Hougang MP Png Eng Huat forms new grassroots committee separate from PA
Posted by temasektimes on June 7, 2012
Newly-minted Hougang MP Png Eng Huat has set up a new grassroots committee to manage grassroots activities in Hougang which is entirely separate from the Hougang grassroots organizations under the People’s Association.
The new 17-strong Hougang Constituency Committee consists of a mix of old and new faces. Mr Png remains its Chairman. His deputy is WP organising secretary Ng Swee Bee, 31, while the secretary and treasurer is a new face – tutor Janice Ng, 32.
The committee was suspended following the expulsion of ex-MP Yaw Shin Leong from the party in February this year.
Meanwhile, the losing PAP candidate for Hougang by-election Desmond Choo continues to duplicate Mr Png’s role and work by conducting ‘meet the people’ sessions weekly at the Hougang Community Club.
Though Mr Png is the elected MP of Hougang, he is not appointed as its grassroots adviser and hence not allowed to use the Community Club to meet residents and to conduct activities in the constituency.
The People’s Association is supposedly a ‘non-partisan’ statutory board funded by taxpayers’ monies and headed by the Prime Minister himself.
THE TEMASEK TIMES 
voice fron the origin singapore said
Good idea..
Jaded said
Go Go Go! Workers Party!
skponggol said
Where is the WP MP going to get the money from to run his grassroot committee? Where is he going to hold his meeting and get his logistics support? From the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council ?
And where does the WP Town Council get their money from ? From the Aljunied-Hougang taxpayers?
Can other non-WP Opposition supporters, like NSP and SDP, join this WP taxpayer-funded grassroot committee?
The pot is calling the kettle black.
spotlessleopard said
The PAP bullying tactics of suing PA as if it belongs to them although PA is funded by ALL taxplayers’ money is most disgraceful…All singaporeans must vote the Opposition and throw out the PAP and DEPOLITICIS PA…Those Politically appointed PA personnel must be removed and the PA must certainly be depolticised…or be disbanded.
Invictus said
Good luck Ah Huat.. PA headed by PM – how to be non-partisan ?
IQ Zero said
CC is governed by PA and PA shouldn’t be biased against any political party.Png won the people’s votes and yet cannot use the CC to conduct activities for his voters.What kind of community club is this.Shouldn’t the term’community’ be changed to PAP,then community club will be ‘PAP Club’.
PA stands for People’s Assocaition.Are supporters of opposition party ‘People’ ? If not,what’re they?PA is operated using taxpayers’ money,are voters for opposition parties liable to tax?
What kind of logic is this,maybe some elites could highlight,bur make sure is not the Phd(permanent- head- damaged) type.
DIY said
I remember during my kampong days how CC was set up. Even the black and white TV was donated by residence or businessmen. CC in Queen St have 2 sets of TV to cater for the large audience. The CC land is owned by the Land Office (now SLA).
The People’s Association is a statutory board. The set up of PA is 50 – 50. That means for every dollar being raised; government will match dollar for dollar. MP Png cannot use the CC because he is not link to government. IQ Zero can visit at No.194 Thomson Community Club near Shunfu Gardens and see the contributions by member of the public. The role of PA is to explain government policies. PA and their constituencies participate in NDP. MPs are there because they represent the government.
I read ST article 2 months after GE2011. There was loud demand in social media that Opposition MPs can also run the grassroots organisation.
The journalist had clearly explained why only the MP from the ruling party can be the adviser. The Venn diagram clearly illustrates his explanation. There are three concepts to
governance.
(a) Political Parties
(b) Parliament
(c) Ministries of Government
Formation of the government.
(a.1) After a GE, the political party with the majority votes has the mandate to form the government. In this instance the PAP secured 60% with 87 seats in Parliament.
(b.1) The WP won 40% votes with 6 seats becomes the Opposition MPs. They only counter check the government within parliament.
(c.1) MPs from PAP were sworn in to become Ministers of the various Ministries of Government.
From the Venn diagram, where the three concepts had overlapped then it is called ‘The Government’. The 6 Opposition MPs sit in Parliament to debate issues and provide alternative programs.
Skponggol was correct. Question arises where is the WP MP going to get the money from to run his grassroot committee?.
陳一峯 said
你們認為人協真的那麼大方？個人認為擁有自己的基層是好的。至少比較能了解居民的需要。
brian shah said
Why is thick skin Desmond still around
Elva said
For a greater cause, WP should actually work with Desmond Choo closely for the benefit of Hougang-ers. Forming a new grassroots committee separate from PA would be deemed as having duplicated resources. As much as we like things to go our way, we must also bear in mind that change is a constant. So change and work together!
Sheksunn said
I think the report is incorrect on the part where Mr Desmond Choo uses the PA’s Community Club to host meet-the-people sessions…
P Koh said
If The People’s Association is supposedly a ‘non-partisan’ statutory board funded by taxpayers’ monies then isn’t it right for the citizens’ to decide who could use the Community Club. HG is, I supposed very lucky to be served by two masters.
Cancer said
i find it ironic that Desmond Choo continues to duplicate Mr Png’s role by conducting the MPS weekly at the Hougang CC. Does he thinks he is the Deputy MP of Hougang? Though I should applaud his initiatives, he should not undermine Mr Png’s role & responsibilites in Hougang as an elected MP. If Desmond is sincere and committed to provide better services to Hougang residents, he should discuss any inittiatives with the MP and work together to have a win win solution. The Hougang residents will be confused over the duplicated MPS conducted by the PAP & their own elected MP.
LkySi said
Peoples Association is nothing but another PAP Wing. No institution or any organ in Singapore independent
龙的传人 said
If got sec tim for B-E , i can sure choo sure win !