Lavish constituency dinners
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Aug 15, 2005
NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS
No need for lavish constituency dinners
THE Upfront report 'Grassroots dinners go big, with 620 tables' by Peh Shing Huei (ST, Aug
gave me much food for thought.
It seems National Day constituency dinners, a major part of the celebrations, are getting out of hand. They get bigger with each passing year, putting pressure on grassroots leaders to find buyers for tickets and manage the logistics, and on corporate donors whose budgets must be spread ever so thin.
While these dinners strain resources, the citizens consultative committees (CCCs) seem hellbent on outdoing each other in organising the largest dinner, which makes no sense.
According to one CCC chairman, 'it's a loss-making business', but it seems the show must go on regardless. But must it?
Such dinners are usually rather impersonal affairs. Thousands turn up to dine for a couple of hours under a cacophony of chatter and inapt music. They dig into their hastily prepared dishes, almost never get into a good conversation with each other, and, after dessert (and often before), leave as unceremoniously as they came.
Many attend the dinners not because they want to but because they have been coerced to buy a ticket. Thus they come nonchalantly, taking little interest in the proceedings. Some don't even bother to show up, resulting in empty tables and chairs.
Where the gathering is large, it is sometimes difficult to hear the speeches amid the din. Disrespect for the speakers is common and irksome to watch.
Is this any way to celebrate National Day?
However, I'm pleased to note that some CCCs have replaced or supplemented dinners with other crowd-pulling activities such as concerts, art competitions and school performances. I hope this will become a trend so constituency dinners are eventually a thing of the past.
Indeed, Hong Kah GRC MP Ang Mong Seng said it all in his observation that people nowadays don't want to come to the dinner, preferring to donate money instead. Grassroots leaders should take note.
Lee Seck Kay -
Well at least they didn't dig into our CPF or taxes to organize these dinners... Wonder how much a NDP cost...
Maybe we should have a live concert to replace that as well, since it is getting really boring to see mass displays ( of almost the same style ) every year!!
A Live Concert of local artiste will be good. But please minus Sly and Taufik, and whoever is going to win Proj Superstar...
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i support PAP this once , i once attended a dinner like this and we ate shark's fin soup , i drank 3 bowls.
So this is okay. -
who pay for the dinner ?Originally posted by SMAPLionHeart:i support PAP this once , i once attended a dinner like this and we ate shark's fin soup , i drank 3 bowls.
So this is okay. -
Many other constituency functions similarly are held for the purpose of showing off. Such functions are very lavish with sponsors being coerced to take up advertisements for commemorable publications which benefit only the personal reputation of MPs or only a few people while spending hundreds of thousands for little benefits of all.
Such public facilities like community clubs etc are also too lavish and at the end there is only a few users or benefiaries.
The millions spent on such underused facilities and their maintenance should have been collected as endowment funds to relief the unfortunate and unemployed. If the MPs are really concerned about the under-privileged and poor they should set good example in spending public monies and channel the hard-earned public funds to where the mouth is and not to tsunami alone for international name and recognition. -
I think part of my income tax just went into your tummyOriginally posted by SMAPLionHeart:i support PAP this once , i once attended a dinner like this and we ate shark's fin soup , i drank 3 bowls.
So this is okay.
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nothing wrong wad....it was a annual dinner of course must have at hotel lah
somemore every constituency is given their budget
to spend for every year.
this cannot , that cannot , you think u hitler is it? -
i got pay income tax oso wad.Originally posted by miss_soojung:I think part of my income tax just went into your tummy
i was just drinking what rightfully belongs to me. -
This acticle was written by the same person who wrote abt the lack of 'justice' against the convicted molester who had a low IQ of 58. Indirectly, it was gentle attack on the judiciary and CJ. As a measure of the stir he has created within the ranks of the judiciary, this article has still not been answered.Originally posted by crazy monkey:Aug 15, 2005
NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS
No need for lavish constituency dinners
THE Upfront report 'Grassroots dinners go big, with 620 tables' by Peh Shing Huei (ST, Aug gave me much food for thought.
It seems National Day constituency dinners, a major part of the celebrations, are getting out of hand. They get bigger with each passing year, putting pressure on grassroots leaders to find buyers for tickets and manage the logistics, and on corporate donors whose budgets must be spread ever so thin.
While these dinners strain resources, the citizens consultative committees (CCCs) seem hellbent on outdoing each other in organising the largest dinner, which makes no sense.
According to one CCC chairman, 'it's a loss-making business', but it seems the show must go on regardless. But must it?
Such dinners are usually rather impersonal affairs. Thousands turn up to dine for a couple of hours under a cacophony of chatter and inapt music. They dig into their hastily prepared dishes, almost never get into a good conversation with each other, and, after dessert (and often before), leave as unceremoniously as they came.
Many attend the dinners not because they want to but because they have been coerced to buy a ticket. Thus they come nonchalantly, taking little interest in the proceedings. Some don't even bother to show up, resulting in empty tables and chairs.
Where the gathering is large, it is sometimes difficult to hear the speeches amid the din. Disrespect for the speakers is common and irksome to watch.
Is this any way to celebrate National Day?
However, I'm pleased to note that some CCCs have replaced or supplemented dinners with other crowd-pulling activities such as concerts, art competitions and school performances. I hope this will become a trend so constituency dinners are eventually a thing of the past.
Indeed, Hong Kah GRC MP Ang Mong Seng said it all in his observation that people nowadays don't want to come to the dinner, preferring to donate money instead. Grassroots leaders should take note.
Lee Seck Kay
It demonstrates that not every letter to the forum has to be a fiery use of words. Kudos to his continued interest in addressing our country's problems -
Incomplete post.Originally posted by SMAPLionHeart:i got pay income tax oso wad.
i was just drinking what rightfully belongs to me.
continuation : But I haven't start paying income tax, but i can eat and drink whatever that i want, anyway i'm going to pay later.
Cheers -
this are some of the oppcunity, cos many rich and famous want to take picture side by side with MP or minister, so this is one of the chance they can rub shoulder with our leader.
and also the chance for all of their spouse to put on their christmas tree on these session.
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Ever since the nkf saga, any use of funds come under heavy scrutiny.
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I think it's good stuff.Originally posted by ditzy:Ever since the nkf saga, any use of funds come under heavy scrutiny.
Singaporeans(citizens) will have more awareness and reactive towards such unnecessary usage of money and activities.
Cheers -
What's the point of having sharks fin soup at the first place, anyway? Waste of time and money, these dinners are. I dun even wanna bother attending such dinners that only promote such blatant kiasu-ism.Originally posted by SMAPLionHeart:i support PAP this once , i once attended a dinner like this and we ate shark's fin soup , i drank 3 bowls.
So this is okay. -
Thats where you people are wrong.
By having those dinners, they help to promote interaction among grassroots leaders , and RC members etc .
MP can take her chance to go there and thank the people for supporting her , thus garnering more votes .
For me , im still waiting for next year's constituency dinner.
HAIL THE CONSTITUENCY DINNER
It's a big pity that alot of food gets wasted in the constituency dinner.
Other then that , it's flawless.
you should see the size of 1 constituency dinner , it's almost the size of 1 school parade square , or bigger.
(too bad cannot tarbao shark fin soup take home)
they got butter prawn , nice fish , and good dessert , i remember , it's not those cheapo longan drink.
and somemore got give free PAP calendar at the constituency dinner
isn't it good? other then give calendar, they give free pen etc..then i see some old pple kept on kapoing the free pens and free calendar.
Sometimes at the constituency dinner , got malay bands , chinese singers , indian dances , then those super oldie songs like teresa teng and hokkien songs keep on playing..
Then those old ah pek grassroot leaders will clap clap and enjoy..
the last one i went got companies sponsor goodie bag
alamak , just join in and have fun lah!
why whine? -
Ha, all bullshat. I can do the same without resorting to such dinners. As for free pens, free calendars- don't other companies do that for their employees as well? Overly lavish, overspending and outright gluttonry. And these parties being held when the economy is still not doing well too.
You can eat till you get high blood pressure if you want SMAP, but the fact remains is that the PAP won't be able to bribe us all, not even through our stomachs.
I eat to live, not live to eat. I don't bite off more than I can chew. I'm sure most Singaporeans do that too, for money's sake.
Shame on you, SMAP- to allow yourself to get bribed just because of a stupid dinner. You have no principles whatsoever. -
what the hell is wrong with 1 dinner?
just 1 simple meal and you view it as something with hidden intention?
my stomach is happy , if you don't believe , you go for 1 constituency dinner next time.guarenteed to make you happy.
got live hokkien singers they bring in from taiwan , somemore.
During chinese new year.
the dinner area its like fit for a VIP.
you all never go before of course u all will say it's a waste of money.
PAP give out free goodies and freebies , who don't want? -
Did the SPF give permits for Chiam or Low to have their National Day Constituency Dinners ?
Or did the SPF consider Chiam and Low no eligible as Opposition Members to hold National Day dinners in their respective Constituencies ? -
That's the precise point. Just look at all of your replies...its astounding how easily the PAP has bribed some people through their stomaches. It's so obvious and yet so blinding, it's stunning.Originally posted by SMAPLionHeart:what the hell is wrong with 1 dinner?
just 1 simple meal and you view it as something with hidden intention?
my stomach is happy , if you don't believe , you go for 1 constituency dinner next time.guarenteed to make you happy.
got live hokkien singers they bring in from taiwan , somemore.
During chinese new year.
the dinner area its like fit for a VIP.
you all never go before of course u all will say it's a waste of money.
PAP give out free goodies and freebies , who don't want?
For the record, that is your stomach and your heart talking, not your brain. As for your moral principles, you have none whatsoever.
I don't attend such dinners because
1) I believe in healthy eating and living
2) It's wrong to celebrate in such lavish manner when there's such a high unemployment rate among the people
3) I believe the dinners are just a bribing exercise to boost their flagging support among the people in the heartlands and also at least 25-35% of those living in private estates or condos.
And besides I'd like to think I have better stronger moral values than you have. -
aiyooo, why so hot hah?
I have been going to ND dinners every year since 1990. I don't like what I see but I'm there for my share. I pay income tax leh. I don't eat also other people eat. sometimes PAP subsidises 50% of the dinner, sometimes I get free dinner. Where can you drink sharksfin soup, eat fresh steam fish & prawns...etc for S$15 in Singapore? The caterers dare not give lousy food one! PAP leh! siao, siao! Some more got local & foreign artistes perform leh! Also got lucky draw & sponsored goodies!
Last week I went to two ND dinners at Neptune theatre. Got half naked women perform some more!
You think those people who go for such dinners so easy to be bribed ah! We go every year but we don't care for the party's s***. we curse & swear them also wat. what morals? morals don't worth even half a peanut these days. you want to talk morals with the elite & privileged?
we small fry, do what is expected of small fry. got free things - take. whatever you earn - save. earn enough liao, emigrate & become foreign talent in other countries. this one - one elite teach me one!
tell me - what is the difference between a singapore citizen & PR? What singapore citizen got, PR also can get, except vote for ruling party. I only vote once & no more chance oredi. Marine Parade GRC leh! who dare come?
I hope more people go to ND dinners next year huh! eat ah! drink ah! take ah!
this month also got 7th month dinners, waah... some more jia tok! -
Those who volunteraily attend such dinners can never fully comprehend the scope of coersion, the immoral use of public funding and the intrinsic propaganda machine at work.Originally posted by taurian:aiyooo, why so hot hah?
I have been going to ND dinners every year since 1990. I don't like what I see but I'm there for my share. I pay income tax leh. I don't eat also other people eat. sometimes PAP subsidises 50% of the dinner, sometimes I get free dinner. Where can you drink sharksfin soup, eat fresh steam fish & prawns...etc for S$15 in Singapore? The caterers dare not give lousy food one! PAP leh! siao, siao! Some more got local & foreign artistes perform leh! Also got lucky draw & sponsored goodies!
Last week I went to two ND dinners at Neptune theatre. Got half naked women perform some more!
You think those people who go for such dinners so easy to be bribed ah! We go every year but we don't care for the party's s***. we curse & swear them also wat. what morals? morals don't worth even half a peanut these days. you want to talk morals with the elite & privileged?
we small fry, do what is expected of small fry. got free things - take. whatever you earn - save. earn enough liao, emigrate & become foreign talent in other countries. this one - one elite teach me one!
tell me - what is the difference between a singapore citizen & PR? What singapore citizen got, PR also can get, except vote for ruling party. I only vote once & no more chance oredi. Marine Parade GRC leh! who dare come?
I hope more people go to ND dinners next year huh! eat ah! drink ah! take ah!
this month also got 7th month dinners, waah... some more jia tok! -
can u all take me as being undercover or not. I tell all of you the 'inside story', kena loot. you all do the big things mah, you aso need people like me do the dirty jobs like being called traitor lah, no backbone lah, immoral lah....etc.
black cat (I), white cats (people with morals) - can catch the mice are all good cats! -
Go ahead. But mind you, I won't stand for backstabbers. Backstab me once, and you will be the first one out the door.
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smap?Originally posted by taurian:can u all take me as being undercover or not. I tell all of you the 'inside story', kena loot. you all do the big things mah, you aso need people like me do the dirty jobs like being called traitor lah, no backbone lah, immoral lah....etc.
black cat (I), white cats (people with morals) - can catch the mice are all good cats! -
7th mth ppl cutting cost...
Here leh, no cut but increase