[h=1]PM LEE GIVES OUT FREE MONEY TO RESIDENTS IN HIS WARD[/h]
Post date:
14 Feb 2015 - 4:34pm
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong presented free money to needy residents in his ward in Teck Ghee today to help them with expenses over the festive period.
Over 400 needy families received red packets with $150 in cash and $50 in Sheng Siong vouchers.
Mr Lee’s wife, Ho Ching, was also present giving out goodie bags containing 4 bottles of chicken essence and 2 mandarin oranges.
The handouts were part of the annual Hong Bao presentation ceremony with the funds coming from the Teck Ghee Citizens’ Consultative Committee Community Development & Welfare Fund.
While it is good that the government is reaching out to needy citizens and giving them help, it is questionable whether it is appropriate for PM Lee to be the face of the handouts.
The Community Development Councils are under the People’s Association and are supposed to be community grassroots organizations.
Theoretically, the PA and the community grassroots are supposed to be non-partisan and should be providing residents with help regardless of the political party who is in power in that ward.
Allowing PM Lee to be the face handing out the free money raises even more concerns about how impartial the PA and grassroots are. Would they allow opposition MPs to do the same in Opposition wards?
Those who receive the money are likely to have a good impression of PM Lee when in fact he has nothing to do with the provision of the handouts as it is a grassroots initiative.
What do you think? Is PM Lee “buying votes” by getting mixed up in the work of the community grassroots?
Post date:
14 Feb 2015 - 4:34pm
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong presented free money to needy residents in his ward in Teck Ghee today to help them with expenses over the festive period.
Over 400 needy families received red packets with $150 in cash and $50 in Sheng Siong vouchers.
Mr Lee’s wife, Ho Ching, was also present giving out goodie bags containing 4 bottles of chicken essence and 2 mandarin oranges.
The handouts were part of the annual Hong Bao presentation ceremony with the funds coming from the Teck Ghee Citizens’ Consultative Committee Community Development & Welfare Fund.
While it is good that the government is reaching out to needy citizens and giving them help, it is questionable whether it is appropriate for PM Lee to be the face of the handouts.
The Community Development Councils are under the People’s Association and are supposed to be community grassroots organizations.
Theoretically, the PA and the community grassroots are supposed to be non-partisan and should be providing residents with help regardless of the political party who is in power in that ward.
Allowing PM Lee to be the face handing out the free money raises even more concerns about how impartial the PA and grassroots are. Would they allow opposition MPs to do the same in Opposition wards?
Those who receive the money are likely to have a good impression of PM Lee when in fact he has nothing to do with the provision of the handouts as it is a grassroots initiative.
What do you think? Is PM Lee “buying votes” by getting mixed up in the work of the community grassroots?
