PAP now allows oppo to set up offices

[makapaaa]

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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - PAP now allows oppo to set up offices</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"></TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89_ <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>May-27 6:01 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right>(1 of 12) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"></TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>51752.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD id=msgtxt_1 class=msgtxt>PAP now allows opposition MPs to rent void deck space to set up offices for MPS

May 27th, 2011 |

Author: Temasek Review |

Edit

After receiving constant criticisms over the years at its blatant refusal to allow elected opposition MPs to use Residents’ Committee or RCs’ offices at the constituencies to conduct their weekly Meet-the-People sessions, the vindictive PAP regime finally yields to public pressure and give a ‘token’ concession.
In a statement issued on its website, the Ministry of National Development under the regime announced that it has asked HDB to to “allow elected MPs who wish to do so to rent an appropriate amount of void deck space to set up an MP’s office, to conduct their Meet-the-People sessions.”
The rental will be at a concessionary rate, similar to that levied for non-profit, social communal uses.
While PAP MPs conduct their MPS in the comforts of air-conditioned offices at the RCs, opposition MPs such as the former MP for Potong Pasir had to conduct theirs at the HDB void decks with no privacy at all.
Elected non-PAP MPs are not allowed to use the CCs or RCs (under the People’s Association) as they are ‘all part of the PAP’, according to PAP de facto leader Lee Kuan Yew.
Though the People’s Association is supposedly a statutory board funded by taxpayers’ monies, its Chairman is PAP Secretary-General Lee Hsien Loong.
With 6 elected opposition MPs in parliament now, the PAP regime may have no choice but to give a bit of leeway to enable residents to meet their MPs in offices out of fear of peeving off more Singaporeans.

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[scroobal]

Disgraceful. All first world and evens some 3rd world countries provide elected officials funds to cover office rental for them to meet their constituents and meet their obligations.

Here is an example for a UK MP in 2006. (In Sterling pounds)
Salary - 60,277
Staffing Allowance - 87,276
Incidental expenses - 20,440
IT equipment - provided free by state
Telephone and postage free

The sight of the WP MPs including a high powered corporate internal lawyer sitting on makeshift chair and table in a dimly lit void deck must have clearly embarrassed the PAP leadership and must have also embarrassed every Singaporean. We can call ourselves an economic miracle, first world standard etc but the fact that we treat our democratic elected MPs who are not with the PAP shows how uncultured we are.

Here is the tidbit - Khaw unilaterally intervened using the powers of his new portfolio without consulting the PM or any other low life in PAP.

Imagine people like Sitoh and Eric happy using State premises or state facilitated premises all these years without they being elected. Absolutely disgraceful.

 

[scroobal]

WORKER’S Party Secretary General Low Thia Khiang, speaking at Bedok stadium, whacked the PAP on Saturday night for making it tough for opposition parties to serve residents.

He was responding to criticism from Sengkang West PAP candidate Dr Lam Pin Min that opposition parties disappeared from contest grounds after the 2006 elections.

Low mentioned that because new constituencies are often created at every election, it is impossible for them to appear in a “previously non-existent ward.”

“We certainly would love to do more to reach out to the residents, but do you know we are kept out by barriers set by the PAP?” he said.

The first barrier he mentioned was that Town Councils in PAP wards have rejected applications by the opposition party to hold dialogue sessions and forums at the resident’s void decks.

Second barrier is that opposition parties cannot set up physical premises to launch activities in PAP constituencies. The PAP Community Foundation (PCF), which is a network of pre-schools, is able to rent property from the Housing Development Board (HDB) for cheap prices. As a result, they can sublet space to the PAP.

“That’s why you see that every constituency there is a PAP branch, which is usually next to PCF.”

“Sometimes, some foreign reporters who come to Singapore to interview me, and they wonder, why we conduct Meet-the-People’s sessions at the void deck. So much for a first world nation.” – Low Thia Khiang

The Worker’s Party has no branches. And since they have no access to PCF facilities, their only option would be to rent from the open market, which is too expensive.

Furthermore, opposition parties are handicapped in their own constituencies.

“Sometimes, some foreign reporters who come to Singapore to interview me, and they wonder, why we conduct Meet-the-People’s sessions at the void deck. So much for a first world nation.”

PAP MPs, on the other hand, get to do such sessions in a facility of their own.

Opposition MPs are also disallowed from using Community Centres to organise courses and activities for residents, while PAP MPs can do so. “I thought community club are meant for community, not for propelling the PAP’s interest!”

He added that in Hougang, where he was an MP, the defeated PAP candidate became the grassroots advisor through the People’s Association, a statuary board promoting social harmony. Government bodies worked through him instead of Low, and when his town council paid a sum to the HDB for lift upgrading, it was the PAP candidate who announced the initiative instead. This allows the defeated candidates to gain a foothold at the next elections.

So, while the government says that the political playing field is fair, Low firmly denied that is the case.

“When they ask me to play a game of soccer, they use a goalpost smaller than the ball!”

 

[wikiphile]

Here is the tidbit - Khaw unilaterally intervened using the powers of his new portfolio without consulting the PM or any other low life in PAP.

Imagine people like Sitoh and Eric happy using State premises or state facilitated premises all these years without they being elected. Absolutely disgraceful.

Independent action from Khaw? Just what level of freedom does he have as compared to the Big 4 - LSS, TCH, NEH and THARMAN?

 

[Amakusa Kourin]

Not surprised if it is an independent action by Khaw. He is quite a moderate and decent chap, just like TCH. What they have achieved with their portfolios is another story.

 

[longbow]

No way Khaw did this on his own. This is too sensitive an issue for PM. But again, PM knows that these have become self defeating talking points. These tactics have failed badly. The ruling party has to change fast. No one likes the boy in the playground with the ball that keeps threatening to stop the game and take his ball home.

 

[glockman]

The pap has no choice now. If they keep on being so high handed, there will be more resentment on the ground. They will alienate themselves further from the people while OP MPs will endear themselves more. TPL is a no-fucking-body, and she gets a nice comfy aircon room. CSM is a top international corporate lawyer and he gets a makeshift table and plastic chair in the void desk. The disparity is simply too glaring to ignore anymore. A good read from this link :

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/let-play-fair-grassroots-level-114032726.html

 

[steffychun]

Disgraceful. All first world and evens some 3rd world countries provide elected officials funds to cover office rental for them to meet their constituents and meet their obligations.

Here is an example for a UK MP in 2006. (In Sterling pounds)
Salary - 60,277
Staffing Allowance - 87,276
Incidental expenses - 20,440
IT equipment - provided free by state
Telephone and postage free

The sight of the WP MPs including a high powered corporate internal lawyer sitting on makeshift chair and table in a dimly lit void deck must have clearly embarrassed the PAP leadership and must have also embarrassed every Singaporean. We can call ourselves an economic miracle, first world standard etc but the fact that we treat our democratic elected MPs who are not with the PAP shows how uncultured we are.

Here is the tidbit - Khaw unilaterally intervened using the powers of his new portfolio without consulting the PM or any other low life in PAP.

Imagine people like Sitoh and Eric happy using State premises or state facilitated premises all these years without they being elected. Absolutely disgraceful.

UK MPs are sometimes overpaid.

 

[longbow]

I did not know about PA and how they were used for PAP activities. Also, I had assumed that all MPs, including those of the opposition parties had some office space provided.

I think many Singaporeans have no idea. The fact that this is happening lowers my respect for them. What is the point of a whole cabinet of scholars and yet none raised this issue. I would have thought that GY would have brought this up. What is the point of reciting the pledge when there are so many underhanded methods. Does this taint the previous PAP wins?? I have yet to see a PAP minister quit over disagreement with policy. no harm in that - in fact it only reflects well on person quitting.

Fortunately the internet brings the spot light on these misdeeds.

To me it is not about the poor oppo members working in the void decks. To me it is the poor citizens that have to bring up their problems in the glare of cameras. Where is the dignity?

 

[Bigfuck]

I did not know about PA and how they were used for PAP activities. Also, I had assumed that all MPs, including those of the opposition parties had some office space provided.

I think many Singaporeans have no idea. The fact that this is happening lowers my respect for them. What is the point of a whole cabinet of scholars and yet none raised this issue. I would have thought that GY would have brought this up. What is the point of reciting the pledge when there are so many underhanded methods. Does this taint the previous PAP wins?? I have yet to see a PAP minister quit over disagreement with policy. no harm in that - in fact it only reflects well on person quitting.

Fortunately the internet brings the spot light on these misdeeds.

To me it is not about the poor oppo members working in the void decks. To me it is the poor citizens that have to bring up their problems in the glare of cameras. Where is the dignity?

It has been this way since 1965. LKY admitted it somewhere before too, if memory serves me well. PA is a very dirty and political organization.