Sunday, February 19, 2006
Grassroots Examination
Peh Shing Huei's 10 Feb article in the Straits Times, 'Aye to apolitical grassroots organisations', seems to have struck a chord with two subsequent Straits Times Forum letters agreeing with him: 'Choosing grassroots advisers: Forget politics' by Chong Weien on 14 Feb and 'Grassroots worker wants out of politics' by Yee Kai Ling on 18 Feb. Peh's article picked up the assertion in the recently released Worker's Party manifesto that grassroot leaders are "the 'eyes and ears' of the Government". To quote Peh further: "In fact, for many Singaporeans, there is hardly any distinction between the PAP members and grassroots leaders." Peh's article concludes with the call for grassroot organisations to "remain in the hands of the elected representative".
Chong's letter is a call for "GRO advisers [to be] appointed according to principles of meritocracy, and regardless of political affiliations." while Yee's letter asks that "Volunteers in GROs should not be put in a difficult position to decide whether to join a political party just because they want to serve the community."
Chong's letter is a call for "GRO advisers [to be] appointed according to principles of meritocracy, and regardless of political affiliations." while Yee's letter asks that "Volunteers in GROs should not be put in a difficult position to decide whether to join a political party just because they want to serve the community."
