The lifeline of any political party depends on its grassroots support base comprising of party supporters and volunteers who help to spread its message in the community, recruit new members into the party and provide a ready source of manpower on the ground for major events such as canvassing for votes before general elections.
The PAP has the most formidable grassroots machinery in Singapore which had contributed to its record number of victories at the polls since independence. Every single constituency is helmed by a PAP branch secretary who served as the middle man between the MP and the residents. He/she organizes the weekly Meet-the-People sessions, walkabouts and grassroots events to be graced by the MP.
The Residents’ Committees (RCs), Citizens Consultative Committees (CCCs) and Community Center Management Committees (CCMCs), though technically under the People’s Association (whose Chairman is the Prime Minister himself) can be considered as part of the PAP’s grassroots support base as well since local PAP leaders often wear two or more hats. They can sit simultaneously on different committees, thereby exerting the party’s influence over all levels of the grassroots network.
In the PAP’s earlier days, its socialist idealogy, message of equality for all and vision of first achieving self-government from the British and later of building a democratic society in a union with then Malaya had attracted many young Singaporeans to join its ranks, some of whom eventually rose up the party hierarchy to hold leadership positions.
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http://temasekreview.com/?p=12758
The PAP has the most formidable grassroots machinery in Singapore which had contributed to its record number of victories at the polls since independence. Every single constituency is helmed by a PAP branch secretary who served as the middle man between the MP and the residents. He/she organizes the weekly Meet-the-People sessions, walkabouts and grassroots events to be graced by the MP.
The Residents’ Committees (RCs), Citizens Consultative Committees (CCCs) and Community Center Management Committees (CCMCs), though technically under the People’s Association (whose Chairman is the Prime Minister himself) can be considered as part of the PAP’s grassroots support base as well since local PAP leaders often wear two or more hats. They can sit simultaneously on different committees, thereby exerting the party’s influence over all levels of the grassroots network.
In the PAP’s earlier days, its socialist idealogy, message of equality for all and vision of first achieving self-government from the British and later of building a democratic society in a union with then Malaya had attracted many young Singaporeans to join its ranks, some of whom eventually rose up the party hierarchy to hold leadership positions.
Read rest of article here:
http://temasekreview.com/?p=12758