A worry if PA thinks political rather than people/ respect the ppl's mandate.

A worry if PA thinks political rather than people
04:46 AM Sep 01, 2011
Letter from Chan Chi Yung
THE stand taken by the People's Association (PA) on why opposition Members of Parliament cannot be advisers to grassroots bodies is disturbing because of its implications.
For instance, that opposition MPs exist only to oppose the Government instead of playing the roles of offering alternative views, holding the Government accountable and representing their constituents.
In that case, ruling party MPs who oppose the Government's policies during Parliamentary or internal debates, which are often said to be conducted robustly, should not take the adviser's role, even if they are forced to vote according to party Whip.
Other implications: The taxpayer-funded PA is set up to further the Government's goals above all other aims, such as serving the community, while opposition MPs will oppose, for no good reason, community efforts such as active-ageing and anti-dengue programmes.
It seems only People's Action Party (PAP) members are qualified to become advisers even if they are voted out and that the PA is not apolitical, after all. The name "People's Association" is then a misnomer; it should be the "Government's Association".
I fail to see how the PA's stand is in line with oft-stated exhortations to have a harmonious political system.
Instead, it feeds the perception that most government bodies are political and controlled by the PAP for partisan interests.
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To serve residents is to respect their mandate
Letter from Nicholas Loh Huashan
THE revelation of the dispute between the Workers' Party and the People's Association (PA) in Aljunied Group Representation Constituency and Hougang as well as its wider implications are worrying.
The General Election (GE) has been held and elected Members of Parliament have been given the mandate by the people in their constituency to serve them.
Therefore, is it not unfair and disrespectful towards the people's mandate for the PA, a publicly-funded statutory board, to choose to work with the political opponents of elected MPs - whose offer to serve had been rejected by the constituents?
Why is the PA, an organisation meant to serve the people, going against the wishes of the majority of Aljunied and Hougang residents?
Additionally, shouldn't priority in the use of constituency resources, such as common areas, go to whomever the constituents have chosen to serve them?
Singapore society has been polarised already, and such ground rivalry is not in the best interests of the country and its people.
Given the call for national reconciliation, unity and fairness after the bruising GE, a bold reform of grassroots-level politics is needed.
URL http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110901-0000266/A-worry-if-PA-thinks-political-rather-than-people
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