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SINGAPORE: A 51.3 per cent increase in the estimated expenditure of the People’s Association (PA) this year “reflects a higher level of commitment by the Government towards promoting social cohesion and racial harmony”, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Swee Say on Monday (Mar 9).
Mr Lim stated this in a written reply to a parliamentary question by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Yee Jenn Jong. Mr Yee had asked how PA’s expenditure estimates for FY2015 came to top S$1 billion. He also asked for details on the major projects that account for the 115.4 per cent rise in its development expenditure, and why PA's operating expenditure for this financial year would rise by 22 per cent from the previous year.
In response, Mr Lim said that out of the S$339.6 million increase in estimated expenditure, 70.5 per cent is for the development of facilities for residents’ use.
“These include the building of the Tampines Town Hub, construction of nine new CCs and two Water-Venture outlets, as well as to upgrade 28 existing CCs under our 15-year upgrading cycle,” Mr Lim said.
He also attributed the S$100.3 million projected increase in operating expenditure to the implementation of the Pioneer Generation Ambassador programme, where staff and volunteers reach out to seniors where they live.
The amount will also be used to support the work of the grassroots organisations and Community Development Councils in assisting the needy, and in bonding multi-racial and multi-cultural communities, Mr Lim added.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/lim-swee-say-explains-51/1703852.html
