ADVISOR TO COMMUNITY CENTRE (Political affiliation)

Mr Cheo Chai Chen asked the Acting Minister for Community Development whether there is any stipulation that an advisor to a community centre must have no political party affiliation and, if not, whether he will consider the automatic appointment of the elected Member of Parliament for the constituency as the advisor.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Wong Kan Seng): There is nothing in the rules of the Community Centre Management Committee (CCMC) stipulating that an advisor to a community centre must not have political affiliation. An elected Member of Parliament will not automatically be appointed as the advisor of the CCMC.

The People's Association's task is to implement the Government's social policies and programmes. To ensure the success of the Government's social programmes, the PA appoints capable persons who understand and support the Government's policies as advisors to advise the community centres. They need not necessarily be MPs.