Leong Mun Wai re-elected as Progress Singapore Party chief ahead of general election

Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai has resumed leadership of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) after being re-elected as secretary-general, following a major reshuffle of the party’s central executive committee (CEC).

The announcement was made on 26 March 2025 at the party’s headquarters in Bukit Timah, after the new CEC convened for its first meeting.

Leong had stepped down from the role in February 2024 after receiving a correction direction under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).

He now takes over from fellow NCMP Hazel Poa, who returns to her former role as vice-chairman. Poa said she was happy with the transition, citing new personal responsibilities, including becoming a foster parent.

PSP founder and chairman Dr Tan Cheng Bock described the leadership change as a continuity rather than a shake-up.

“There’s not much change — Hazel is returning to her old role, and Leong is going back to his,” he said, emphasising that the decision was reached through consensus rather than contest.

Dr Tan framed Leong’s return as a demonstration of political accountability. “He made a mistake and stepped down. That is how politicians should behave. But if someone takes responsibility and continues contributing meaningfully, they should be allowed to return.”

Leong echoed this, saying, “If we make a mistake, we should take responsibility. But that doesn’t mean it’s the end of a political career.”

Asked if the new team was fit to lead the PSP into the next general election, Dr Tan said the line-up had been deliberately chosen.

“This didn’t happen by accident. We brought in younger members to show them how to run a general election. It’s a good learning experience.”

The newly elected CEC includes six new members: Samuel Lim, Anthony Neo, S. Nallakaruppan, Soh Zheng Long, Jonathan Tee, and Joseph Wong.

They join returning members A’bas Kasmani, Wendy Low, Phang Yew Huat, Dr Tan, and both NCMPs.

Eight previous members, including Dr Ang Yong Guan and Harish Pillay, were not re-elected. All but Dr Ang had sought another term.

The CEC was voted in by about 100 party cadres on 20 March and will serve a two-year term until March 2027. It will also co-opt two more members to complete its 14-seat composition.

Leong said the new leadership’s focus is on orchestrating a comprehensive general election campaign by integrating party structures, strategy, and ground efforts.

“Hazel has done a tremendous job strengthening our internal organisation. Over the last year, I’ve concentrated on building our ground operations. Now we’ll bring it all together.”

While specific campaign themes will be revealed later, Leong said the structural groundwork and core strategies are already in place.

Dr Tan stressed that the PSP operates on collective leadership principles. “We do things as a team. That’s the way PSP functions.”

Leong first served as secretary-general in April 2023, succeeding Francis Yuen, who held the post for two years. Dr Tan was the party’s founding secretary-general and now serves as its chairman.

Together, Dr Tan, Leong, and Poa were part of the PSP team that contested West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the 2020 General Election.

The team narrowly lost to the People’s Action Party (PAP), led by then Transport Minister S. Iswaran, who secured 51.69% of the vote — the closest contest that year. This allowed Leong and Poa to enter Parliament as NCMPs under Singapore’s opposition representation scheme.

The PSP is expected to contest several constituencies in the next general election, including the redrawn West Coast-Jurong West GRC and neighbouring Chua Chu Kang GRC. Candidate slates have yet to be confirmed, but preparations are under way.