Review on Contribution Amounts by Employees to Self-help Groups

11 Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth whether the Government assesses there to be a need to raise the respective contribution amounts by employees to self-help groups, namely, the Chinese Development Assistance Council Fund, Eurasian Community Fund, Mosque Building and MENDAKI Fund and Singapore Indian Development Association Fund, particularly for those earning high incomes.

The Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth (Mr Alvin Tan) (for the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth): Sir, the self-help groups are primarily funded by contributions from the respective ethnic communities. The contribution rates are determined by the respective self-help groups, based on the needs of their communities. These rates are progressively packed with those earning higher incomes contributing more.

The self-help groups review their contribution rates when needed, taking into consideration their programme requirements and the prevailing economic situation faced by the communities. Individuals may choose to also contribute more than the rate set by self-help groups, by writing to the respective self-help groups. They may also make additional donations to self-help groups, apart from their monthly contributions.