People's Association

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People's Association
Logo of the People's Association (Singapore).svg
Logo of the People's Association
People's Association headquarters at King George's Ave, Singapore.jpg
Current headquarters located in Lavender, Singapore
Agency overview
Formed1 July 1960; 61 years ago (1960-07-01)
JurisdictionGovernment of Singapore
Headquarters9 King George's Avenue, Singapore 208581
Employees2,784 (2018)
Annual budget588 million SGD (2019)
Agency executives
Parent agencyMinistry of Culture, Community and Youth
Websitewww.pa.gov.sg

The People's Association (Abbreviation: PA; Malay: Persatuan Rakyat; Chinese: 人民协会; Tamil: மக்கள் கழகம்) is a Singaporean statutory board that oversees neighbourhood grassroots communities and social organisations.[2] The PA was established on 1 July 1960 to as part of the nation-building programme to promote social cohesion and multiracialism.

The former headquarters of the People's Association at the old Kallang Airport. As of 6 April 2009, it has been relocated to the old Victoria School at King George's Avenue.

To counter racial and political tensions in Singapore during the 1950s and 1960s, and foster closer ties among different ethnic groups,[3] the Government established the PA through an Act of Parliament, the People's Association Act.[4] The statutory board came into being on 1 July 1960.

According to the Central Intelligence Agency of the US government, the People's Association had its origins as a national building programme 'designed to wean pro-Communist voters away from the opposition'. Besides serving as a communication channel between the government and ruling party at the top and the people below - making way for a more responsive government - it was also intended for the PA to blur the boundaries between the government and the party, such that 'the people tended to praise the party for activities undertaken by the government'.[5]

Management[]

According to the People's Association Act, the Association consists of:[6]

  1. the Prime Minister, who is Chairman of the Association;
  2. a Minister (typically a member of the Cabinet of Singapore) who is to be appointed by the Chairman as Deputy Chairman;
  3. eight other members to be appointed by the Chairman; and
  4. one member to be appointed by the Chairman in consultation with each of the organisations mentioned in the First Schedule to the Act. More than 80 civic organisations are listed in the First Schedule, ranging from the Football Association of Singapore, to the National University of Singapore Society, to the Singapore Stamp Club.[7]

The powers of the PA and the management and control of the Association and its property and affairs are vested in the Board of Management.[8] The Board consists of the persons mentioned in the first three categories listed above, and four members who are elected from among themselves by the persons mentioned in the fourth category at a general meeting of the Association. The Secretary-Treasurer of the Association is also the Secretary-Treasurer of the Board.[9]

Concerns on partisanship[]

Concerns have been raised as to whether the management of the PA, a statutory board, should be less politicised.[10] The governing People's Action Party (PAP) has traditionally fielded candidates who are leaders and advisors active in PA grassroots organisations before each generation election,[11][12][13][14][15] and Residents' Committees and Community Clubs have encouraged the public to support PAP candidates at rallies and electoral events.[16][17]

Opposition MPs were not allowed to be advisors to government-run grassroots bodies. A spokesperson for the People's Association clarified on a newspaper forum in 2011 that grassroots advisers are appointed by the government; advisors are expected to support and execute its programmes, and the opposition members were not expected to do so.[18][19]

In 2011, after the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency was won by the Workers Party (WP) in the general elections, WP chairman Sylvia Lim noted that the Housing Development Board had informed the incoming Aljunied–Hougang Town Council (won by the WP) that it had leased 26 public sites, including fields and hard courts, to the People's Association, and that the PA has informed them that "booking by WP will not be allowed". She argued that the move is a move to curtail the "ground presence" of the elected Members of Parliament (MP) in the opposition-held wards.[20] Opposition leader Low Thia Khiang added that temples were allowed to hold activities in his constituency only if they have supporting letters from the grassroots organisations, and not from him as the elected MP.[10]

Non-PAP endorsed politicians such as Chen Show Mao and Tan Cheng Bock (for the presidential elections) were uninvited to PA events.[21][22]

In response to allegations of partisanship of the association, minister in the Prime Minister's Office and deputy chairman of PA Chan Chun Sing stated in 2016 that the PA "executes the directions for the Government of the day, as per any statutory board. The PA does not allow any political activity or canvassing on our premises or in our activities. And we certainly do not mobilise anyone for any political party."[23]

Lapses in governance[]

On 15 July 2015, the Auditor-General's Office (AGO) annual audit report flagged lapses in governance. It highlighted that 35 of 91 Community Club/Centre Management Committees (CCMCs) had awarded $17.78 million worth of tenancy contracts without proper approval. In another case, Admiralty CCC's Chairman had approved $114,767 worth of claims to himself and two contracts worth $32,000 of which he had a conflict of interest; he has resigned voluntarily. PA deputy chairman Lim Swee Say told Parliament that most of the non-compliance flagged shows no systemic irregularity. He explained many of the cases while accepting that processes can be reviewed.[24][25]

Grassroots organisations[]

Starting with 28 community centres,[3] the PA has over 1,800 grassroots organisations (GROs) with more than 25,000 volunteer grassroots leaders as of 2017.[26] Grassroots volunteers visit residents to encourage community involvement, raise awareness about community issues, explain government policies and gather feedback, as well as help those in need. It has since grew to 109 Community Centers islandwide as of 2020.

Grassroots volunteers and leaders who have volunteered for more than two years qualify for various benefits, such as priority for their children's primary school placement, priority in the application for flats, special parking label at government housing estates (for grassroots work related), and free courses paid by the government (under NACLI, this is to impart knowledge of what they have learnt to the ground, and to re-enforce their required skills in times of crisis).[27][28][29]

Prior to each general election, prospective candidates of the People's Action Party are sometimes attached to the member of parliament for each constituency to do grassroots work at various GROs,[30] if they were not PAP branch activists, or had not worked with the National Trade Union Congress and government-linked grassroots previously.[31][32]

Staff at the PA are fully paid and do not take part in any decision-making processes. They are only to provide support to the GROs, which include the Citizens' Consultative Committees, Community Club Management Committees, Residents' Committees in public housing estates and Neighbourhood Committees in private housing estates.[citation needed]

Citizens' Consultative Committees[]

The Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC) is the umbrella grassroots organisation in a constituency in Singapore. CCCs plan and lead grassroots activities in a constituency, they oversee community and welfare programmes and they also act as a feedback channel between the government and the people.[33] The first CCC was created in January 1965.

The CCC's objective is to keep the government informed on the needs of the people, and the people informed of government action and policy in these matters. It is also to promote good citizenship amongst the people.[34] Following the 1964 race riots in Singapore, village and clan leaders in the CCCs were mobilised to help maintain racial harmony.[35]

The committee helps to execute government campaigns such those for as dengue prevention, cleanliness and recycling, racial and communal cohesion. They also organise community forums and administer welfare assistance.[36]

Members in the CCC are volunteers appointed by the chairman once every two years and this appointment has to be approved by the adviser, which is the member of parliament for each constituency. In the case of an opposition-held ward, where the sitting MP is prohibited from being an adviser to the PA, the People's Action Party's candidate for the next general election will be made the adviser to the GRO.[37][38] Members usually have a background in politics, or are significant contributors in the Singapore scene.

In 2015, the Singapore Auditor-General's Office flagged several financial irregularities in procurement and payment in multiple CCCs.[39] The Admiralty CCC chairman had approved his own monetary claims of S$114,767, three of which had no supporting documents. He was also involved in approving of two contracts to a company where he held a senior management position. Another CCC member who was in charge of approval process was both a director and a shareholder of the company.[40] PA deputy chairman and cabinet minister Lim Swee Say defended the financial non-compliance by these grassroots leaders and said these irregularities were borne out of "good intentions".[41]

Community Club Management Committees[]

Community Club Management Committees provide recreational activities and learning opportunities. Each CC serves about 15,000 households or an average of 50,000 people. The CCMCs manage and oversees all the CCs. CCMCs are made up of volunteers who work with full-time staff to manage the CCs.

Residents' Network[]

Residents' Committees (RCs) were first established in 1978 in two constituencies in Singapore (Tanjong Pagar and Marine Parade) with the aim of promoting neighbourly interaction, good communal relations and overall cohesion.[42][43] RCs also serve as channels of communication between residents and the Government. RCs, like CCCs, initially came under the Prime Minister's Office, and later, the Ministry of Community Development. In 1993, RCs and CCCs came under the purview of the PA. Currently, there are over 650 RCs. Each RC has an RC Centre to conduct meetings and programmes and activities for residents. RCs organise residents' parties, conduct house visits and other neighbourhood activities to reach out to residents. They also work closely with the government agencies to improve the living environment, safety and security of their estates. The Residents' Committee are run by volunteers. The committee has since changed its name to Residents Network (RN). Existing Residents Committee may continue to use its current name.

Youth Network[]

The T-Net Club (Teens Network Club), part of the People's Association network, is a non-profit teens organisation. It organises a wide range of activities to engage teenagers and develop their potential. These include educational, social/recreational, cultural and performing arts, sporting and community service activities.

Over the years, the T-Net Club has developed several flagship events such as the T-Net Club Sports Fiesta, T-Net Club Premier League, T-Net Club Basketball Tournament, and the T-Net Club “Bowl with a Heart” Community Service Project. Together with the Educational Series in Mathematics, History, Chinese and Malay, and the Sudoku and Sports Quizzes, these events help extend the Club's outreach to the teenage community.

In 2019, the committee has changed its name from Youth Executive Committee to Youth Network.

Community Emergency and Engagement Committees[]

The Community Emergency and Engagement (C2E) Committees is the community Emergency Preparedness (EP) Unit formed in each constituency. The C2E Committees is the amalgamation of the former Emergency Preparedness Group and Civil Defence Executive Committees. C2E Committees help strengthen community resilience by involving residents, grassroots leaders, educational institutions, business, religious, voluntary welfare organisations and other community partners in Community Emergency Preparedness programmes. Each of the 84 constituencies has formed a C2E Committees to enhance our capability to effectively respond to, and quickly recover from any emergency.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is an organised group of volunteers equipped with special training to respond to an emergency and assist the community in the recovery process. The main role of the CERT is to strengthen the emergency response capabilities of the local community.

Being closer to the ground, they can respond to an emergency before the arrival of the emergency authorities.

Members receive the following trainings: Community Emergency Preparedness Programme (CEPP, Standard First Aid Training (with 3 years certification), Basic Cardiac Life Support Course (with 2 years certification), and Crisis Intervention Workshop.

Radin Mas Controversy[]

On 28 May 2021, a Singapore citizen shared on Instagram that the Association permitted the use of her and her husband's wedding photo for a Hari Raya decoration without their knowledge. An external vendor was responsible for its design while the Radin Mas Constituency Office installed the work at its Tiong Bahru Orchid estate.[44] Although the office, vendor, and deputy chairperson had apologised, the social media reach of this incident and online dialogue resulted in claims that the incident "perpetuate(s) the racist culture" and was "racist".[45]

Community Development Councils[]

First established in 1997, Community Development Councils (CDCs)[46] were formed to help build a more cohesive, compassionate and self-reliant society. Initially, the CDCs offered local programmes to meet the needs of the residents in their districts. From 2001, the delivery of social services, including the development of childcare, student care and family care centres was devolved from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports to the CDCs. As CDCs are closer to the ground, they are better able than government ministries to promptly address the needs of residents. The CDCs also play an important role in mobilising the community to help needy residents, including giving them interim financial assistance and helping them find jobs.

The CDCs offer services identified under the common strategic goals of 'ABC': Assisting the Needy, Bonding the People, and Connecting the Community.

Each of the current five CDCs – Central Singapore,[47] North East,[48] North West,[49] South East[50] and South West.[51] – is headed by a mayor who is assisted by a council comprising up to 80 council members. Unlike other countries, mayors in Singapore are not directly elected because the CDCs are not a system of local government, but local administrators of community and social services.

Community Clubs[]

When self-government was attained in 1959, many Singaporeans were faced with poor employment prospects and had little opportunity for skills training. Recreational, social and sports facilities were few and far in between.

The PA converted former food distribution centres set up by the British administration into community centres. These centres were venues for residents of all walks of life to get together to learn a skill, engage in social and leisure activities, and forge a sense of community.

Over the years, with economic progress, community centres have evolved into Community Clubs (CCs) offering a wide range of courses, activities, programmes and facilities to match the changing needs of residents. The Clubs are run by a group of volunteers called CC Management Committee. The functions of the Committee are: (a) to manage the Community Centre/Club for and on behalf of the People's Association;
(b) to promote social, cultural, educational, sports and recreational activities for the residents in the neighbourhood of the Community Centre/Club;
(c) to disseminate information on Government policies, and to transmit to the Government information on the needs and aspirations of the residents in the neighbourhood of the Community Centre/Club; and
(d) to promote good citizenship among residents in the neighbourhood of the Community Centre/Club.

Other PA organisations[]

In addition to its network of grassroots organisations, the PA also operates the PA Youth Movement, National Community Leadership Institute and a water sport club called PAssion WaVe.

National Community Leadership Institute[]

NACLI or National Community Leadership Institute is the training facility of PA, established in 1964. It conducts workshops, facilitates workplan retreats, and organises dialogues and other learning events. The Institute anchors its training and development of grassroots leaders on the Community LEAD framework; a comprehensive and holistic approach to developing core leadership competencies in grassroots leaders. NACLI also collaborates with Institutes of Higher Learning to offer Joint Certification Programmes as part of its curriculum. The Institute's training and accommodation facilities are available for rental, and based on availability of resources, NACLI also conducts student leadership and corporate teambuilding programmes.

PAssion WaVe (PAWV)[]

The PAssion WaVe (PAWV), formerly known as Water-Venture, offers a range of land and water sports activities like sports climbing, abseiling, kayaking, sailing, dragon boating, windsurfing and power boating to the community. Interesting children's programmes are also offered. In October 2014, PAWV took on a new portfolio to spread awareness to the community & initiate a call-to-action to protect our environment through waste management and a change in our everyday behaviour. Currently, there are six PAWV outlets island-wide, which are run by professional staff and assisted by a dedicated pool of trainers and volunteers.[citation needed]

PA Youth Movement[]

The People's Association Youth Movement (PAYM) is Singapore's largest youth organisation. Started in 1971, the PAYM caters to youths aged 12 to 35 years old It is a two-tiered organisation, comprising 101 Youth Clubs based in the Community Clubs and the Central Youth Council. Some of the youth-inspired events that PAYM has organised include "City Alive! 2009", Singapore's Biggest Dance Party; "YOUTHSpeak on Budget 2009", a National-level Policy Forum; and "Heart to Heart We Serve the Community", a series of community service activities. Overseas community service projects include trips to Cambodia, Maldives and China, such as Project "INitiate"; and Hip Hop competition "Pop Culture" amongst other international exchanges.

PA Talents[]

PA Talents is an umbrella group for more than 300 part-time musicians and dancers performing traditional, ethnic art forms. In 2006, Cultural Medallion recipient Dick Lee was appointed its creative director.[52][53]

Formerly known as the PA Cultural Talents, it was set up in 1965 as a performing unit with full-time performers to bring arts and cultural performances to the masses by performing in community centres. It was one of the first groups in Singapore to create multi-ethnic performances in the early 1980s. In 1997, following a strategic review, the group ceased having full-time performers due to limited resources and now relies on a pool of part-timers.[52]

PA Talents consists of ten groups: five orchestras (Orkestra Melayu Singapura, the PA Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Singapore Indian Orchestra and Choir, the Singapore Pipe Band and the Singapore Pop Orchestra), and five dance groups (the Chinese, Indian, Malay and Modern Dance Groups, and a hip-hop club). About a hundred performances are staged each year in national and grassroots shows such as the National Day Parade and Chingay Parade, in commercial shows for corporations, and in cultural and diplomatic events in Singapore and abroad.[52]

References[]

  1. ^ "People's Association appoints Lim Hock Yu as new chief executive director". CNA. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  2. ^ "人民协会". www.languagecouncils.sg.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "History of PA". People's Association. 5 August 2006. Archived from the original on 7 June 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
  4. ^ People's Association Act 1960 (Ordinance No. 35 of 1960), now the People's Association Act (Cap. 227, 2000 Rev. Ed.)
  5. ^ Kimball, Walter B. "Singapore's People's Association", CIA Historical Review Programme, 22 September 1993, accessed 16 May 2011.
  6. ^ People's Association Act, above, ss. 4(1)(a)–(d).
  7. ^ These organisations are also listed on the PA's website: see "PA Corporate Members". People's Association. 26 August 2007. Archived from the original on 12 June 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
  8. ^ People's Association Act, above, s. 3.
  9. ^ People's Association Act, above, s. 5(1).
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "Grassroots groups 'meant to serve Govt of the day'". TODAYonline. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Lead up to GE2015: Key developments, Aug 20". The Straits Times. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2017. former People's Association director Joan Pereira are the PAP's new faces in Tanjong Pagar GRC
  12. ^ Chong, Zi Liang (22 May 2016). "Masagos: PAP team remains focused on delivering services to Aljunied residents". The Straits Times. Retrieved 20 September 2017. Accompanying Mr Masagos on his visit were Aljunied GRC grassroots advisers Chua Eng Leong, Victor Lye, and Shamsul Kahar - who contested Aljunied GRC in last year's general election alongside Mr Murali and former MP Yeo Guat Kwang.
  13. ^ "Desmond Choo, Ong Ye Kung leave Aljunied, Hougang wards". TODAYonline. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Grassroots leader Lee Hong Chuang unveiled as PAP's Hougang SMC candidate". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  15. ^ "Potential new PAP candidates hit the ground at community events". TODAYonline. Retrieved 20 September 2017. Ms Cheng [Li Hui] is also vice-chairman of the Citizen Consultative Committee in Tampines East.
  16. ^ theonlinecitizen toc (29 April 2011), TOC speaks to a member of the audience at PAP rally who was ferried from the Community Centre, retrieved 20 September 2017
  17. ^ theonlinecitizen toc (29 April 2011), Elderly audience at PAP rally leaving on chartered buses, retrieved 20 September 2017
  18. ^ "Why opposition MPs can't be advisers to grassroots bodies". The Straits Times. 31 August 2011. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. 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.
  19. ^ "PA stands firm over selection of grassroots advisers". Yahoo News Singapore. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  20. ^ Oorjitham, Santha (30 August 2011). "Singapore voters still bristling at policies". New Straits Times.
  21. ^ Chan, Robin (7 February 2014). "Tan Cheng Bock uninvited from Istana Chinese New Year garden party". The Straits Times. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  22. ^ Tan, Wei Zhen (25 August 2011). "Workers' Party hits back as grassroots advisers stick to their guns". Today. The dispute was sparked last week by a Facebook posting by Aljunied GRC MP Chen Show Mao, where he recounted how an invitation to him was withdrawn by organisers of a Hungry Ghost Festival dinner.
  23. ^ "People's Association is not partisan: Chan Chun Sing". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  24. ^ "'Good intentions, not dishonesty' at root of PA, grassroots lapses". TODAYonline. 17 August 2015.
  25. ^ "PA investigates lapses at grassroots organisations flagged by Auditor-General". Straits Times. 15 July 2015.
  26. ^ "Grassroots Organisations-Data.gov.sg". Data.gov.sg.
  27. ^ "Fewer than 0.1% of all grassroots leaders benefit from priority housing scheme: Chan Chun Sing". Channel NewsAsia. 7 November 2016.
  28. ^ Guan, Zhen Tan. "Door hanger lists all the benefits of being a Residents' Committee volunteer". Mothership.sg.
  29. ^ Lee, Pearl (12 June 2014). "Stricter Primary 1 priority rules for grassroots workers". The Straits Times.
  30. ^ "Potential new PAP candidates hit the ground at community events". www.todayonline.com. 26 July 2015.
  31. ^ "PAP 2021 MP hopefuls look like PAP candidates of 2011 & 2015". Mothership.sg.
  32. ^ "PAP identifies 200 hopefuls for next GE". The Straits Times. 3 December 2017. Closer to the election, they will typically be attached to MPs to do constituency work, if they were not party activists previously.
  33. ^ Bilveer Singh, Politics and Governance in Singapore (Singapore, 2007), p. 68.
  34. ^ The Citizens' Consultative Committee Rules (Singapore, Government Printers, 1974), quoted in Bilveer Singh, Politics and Governance in Singapore (Singapore, 2007), p. 68.
  35. ^ Hussin Mutalib, Parties and Politics: A Study of Opposition Parties and the PAP in Singapore (Second Edition) (Singapore, 2004), p. 287.
  36. ^ "Citizens' Consultative Committees". Archived from the original on 26 November 2010.
  37. ^ Au-yong, Rachel (15 July 2014). "PAP team for Aljunied GRC 'getting into place'". AsiaOne.
  38. ^ "People's Association names new grassroots advisers in Hougang, Kaki Bukit, Tampines East". The Straits Times. 18 September 2014.
  39. ^ "Auditor-General's Report: People's Association cited for multiple lapses". Channel NewsAsia. 15 July 2015.
  40. ^ "PA investigates lapses at grassroots organisations flagged by Auditor-General". The Straits Times. 15 July 2015.
  41. ^ "'Good intentions, not dishonesty' at root of PA, grassroots lapses". www.todayonline.com.
  42. ^ "Residents' Committees are formed - Singapore History". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  43. ^ Kenneth Paul Andrew Sze-Sian Tan, 'Democracy and the Grassroots Sector in Singapore', Space and Polity 7 (1) (2003), p. 3.
  44. ^ "People's Association apologises after wedding photo of couple used as Hari Raya standee without their permission". CNA. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  45. ^ hermesauto (14 June 2021). "People's Association withdraws offer to meet couple over wedding photo incident". The Straits Times. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  46. ^ "Community Development Councils". Cdc.org.sg. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  47. ^ "Central Singapore". Centralsingapore.org.sg. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  48. ^ "Welcome to NECDC". Northeastcdc.org.sg. 21 June 2010. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  49. ^ "Welcome to NWCDC". Northwestcdc.org.sg. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  50. ^ "Welcome to SECDC". Southeastcdc.org.sg. 9 June 2010. Archived from the original on 1 September 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  51. ^ "Welcome to Southwest CDC". Southwestcdc.org.sg. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  52. ^ Jump up to: a b c Chia, Adeline (23 August 2007). "How PA Talents Came to Be". The Straits Times (Life!). p. 2.
  53. ^ Chia, Adeline (23 August 2007). "PA Swings to Pop". The Straits Times (Life!). p. 2.

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