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Kebun Baru SMC: Henry Kwek vs Tony Tan

 




Kebun Baru SMC will once again see a straight fight between the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) in the 2025 General Election. This time, PAP incumbent Henry Kwek will be challenged by PSP’s Tony Tan, a seasoned volunteer and former NSP candidate.

The candidates filed their nomination papers on April 23 at Deyi Secondary School, confirming a two-way race for the 22,223 voters in the ward.

Mr Henry Kwek, 49, has been the MP for Kebun Baru since 2020, when the constituency was first carved out from Nee Soon GRC. In that election, he beat PSP’s Kumaran Pillai with 62.92% of the vote. Prior to that, Kwek entered politics in 2015 as part of PAP’s team in Nee Soon GRC.

Professionally, Mr Kwek is the executive director of a trading and consulting firm, as well as the CEO of a boutique investment company.

In his nomination speech, he reflected on a decade of work in the area, stating:

“We’ve built a caring and beautiful Kebun Baru, a home where seniors age with dignity and young families grow with hope.”
He stressed continued focus on easing cost-of-living pressures, helping residents “live long and well”, and standing firm with the community through uncertain times, just like during COVID-19.

“Your hope gives us purpose, your concern gives us resolve, and together we build what's next with courage and care,” he concluded.

His challenger, Mr Tony Tan, 55, brings his background in education, tech, and the military to the table. An SAF scholar with an engineering degree, Tan co-founded a private education and gaming firm and has been actively volunteering with PSP since its founding in 2019. He is also the husband of PSP vice-chairperson Hazel Poa.

Tony Tan first entered politics in 2011 under the National Solidarity Party (NSP), contesting Chua Chu Kang GRC. He now represents a renewed PSP approach—calm, policy-focused, and anchored in issues affecting families and the ageing population.

In his speech, Tan said:

“We want to build a better Singapore where no one is left behind.”
He also invited Mr Kwek to participate in a policy debate or public discussion, emphasising that the role of an MP should include strong scrutiny of government policies.

Later, speaking to media, Tan highlighted difficulties in navigating the system of social support for seniors, caregivers, and low-income families.

“There are many schemes, but accessing them is difficult—people get passed from agency to agency.”
He cited the challenges faced by caregivers supporting both elderly parents and young children, and linked Singapore’s low fertility rate to broader anxieties about the future.

Tan, who has a strong interest in education policy, said:

“Our young must not lose confidence in the future. If they feel they can’t afford to raise families or don’t see hope, then we have a bigger problem.”
He stressed the need to restore confidence in Singapore’s social contract.

Kebun Baru SMC underwent a minor boundary change this election, gaining one polling district from Yio Chu Kang SMC, bringing the voter population to 22,223.

This matchup offers voters a clear contrast in leadership style: Mr Kwek’s continuity and constituency-building vs Mr Tan’s call for policy transparency and stronger debate in Parliament.

With both men putting forward personal, detailed visions for Kebun Baru’s future, voters will decide on May 3 whether to stay the course or opt for change.

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