Over 100 Party activists took part in a special masterclass on how to run good Meet the People Sessions (MPS) and write effective appeal letters on behalf of their residents.
This was the third time the masterclass was run at PAP’s headquarters in Bedok, and was again heavily oversubscribed. This continuing training and education for our activists is part of the PAP’s enduring commitment to serving Singaporeans well.
The hands-on masterclass included a presentation by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, followed by interactive exercises, including activists roleplaying residents at MPS and hands-on petition -writing, with Minister Indranee giving comments on best practices immediately afterwards.
“MPS is a platform for us to connect with our residents, address their concerns and make a difference,” said Minister Indranee about the importance of MPS for residents and volunteers alike. “If done well, it creates strong bonds with residents, provides us with political ground sensing and is a channel to build an organic volunteer core.”
She has one major tip for MPS letter writers: Figure out the resident’s real issue and frame the appeal accordingly.
Some cases are straightforward and the issues can be identified easily. But some are not. “ Therefore it is important to ask the right questions,” said Minister Indranee. “And also think hard about the right solutions.”
To illustrate, she gave the example of a resident who wanted to sell the family home as both parents were in nursing homes as he was unable to work and he needed the funds to pay for family expenses.
However both parents lacked mental capacity due to dementia and the resident himself had mental health issues. The resident’s proposed solution was to appeal to HDB to allow the sale. However that would not have been the right approach as HDB would not have been able to approve the sale because there was no one in the family with the mental capacity to make a decision on the sale of the property.
What was really needed was an Order for the appointment of Deputies for both the resident and the parent who was the flat owner so that the appropriate legal decisions could be taken on their behalf. The better approach would be to refer the family to MSF to guide them through what they need to do, and also a referral to the Legal Aid Bureau to assist with the Deputyship application.
“So just remember, it is necessary to think through the problem and try to find the correct solution,” said Minister Indranee. “And also identify the right agencies.”
PAP activists want to make a difference
The MPS role-play session focused on helping activists ask questions to get to the heart of a residents’ needs and how to do this sensitively, as some of the information required may be personal information which the resident may not always be comfortable to give.
“The key is to explain why the information is needed. Reassure them that it will be used only for the purpose of the appeal and show that you’re serious in your work for them,” said Minister Indranee.
She also advised activists to be open and empathetic to the residents, give candid advice but always try to see their point of view and advocate for them to the best of our ability.
Minister Indranee ended the masterclass with an inspirational message to PAP activists who have volunteered to make a difference for their fellow Singaporean.
“When you signed up as a volunteer for MPS, you did so because you wanted to help people. When our letters go up to the agencies, and when we receive a reply from the agencies saying that the appeal has been approved, I think many of us feel a sense of satisfaction,” she said.
“You know that because of what you wrote, you made a difference. You helped a resident. And that is the best reward of all.”
