Ms Poa on the party strategies

Mr Tan on contesting under NSP in GE2011

One issue Mr Tan would want to champion

Why education is close to both their hearts

How can the education system be improved?

Why did Mr Tan join an opposition party?

Parliamentary sessions to run out of time

Ms Poa on leadership experience

On becoming foster parents

Ms Poa on recruiting talent for PSP

Challenge of drawing younger candidates to PSP

They touch on why young voters should speak up now at this stage in their lives.

Synopsis: The Usual Place host and ST correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. 

In the lead-up to Singapore's next general election that will be held on May 3, 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves.

Progress Singapore Party’s Hazel Poa and Tony Tan have quite a bit in common.

They were both government scholarship holders who graduated from the University of Cambridge. They were both public servants, and both got their starts in politics with opposition parties.

They also happen to be married to each other. The other similarity between them is that they are both standing in the upcoming general election.

Ms Poa, 54, is part of the opposition PSP team that will be fielded in the newly formed West Coast-Jurong West GRC, together with PSP chairman Tan Cheng Bock, 84, and party chief Leong Mun Wai, 65.

Former National Solidarity Party (NSP) member Tony Tan, 55, will be standing in Kebun Baru SMC under the PSP banner.

Ms Poa and Mr Tan drop by The Usual Place Podcast to chat with Natasha a day before Nomination Day (April 23).

They discuss their political motivations and PSP’s thinking behind a change in plans on where to be fielded for GE2025.

They also share how they are trying to attract younger candidates to join the party, and why the couple are choosing to be foster parents now.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:00 Ms Poa on the party strategy to be fielded in a GRC instead of being in an SMC

5:00 Mr Tan on previously contesting under the National Solidarity Party banner in GE2011 and now representing PSP for GE2025

8:40 Why education is close to both their hearts

13:50 Being a former Singapore Armed Forces scholar could have led him down a different political path, so why did Mr Tan join an opposition party?

17:10 Ms Poa on leadership experience and roles in an opposition party

18:10 On becoming foster parents during this busy period besides having adopted sons

25:00 On the challenge of drawing younger candidates to PSP, what could be a gamechanger? On younger voters

Host: Natasha 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 episode: https://str.sg/8Wav

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: ST Video (Joel Chng and Marc Justin De Souza)

Edited by ST Podcast producers: Teo Tong Kai & Eden Soh

Shorts edited by ST Video: Johnboy Iype John & Philip Cheong

ST Podcasts executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

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

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

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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

#tup #tuptr

They touch on why young voters should speak up now at this stage in their lives.
Synopsis: The Usual Place host and ST correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.&nbsp;
In the lead-up to Singapore's next general election that will be held on May 3, 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves.
Progress Singapore Party&rsquo;s Hazel Poa and Tony Tan have quite a bit in common.
They were both government scholarship holders who graduated from the University of Cambridge. They were both public servants, and both got their starts in politics with opposition parties.
They also happen to be married to each other. The other similarity between them is that they are both standing in the upcoming general election.
Ms Poa, 54, is part of the opposition PSP team that will be fielded in the newly formed West Coast-Jurong West GRC, together with PSP chairman Tan Cheng Bock, 84, and party chief Leong Mun Wai, 65.
Former National Solidarity Party (NSP) member Tony Tan, 55, will be standing in Kebun Baru SMC under the PSP banner.
Ms Poa and Mr Tan drop by The Usual Place Podcast to chat with Natasha a day before Nomination Day (April 23).
They discuss their political motivations and PSP&rsquo;s thinking behind a change in plans on where to be fielded for GE2025.
They also share how they are trying to attract younger candidates to join the party, and why the couple are choosing to be foster parents now.
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:00 Ms Poa on the party strategy to be fielded in a GRC instead of being in an SMC
5:00 Mr Tan on previously contesting under the National Solidarity Party banner in GE2011 and now representing PSP for GE2025
8:40 Why education is close to both their hearts
13:50 Being a former Singapore Armed Forces scholar could have led him down a different political path, so why did Mr Tan join an opposition party?
17:10 Ms Poa on leadership experience and roles in an opposition party
18:10 On becoming foster parents during this busy period besides having adopted sons
25:00 On the challenge of drawing younger candidates to PSP, what could be a gamechanger? On younger voters
Host: Natasha Zachariah (<a href="mailto:natashaz@sph.com.sg">natashaz@sph.com.sg</a>)
Read Natasha's articles: <a href="https://str.sg/iSXm">https://str.sg/iSXm</a>
Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this episode: <a href="https://str.sg/8Wav">https://str.sg/8Wav </a>Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/v6DN">https://str.sg/v6DN</a>
Filmed by: ST Video (Joel Chng and Marc Justin De Souza)
Edited by ST Podcast producers: Teo Tong Kai &amp; Eden Soh
Shorts edited by ST Video: Johnboy Iype John &amp; Philip Cheong
ST Podcasts executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/5nfm">https://str.sg/5nfm</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/9ijX">https://str.sg/9ijX</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/cd2P">https://str.sg/cd2P</a>
YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/wEr7u">https://str.sg/wEr7u</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
ST Podcasts website: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
ST Podcasts YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: <a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
#tup #tuptr

Natasha and her guests unpack the latest current affairs, every Thursday.

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests. 

Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah

Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis

Editorial producer: Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.&nbsp;
Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah
Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor &amp; Ernest Luis
Editorial producer: Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

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