The Sunshine Welfare Action Mission (SWAMI) Home, which hosted a People’s Action Party (PAP) press conference last Friday, has been told by the authorities to abide by its constitution, after a report was lodged with the Registrar of Societies questioning whether it had violated its constitution by hosting a political event.
SWAMI’s constitution states that it cannot take part in any political activity or allow its funds or premises to be used for political purposes.
A Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson said SWAMI is a registered society and is obliged to adhere to its constitution. “SWAMI was advised by the Registry of Societies on 17 August 2015 to ensure strict adherence to its constitution,” the spokesperson said.
The report was lodged by Singapore People’s Party (SPP) member and blogger Ravi Philemon.
In a blog post on Saturday, Mr Philemon questioned why SWAMI Home had hosted the PAP press conference, which saw the introduction of the party’s slate for Sembawang GRC in the coming General Election by party chairman Khaw Boon Wan.
Mr Philemon said based on his experience working in volunteer welfare organisations (VWOs), most of them have constitutions that forbid them from getting involved in political activities. “The introduction of PAP candidates who will contest in Sembawang GRC in the next General Election is clearly a political activity,” he wrote.
In a statement, SWAMI Home’s president Low Chang Yee said the home had not checked its constitution when it agreed to rent its premises to the PAP. “The local MPs wanted to rent our premises for their event. We agreed as their rental of our premises on commercial terms was helpful for us,” he said in a statement.
The organisation has never used its funds to help any political party, and funds raised from the renting of its premises are used to help run the home and other charitable causes, Mr Low explained. “Now, we have been informed and are aware of this provision in our constitution,” he added.
The PAP’s Sembawang GRC team — led by Mr Khaw, who is also National Development Minister — said in a statement that it had rented the home “partly to support this VWO and partly because we felt it was an accessible place and had sufficient space to accommodate reporters”.
“We had not checked the VWO’s constitution. However, we have nothing but the highest regard for the work done by this VWO and will continue to support it in any way we can,” they said.
Source: www.todayonline.com
