psychopathic boss right now too. Mine’s got a reputation for causing at least five people under her to quit. This is something that she’s proud of. She’s extremely rude and unprofessional as hell, too!”

Another user offered some practical advice, stating, “Make sure you have records of her nonsense in black and white so that you’d be able to seek recourse if they potentially fire you without cause.”

A third agreed with this approach, adding, “If the boss already has a bad reputation, it likely means the higher management/HR doesn’t care or approve of their methods. Not much you can do except to find another job. Meanwhile, just document everything in black and white to cover yourself.”

In other news, a Singaporean man recently took to a popular online forum to express his disappointment over his wife’s financial contributions.

In a post on the r/askSingapore forum, he shared that although his wife earns slightly more than he does, due to her high bonuses, he still ends up covering the bulk of their household expenses.

The man revealed that he is responsible for paying for most things at home, including groceries, utility bills, and the majority of their children’s enrichment classes.

Read more: Wife makes more but pays less: Disappointed husband questions fairness of household finances

Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)

Singaporean man says he’s confused why people keep saying public housing is ‘unaffordable for low-income individuals’

By
Yoko Nicole
-
0
Photo: Freepik (for illustration purposes only)

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man has sparked a debate online after sharing that he doesn’t quite understand why people often complain that public housing is “unaffordable for low-income individuals”.

In a forum post that has since drawn widespread attention, he explained that in his view, public housing is still relatively affordable, especially when compared to private properties.

“One thing I’ve always believed is: shouldn’t we buy what we can afford? If someone’s income level only supports a two- or three-room flat, isn’t that the realistic option? I don’t quite understand when people say public housing is unaffordable, but at the same time aim for four-room flats or bigger, then turn around and blame the government when it’s out of reach,” he explained.

“I’m not saying there aren’t flaws in the system—I’m genuinely open to hearing about them. Maybe it’s about wait times, mortgage burdens, or rigid income criteria,” he added.

He clarified that his comments were not directed at those facing exceptional circumstances, such as those with serious medical conditions or those who are orphans, but rather at everyday working individuals with lower incomes.

He ended his post by inviting others to share their experiences and thoughts on the public housing situation in Singapore.

“The resale market is absolutely insane.”

In the comments, one Singaporean Redditor said, “BTO (build-to-order) is affordable. S$300k to S$400k four-room BTOs for couples still exist, which is viable for low-income families.

“However, the resale market is absolutely insane. You can’t even get anything (with >70 years of lease remaining) at some ulu location for S$500k nowadays, and that’s not including the cost of renovations that you would have to do, which is much more expensive for a resale.”

Another wrote, “It’s true that people should buy what they can afford, but if what they can afford is not what they need, then can you still say that public housing is affordable?

“Also, BTOs are getting harder to get because there’s an undersupply by HDB—there (are) always more applicants than available units for four bedrooms and above. Realistically, if you’re starting a family, a three-bedroom or two-bedroom is too little living space. Quality of life is much poorer.”

Still, not everyone disagreed with the man’s sentiments. One wrote, “You are totally correct, but most people refuse to face the reality. Believing the YouTube videos of fake successful agents living lavish lifestyles, and want the same for themselves. Rich people get rich by staying frugal and not showing off. This is what most people miss out on and stay poor.”

Another added, “My perception is that those who say homes are unaffordable really want many things. They want a home, a wedding, a gym pass, holidays, normal restaurant consumption, and occasional fancy things. They didn’t realise that buying a home means giving up things for it.”

In other news, a job seeker took to social media to share that one company is still hesitant to hire him, even though he’s willing to accept a significant pay cut of nearly 30%.

In a post on the r/askSingapore forum, he explained that the company was reluctant to hire him due to his higher previous salary, and they were worried he might treat the role as a “temporary” position and quit as soon as a more lucrative job opportunity came along.

Read more: Jobseeker willing to take 30% pay cut, but says company still hesitant to hire him

Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)

Man says his GF called him ‘heartless’ for refusing to pay the full S$1.2k for her dental treatment

By
Yoko Nicole
-
0
Photo: Depositphotos/ Reezky11 (for illustration purposes only)

SINGAPORE: A man recently shared on social media that his girlfriend called him “heartless” for refusing to cover the full cost of her dental procedure.

In an anonymous post on the NUSWhispers Facebook page, the man explained that the dental procedure she needed was priced at around S$1,200 in Singapore. Wanting to be financially sensible, he suggested that they look into getting the treatment done in Johor Bahru, where it would only cost about S$400.

However, his girlfriend rejected the idea outright, saying it was “beneath her” to go across the border for medical treatment. She then implied that since he had the means to afford the S$1,200 procedure, his reluctance to pay for it was a sign that he simply did not care enough.

Moreover, he shared that he’s also having second thoughts about covering the cost because of his girlfriend’s tendency to always take things for granted.

He said, “If I were to cover the full cost for her, she wouldn’t be grateful—instead, she’d take it for granted. There have been many times before when she exaggerated minor issues as ‘life-or-death situations’, only to end up wasting a lot of money. I really can’t stand this attitude of not recognising the effort and sacrifices of others.”

The man confessed that he now feels torn. On one hand, he wants to be supportive; on the other, he fears that giving in will only reinforce a pattern of entitlement and lack of appreciation.

Conflicted about the entire situation, he asked netizens, “Has anyone else experienced something similar? How would you handle it?”

“You can continue being her ATM, or you can leave.”

In the comments, many netizens criticised his girlfriend, with some labelling her a “walking red flag” and strongly advising the man to break up with her.

One commenter wrote, “Why does she need you to cover the cost? And since she isn’t appreciative and (is) gaslighting you by saying you’re heartless, is that the type of girl you really want in your life?”

Another bluntly stated, “Better break off. There are many good and understanding girls out there. She seems so spoiled and pampered. Marry her and you’ll be in even more trouble.”

A third wrote, “You can continue being her ATM, or you can leave. It’ll only get worse if you marry her. Let her say whatever she wants—her teeth, her body, her issues.

However, not all comments leaned towards an immediate breakup. A smaller group of commenters urged the man to approach the situation with calm communication before making any big decisions.

One suggested, “Say to your bebe: I have put aside S$400 for your treatment, and I hope you respect that my financial upkeep is important too for our future. If you go on like this, I can’t keep up with you and that could be the reason why we can’t keep the relationship.”

In other news, a 25-year-old fresh grad recently shared on social media that it’s “hard to get a job these days—even with a degree”.

She wrote on Reddit’s Ask Singapore forum on Wednesday (April 16), “I recently graduated literally four days ago, and even before then, I’ve been job hunting, and yet, I’ve got nothing to show for it.

“It’s so painfully depressing that even entry-level or fresh grad jobs are somehow still too hard to get, even with a degree, and now I’m working on a cert to boost it. I always hear ‘job market has been bad,’ but like.. is it getting even worse?”

Read more: Even with a degree, it’s hard: 25 yo fresh grad calls job hunt ‘painfully depressing’

Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)

CapitaLand Investment to launch first retail REIT in China’s SSE with RMB2.8B of assets

By
Mary Alavanza
-
0
CapitaMall SKY+ in Guangzhou and CapitaMall Yuhuating in Changsha
Photo: CapitaLand

SINGAPORE/SHANGHAI: CapitaLand Investment (CLI) announced that it has applied for the registration and listing of its first real estate investment trust (REIT) in China, with two malls worth RMB2.8 billion (S$499 million) to be included, according to a statement it released on Thursday (April 17). The REIT, called CapitaLand Commercial C-REIT (CLCR), will be listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and will be the first retail REIT in China by a Singapore-based company.

CLI said the REIT will include CapitaMall SKY+ in Guangzhou and CapitaMall Yuhuating in Changsha. Together, the two malls cover 168,405 square metres (sq m) of gross floor area and have an aggregate committed occupancy rate of 97%. Currently, CapitaMall SKY+ is jointly owned by CLI and CapitaLand Development (CLD), while CapitaMall Yuhuating is owned by CapitaLand China Trust (CLCT). CLI, CLCT and CLD will hold at least 20% of the new REIT. CLI will act as the sponsor and asset manager.

CLI’s China CEO, Puah Tze Shyang, said, “The proposed listing of CLCR is in line with CLI’s strategy to pursue asset-light growth and expand in China by tapping domestic capital. It will further strengthen CLI’s listed funds platform, broaden our access to perpetual domestic capital, and enable us to grow our assets under management and recurring fee income. This move also complements CLCT, our Singapore-listed fund for international investors looking to invest in China, allowing us to attract diverse capital sources that meet various investor requirements.”

CLCT’s CEO, Gerry Chan, said, “CLCR offers a strategic opportunity for CLCT to enter the expanding C-REIT market. It provides a platform to unlock value from our mature assets, bolstering our financial flexibility to pursue income diversification and enhance portfolio quality. This aligns with our growth strategy as a diversified, multi-asset class REIT, anchored by a broad portfolio of retail properties, business parks, and logistics parks, while CLCR will focus on retail assets. CLCT’s investment mandate covers the Greater China region, including Hong Kong and Macau, whereas CLCR will concentrate exclusively on Mainland China.”

CLI manages about S$18 billion in retail assets across 43 operating properties in 18 cities throughout China.

The listing of CLCR is still waiting for approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), SSE, and CLCT’s independent unitholders. /TISG 

Read also: CapitaLand Ascott Trust expands Japan portfolio with two hotel acquisitions worth S$178.5M

“Things will pan out well” – PSP candidate on potential three-cornered fight at Marymount SMC

By
Jewel Stolarchuk
-
0
Photo: Jeffrey Khoo FB

SINGAPORE: Progress Singapore Party’s (PSP) candidate for Marymount SMC has expressed hope that “things will pan out well,” when asked about a potential three-cornered fight brewing at the ward.

The single-member ward was contested by PSP member Ang Yong Guan in the last election. Dr Ang, who has since retired from politics, won 44.96 per cent of the vote and lost to People’s Action Party (PAP) new face Gan Siow Huang.

PSP announced this week that prominent party member Jeffrey Khoo will contest Marymount SMC in the coming election. Mr Khoo was part of the PSP’s A-team for West Coast GRC in the 2020 general election and had missed being elected by a hair’s breadth, after garnering 48.32 per cent of the vote.

Mr Khoo is a married father of three who currently serves as the president of an insurance technology company. He told the press that the cost of living, jobs and education are the three issues that concern him most and that these are concerns Singaporeans across the island face.

Noting that the issues voters in West Coast GRC and Marymount SMC grapple with are not that different, he said, “Of course, this is a different place, and it takes time for us and the voters to adapt to each other and build relationships. Compared to the West Coast, my team and I are relatively unfamiliar here, but the Progressive Party is not new to the voters here, and we are not starting from scratch.”

He added that he hopes voters will give the PSP a chance to serve as their voice in Parliament.

PSP might not be the only opposition party voters in Marymount SMC may see on the ballot. The People’s Alliance for Reform has also indicated interest in the constituency. The coalition of three parties has previously indicated that it will not shy away from multi-cornered fights in areas like Potong Pasir SMC despite longstanding outreach by the Singapore People’s Party.

Mr Khoo does not seem too worried about the potential of a three-cornered contest. He told the press that his secretary-general, Leong Mun Wai, is in talks with the PAR and that he believes “things will pan out well by itself”.

Hazel Poa’s husband slated to contest Kebun Baru SMC

The PSP has been reticent on confirming which wards it will contest in the election that is slated for May 3. While speculation is rife that the party will contest the new Jurong West-West Coast GRC, the PSP has so far only confirmed candidates for Marymount and Kebun Baru SMCs.

The party is set to field Tony Tan to contest Kebun Baru SMC. Mr Tan, who is married to PSP vice-chair Hazel Poa, contested Choa Chu Kang GRC in the 2011 general election along with his wife. He is returning to a political contest after close to 15 years, although he contributed behind-the-scenes as a key PSP member and as Ms Poa’s election agent in the 2020 election.

Growing up in a single-parent family, Mr Tan said he wanted to drop out of school at the age of 15 to work before a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) scholarship changed his life. He studied engineering at the University of Cambridge and it was there that he met his now-wife.

The father of two told the press, “I am running in this election because I hope to build a better Singapore with everyone amidst the current challenges. We should work together and not leave anyone behind.”

He said that at the national policy level, the government should strengthen social support and invest more in education to tap the potential of every Singaporean, allowing everyone to give full play to their strengths and make the greatest contribution to society.

Mr Tan added that he will walk closely with Kebun Baru residents to have a deeper understanding of the issues they face as well as their views on government policies.

Tan Cheng Bock confirms Leon Perera will not contest GE2025 under PSP ticket

By
Jewel Stolarchuk
-
0
PSP's media doorstop at Clementi Market and Food Centre. (Photo credit: Progress Singapore Party)

SINGAPORE: Progress Singapore Party (PSP) chairman Tan Cheng Bock has confirmed that former Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament Leon Perera will not contest the 2025 General Election under the PSP banner.

Speculation that Mr Perera could be among PSP’s slate of candidates for the coming election arose after he was spotted attending an internal party meeting held at the PSP party office on Tuesday (April 15). The meeting was convened right after the Writ of Election was issued.

Mr Perera had also attended the PSP’s National Day dinner last year, prompting questions of whether he had joined the party. PSP responded at the time that Mr Perera was helping the party as a volunteer.

When asked about the rumours of Mr Perera’s potential candidacy, Dr Tan confirmed that the ex-MP is not among the candidates the party will field in GE2025. He told the press on Thursday (April 17), “I could let you guess, but I won’t be so bad. He is not standing with us. He is not a candidate. I’ll be very honest and frank with you.”

Mr Perera has reportedly been helping a number of opposition parties in Singapore on an informal, voluntary basis since he left the WP in 2023. Earlier this year, he announced that he would be moving to New York for work.

The PSP has yet to officially confirm which wards it will contest in the election, aside from Marymount SMC and Kebun Baru SMC. Dr Tan is expected to lead an A-team at the new Jurong West-West Coast GRC, although he has not confirmed exactly where he will stand.

He told the press, “I’m actually going to be 85 soon, in a couple of days. I will be able to contribute, and I still think I can contribute.”

He added, “I go everywhere… Our goal is to let Singaporeans know that they need a good voice, and currently, the (number of) opposition members in the House is too small… but generally, we need that voice in the House to articulate all the issues that are presented to us.”

Dr Tan was the ruling party MP representing Ayer Rajah SMC, which now falls under Jurong West-West Coast, from 1980 to 2006. In the 2020 general election, the PSP team Dr Tan led for West Coast GRC achieved 48.32 per cent of the vote. This was the ruling party’s narrowest victory and, despite losing the contest, two PSP candidates were appointed as Non-Constituency Members of Parliament, as the best-performing opposition candidates who did not get elected.

1...123124125...5,334Page 124 of 5,334

The Independent SG

Singapore News

Singaporean upset over commuter using phone on bus loudly

SINGAPORE: Exasperated by the loud volume at which a...

Man shocked that chain’s burger sets cost S$25-S$30, but others tell him it may be due to outlet location

SINGAPORE: A man took to social media to express...

Excitement building up over 6-minute SG-JB RTS Link crossing

SINGAPORE: The official Facebook account for the Singapore-Johor Rapid...

Is it now normal for helpers in Singapore to handle everything—from housework to parenting? Local asks

SINGAPORE: After noticing that many of her friends and...

Business

Singapore Politics

Jobless middle-aged PMET couple talk to Jamus Lim about difficulties of getting hired

SINGAPORE: In the course of carrying out house visits...

Seah Kian Peng nominated for re-election as Speaker of Parliament

SINGAPORE: Mr Seah Kian Peng will be nominated for...

Where’s Michael Thng? Commenters ask after WP announces CEC update

SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party’s (WP) announcement of updates to...

WP announces changes to CEC; new NCMP Eileen Chong to lead Youth Wing

SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party (WP) issued an update concerning...

© The Independent Singapore