‘Let’s play fair at the grassroots level’

By Andrew Loh

"I pledge to work together with all Singaporeans to create a just and fair society," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his swearing-in speech at the Istana on 21 May.

While PM Lee may have been referring to Singapore and Singaporeans at large, to give "all citizens the best start in life, and leave no one behind", he should perhaps also note that a just and fair society applies to specifics as well.

Underlying the unhappiness over certain issues, as displayed during the recent general election, could be another layer of discontent. And this has to do with the uneven political playing field here.

For the longest time, those who are not of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) have questioned the fairness and impartiality of the civil service, government departments, government policies, various rules and regulations in law — and the grassroots organisations (GROs).

The ugly head of discrimination, perceived or otherwise, when it comes to the GROs, has given rise to disenchantment among certain segments of our society. It can be argued also that such sentiments have crossed over to the larger public sphere.

When the story of Mr Chiam See Tong, opposition Member of Parliament (MP) for Potong Pasir, had to conduct his Meet The People sessions (MPS) at the void deck of a HDB block in his ward was reported, many were dismayed and even upset that he was not accorded due respect in carrying out his work as an elected MP. (See story here.)

It was felt that it was unfair that while PAP MPs were offered premises, which were air-conditioned and with adequate facilities, to conduct their MPS', Mr Chiam was not made the same offer. Ditto the other opposition MP, Mr Low Thia Khiang of the Workers' Party (WP), in Hougang.

The WP won six seats in the May elections and, since then, its other MPs have had to conduct their MPS's at the void deck as well.

The focal point of unhappiness is that the premises used by the PAP MPs are made available to them by the People's Association (PA), a statutory board formed in 1960 which oversees some 1,800 grassroots organisations. PM Lee, who is the current secretary general of the PAP, is also the Chairman of the PA. Its board consists of several PAP MPs too.

The PAP has held an iron grip on the grassroots since Singapore's independence and opposition parties face almost insurmountable obstacles in establishing its own network of such outreach channels. Mr Low, in one of his rally speeches during the recent elections, raised the issue. He said "the PAP has made it almost impossible for the opposition to have a grassroots foothold, a physical venue to launch activities in PAP constituencies."

Referring to the PA, Mr Low told the rally crowd on 30 April:

"It is funded by the government, headed by the PM and its Board of Directors is made up of PAP appointees. They run all the grassroots organisations, including the Resident Committees and Community Clubs, making sure that the opposition is kept out of the grassroots in terms of the institutional structure.

Opposition MPs are not allowed to make use of Community club facilities to organise courses or activities for residents but PAP MPs are free to do so. I thought Community Clubs are meant for the community, not to propel the PAP's interests?"

Elected PAP MPs are made advisers to the GROs. And even PAP candidates rejected by the electorate are also made advisers. This gives them a huge advantage in reaching and tilling the ground for the next elections. Victorious opposition MPs, on the other hand, are denied access to these organisations. Neither are they made advisers.

A grassroots which is politicised does not serve the larger interests of Singapore society. Funded by all taxpayers and run with help from volunteers who give of their time and effort, GROs should remain free from any political influence. This will enable them to achieve the PA's goal of "strengthening the community and nation-building." A politically partisan PA cannot but fail to meet the challenges it has set itself for the simple reason that it will cater to only those on one side of the political fence. Far from being the conduit for "strengthening" our community, it may instead be the source of polarizing it.

The results of the recent elections and the PM's speech indicate that Singaporeans now want a more level playing field in the political arena. The PM himself has pledged that a fair and just society is his goal, going forward.

Perhaps it is time our elected leader puts his money where his mouth is and begin to level the political playing field — starting with the GROs.

To paraphrase Mr Low, to play a game of soccer, lets not make goal posts smaller than the ball.

Otherwise, the PA's partisan role will increasingly come into sharper focus especially if more opposition members are elected as MPs in future.

Lets play fair.