Relationship between People's Association and Grassroots Advisors who are Not Elected Members of Parliament
Ministry of Culture, Community and YouthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the relationship between the People's Association and Grassroots Advisers who are not elected Members of Parliament, specifically regarding their contractual nature and information-sharing protocols. Mr Fadli Fawzi asked about the regulations governing data sharing with these advisers and whether such information is shared with opposition Members of Parliament contemporaneously. Minister Edwin Tong Chun Fai responded that advisers are appointed to strengthen social cohesion and actively support, explain, and implement Government policies within the community. He stated that since opposition Members of Parliament are not expected to perform these roles, information is shared with advisers as appropriate to their specific functions. The Minister added that such sharing is conducted in accordance with relevant legislation and Public Service regulations governing data protection.
Transcript
84 Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth given that Grassroots Advisers (GRAs) are not public servants (a) what are the (i) nature and (ii) terms of the contractual relationship between PA and GRAs who are not elected MPs; (b) what are the relevant legislation and public service regulations governing information sharing with such GRAs; and (c) whether such information is shared with opposition MPs contemporaneously, and if not, why not.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: I am answering in my capacity as the Minister charged with the responsibility for the People's Association (PA).
The role of Grassroots Advisers (GRAs) has been clearly articulated since the early days of our grassroots system and reiterated on several occasions, including in this House.
GRAs are appointed by PA to fulfil various roles. This includes forging stronger people-to-people as well as people-to-Government relations, which have been critical to our national unity and identity. GRAs also help to build up social cohesion within our communities, achieved through a variety of means.
One of the GRA's roles is to actively support the policies of the Government. This would include, where appropriate, explaining Government policy to the people of Singapore, in order for such policies to be understood, supported and implemented. GRAs also assist in the implementation of such policies where necessary, as well as in gathering feedback on such policies to allow the Government to make the relevant adjustments as may be appropriate. In discharging this role, it is critical for GRAs to work with the community to gain support for and implement Government policy. This is not something which opposition Members of Parliament are expected to do.
It is in this context that relevant information as may be appropriate in the circumstance, is shared with GRAs. The type of information shared depends on the specific nature of the function or programme that the GRA is carrying out. As has been explained previously, such sharing of information is carried out in accordance with relevant legislation and Public Service regulations governing data sharing.