Lim Swee Say: People’s Association must speak up for ‘silent majority’

The People’s Association (PA) must speak up for the ‘silent majority’ as part of the ‘National Conversation’ in the days ahead, said its Deputy Chairman Lim Swee Say.

Speaking at the PA’s annual grassroots seminar today, Mr Lim, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, said grassroots leaders have to speak up more and do so more visibly.

“The silent majority, not that they don’t have any views, but… they’re less pro-active, less visible in expressing their views. That’s why we feel it’s very important… for our conversation to be truly inclusive. It should not just be a voice for the vocal minority, but it must also reflect the views of the silent majority,” he said, referring to the conversation on Singapore’s future.

Though the PA is supposedly a ‘non-partisan’ statutory board funded by taxpayers, its board members are ALL PAP ministers, MPs and members and is headed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong himself.

PAP Supreme Leader Lee Kuan Yew once boasted to a group of visiting Chinese delegates in 2009 that all ‘CCCs, CCs and RCs are part of the PAP.’

The ‘National Conversation’ is regarded with skepticism by some as another PR gimmick by the government to control and manage public discourse.