The Progress Singapore Party looks set to elect a new Secretary-General following the party’s Central Executive Committee elections during a party conference earlier today (26 March 2023).
Francis Yuen to step down as Secretary-General
A party spokesperson confirmed with Wake Up Singapore that Mr Yuen, who served as the party’s chief since April 2021, made the ‘difficult’ decision to not contest the CEC elections as he has ‘just been appointed as the Executive Chairman of an overseas public listed company, so his new commitments will make it difficult for him to lead the party.”
Mr Yuen, who took over the role of party chief from Dr Tan Cheng Bock, will remain as a member of the Progress Singapore Party. In the 2020 General Elections, Mr Yuen was part of a team that garnered a respectable 41.3% of the votes in Chua Chu Kang GRC.
Wake Up Singapore understands that Mr Yuen was initially nominated as a candidate for the CEC elections but only announced on the morning of 26 March 2023 that he will be stepping down form his post.
4 exit CEC following elections
Jess Chua, the leader of PSP’s youth wing, reportedly did not participate in the CEC elections. It is unclear if this would mean that the youth wing will see a change in leadership.
@progresssingaporeparty PSP’s Youth Wing head Jess Chua is concerned a GST hike will affect young Singaporeans’ abilities to afford rising costs of living in this country. Join our discussion on Facebook Live on Feb 11 (Fri) 8pm and fill in our survey to share your thoughts on the GST hike. #PSPSG #ProgressSingaporeParty
♬ original sound – Progress Singapore Party – Progress Singapore Party
Ms Chua served as the head of PSP’s youth wing since April 2021.
Party stalwart and former Chairperson, Mr Wang Swee Chuan also did not contest at the CEC elections. Mr Wang has served alongside Dr Tan Cheng Bock for almost 2 decades in his capacity as grassroots leader in Ayer Rajah and as the campaign manager for Dr Tan’s presidential run in 2011.
Mr Taufik Bin Supan, who was co-opted to the last CEC, was not elected into the new CEC.
PSP’s new Central Executive Committee
The newly elected Central Executive Committee, pictured below, will announce the appointments of key office holders on 29 March 2023.
It is notable that all 5 members of the team that contested West Coast GRC in GE 2020 have been elected into the CEC.
The leader of PSP’s Women’s Wing, Ms Wendy Low, a lawyer, has retained her seat in the CEC.
The full names of the new CEC members are:-
Dr Tan Cheng Bock
A’bas Bin Kasmani
Dr Ang Yong Guan
Harish Pillay
Hazel Poa Koon Koon
Jeffrey Khoo Poh Tiong
Leong Mun Wai
Nadarajan Loganathan
Peggie Chua
Phang Yew Huat
Tan Chika
Wendy Low Wei Ling
Amongst them, Abas Kamsani, Loganathan, and Chika Tan were not part of the outgoing CEC. The new CEC will serve a term of 2 years until March 2025.
Wake Up Singapore’s sources expect either one of the 2 NCMPs, Ms Hazel Poa and Mr Leong Mun Wai, to take over as party chief.
Since you have made it to the end of the article, follow Wake Up Singapore on Telegram!
