Arrogant PAP - That's the system here!

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PAP, opposition MPs debate politicisation of grassroots groups


Andrea Ong And Tham Yuen-C
The Straits Times
Saturday, Feb 01, 2014

ONE MP each from the People's Action Party (PAP) and the Workers' Party (WP) on Wednesday debated the links between grassroots organisations and the ruling party, and whether that was good for local governance.

Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh of the WP fired the first salvo, in his opening speech at a forum involving four political parties organised by the National University of Singapore Students' Political Association.

He said many members of People's Association (PA) grassroots bodies - such as the citizens consultative committees (CCCs) - are also PAP members. That has led to a perception that a fundamental purpose of the PA is to "perpetuate the one-party state", he added.

"The reality at the local level is, there are grassroots organisations which can also be politically motivated to lower the standing of an elected MP," he said.

Asked for his view, the PAP's Baey Yam Keng said: "That is the system here." The Tampines GRC MP said not all CCC members or chairmen are PAP members, and he does not doubt the "sincerity and commitment of these volunteers who work very hard on the ground".

The official stance, he said, is that the PA is a government body that links the people with the government of the day and explains policy decisions. That is why opposition MPs are not appointed as PA grassroots advisers.

However, Mr Baey came under fire from some in the audience, who numbered more than 150. A student said he found it "disturbing" that as an elected MP who can effect change, Mr Baey chose to accept the system as it was.

Earlier, the PAP MP cited his fight to lift the ban on dialects, even after a senior minister told him to give it up as a lost cause.

Mr Baey had said it was an example of how things can change within the system, said the student, who then pressed Mr Baey to say if he was for or against the way the grassroots are now. If the latter, he should advocate change, added the student.

Responding, Mr Baey acknowledged that some feel the close ties between the PA and PAP are unfair. But while the system may have "evolved or may be planned for certain objectives and motives", what matters at the end is how it can be used to benefit people.

"At the end of the day, does the CCC serve the people? It has to serve the people," he said.

Change is possible too, said Mr Baey. "It is the system now, yes, it doesn't mean it won't change."

But both Mr Baey and Mr Singh agreed on one point: Change will occur as the political landscape evolves.

Mr Baey said that some PA staff are now "very sensitive" about drawing a line between politics and grassroots work, and do not want to appear too close to politicians. He is sure some have voted for the opposition as well.

Mr Singh called on the Government to steer the nation in a different direction in local governance. Grassroots bodies should "evolve in tandem" with the growing plurality of voices in society, he said.

He said local representatives, whether CCC or residents' committee chairmen, should be residents who are elected by fellow residents, not appointed by grassroots advisers. He also suggested a forum bringing the elected MP together with such leaders to resolve local issues.

In line with Wednesday's forum's theme of Singapore's progress since the 2011 General Election, Ms Chee Siok Chin of the Singapore Democratic Party and Mr Syafarin Sarif of the National Solidarity Party decried the lack of change since the last general election.

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