[Bigiron]

Bullshit in GE2025: Mayors remain important as they 'aggregate' district needs, seek resources, says PAP's Denise Phua
 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapor...042025_cna

The article you referenced discusses PAP MP Denise Phua's defense of the mayor role in Singapore's political system, arguing that mayors are important because they "aggregate" district needs and seek resources. Here are some potential criticisms or "bullshit" aspects of this argument:

### 1. **Redundancy of Mayors in an Already Overlapping System**  
   - Singapore already has MPs, grassroots advisers (often PAP members), and town councils managing local issues. The mayor role (currently tied to the People's Association) seems like an unnecessary bureaucratic layer that duplicates existing functions.  
   - Critics argue that mayors are primarily a way to give PAP politicians higher salaries (mayors earn **S$660,000 to over S$1 million annually**) while doing work that MPs or civil servants could handle.  

### 2. **Lack of Democratic Accountability**  
   - Unlike in other countries where mayors are directly elected, Singapore’s mayors are **appointed by the PAP**, not voted in by residents. This means they aren’t truly accountable to the people they serve.  
   - The role is often seen as a **political reward** for loyal PAP members rather than a genuine service position.  

### 3. **Vague Justifications Like "Aggregating Needs"**  
   - The term "aggregate district needs" is bureaucratic fluff—what does it actually mean in practice? MPs and town councils already handle local feedback.  
   - If mayors were truly essential, why don’t Opposition-run wards (like WP-held areas) suffer from not having them?  

### 4. **Expensive Overhead for Questionable Value**  
   - Singapore has **five mayors** (for five districts), each drawing hefty salaries. Is this cost justified when their roles overlap with other agencies?  
   - The People’s Association (which oversees mayors) has been criticized as a **PAP-dominated tool** to consolidate political control rather than an impartial public service.  

### 5. **Historical Context: Mayors Were Abolished, Then Brought Back**  
   - Singapore had no mayors from 1991 until 2014, when the role was reintroduced. If local governance worked fine without them for 23 years, why are they suddenly indispensable now?  

### **Conclusion**  
The defense of mayors feels like **post-hoc justification** for a system that primarily benefits the PAP politically and financially. The role seems designed to:  
- Reward party loyalists with high salaries.  
- Maintain PAP influence through the People’s Association.  
- Create an illusion of local representation without real democratic accountability.  

Would love to hear your thoughts—do you think mayors are really necessary, or is this just political wayang?

[red3]

Yes they aggregate very well glueing up the salary expense shortfall to make the budget whole

[Ola]

Aggregate district needs?

SG is a City and a Country

1 Mayor is enough to aggregate 1 city needs

[Bigiron]

The position of mayor in Singapore was abolished in **1965** for the City Council, which was the only body with an elected mayor prior to that time. Ong Eng Guan was Singapore's first and only elected mayor, serving from December 1957 until April 1959, when he and other People’s Action Party (PAP) councillors resigned. The City Council itself was dissolved in 1959 upon Singapore attaining self-governance, and it was formally abolished in 1965 when Singapore gained independence from Malaysia, as provided by the Republic of Singapore Independence Act 1965. This act empowered the President to abolish the City Council and the Rural Board, transferring their functions to the government.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Council_of_Singapore)

However, the modern mayor positions, tied to the Community Development Councils (CDCs) and established in 1997, have not been abolished. There are currently five mayors, each overseeing one of Singapore’s five districts (Central, North East, North West, South East, and South West). Recent discussions, such as the Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) call on April 26, 2025, to abolish these CDC mayor positions, reflect ongoing political debate but no actual policy change has occurred.[](https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2021/03...countries/)

For more details on the historical context, see: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Counc...Singapore)

[Bigiron]

Here are the key details about calls to abolish mayors in Singapore, along with relevant sources:

### **1. SDP's Call to Abolish Mayors**  
- The **Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)** has explicitly called for the abolition of mayor positions in Singapore, arguing that their salaries (S$660,000/year) could be better spent on social support for seniors, students, housing grants, and mental health services .  
- SDP’s Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC candidate, **Jufri Salim**, criticized mayors for being largely ceremonial ("they show up for ribbon cuttings") while ordinary Singaporeans struggle with rising costs .  

### **2. Denise Phua’s Defense of Mayors**  
- **Denise Phua** (PAP Mayor for Central District) countered SDP’s stance, claiming mayors play a crucial "regional role" by:  
  - Aggregating district needs.  
  - Securing corporate and government resources for local programs (e.g., CDC vouchers, The Purple Parade for disabilities inclusion) .  
- Critics argue this overlaps with MPs' and grassroots advisers' roles, making mayors redundant .  

### **3. Historical Context of Mayors in Singapore**  
- Singapore briefly had an elected mayor (**Ong Eng Guan**, 1957–1959) under the **City Council**, which was abolished in 1965 .  
- The current **Community Development Council (CDC) mayors** were reintroduced in 2014 under the **People’s Association (PA)**, a PAP-linked statutory board .  
- Unlike other countries, Singapore’s mayors are **not elected** but appointed by the PA, raising accountability concerns .  

### **4. Key Criticisms of Mayors**  
- **High Salaries:** Mayors earn **S$660,000/year** (more than New York’s mayor) despite unclear deliverables .  
- **Lack of Democratic Mandate:** They are PAP appointees, not elected by residents .  
- **Redundancy:** Their functions (e.g., "community bonding") duplicate MPs’ and PA grassroots networks .  

### **Relevant Links**  
1. **[SDP’s Rally Calling for Abolition](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapor...an-5091261)**   
2. **[Denise Phua’s Defense of Mayors](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapor...ua-5092491)**   
3. **[History of Singapore’s Mayors](https://theindependent.sg/singapores-may...o-they-do/)**   

### **Conclusion**  
The debate centers on whether mayors are **essential administrators** or **political sinecures**. While the PAP defends their role, opposition parties like SDP argue they’re a wasteful legacy of PAP’s dominance.

[Rainforest]

[Ineedhelp]

Aggregate already still deficit cos the mayor salary too high... Lol

[Ola]

She really thinks we are as stewpig as Jac Lau with Fake Degree?

Aggregate data for reporting purpose is NEVER regional

-----------------------------------------------------------------

9. MAYORS ARE REGIONAL ROLE (RUBBISH)

Trying to deceive naive 61% idiots where one NW region has different set of LAWS to the other SE ?   

ie like Regional HR, Regional Legal Counsel, Regional Finance Director

Only a few, no other jobs are truly regional

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/p...paign=stfb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&

[watchfirst9]

Aggregate already still deficit cos the mayor salary too high... Lol

In a new world economy or global ‘storm’, 
only need 1 instead 5 Mayors.
and should work with individual MP on their districts.

[KILLjoy]

what a joke

one miserable little red menses dot
needs so so so so many mayors
and
even a once in awhile for wayang
puppet president

how they stay hungry if no opposition
in the parliament?

why the peoples action party so selfish
in keeping all the good well paying
jobs to themselves
and refuses to work hand in hand with
the oppositions in improving singapoo

uniquely singapoo

[Ola]

what a joke

one miserable little red menses dot
needs so so so so many mayors
and
even a once in awhile for wayang
puppet president

how they stay hungry if no opposition
in the parliament?

why the peoples action party so selfish
in keeping all the good well paying
jobs to themselves
and refuses to work hand in hand with
the oppositions in improving singapoo

uniquely singapoo

Bad Decision made by PAP

Puppet Wong also dare not remove the useless 5 Mayors

They are duplicating the job of the sister companies under MOM, MOH, MOE . . .

[KILLjoy]

Bad Decision made by PAP

Puppet Wong also dare not remove the useless 5 Mayors

They are duplicating the job of the sister companies under MOM, MOH, MOE . . .

someone did said
singapoo cannot be a welfare state

well well well....

now citizens should know the
reason why

its a welfare state only for them
and none for you

remember

rules for thee but not for me

this should be their rightful motto

for the interest of the party
and never ever for the people

PaP No.1