Dr Tan Cheng Bock criticises PAP during PSP rally at Catholic High School
As the campaign period for GE2025 kicks off, the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) held its first election rally at Catholic High School on Thursday (24 April).
During the rally, PSP founder and chairman Dr Tan Cheng Bock accused the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) of “inbreeding” by recruiting new candidates from the civil service.
Source: @progresssingaporeparty on Instagram
Dr Tan warned that this could be “dangerous” and that it could be difficult to change policies from within the system.
Dr Tan Cheng Bock accuses PAP of ‘inbreeding’ during PSP rally
During his speech, Dr Tan highlighted that having an opposition presence in Parliament was critical to avoid groupthink.
Dr Tan pointed out that many PAP candidates today come from the civil service and the army, as compared to candidates in the past, who came from “all walks of life”.
“This is dangerous. There will be group thinking. To me, it is inbreeding,” he warned.
Source: @channelnewsasia on TikTok
When there is inbreeding, he said, “there is no way you can change policies within that system.”
“For this reason, you must vote opposition,” Dr Tan asserted.
Dr Tan Cheng Bock claims PAP has ‘lost its way’
Despite being a PAP Member of Parliament (MP) for 26 years, Dr Tan claims the ruling party today has “definitely lost its way”.
He said the PAP is not the same as it was when he first entered politics in 1980.
He acknowledged a group of assemblymen that the PAP had back then, who were “very articulate” and spoke for the people.
He named former politicians like Lawrence Sia, Ng Kah Ting, and Eric Cheong among those who “challenged the government of the day then”, despite being in the PAP.
Dr Tan believed this is what MPs must do, and not just “toe the line”.
Source: The Straits Times on YouTube
‘Cannot leave this world’ without fixing what’s wrong: Dr Tan
Despite being in his 80s, Dr Tan said he has a responsibility to fix what he deems is wrong:
I cannot leave this world without doing things I think is wrong.
While he is aware of the “parliamentary wounds” that his two fellow PSP leaders have endured, he urged them to “carry on”.
“Parliamentary wounds heal … People recognise good people,” he said.
He also assured Singaporeans that they will get “quality opposition members” from PSP, who will fight for the thorough examination of pressing issues such as cost of living, education and health systems.
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Featured image adapted from Progress Singapore Party on Instagram and Instagram.Â
