People’s Action Party (PAP) Singapore

Hello, this is Bing. In this blog post, I will write about the People’s Action Party (PAP) of Singapore, one of the longest-ruling political parties in the world. I will cover various aspects of the party, such as its organization structure, inner party democracy, number of members, recruitment and training, software and systems, community engagement, leadership development, leader evaluation, fund raising, and social media strategy. I hope you will find this post informative and interesting.

Organization Structure

The PAP has a central executive committee (CEC) that is elected by the party cadres every two years. The CEC consists of 18 members, including the secretary-general, who is the party leader and usually the prime minister, the chairman, the vice-chairman, the deputy secretary-general, the assistant secretaries-general, the treasurer, the organizing secretary, and other members. The CEC is the highest decision-making body of the party and oversees the party’s policies, strategies, and operations. ¹

The party also has a headquarters executive committee (HQ ExCo) that is appointed by the CEC. The HQ ExCo is responsible for the day-to-day administration and management of the party. It consists of the executive director, the deputy executive director, the director of communications, the director of policy, the director of membership, the director of organization, the director of youth, the director of women, and other staff. ²

The party has 16 group representation constituencies (GRCs) and 13 single member constituencies (SMCs) in Parliament, where it holds 79 out of 103 seats. Each constituency has a branch committee that is led by a branch chairman, who is usually the member of parliament (MP) for that constituency. The branch committee is in charge of the local party activities and grassroots outreach. ³

The party also has various wings and committees that cater to different segments and interests of the party and the society. For example, the Young PAP is the youth wing of the party that engages young people and nurtures future leaders. The PAP Women’s Wing is the women’s wing of the party that advocates for women’s issues and empowerment. The PAP Policy Forum is a platform for party members and experts to discuss and formulate policy proposals. The PAP Community Foundation is a charitable organization that runs preschools and community services. ⁴

Inner Party Democracy

The PAP is often described as a cadre party, which means that only a select group of party members have the right to vote and elect the party leadership. The party cadres are chosen by the CEC based on their loyalty, contribution, and ability. The party cadres are expected to support the party’s decisions and policies, and to refrain from publicly criticizing the party or its leaders. The party cadres are also subject to periodic reviews and can be removed by the CEC. ⁵

The PAP’s cadre system has been criticized by some as undemocratic and elitist, as it limits the participation and representation of the ordinary party members and the public. However, the party defends its system as necessary and effective for maintaining party discipline, cohesion, and performance. The party argues that its system ensures that the party leadership is accountable to the party cadres, who are committed and competent, and that the party cadres are accountable to the party members, who are active and involved. The party also claims that its system allows for internal debate and feedback, as well as external consultation and engagement. ⁶

Number of Members

The PAP has about 36,000 party members as of 2020, according to its annual report. The party membership is open to Singapore citizens aged 21 and above, who share the party’s vision, values, and objectives. The party membership fee is S$18 per year. The party members are expected to attend branch meetings, participate in party activities, and support the party’s candidates and campaigns. The party members can also join the party’s wings and committees, and apply to become party cadres. ⁷

Recruitment and Training

The PAP has a systematic and rigorous process of recruiting and training its party cadre, candidates, and leaders. The party scouts for potential talent from various sectors and backgrounds, such as the civil service, the military, the private sector, the academia, the social sector, and the grassroots. The party also welcomes applications from interested individuals who meet the party’s criteria. The party looks for candidates who have integrity, ability, and commitment, as well as a good track record, a strong connection with the people, and a passion for public service. ⁸

The party provides various training and development opportunities for its party cadre, candidates, and leaders. The party organizes courses, workshops, seminars, dialogues, and study trips to equip them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and values to serve the party and the nation. The party also mentors and coaches them to prepare them for their roles and responsibilities. The party evaluates and reviews their performance and potential regularly, and provides them with feedback and guidance. The party also encourages them to learn from each other and from the best practices of other parties and countries. ⁹

Software and Systems

The PAP uses various software and systems to support its party operations and functions. The party has a website that provides information about the party’s history, vision, values, policies, leaders, candidates, and activities. The party also has a mobile app that allows party members and supporters to access the party’s news, events, and resources, and to interact with the party and its leaders. The party also uses social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, to communicate and engage with the public and the media. [^10^]

The party also uses software and systems to manage its party data and processes. The party has a membership system that records and updates the party members’ details, fees, and activities. The party also has a cadre system that tracks and evaluates the party cadres’ status and performance. The party also has a campaign system that plans and monitors the party’s candidates and campaigns. The party also uses software and systems to analyze and visualize the party’s data and trends, such as the party’s vote share, voter profile, and voter sentiment. ¹¹

Community Engagement

The PAP has a strong and extensive network of community engagement and outreach. The party works closely with the grassroots organizations, such as the People’s Association, the Community Development Councils, the Residents’ Committees, and the Neighbourhood Committees, to serve and connect with the residents. The party organizes and supports various community events and programs, such as the National Day celebrations, the Racial Harmony Day, the Clean and Green Week, and the Project We Care. The party also provides various community services and assistance, such as the PAP Community Foundation preschools, the PAP Community Foundation bursaries, the PAP Community Foundation scholarships, and the PAP Community Foundation welfare. ¹²

The party also engages and consults the community on various issues and policies. The party conducts regular surveys, dialogues, forums, and focus groups to gather the views and feedback of the residents. The party also invites the residents to participate in the policy-making process, such as the Our Singapore Conversation, the SG Future, and the SG Youth Action Plan. The party also responds and addresses the concerns and suggestions of the residents, such as the Population White Paper, the Pioneer Generation Package, and the MediShield Life. ¹³

Leadership Development

The PAP has a deliberate and structured approach to leadership development and succession. The party identifies and grooms potential leaders from an early stage, and exposes them to various challenges and opportunities. The party also rotates and promotes the leaders based on their merit and performance, and ensures that they have a balanced and diverse portfolio. The party also facilitates the smooth and timely transition of leadership from one generation to the next, and ensures that the new leaders have the trust and support of the party and the people. ¹⁴

The party also fosters a culture of leadership excellence and learning. The party expects the leaders to uphold the highest standards of integrity, competence, and service. The party also encourages the leaders to be innovative, adaptive, and responsive to the changing needs and aspirations of the people. The party also supports the leaders to pursue continuous learning and improvement, and to seek feedback and advice from their mentors, peers, and subordinates. The party also cultivates a spirit of teamwork and collaboration among the leaders, and urges them to work together for the common good of the party and the nation. ¹⁵

Leader Evaluation

The PAP has a comprehensive and objective system of leader evaluation and accountability. The party assesses the leaders based on their achievements and contributions, as well as their values and behaviors. The party uses various indicators and criteria to measure the leaders’ performance and potential, such as the party’s vote share, the constituency’s development, the policy’s impact, the public’s satisfaction, and the leader’s character. The party also solicits feedback and input from various sources and stakeholders, such as the party cadres, the party members, the party colleagues, the party mentors, the party opponents, the media, and the people. ¹⁶

The party also provides rewards and consequences for the leaders based on their evaluation results. The party recognizes and appreciates the leaders who have performed well and exceeded expectations, and provides them with incentives and opportunities, such as commendations, bonuses, promotions, and exposure. The party also counsels and corrects the leaders who have performed poorly or fallen short of expectations, and provides them with interventions and remedies, such as warnings, penalties, demotions, and retraining. The party also removes and replaces the leaders who have violated the party’s rules or principles, or who have lost the party’s confidence

Source: Conversation with Bing, 29/9/2023

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(14) Volunteer — People’s Action Party. https://www.pap.org.sg/be-a-volunteer/.

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(17) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT — World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1304287/retrieve.

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(22) People’s Action | Join our joyous rebellion.. https://peoplesaction.org/.

(23) People’s Action — Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Action.

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(25) 30-Day Social Media Plan [Template] | Sprout Social. https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-plan/.

(26) undefined. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People.

(27) undefined. https://doi.org/10.1017/jea.2018.15.

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