PA's stance on grassroots advisers under spotlight

PA's stance on grassroots advisers under spotlight
by Ng Jing Yng 04:46 AM Sep 02, 2011
SINGAPORE - Following the recent dispute between the Workers' Party (WP) and the People's Association (PA) over the lease of common sites in the Opposition wards, the role of grassroots advisers - and the exclusion of Opposition Members of Parliament from these positions - has come under the spotlight again.
Grassroots advisers are appointed by the PA to advise its grassroots organisations (GROs) in each constituency.
In PAP-held wards, these positions are held by the incumbent MPs whereas in Opposition wards, these positions are traditionally occupied by the defeated People's Action Party candidates.
On Wednesday, in a letter to The Straits Times Forum, PA director of corporate and marketing communications Ooi Hui Mei explained its stance.
Ms Ooi wrote: "Besides connecting people to people, grassroots advisers are required to help the Government connect with people and help promote Government policies and programmes such as anti-dengue and active ageing. Hence, the Government has to appoint grassroots advisers who support its programmes and can play this role well. Opposition MPs cannot be expected to do this and thus cannot become advisers to GROs."
Ms Ooi's letter drew a response from WP's Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh, who wrote on his Facebook page yesterday that he finds it "apposite to inform the PA that Opposition MPs do not love the aedes mosquito, nor do we have anything against active aging."
Mr Singh cited examples of former and current PAP MPs, including former Ayer Rajah MP Tan Cheng Bock and President Tony Tan, who opposed the Nominated MP scheme and the graduate mother's scheme respectively.
"Yet they remained as advisers to the PA during their terms as MPs. They certainly did not toe the Government line on the aforesaid issues," said Mr Singh.
The WP's Hougang MP, Mr Yaw Shin Leong, felt the longstanding issue "simply shows that (PA) are being partisan".
"Eventually, we are all ... working for the good of residents. There should be mutual respect," said Mr Yaw.
Almost all ruling party MPs Today spoke to agreed with the PA's position - except for veteran MP Charles Chong, who called on the PA to review its position. The Joo Chiat MP said: "If it is clear that the elected MP shares the objective as PA in Government policies, there is no reason why PA cannot appoint that MP regardless of his or her political affiliations."
He added: "The PA shouldn't stereotype all Opposition MPs as being against the PA's objectives ... If you get a PAP MP who is not supportive of the PA's objectives, will the PA still appoint this MP?"
But Choa Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad pointed out: "For the PAP MPs, it is true that we may not always agree entirely with policies but we're still obliged to implement them on the ground as they are policies by the ruling PAP Government."
Mountbatten MP Lim Biow Chuan noted that the Opposition has their own platforms to reach out to residents, while Choa Chu Kang GRC MP Alvin Yeo said that there is nothing to stop Opposition MPs from setting up their own community organisations.
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110902-0000249/PAs-stance-on-grassroots-advisers-under-spotlight
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