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.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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 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.
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).
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.