Returning PSP leader Leong Mun Wai will bring his 'forthright style' to GE2025: Analysts

Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai's return as Progress Singapore Party secretary-general means the party is likely to adopt his forthright style in the coming hustings, said political observers.

- Ng Wei Kai and Michelle Ng

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan expects the PSP campaign to run similarly to how Mr Leong and the party's other NCMP Hazel Poa have engaged with the ruling PAP in Parliament.

"It will be a combination of needling the PAP with strident rhetoric, pointed relentless questioning style of attack, engaging in obfuscation, and playing the underdog card," he said.

Analysts noted that Mr Leong's leadership style is likely to be more confrontational than that of Ms Poa—whom he is succeeding as party chief.

NUS political scientist Elvin Ong said: "Given what we know about their different styles in Parliament, we can probably expect Mr Leong to be more direct and blunt than Ms Poa."

Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian, also from NUS, said Mr Leong will likely want to bring his "forthright style" to the PSP.

"It has won him respect in some quarters, even if some of that may be grudging," Prof Chong said, adding that Mr Leong is more forward and vocal.

"This is especially in comparison to Ms Poa. This is a hallmark of Mr Leong, and I do not think that will change much."