Elected MPs from Workers’ Party absent from Buangkok Community Club opening

Over 2,000 residents, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and the People’s Action Party (PAP) representatives at the Seng Kang GRC attended yesterday’s official opening of the Buangkok Community Club (CC).

However, the event was marked by the conspicuous absence of the ward’s elected Members of Parliament from Workers’ Party (WP) MPs, raising questions about the representation and inclusivity of opposition MPs in community events.

The Buangkok CC, an integrated project next to Buangkok MRT station, was initially part of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC under PAP before becoming part of Sengkang GRC during the 2020 General Election.

Despite the political shift, the CC’s construction continued; SM Lee emphasized this as the government’s commitment to improving lives across all wards in his speech, stating, “The objective is to make sure that the people of Singapore are well served, and that residents in every ward feel a sense of belonging and kinship to the wider community around them.”

Notably absent from SM Lee’s speech to introduce the PAP Sengkang team, which would be contesting in the ward for the upcoming General Election, was Marcus Loh, the newly appointed PAP branch chair for Sengkang East division — despite being present at the ceremony.

However, the absence of WP MPs, Ms He Tingru, Associate Professor Jamus Lim and Mr Louis Chua, who were elected to represent Sengkang GRC, underscores a broader issue concerning the People’s Association’s (PA) relationship with opposition MPs.

Opposition MPs, while elected, are not appointed as grassroots advisers, while losing candidates are often appointed as advisers.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing explained in March 2018 that opposition MPs are not appointed as grassroots advisers because the role involves supporting government policies, which opposition MPs might not be willing or able to do.

Mr Chan, who was then deputy chairman of PA, stated, “We do not presume that opposition MPs believe that they would be willing or able to execute this role for the government of the day.”

Government agencies and grassroots organizations under the PA work with grassroots advisers and opposition MPs “on matters related to their respective roles,” according to Mr Chan.

However, this delineation often results in opposition MPs being excluded from key community events and initiatives.

In 2023, WP MP Louis Chua shared how he was not invited to a Housing and Development Board (HDB) event in his ward, the MyNiceHome Roadshow at Rivervale Community Centre.

Despite not being formally invited, Mr Chua attended as a community member and interacted with residents informally.

His absence from the official invitees list contrasted with the presence of PAP figures such as Dr Lam Pin Min, a former PAP MP who lost to the WP team in GE2020 but continues to serve as a Grassroots Advisor for Sengkang West and actively participating in PA events with other PAP representatives, including the opening ceremony on Sunday.

The exclusion of WP MPs from the Buangkok CC opening and similar events underscores the challenges they face in engaging with their constituents through official channels.

Last May, Ms He raised a parliamentary question to Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong about the regulations governing interactions between grassroots organizations, the PA, and government agency outreach efforts.

Mr Tong affirmed that the PA does not conduct any activity with any political party, nor does it allow its venues to be used for partisan purposes. However, the exclusion of elected WP MPs from key community events like the Buangkok CC opening suggests a blurred line between government and party activities.

Despite these challenges, WP MPs remain committed to their constituents. Mr Chua, for instance, reassured residents of his dedication and availability. The ongoing exclusion of opposition MPs from community events raises important questions about the inclusivity and fairness of grassroots representation in Singapore.

Back in 2016, Minister Chan said that the PA was not a partisan organization and it did not check on the political allegiance of its members and their voting preferences, saying that the latter was “not relevant to our work.”

“I will be the last person to ever allow the People’s Association to be politicized,” Chan told Parliament in the Committee of Supply debate.

Despite Mr Chan’s promise, much is left to be said about the reality on the ground, especially in light of the notable absence of WP MPs from the Buangkok CC opening.