The Job Scope of Mayors in Singapore: An Explanation
In the Year 2025 Elections: Mayors Continue to Carry Significance as They Consolidate District Demands and Pursue Resources, Suggests Denise Phua of PAP
Singapore's mayors are entrusted with the responsibility of managing the Community Development Councils (CDCs). These councils aim to uplift the community through diverse initiatives and programs. Contrary to popular belief, mayors don't assume the duties of Members of Parliament (MPs) or grassroots advisors—instead, they collaborate with them to boost local development [3].
Mayors concentrate on shaping community development projects and maintaining oversight of the CDCs, making sure the needs of the area are catered to. On the other hand, MPs are elected officials in charge of legislative responsibilities and handling constituent concerns. Grassroots advisors, in close association with residents and community leaders, help pinpoint and resolve local issues [1][2].
The Controversy Over Mayoral Positions
Recently, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) suggested the elimination of the mayor positions in Singapore. Their candidate for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Jufri Salim, proposed utilizing the mayors' salaries — currently S$660,000 (US$502,200) per annum, as per a 2012 White Paper on ministerial salaries [4]— towards supporting the elderly, students, providing housing grants, and funding mental health services.
The reasons behind the SDP's calls for abolishing mayoral positions remain undisclosed in the provided data. Generally, critics worry about potential redundancies or overlapping roles between mayors, MPs, and grassroots advisors, advocating for consolidation or redefining these positions for enhanced efficiency.
The Advocacy for Mayor Roles
Despite skepticism, figures such as Denise Phua from the People's Action Party (PAP) staunchly defend the significance of mayors. They maintain that mayors and CDCs are indispensable for fostering community engagement and development, playing a supporting role that compliments the work of MPs and grassroots advisors [2][4].
- The People's Action Party (PAP)'s Denise Phua advocates for the retention of mayoral positions in Singapore, stating that mayors and Community Development Councils (CDCs) are essential for promoting community engagement and development.
- Singapore's mayors, in collaboration with Members of Parliament (MPs) and grassroots advisors, are responsible for shaping community development projects and maintaining oversight of the CDCs to cater to the needs of the area.
- In the General News, there have been discussions about the future of mayoral positions in Singapore, with the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) proposing their elimination in favor of using the mayors' salaries for various social causes, such as supporting the elderly, funding mental health services, and providing housing grants.
- In 2025, the policy landscape of Singapore might undergo significant changes if the suggestions made by the SDP come to fruition, potentially impacting the roles of mayors, MPs, and grassroots advisors in Singapore's politics and policy-and-legislation sphere.
