11/09: 'Grassroots Organizations should stay non-partisan'

Grassroots Organizations should stay non-partisan
November 3rd, 2009
I refer to the Oct 22, 2009 article “’Adviser over MP’ raises many questions” by Sue-Ann Chia.


I agree with Ms Chia that by appointing PAP candidates in the opposition-held wards as grassroots advisers, the government not only perpetrates an anomaly in parliamentary democracy, as the Member of Parliament, being the mandated local representative of the constituency, is bypassed in the management of such local program such as the lift upgrading program, it also casts doubts on the impartiality of a governmental organization, namely, the People’s Association.

Established as a statutory board to promote racial harmony and social cohesion, the People’s Association is in all essence and forms, a governmental organization.

Funded by the taxpayers of Singapore, the mission of the People’s Association to achieve one people, one Singapore is being executed through a wide range of programmes and services to cater to the needs and interests of Singaporeans from all walks of life. It is therefore logical that the Prime Minister, being the head of government of Singapore, is mandated by law to be the Chairman of the People’s Association. (People’s Association Act, 1960)

It has never been a point of contention where PAP Member of Parliaments are appointed advisers to the local grassroots organization within the People’s Association, as they are the mandated local representatives of the constituencies.  However, such practice is not followed in opposition held wards.  By appointing PAP candidates, rather than the opposition MPs, as the advisers to the local grassroots organization, the People’s Association has  effectively made itself a party organ of the ruling PAP.

Unlike communist states whereby State and Party is but one and inseparable, Singapore, being a parliamentary democracy, must observe a strict and clear separation between state and party.  No matter how entrenched and powerful the ruling party is, it is not part of the state machinery and should never infringe on governmental organizations to further its political objectives.

By appointing PAP candidates as grassroots advisers in Opposition held wards, the government is effectively bringing partisan politics into governmental institutions.  Using the PA as a vehicle for PAP candidates as grounds to gain political capital so that they may fight their next battle with more goodwill, the governmental risks costing itself the position of Singapore as a Parliamentary Democracy; and put Singapore in par with communist states like Cuba, China and North Korea.

By bringing partisan politics into grassroots organization, the government is also driving a thin end of the wedge which will cause unease over likely politicization of the state machinery further.

Will we one day see political commissars in the armed forces, as is practiced by communist states?  What if a GRC or two were to be won by the Opposition?  Will we then see even more losing PAP candidates taking up roles as advisers to local grassroots organizations, thus effectively bypassing the MPs in the managing of the welfare programs of the people they represent?

Let the grassroots organizations live up to its true objective – a unifying, rather than divisive institution that brings Singaporeans from all walks of life together.  If it is to stay as an organization by the people and for the people, then partisan politics should have no place in it.


Liew Shiau Min

http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/11/03/grassroots-organizations-should-stay-non-partisan/



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At/ related:
SG Club:
03Nov2009: ‘Adviser over MP’ raises many questions
16Jan2011: The Online Citizen to be listed as political association
HWZ:
16Jan2011: PM wants TOC gazetted as Political Association