SINGAPORE: With the departure of former Transport Minister S Iswaran from West Coast GRC, Progress Singapore Party (PSP) chairman Tan Cheng Bock hopes this will improve his party’s chances in the next general election.
“Of course, we hope that will help us, but I think it all depends on the electorate, how we perform,” Dr Tan told reporters at West Coast Market on Saturday (Jan 27) where party members made their rounds greeting residents.
The 83-year-old veteran politician added that the PSP would like to score more seats in parliament so that Singaporeans can “assess” its performance.
“We must show Singaporeans that we have capable people in the House,” he added.
Iswaran, who helmed West Coast GRC, resigned from the People’s Action Party (PAP) and his positions in government on Jan 16 amid a corruption probe against him.
He was charged on Jan 18, accused of corruptly receiving more than S$166,000 (US$123,570) worth of flights, hotel stays and event tickets in exchange for advancing the business interests of property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, among other charges.
In the 2020 General Election, a PSP team led by Dr Tan put up a strong fight in West Coast GRC, with the PAP winning 51.69 per cent of the votes in a tight contest.
Dr Tan previously served in Ayer Rajah constituency as a PAP MP from 1980 to 2006, and the single seat later became part of West Coast GRC.
