Leader of the Opposition, Pritam Singh, shone a spotlight on the roles and remuneration of Community Development Council (CDC) mayors.
Singh was echoing the sentiments of the people on the ground that he heard during the last General Election in 2020, that CDC mayors are earning “outrageous” money and that they are perceived to not warrant such high salaries.
Review roles, salaries and responsibilities
He also proposed that the government review the need for mayors heading the CDCs in the current climate as well as their roles and responsibilities.
According to the White Paper on Salaries for a Capable and Committed Government that was published 9 years ago, in 2012, mayors are paid an annual salary of S$660,000.
Singh added that:
“Other Singaporeans are of the view that the CDCs’ functions can be carried out by other existing entities, or by ministries and statutory boards, including other organisations under the People’s Association, particularly since the social footprint of each CDC is uneven, and can differ greatly compared to another.”
He also added that some people don’t even know what the CDCs actually do.
Earlier in DPM Heng Swee Keat’s Budget speech, he said that all Singaporean households will recceive $100 worth of vouchers to be used at participating neighbourhood shops, and that a $150 million grant will be given to the CDCs to help support this scheme.
Other organisations better equipped than CDCs
However, Singh pointed out that there are other existing organisations that can take better charge of this program, like the Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC), which is known to have representatives of various merchants associations.
He added that the CCCs are even more closely connected to the ground, than the 5 CDCs.
Singh said:
“It would appear to me as if the government is trying to find some way to make the CDCs relevant in view of their relative absence in the public mindshare.“
Image source: Workers’ Party Facebook