\n<\/p>\n
Mr Singh said it remains unclear to many Singaporeans what the job scope of mayors is, and why their pay needs to be linked to the political salary framework.<\/p>\n
Noting that he had previously raised the topic in parliament, Mr Singh said many functions previously performed by the Community Development Councils, which mayors head, have gradually been devolved to other organisations, including Social Service Offices and other government agencies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 2026 Review Committee has itself now recognised that the considerations for community-related roles such as MPs and mayors may differ from those for full-time political appointment holders,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He noted that the government has accepted the committee’s recommendation to study how to delink payments for these roles from the MR4 ministerial benchmark, while ensuring they remain adequate for the roles to be carried out faithfully and effectively.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeyond confirming when the study is likely to be completed, I ask the government to include in its study if it intends to keep the Office of the Mayor and to explain its scope, role and function,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Singh also called for a review of allowances for legislative assistants and secretarial assistants to MPs, something not included in the recent exercise.<\/p>\n
The government said in March this year that the matter fell outside the review committee\u2019s terms of reference, and that these allowances were last updated in 2007, said Mr Singh.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is appropriate to ask why, after 19 years, the remuneration and manpower support for these assistants remains static. Their allowances should also increase to accommodate the inflation over close to two decades,\u201d said Mr Singh.<\/p>\n
He added that legislative assistants and secretarial assistants help MPs discharge their responsibilities to their constituents or to parliament, and \u201cthey do so regardless of party affiliation\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be a travesty to overlook these individuals when considering the resources necessary for Members of Parliament to discharge their responsibilities effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Singh said that while Mr Wong highlighted how proper MP allowances enabled both the PAP and WP to recruit and field strong candidates and boost the quality of debate in parliament, “the raison d’\u00eatre of both the WP and PAP is very different”.<\/p>\n
\u201cSimply put, a sufficient MP allowance is not a reason Singaporeans choose to stand on the Workers\u2019 Party ticket, and remuneration is not the device or platform through which the Workers\u2019 Party attracts candidates or can attract candidates,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe point I wish to make is not that MP remuneration is unimportant. It is that remuneration is not what drives an individual to become a Workers\u2019 Party candidate.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said that WP candidates believe in a more balanced political system and are prepared to stand behind their convictions against significant odds, while working for Singaporeans on the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality is that winning an election for the opposition in a one-party dominant state, where the PAP remains electorally dominant, represents a gargantuan challenge for many, both personally and professionally,\u201d said Mr Singh.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a WP candidate, there can be no assumption of electoral success, particularly given the structural advantages enjoyed by the incumbent governing party.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Singh said no WP candidate can reasonably take for granted that he or she will win the General Election and become an MP, let alone decide to stand for election on the basis of achieving remuneration prospects.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe our political system and our country is strengthened, and not weakened, by a strong and sensible opposition presence in parliament, where at least one-third of the seats should be in opposition hands,\u201d he said, emphasising the check-and-balance role of the opposition as an important ballast in Singapore\u2019s political system.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn our view, it also plays an important role in uniting our people \u2013 something that will become increasingly important for Singapore in the years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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