A resident of Chua Chu Kang GRC has come forward with concerns after receiving a delivery on 25 April, containing both a campaign flyer from the People’s Action Party (PAP) and a Town Council booklet detailing estate upgrades.
The two items were delivered bundled together in a single plastic bag by an individual wearing a white polo shirt with red and blue elements. When questioned, the individual confirmed that he was a PAP member.
The attire worn by the individual bore a notable resemblance to that commonly associated with the People’s Association (PA), a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
The combination of political materials, a government-linked publication, and PA-style attire raises questions about the clarity of separation between political campaigning and public service imagery during election periods.
The Town Council booklet, assumed to be funded using public monies, was physically bundled with the PAP flyer and distributed directly to residents’ homes.
The resident also shared that another bundle of materials was delivered to their doorstep on Nomination Day, which included town council booklets and a from the Grassroots Advisor advertising S$1 deals.
Although the delivery of such material is not problematic in itself, the timing of its delivery – on Nomination Day, which is within the election period – raises questions.
Under Singapore’s Parliamentary Elections Act, campaign-related expenses must be declared, and state resources cannot be used to benefit electoral candidates.
There is a limit on how much candidates can spend to ensure a fair electoral process and prevent excessive financial influence on election outcomes.
For Chua Chu Kang GRC, where there are 93,368 registered voters, the campaign spending limit is set at S$466,840—calculated at S$5 per elector under the current election regulations.
The integration of a publicly funded Town Council publication with political campaign material raises important questions about compliance with these rules.
In light of these issues, The Online Citizen sent a formal email to the PAP media team on 28 April, requesting a response to the following questions:
- Was the bundling of the Chua Chu Kang Town Council booklet and the PAP campaign material an authorised initiative by the PAP team contesting Chua Chu Kang GRC?
- If so, was there consideration of whether this could be perceived as using public resources for political campaigning?
- Will the printing and distribution costs of the Town Council booklet be included in the PAP team’s declaration of election expenses?
- How does the PAP team ensure that town council communications remain neutral and distinct from political campaigning, especially during election periods?
- Has the PAP issued any internal guidelines to candidates and campaign volunteers on maintaining separation between public service materials and political activities?
As of 30 April 2025, no response has been received from the PAP team.
A notable example comes from the United Kingdom when comparing this situation with practices in other jurisdictions.
Peter Taylor, the Liberal Democrat Mayor of Watford, recently faced public scrutiny for using his council email to promote party candidates in the lead-up to county elections.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Taylor later apologised and was reminded by council officers that council resources should not be used for political purposes.
In this instance, the combination of Town Council material, party campaign content, and attire resembling that of a government-linked organisation presents a situation in which the boundaries between public service and political activity may appear blurred.
The Online Citizen is inviting residents from other constituencies to come forward if they have experienced similar situations.
If you have received a town council booklet bundled with political campaign materials, please submit photo evidence to theonlinecitizen@gmail.com.
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