The Online Citizen (TOC) was alerted by one reader on 27 April about individuals putting the banner for the PAP candidate, Mr Murali Pillai in the Bukit Batok SMC by-election, on the banner rack of the Resident Committee (RC) Zone 6 at Blk 168 Bukit Batok West Ave 8.
On 28 April, questions were sent to the People's Association (PA) that governs the RC about whether is there any rules that allow the use of RC facilities for partisan purpose.
No replies have been received from PA so far.
However, when TOC visited the site again last night, that particular banner was removed from the rack.
A visit to the other RC centres also saw that no such banners were put up.
On 14 April, Deputy Chairman of the People's Association, Chan Chun Sing said, "The PA is a statutory board. It executes the directions for the Government of the day, as per any statutory board. The PA does not allow any political activity or canvassing on our premises or in our activities. And we certainly do not mobilise anyone for any political party,"
Mr Chan was responding to Ms Sylvia Lim's speech of how some of the PA's activities have deviated from its objectives. Mrs Lim pointed to the mobilisation of PA activists to campaign for the ruling People's Action Party's candidates during elections as an example.
Mr Chan added. ""If Ms Lim has any such evidence of wrongdoing, you can let me know, and I guarantee you I will follow up. I will be the last person to ever allow the PA to be politicised."
Mr Chan might have just made true of his words and ensured that PA is not visibly politicised in this by-election.
Article first published on The Online Citizen
Source:
Editor's Note:
Do you have a story to share? Please use our submission form or email us at editorial@allsingaporestuff.com. If not, why not give us a 'Like'?