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| The phoenix is a bird which rises from its own ashes to fly again stronger and fuller of life than before. |
Singapore’s foremost political leader once famously stated [1]:
"What
political party helps an opposition to come to power? Why should we not
demolish them before they get started? Once they get started, it’s more
difficult to demolish them. If you are polite to me, I'm polite to you
but I'll demolish your policy. It is the job of every government to do that
if you want to stay in power."
The
elder statesman has candidly explained that a ruling party which is in power
would want to stay in power. One way to stay in power is to demolish opposition
before they get started. For once they get started it is more difficult
to demolish them.
Singapore’s
ruling party has stayed in power for over 50 years. So firm has the PAP's grip been that since
the first post-independence general elections were held up to the 2011 general
elections, there were never more than 4 elected Members of Parliament from the
opposition. Currently, there are just 7 out of 87.
With
respect, I do not agree that it is laudable for a ruling party to seek the
demolition of opposition parties. When a political party wins the mandate
to form the government, it takes on the responsibility of serving the nation.
The ruling party must serve the nation in priority to its own interests.
Is
it in the interest of Singapore to have weak opposition political parties and
feeble civil society organisations? I do not think so. Allowing circulation
of differing ideas and opinions will build a more robust nation, one which would
have the full complement of solutions for its problems.
Systems
to guarantee plurality in politics are entrenched in many democratic nations.
For instance, in Germany, Sweden, Canada, Australia and other
democracies, political parties are entitled to receive subsidies or cash grants
from the government for their political activities. [2] Such government grants
help to ensure the survival of political parties, their ability to play their part
in the political process and the continuance of healthy competition for
political office.
Laws
and regulation are necessary but must not curb healthy political competition. Sad to say, we have many laws which have the
adverse effect of stifling the activities and growth of opposition political
parties and non-partisan civil society groups. One of which is the
Political Donations Act (Act) [3].
According
to the Elections Department [4], the Act seeks to prevent foreigners from
interfering in Singapore's domestic politics through funding of candidates and
political associations.
The
Act imposes an onerous compliance regime on both the political association and
its donors.
A
political association is defined to include not just political parties, but
also non-partisan groups like The Online Citizen (a socio-political website)
and MARUAH (a non-governmental organisation).
An
organisation which is deemed to be a political association can only receive
donations from Permissible Donors.
A
“Permissible Donor” is defined as a Singapore citizen not less than 21 years of
age; or a Singapore-incorporated, Singapore-controlled company, the majority of
whose directors and members are Singapore citizens and which carries on
business wholly or mainly in Singapore.
Onus
is on the political association to verify that the donor is a Permissible Donor
before accepting the donation.
Hence,
in order to comply with the Act, the political association has to request the donor
for his NRIC and to give his personal details. In the case of a corporate
donor, the political association would need to inquire or do checks on the
company’s business, directors and shareholders. All these inquiries are an
intrusion on the donor’s privacy and discourage the donor from making the
donation.
Political
associations can only accept less than $5,000 in anonymous donations per
financial year. Any anonymous donation
which will bring the total of anonymous donations beyond $5,000 in that
financial year, will have to be returned or surrendered to the Registrar of
Political Donations (Registrar).
If
the political association receives a single donation of an amount not less than
$10,000, or multiple donations from the same donor the aggregate of which is
not less than $10,000 in a financial year, it must submit a Donation Report to
the Registrar giving the name, identity number and the address of the donor and
the date, value and description of the donation.
In
addition, a donor who has made multiple small donations with an aggregate value
of $10,000 or more to the same political association in a calendar year, is
himself also required to submit a Donation Report and a Declaration Form to the
Registrar. Failure to do so is an
offence under the Act.
I
am not clear how the requirement to report donations of $10,000 or more serves
the stated aim of prohibiting foreign donations. It is clear though, that such a requirement
makes donors wary of making other than small donations.
The
Act is yet another hurdle for opposition parties, by making it difficult for
them to raise funds for its activities.
It
is a ‘Hard Truth’ that money is necessary for democratic politics. Political
parties need funds for their activities. Lack of funds inhibits the activity
and growth of the political party.
It
is evident that the opposition cause has many supporters and well-wishers, and
the numbers are growing.
If
only some of the many supporters would be convinced to brave the gauntlet of
making political donations, I believe that it would spark such a huge
game-change, that the phoenix will rise from its ashes.
Then
the promise we saw in the watershed general elections of 2011 will be allowed
its fulfilment in 2016.
[1] "HARD TRUTHS TO KEEP SINGAPORE
GOING" (2011) by Lee Kuan Yew, at page 82
[3]
Cap. 236, enacted on 15 February 2001
About the Author
The author is the Secretary-General of the National Solidarity Party (NSP). This article is written in her personal capacity.
The author appeals to readers to consider making a donation to NSP. Click on this link to find out how to donate
to NSP: http://nsp.sg/donate/
