The Usual Place Podcast

What’s next for PSP following its post-GE2025 leadership shake-up?

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox

What’s next for PSP following its post-GE leadership shake-up?

Follow topic:

Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

Two months after its dismal showing at the 2025 General Election, Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has shaken up its leadership team.

On July 5,

it announced that its

founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock, and vice-chair Hazel Poa

had

stepped down from their roles

in the central executive committee (CEC), the party’s highest decision-making body. Party treasurer S. Nallakaruppan also relinquished his position.

All three will remain members of the party. Dr Tan has been designated party adviser. Ms Poa was a Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) in the last term of Parliament, along with party chief Leong Mun Wai.

At a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Bukit Timah Shopping Centre on July 5, Mr Leong announced a renewal plan, and introduced three new members who were co-opted into the CEC.

The first is Ms Stephanie Tan, a full-time homemaker and former lawyer, who was the PSP candidate for Pioneer SMC.

Progress Singapore Party’s Stephanie Tan dropped by The Usual Place podcast to chat about the party’s renewal plans following a dismal GE2025.

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

The other two are Mr Sani Ismail, an in-house legal counsel who contested West Coast-Jurong West GRC, and Mr Lawrence Pek, a former secretary-general of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, who contested Chua Chu Kang GRC.

Ms Tan joins me in this podcast to talk about being part of PSP’s refreshed leadership team, the insights she gleaned from walking the ground as a first-time candidate, and the challenges of a political party without a presence in Parliament.

Highlights (click/tap above):

4:58 Taking feedback from voters during the election

8:00 How PSP will aim to change public perception going forward

10:09 Ms Tan’s view on what young people can bring to the political sphere

12:31 What to expect from PSP going forward

15:15 With no presence in Parliament, how will PSP stand out online?

19:13 Rejigging the game plan after being hit hard from the GE2025 results

21:36 What did Ms Tan think about the vote share she garnered in Pioneer SMC?

26:37 “It’s about your heart to serve.” - Lessons Ms Tan learnt from Dr Tan Cheng Bock about longevity in politics

31:35 What is one thing Ms Tan would change if she were to become an MP?

36:05 Her take on young, middle-income couples who face financial barriers when having children

Follow The Usual Place Podcast live at noon every Thursday and get notified for new episode drops.

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (

natashaz@sph.com.sg

)

Read Natasha’s articles:

https://str.sg/iSXm

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic:

https://str.sg/8KNT

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn:

https://str.sg/v6DN

Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:

Channel: 

https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: 

https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: 

https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube:

https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: 

podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app:

https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: 

https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: 

http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: 

https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: 

https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: 

https://str.sg/icyX

See more on