SINGAPORE: From the SimplyGo saga to the blocked Income-Allianz deal, recent incidents have chipped away at trust in the ruling party, said Progress Singapore Party’s (PSP) Hazel Poa on Saturday (Apr 26) night.
Speaking at the PSP’s second rally at Bukit Gombak Stadium, she also highlighted the last-minute change to the People's Action Party's (PAP) team in Chua Chu Kang GRC as something that has damaged trust.
The party’s vice chairperson said building trust can be painstaking, but that Singapore's first-generation leaders managed to do so with the bulk of the population.
"It would be a waste to chip away at that," she said. "Unfortunately, there have been many incidents in recent years doing exactly that."
Although the Land Transport Authority ultimately reversed its decision on SimplyGo, it only did so after “huge public outcry”, the former Non-Constituency Member of Parliament said.
She said members of the public had already given feedback on the shortcomings of SimplyGo, but the government still wanted to go ahead with phasing out the older system and pushing users to SimplyGo.
“The question is, were the decision makers not aware of the public feedback?” she asked.
If they were not aware, it is a case of poor management. If they were aware but disregarded the feedback, it is a case of poor judgement, she added.
“Either way, not a world-class performance commensurate with world-class salaries,” she said.
Ms Poa also brought up the Income-Allianz deal which was blocked, with Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong telling parliament that the deal in its current form "would not be in the public interest".
“I find it astounding that NTUC supported the deal while being unaware of the capital reduction exercise to the tune of S$1.85 billion (US$1.41 billion),” she said, adding that she believes that NTUC and Income Insurance did not perform their duties responsibly.
“I suspect that if any of these were to happen during the time of our first-generation leaders, heads would have rolled,” she said.
Another incident she brought up was the food poisoning cases which were reported by some students after they consumed ready-to-eat (RTE) meals that were handed out as part of a Total Defence exercise.
The Singapore Food Agency and Ministry of Health said earlier this month that there was no conclusive evidence linking the gastroenteritis cases to the RTE meals.
Ms Poa said this is a cause for concern.
She added: "Is our public service falling in competence as compared to before? There are many instances telling us that it is important for us to have more opposition in parliament to check on the government."
Crowd gathering at the Progress Singapore Party’s (PSP) rally in Bukit Gombak Stadium on Apr 26, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Mak Jia Kee)
The opposition party leader also suggested that trust may have been broken when Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong unexpectedly left Chua Chu Kang GRC to be fielded in Punggol GRC.
She noted that Mr Gan had said he would lead the Chua Chua Kang team around 10 days before the surprise on Nomination Day.
“I’m sure CCK residents were shocked as well, to lose their long-time MP so suddenly. What made the PAP go back on their public announcement?” she said, asking where the line should be drawn between what can be believed and what cannot be believed.
She said she would have preferred if the PAP did not announce its slate for Chua Chu Kang, rather than change its mind after doing so, adding: "This is so damaging to trust."
Citing Health Minister Ong Ye Kung’s comments that there is nothing wrong with switching constituencies as long as candidates are upfront about it, she said: “I totally agree. PAP should practice what he is preaching."
In her rally speech, Ms Poa also called on the government to release the outcome of the investigation into police reports made by PAP and PSP after volunteers clashed in January.
PSP claimed that PAP volunteers intimidated them while they were distributing flyers to residents, while Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling said PSP “twisted the truth”.
Ms Poa said she understands that the police have finished investigations and that the matter is now with the Attorney-General's Chambers.
“If the accusation that a PSP member has slapped a PAP volunteer is baseless, do you agree that an apology is due to the poor fellow who is falsely accused of assault?” she asked supporters at the rally.
“This is only fair and it is the standard we expect,” she said.
A total of 10 PSP candidates spoke at the rally on Saturday night. PSP is fielding 13 candidates across two GRCs and four SMCs.
This article will be updated. Please refresh for the latest.
Former Workers' Party MP Leon Perera taking a group photo with Progress Singapore Party members at the rally site in Bukit Gombak Stadium on Apr 26, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Mak Jia Kee)
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Speaking at the PSP’s second rally at Bukit Gombak Stadium, she also highlighted the last-minute change to the People's Action Party's (PAP) team in Chua Chu Kang GRC as something that has damaged trust.
The party’s vice chairperson said building trust can be painstaking, but that Singapore's first-generation leaders managed to do so with the bulk of the population.
"It would be a waste to chip away at that," she said. "Unfortunately, there have been many incidents in recent years doing exactly that."
RECENT MISSTEPS
Although the Land Transport Authority ultimately reversed its decision on SimplyGo, it only did so after “huge public outcry”, the former Non-Constituency Member of Parliament said.
She said members of the public had already given feedback on the shortcomings of SimplyGo, but the government still wanted to go ahead with phasing out the older system and pushing users to SimplyGo.
“The question is, were the decision makers not aware of the public feedback?” she asked.
If they were not aware, it is a case of poor management. If they were aware but disregarded the feedback, it is a case of poor judgement, she added.
“Either way, not a world-class performance commensurate with world-class salaries,” she said.
Ms Poa also brought up the Income-Allianz deal which was blocked, with Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong telling parliament that the deal in its current form "would not be in the public interest".
“I find it astounding that NTUC supported the deal while being unaware of the capital reduction exercise to the tune of S$1.85 billion (US$1.41 billion),” she said, adding that she believes that NTUC and Income Insurance did not perform their duties responsibly.
“I suspect that if any of these were to happen during the time of our first-generation leaders, heads would have rolled,” she said.
Another incident she brought up was the food poisoning cases which were reported by some students after they consumed ready-to-eat (RTE) meals that were handed out as part of a Total Defence exercise.
The Singapore Food Agency and Ministry of Health said earlier this month that there was no conclusive evidence linking the gastroenteritis cases to the RTE meals.
Ms Poa said this is a cause for concern.
She added: "Is our public service falling in competence as compared to before? There are many instances telling us that it is important for us to have more opposition in parliament to check on the government."
Crowd gathering at the Progress Singapore Party’s (PSP) rally in Bukit Gombak Stadium on Apr 26, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Mak Jia Kee)
CHANGES TO CHUA CHU KANG SLATE
The opposition party leader also suggested that trust may have been broken when Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong unexpectedly left Chua Chu Kang GRC to be fielded in Punggol GRC.
She noted that Mr Gan had said he would lead the Chua Chua Kang team around 10 days before the surprise on Nomination Day.
“I’m sure CCK residents were shocked as well, to lose their long-time MP so suddenly. What made the PAP go back on their public announcement?” she said, asking where the line should be drawn between what can be believed and what cannot be believed.
She said she would have preferred if the PAP did not announce its slate for Chua Chu Kang, rather than change its mind after doing so, adding: "This is so damaging to trust."
Citing Health Minister Ong Ye Kung’s comments that there is nothing wrong with switching constituencies as long as candidates are upfront about it, she said: “I totally agree. PAP should practice what he is preaching."
In her rally speech, Ms Poa also called on the government to release the outcome of the investigation into police reports made by PAP and PSP after volunteers clashed in January.
PSP claimed that PAP volunteers intimidated them while they were distributing flyers to residents, while Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling said PSP “twisted the truth”.
Ms Poa said she understands that the police have finished investigations and that the matter is now with the Attorney-General's Chambers.
“If the accusation that a PSP member has slapped a PAP volunteer is baseless, do you agree that an apology is due to the poor fellow who is falsely accused of assault?” she asked supporters at the rally.
“This is only fair and it is the standard we expect,” she said.
A total of 10 PSP candidates spoke at the rally on Saturday night. PSP is fielding 13 candidates across two GRCs and four SMCs.
This article will be updated. Please refresh for the latest.
Former Workers' Party MP Leon Perera taking a group photo with Progress Singapore Party members at the rally site in Bukit Gombak Stadium on Apr 26, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Mak Jia Kee)
Continue reading...