Tan Cheng Bock reminisces about his time as a PAP MP

Secretary-General of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) Dr Tan Cheng Bock took to social media reminiscing about the time he served the then-Ayer Rajah Single Member Constituency (SMC).

Dr Tan Cheng Bock served as People’s Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayer Rajah from 1980 to 2006. Similarly, Ayer Rajah SMC existed until 2006. When the then-incumbent MP Tan Cheng Bock retired from politics, it was then absorbed into the West Coast GRC. Dr Tan became the Member of Parliament-elect for the Ayer Rajah SMC with a vote of 83%. Tan’s subsequent election results with an average of 77% was perceived as one of the best-performing candidates in Singapore, with his best-ever score being his last election in 2001, with 88%. He then became a presidential candidate in 2011.

On his Facebook page, Dr Tan wrote, “During my time as Ayer Rajah MP, I had the opportunity to provide a space at the Ayer Rajah Community Complex for the Disabled People’s Association (now SAVH) and created a barrier free environment for elderly and people with disability. Handicap Welfare Association members used to hold events in the complex. In that time, I got to know many courageous and resilient individuals who persevered despite their challenges”.

Last weekend, he was invited by some friends to attend the International White Cane Day on Saturday (October 12) at the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH). He added, “This day celebrates the achievements and honours of the visually handicapped and is also meant to educate the general public about blindness and how they can live and work in society”.

Since Dr Tan pioneered the space at the Ayer Rajah Community Complex for the Disabled People’s Association, he explained how he was able to see the changes since he started it, and to “witness how far they had come”. /TISG