[Blasterlord2]

• Since last year’s General Election, defeated PAP candidates have not restarted their version of meet-the-people sessions
  
• PAP activists in these opposition constituencies say they have been directing residents who approach them to the Workers’ Party instead
  
• Recent changes to CIPC funds could also portend a shake-up in grassroot politics, although defeated PAP candidates continue to serve as grassroot advisers
  
• Some analysts say the unprecedented moves may signal the party acknowledging calls for a fairer playing field
  
• Others believe that the PAP wants to dispel the notion that voters in opposition wards will have two parties serving them
  

SINGAPORE — Away from the public eye and amid the national focus on the Covid-19 pandemic, changes have been quietly afoot in how the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) is going about its work to try and wrest back the opposition-controlled Sengkang GRC, Aljunied GRC and Hougang.

Since the General Election (GE) held in July last year, some political watchers have observed that its meet-the-people sessions in these wards have ceased entirely, even as elected MPs in all PAP and WP constituencies continued holding their sessions — be it physical or virtual — amid the pandemic.

Speaking to TODAY, several PAP activists — who spoke on condition of anonymity — confirmed that in the past year, they have been urging residents living in the opposition wards to get in touch with their Workers’ Party MPs first.

A party spokesperson said as much in response to TODAY’s queries: “Citizens are advised to approach the elected MP for their place of residence for help”

Still, some PAP activists in these wards were keen to stress that they remain focused on their mission.

In a joint response sent by Mr Victor Lye, who was part of the PAP’s team in Aljunied GRC in the 2020 GE, the PAP branch chairs in Aljunied GRC and Hougang said that their activists and volunteers “continue to support residents in these challenging times”.

Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/big-read/big...-territory