Why are PA's appointed advisers exclusively from the PAP?

The Straits Times; Published on Sep 1, 2011
Why are PA's appointed advisers exclusively from the PAP?
THE People's Association's (PA) reply yesterday ('Why opposition MPs can't be advisers to grassroots bodies') failed to point out that its management board is chaired by the secretary-general of the People's Action Party (PAP), its vice-chairman is the PAP treasurer and the special adviser to the PA chairman is a former PAP chairman.

Other board members include members of PAP's executive committee like Major-General (NS) Chan Chun Sing, Ms Grace Fu and Mr Masagos Zulkifli.
If the PA and its grassroots officers are blind to political affiliations, why are its appointed advisers exclusively from the PAP?
This clearly gives the appearance of a conflict of interest even if there is none.
If grassroots advisers are supposed to help the Government connect with people, then elected MPs, who form the legislative branch of the Government, can surely better connect with the residents who have voted for them.
Defeated PAP candidates who are advisers do not hold other government positions.
Yet, they hold important PAP positions.
For example, Madam Cynthia Phua is the party's vice-chairman of the North East District Committee.
Is the PA implying that elected MPs cannot be expected to promote beneficial programmes such as those that battle dengue or promote active ageing?
If the PA has no partisan agenda, why can it not trust opposition MPs to promote its programmes?
Tan Si An
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_708166.html
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