COMMUNITY CHEST (Setting up of)

Mr Hwang Soo Jin asked the Minister for Social Affairs whether it has been decided to set up a "Community Chest" for charitable organisations.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs (Mr Chan Chee Seng) (for the Minister for Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, there has been some publicity in recent months on the establishment of a Community Chest in our Republic. I am sure that the Member for Jalan Kayu is aware that the Singapore Council of Social Service is actively working on the establishment of a Community Chest with the aim of centralising fund-raising efforts to finance voluntary welfare activities in the Republic.

My Ministry supports the concept of a Community Chest. The establishment of such a Community Chest will result in an efficient utilisation of public donations for those in need and, moreover, by preventing the duplication and profusion of fund-raising efforts by the various voluntary welfare organisations, the Community Chest would enable these voluntary welfare organisations to concentrate mainly on welfare work per se and to increase its efficiency and scope to meet the welfare needs of the community.