Large jumps in PA’s operating expenditure after 2006. To Fund FTrashisation?

[makapaaa]

[h=2]Large jumps in PA’s operating expenditure after 2006[/h]

February 22nd, 2014 |

Author: Editorial

Yesterday (21 Feb), People’s Association (PA) gave a statement attempting to explain why its auditors had given its financial reports an “adverse opinion”.
PA’s reply was duly published in ST (‘PA responds to online reports on its accounts’, 21 Feb).
In the article, ST also wrote that PA receives more than $300 million from the government each year. It said:

“The PA is a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and receives more than $300 million in government grants each year.”
​

As a matter of fact, PA is receiving a whole lot more than $300 million grants from the government these days.
TR Emeritus (TRE) went through the PA financial reports [Link] and found that beginning from the year FY2006, the government has been increasingly giving more grants to PA ranging from $257 million in FY2006 (06/07) to $434 million in FY2012 (12/13):

And beginning from FY2006 till FY2012, the average increase in government grants given to PA was 9.3% per year:

FY2012

FY2011

FY2010

FY2009

FY2008

FY2007

Average

<COLGROUP><COL span=2 width=64><TBODY>
[TD="width: 64"][/TD]
[TD="width: 64"] % inc in Govt Grants [/TD]

[TD="align: right"]2.1%[/TD]

[TD="align: right"]9.3%[/TD]

[TD="align: right"]4.9%[/TD]

[TD="align: right"]13.8%[/TD]

[TD="align: right"]7.2%[/TD]

[TD="align: right"]18.3%[/TD]

[TD="align: right"] 9.3% [/TD]

</TBODY>

This was not the case prior to 2006 when the amounts given were about the same. The smallest increase since FY2006 was in FY2012 at 2.1% after the 2011 General Elections, when PAP’s votes went down to a record low of 60.1%.
Government grants to PA need to be increased because PA’s total operating expenditure has been increasing since FY2006. It was more or less flat prior to that time:

In the last FY, PA’s total operating expenditure was $483 million.
On average, since FY2006, PA’s total operating expenditure has been increasing at 11.1% per year.
From PA”s publicly disclosed information, in FY2007, there were 1,139 grassroots organization under its charge. By FY2010, this figure shot up to 1,803 (‘BREAKING: Auditors give adverse ratings to PA’s financial reports‘).
Interestingly, the increase in PA’s spending and government grants to PA coincides with the increase in the foreign population in Singapore especially after 2006:

(source: DOS)
Perhaps PA is trying to help in the integration of the foreign population into Singapore’s society for the betterment of Singapore.
What do you think?

 

[makapaaa]

Quanxi: February 22, 2014 at 6:37 pm Quanxi(Quote)
Using taxpayer money to the tune of $400 million to finance PAP political goals is exploitation and abuse .How can we allow this in First World Country like Spore??

 

[laksaboy]

http://app.nationalintegrationcouncil.org.sg/SingaporeCitizenshipJourney.aspx



Singapore Citizenship Journey
Singapore Citizenship Journey (SCJ)




The Singapore Citizenship Journey (SCJ) helps enrich new citizens’ understanding of the key milestones in Singapore’s history and development and deepen their appreciation of Singaporean norms and values, as well as provide opportunities for meaningful interaction with their local community. It consists of both online elements as well as experiential learning programmes, and culminates in a citizenship ceremony to officially welcome new citizens as full-fledged members of the Singaporean family.

The SCJ is a collaboration between the National Integration Council (NIC), the People’s Association (PA) and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA). It is a mandatory programme for new citizens who have been granted in-principle approval for Singapore citizenship. They have up to two months to complete the three components of the SCJ before they can complete citizenship formalities and receive their pink National Registration Identity Cards (NRICs) and citizenship certificates.


The SCJ components are:

1. Singapore Citizenship e-Journey

This is an online journey that allows new citizens to learn about Singapore at their own pace andconvenience. It includes information on our history and development as a country, key national policies, Total Defence, as well as our efforts in building a cohesive and harmonious society.


2. Singapore Experiential Tour

This half-day tour brings new citizens to key historical landmarks and national institutions where they learn about our history and how we overcome national challenges in the different domains of urban planning, transport, water resources, as well as security and defence.


3. Community Sharing Session

This is an event where new citizens are engaged by their community. During the session, new citizens reflect on their journey towards citizenship, share their hopes and aspirations for Singapore, meet other new citizens, and learn how they can actively participate in the community. Grassroots leaders and Integration & Naturalisation Champions (INCs) from the People’s Association will also share their experiences living in a multi-racial and multi-religious society, and provide valuable information to help new citizens better settle into their community.


Citizenship Ceremonies

GRC-Level Citizenship Ceremonies

The GRC-level Citizenship Ceremonies (GCCs) are organised by the People’s Association and conducted at the GRC level on a quarterly basis. Organised at the local community level, the GCCs allow community and grassroots leaders to formally welcome new citizens to their new home. New citizens will receive their pink NRICs and citizenship certificates from the Guest-of-Honour, usually one of the Advisers in the GRC, as well as recite the pledge and sing the national anthem with fellow citizens. Other activities, showcasing Singapore’s rich culture and opportunities for community involvement and volunteerism, may also be featured.

National Citizenship Ceremony




Every year, the National Citizenship Ceremony (NCC) is held after National Day to ride on the celebrations to mark the significance and privilege of citizenship. First organised in 2007, the NCC provides a national platform where new citizens receive their pink NRICs and citizenship certificates, and where they can commit themselves to a shared future with fellow Singaporeans. The NCC is organised by the NIC, with the support of the People’s Association.

The NCC honours are rotated among the GRCs every year. Most GCCs in the third quarter are also synchronised on the same weekend as the NCC to further increase the significance of the occasion. While the quarterly GCCs celebrate the significance and privilege of citizenship at a local community level, the annual NCC highlights the message at the national level.