Adrian Tan Cheng Bock (born 26 April 1940) is a Singaporean former politician and physician who was the secretary-general of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) between 2019 and 2021 and its chairperson between 2021 and 2025.
As a member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayer Rajah Single Member Constituency (SMC) between 1980 and 2006. He left politics before the 2006 general election and later left the PAP to contest the 2011 presidential election, losing marginally with 34.85% of the vote to Tony Tan in a four-cornered fight.
Tan founded the PSP in 2019. It did not win any seats in the 2020 or 2025 general elections, but was awarded two non-constituency MP seats in 2020 after its team for West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC), led by Tan himself, won 48.31% of the vote, the closest result in the general election. He announced his retirement from politics shortly after the 2025 general election, but has remained a PSP member.
Early life and education Tan was born on 26 April 1940 in Singapore. He was the third child out of six children.
Tan attended Radin Mas Primary School and Raffles Institution (RI). He graduated from the University of Singapore in 1968 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.
When Tan was 16, his father, a clerk with the Singapore Harbour Board, died from tuberculosis. As the father was a member of the Singapore Harbour Union, the family was entitled to a benevolent fund of $28,000. However, the union refused to pay, claiming that the father was not a member, as he had failed to pay his subscription fee. After Tan found receipts proving otherwise and sought legal aid, the family received $14,000, half of the fund, from the union.
Medical career Tan started his first clinic, Ama Keng Clinic, in Lim Chu Kang in 1971. He has served as the Chairman of the Society of Private Practice, as a Council Member of the College of General Practitioners, as Committee Member on the Council of the Singapore Medical Association (SMA), as Chairman of the SMA Trust Fund, as board member of SMA's Ethics Committee, as SMA's Representative on the Ministry of Health's Committee on the Regulation of Medical Clinics, and as a part-time clinical teacher in general practice at the National University of Singapore.
Political career
1980–2011: People's Action Party Tan entered politics during the 1980 general election under the People's Action Party's banner, and became the Member of Parliament-elect for the Ayer Rajah SMC with a vote of 83%. Tan's subsequent election results with an average of 77% was perceived as one of the best-performing candidates in Singapore, with his best-ever score being his last election in 2001, with 88%.Singapore Election Candidates (T), singapore-elections.comTan Cheng Bock's Profile , Tan Cheng Bock's Official Blog
While in Parliament, he served as the Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committees (GPCs) for Education (1987–90), National Development (1991–95) and the Environment (1995–97), and was the Co-ordinating Chairman for all GPCs between 1987 and 1988. He was also a member of the GPCs for Communications (1997–2000) and Defence and Foreign Affairs (2001–06). Tan was the Leader of the Singapore-European Parliamentary Group between 1991 and 1996 and Singapore-SEA Parliamentary Group between 1997 and 2006. From 1987 to 1996, he was an elected member of the PAP Central Executive Committee, the highest ruling committee within the PAP. Tan stepped down as a Member of Parliament at the 2006 general election. He also served as Chairman of the Jurong East Town Council from 1989 to 1991, Chairman of the West Coast–Ayer Rajah Town Council from 2001 to 2004, Chairman of the Bukit Timah Community Development Council from 1997 to 2000, and Chairman of the Feedback Unit at the Ministry of Community Development from 1985 to 1989.
Firmly believing in the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of giving Singaporeans a voice in the nation's governance, he established the first governmental feedback unit, now known as REACH, in 1985.
In 2006, Tan's Ayer Rajah SMC was absorbed into West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC). Citing his health concerns, Tan stepped down from active politics.
CPF for Tertiary Education In 1988, Tan, as GPC Chairman for Education, led a team of MPs to argue for the use of the Central Provident Fund (CPF) for education, as an appreciable number of able students were not able to enter local universities due to limited places. Tan felt that education was a form of investment and that all his GPC was asking for was an extra option for CPF members, to let them decide whether to put their investible savings in stocks and shares or in education. Chief argument against the idea was that the use of such retirement savings may leave the account holder with an insufficient amount at the end of his or her working life. Minister for Labour Lee Yock Suan said that there were alternatives available such as soft loan schemes which were interest-free. In answer to Tan's claim that Lee had not clearly stated his position on the issue despite the idea being first mentioned years ago, Lee insisted that his position had always been plain, that he "was against it, but you have pressed me to study it and I shall".The Straits Times 30 March 1988 The set of guidelines on the use of CPF for Education proposed by the GPC was eventually implemented, paving the way for the beginnings of a wave of Singaporean students studying at local tertiary institutions.
Free parking Tan also convinced the Ministry of National Development (MND) to allow Singaporeans to park their cars for free in Housing & Development Board (HDB) estates on Sundays and public holidays, to promote family togetherness.
In early 2010, Tan volunteered himself to help residents in Sentosa Cove to meet with Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) to seek a waiver of the gantry entry charge (S$2 to S$7 depending on the entry time) for visitors to their residences to the Sentosa island. His efforts, however, did not bear immediate fruits. Later in October 2010, the SDC offered to cap the entry charge at a concession rate of S$3.
Nominated Member of Parliament Scheme Tan voted against the PAP whip on the scheme of Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs).
Think Singaporeans First In 1999, when Singapore was recovering from the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and experiencing labour talent shortages in several key sectors, the PAP pushed for a stronger intake of foreign talent to fill the ranks. Although not against this rationale, Tan argued that the Singapore government should tone down its calls for the recruitment of foreign talent and reassure Singaporeans that they came first, which earned him strong rebuttals, including one from George Yeo and a stern rebuke from Lee Kuan Yew.
No Blank Cheque In 1985, he made a speech in Parliament about "no more blank cheque" for the ruling party which he revisited on his blog in May 2011.
2011–2017: As an independent After the 2011 general elections, Tan said in a speech at the 52nd Singapore Medical Association Annual Dinner that he had given advice to opposition candidates, including Tan Jee Say, on how to campaign in the elections when they approached him.
In May 2011, he resigned from the PAP to stand as a candidate in the 2011 presidential election.
2018–present: Progress Singapore Party
In 2018, Tan led a gathering along with seven opposition parties (Singapore Democratic Party, Reform Party, Singaporeans First, People's Power Party, Democratic Progressive Party, National Solidarity Party, and a new party formed by former NSP chief Lim Tean, Peoples Voice) to plan a possible coalition for the upcoming election.
On 19 January 2019, Tan filed an application to form a new political party called the Progress Singapore Party, alongside 12 other applicants, to be an "added voice in parliament".
Progress Singapore Party was officially launched on 3 August 2019. This launch was covered by mainstream local and foreign media, including alternative media. The official launch was broadcast live to the public at 1.30pm. Tan asked Singaporeans, PRs and New Singapore Citizens to step forward together to join the Party as members or volunteers to help bring Singapore to the next level so that the younger generation will have a better Singapore.
He served as the first Secretary-General of PSP from its formation in March 2019 to March 2021.
2020 general election Tan along with team members, Leong Mun Wai, Hazel Poa, Nadarajah Loganathan and Jeffrey Khoo contested at West Coast GRC in the 2020 Singaporean general election which contained his former ward of Ayer Rajah but narrowly lost to the incumbent PAP with 48.31% of the vote.
2025 general election Tan along with team members, Leong Mun Wai, Hazel Poa with 2 new faces Sani Ismail and Sumarleki Amjah contested at West Coast–Jurong West GRC in the 2025 general election but lost to the incumbent PAP with 40.01% of the vote. Tan indicate that this is his last election. On 5 July 2025, Tan retired from the CEC and as Chairman of the Progress Singapore Party. He was replaced by A'bas bin Kasmani.
Business career Appointment to Chuan Hup Tan's appointment as non-executive chairman of Chuan Hup Holdings (CHH) Ltd in 1991 was unusual at the time, as Members of Parliament did not normally hold such positions. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, who had been a classmate of Tan's in Raffles Institution, later said that he had initially been inclined to say no to Tan's request because Tan was a medical practitioner with no experience in shipping.Straits Times, 10 December 1994.
Goh ultimately agreed to the appointment, but in the letter he sent to Tan made clear his reservations:Letter from Goh Chok Tong to Tan Cheng Bock dated 31 January 1991, quoted in Straits Times, 6 December 1997. Goh later confirmed that neither Tan nor his company had ever tried to take advantage of his position.
Current appointments Tan is the Chairman of Dredging International Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, a position he held since 1997.
Past corporate appointments His past corporate appointments include ING Asia Private Bank (2008–09) M&C REIT Management Ltd (2006–10) M&C Business Trust Management Ltd (2006–10) Jurong Health Services (up to 2011) Jurong Medical Centre (up to 2011) Provisional MRT Transit Authority (1983) Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (1983–85) SMRT (1987–95) Land Transport Authority (1995–2005) Chuan Hup Holdings (1991–2011)
Presidential campaigns
2011
On 27 May 2011, 20 days after the recent general election, Tan was the first candidate to seek candidacy for the forthcoming Presidential Election; he resigned from PAP earlier that month prior to the announcement (per the constitution, candidates running for the presidential election must be a nonpartisan, independent candidate, and should not affiliate or to represent to any political party).Tan Cheng Bock keen to run for President , The Straits Times, 27 May 2011[http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1131502/1/.html Former MP Tan Cheng Bock may run for President , Channelnewsasia.com, 27 May 2011 On 22 July 2011, Tan submitted the presidency forms.