Community Development Council

The Community Development Council (CDC; Malay: Majlis Pembangunan Masyarakat; Chinese: 社区发展理事会; Tamil: சமூக மேம்பாட்டு மன்றம்) is a government-led organisation to organise grassroot organisations and community programmes into smaller, local units as a bridge between the government and the community in Singapore. It encourages volunteerism from wider community, and organises community and social assistance programs with the help of a monetary grant from the government. They are governed by the Community Development Council Rules 1997.

CDC Districts of Singapore

Organisation

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There are currently five Community Development Councils as of 27 July 2020:[1]

Community Development Council Constituencies
Central Singapore Ang Mo Kio GRC
Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
Jalan Besar GRC
Tanjong Pagar GRC
Potong Pasir SMC
Radin Mas SMC
Marymount SMC
Kebun Baru SMC
Yio Chu Kang SMC
North East Aljunied GRC
Sengkang GRC
Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC
Tampines GRC
Hougang SMC
Punggol West SMC
North West Holland–Bukit Timah GRC
Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC
Nee Soon GRC
Sembawang GRC
Bukit Panjang SMC
South East East Coast GRC
Marine Parade GRC
MacPherson SMC
Mountbatten SMC
South West Chua Chu Kang GRC
Jurong GRC
West Coast GRC
Bukit Batok SMC
Hong Kah North SMC
Pioneer SMC
Yuhua SMC

The council boundaries follow that of the existing political divisions, with each handling between four and six GRCs and SMCs and roughly dividing the country's population into equal parts. Each CDC is managed by a Council, which in turn is headed by an appointed mayor[2][3] and has between 12 and 80 members. The members are appointed by the chairman or deputy chairman of the People's Association.

Mayors

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Community Development Council (CDC) Mayor[3]
Central Singapore Denise Phua
North East Desmond Choo
North West Alex Yam
South East Mohd Fahmi Aliman
South West Low Yen Ling

Singapore has in total five mayors, each responsible for the CDC in a specific district.[4] Mayors also sit as the chairman of the CDC. According to former politician Teo Ser Luck who was the mayor of the North East district, mayors are in charge of laying foundation for building camaraderie within communities.[5]

However, the necessity of having five mayors in a small city-state like Singapore is sometimes questioned.[6] In 2021, during the parliamentary debate on Budget 2021, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh questioned the amount of salaries paid to the mayors and whether is there a need of full-time CDC mayors.[3] Central Singapore CDC's mayor, Denise Phua, replied that she is the only full-time CDC mayor while the rest are considered part-time mayors.[7]

Funding

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The CDCs are funded by an annual sum from the government directly proportionate to the number of residents living within their jurisdiction at a rate of S$1 per person. They are free to conduct their own fund-raising programs, which the government will match S$3 for every S$1 raised, up to a cap of S$40 million a year from 2018 financial year.[8] Previously, the cap was S$24 million a year. The government also pays for the councils' operational costs, including that for its offices.

References

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  1. ^ "People's Association (Community Development Councils) Rules". Singapore Statutes Online. 2 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Community Development Councils are envisaged - Singapore History". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Many Singaporeans feel CDC mayor salaries are 'outrageous': Pritam Singh". sg.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  4. ^ Do, Cindy (25 November 2020). "A day in the life of a mayor: Beyond public engagements, how CDCs work to serve the community". CNA. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  5. ^ Tan, Misaki (18 August 2020). "Singapore CDC Mayors: Who are they and what do they do?". The Independent Singapore News. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  6. ^ "PMO | PM Lee Hsien Loong at the 11th Central Singapore CDC Council Appointment Ceremony". Prime Minister's Office Singapore. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Work of CDCs should not be politicised, says Denise Phua after Pritam Singh's comments on their relevance". CNA. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Singapore Budget 2018: Tax deduction scheme extended to promote the spirit of giving". The Straits Times. 19 February 2018.
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