Opposition wards’ residents get “double” help?

May 16, 2014

We refer to the articles “North East CDC raises S$1m for needy residents” and
“Work of GPCs should be made more public, say analysts” (Channel NewsAsia,  May 16).

CDC raised $1m to help needy residents?

It states that “A charity golf and dinner event organised by the North East Community Development Council (CDC) raised S$1 million for needy residents in the North East District.”

“Broken” feedback?

In our view, the current feedback mechanisms like the GPCs, Reach and the National Conversation, may not be working well.

They may tend to ignore the obvious.

Govt doesn’t give CDCs enough money?

For example, why does a Government that has huge Budget surpluses every year ($36.1 billion for FY2012 according to the Department of Statistics using IMF fiscal reporting guidelines) – spend the lowest welfare spending as a percentage of GDP in the world ($102 million under ComCare) – Yet gives so little money to the CDCs that they have to compete with Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) for arguably limited charity donations?

This trend of increasing “donations” activity by the CDCs in recent years may mean that the needy staying in different places may get different types of help.

Disadvantage for the opposition?

This may put the opposition wards in a quandary or disadvantage.

Or maybe be an advantage – like a double-edged sword.

Are they able to raise as much funds as the CDCs that may be perceived as linked to the Government?

Opposition wards’ residents get “double” help?

But of course, what it may actually  mean in reality, is that as an opposition ward needy resident – you will get help from the CDC in the same way as non – opposition wards’ residents in the same CDC.

And in a way – get the best of both worlds –  getting help from both parties.

– Kind of like when a ward that goes over to the opposition gets “double” assustance from the losing candidate who typically becomes the grassroots advisor.

System needs overhaul?

Perhaps what we need is not just a leadership change in some of the GPCs – but an overhaul of the entire system?

SY Lee and Leong Sze Hian

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About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.