Singapore Former Govt Stalwart Seeks To Form New Party

A former stalwart of Singapore's long-ruling government and ex-presidential candidate said Friday he is seeking to form a new party ahead of elections expected as early as this year

Singapore, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jan, 2019 ) :A former stalwart of Singapore's long-ruling government and ex-presidential candidate said Friday he is seeking to form a new party ahead of elections expected as early as this year.

Analysts said the move by Tan Cheng Bock, who almost beat the ruling party's de facto candidate in the 2011 presidential race, could represent a challenge to the government's dominance of the political system.

The People's Action Party (PAP) has ruled the affluent city-state since 1959 and has a tight grip on power. The forthcoming election, which they are widely expected to win, must be held by 2021 -- but speculation is mounting it will be this year.

Tan's move will heap extra pressure on the government, however, with the poll coming at a sensitive time as the country's founding Lee family prepares to hand over the premiership to a new generation of leaders.

Announcing he had applied Wednesday to register the new group, called the "Progress Singapore Party", Tan said the move was out of a "sense of duty" to address concerns of ordinary Singaporeans.

He said 12 people had filed the application, including other former ruling party members.

"Over the years a group of us have been walking the ground, meeting many Singaporeans from all walks of life," said the medical doctor, 78, who was a ruling party lawmaker for over two decades.

Tan said he decided to form his own party despite offers from other groups, but added that "we will extend our hand of co-operation in the future".