Why do Opposition Parties need to sell stuff to raise money but the PAP doesn't

I first saw the above picture on the Fabrications About the PAP Facebook Page.

Instead of jumping on the bandwagon and attacking the Opposition for being money-grabbing scoundrels, I decided to do the responsible thing and try to do some research as to why unlike the Opposition Parties, the PAP does not need to raise money by selling fans, umbrellas, decals and flags at their rallies. Below is the reason why

PAP MPs have to contribute 10% of their monthly allowance to the party (Source). With 80 PAP MPs in Parliament with a monthly salary of 16,041.67 a month, this means that there is a contribution of at least $128,000 a month, $1.54m a year or $6.16m over the past 4 years.

However, out of the 80 MPs, there are various appointment holders who have additional allowances. There is

1 Prime Minister who earns $2.2m a year (Source)

18 Ministers who earns about $1.1m to $1.76m a year

5 Senior Ministers of State who earns $935,000 a year (Source)

6 Ministers of State who earns $770,000 a year (Source)

5 Mayors who earns $660,000 a year

1 Senior Parliament Secretary who earns $572,000 a year

1 Speaker of Parliament who earns $550,000 a year

2 Parliament Secretaries who earns $418,000 a year

1 Deputy Speaker of Parliament who earns additional  $82,500 a year

This means that cumulatively, there is a contribution of $23m by PAP MPs and Appointment holders over the past 4 years to Party funds and this is before bonuses.

Cost-wise, PAP faces the following costs for General Elections in 2015

89 election deposits of $14,500

Approximately $4 per election expense per voter (Source)

Approximately 2,460,977 electors in these 89 seats

Total cost: $11.1m which is less than half of the total MP contributions over the past 4 years

In contrast, the only other opposition party with MPs in Parliament is the WP. The WP have

7 MPs earning $192,500 a year

2 NCMPs earning $28,900 a year

Assuming that the party contribution for WP is 20%. Total party contribution over the past 4 years is merely $1.12m.

This is hardly enough to cover the costs of the elections for 28 seats which includes

28 election deposits of $14,500

Approximately $4 per election expense per voter (Source)

Approximately 375,500 electors in these 28 seats

The total cost of holding elections for WP is thus approximately $1.9m which is more than the party's contribution over the past 4 years. As such unlike the PAP, WP MP contributions alone are insufficient to pay for election expenses.

As such, the reason for why Opposition parties need to sell stuff to raise money for elections but not the PAP is very simple. PAP has greater contributions from MPs and Appointment Holders to its coffers (approximately $23m) while they are expected to spend about less than half this amount on election costs in 2015.

In contrast, the most well-funded opposition, the WP will find itself about 40% short of its costs even if it requires it's MPs to contribute a double the proportion of what PAP MPs contributes.

L.A.M.

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Note: After writing this post, I have noticed that it has been shared and read by many people and used to justify many different thoughts and opinions. Among the most ridiculous of which is that I am promoting communism. Lol.

I would like to categorically state that there is no need to infer my political leanings from what I write. As best as I can, I task myself with only two things, being politically informed and non-partisan. 

This article merely reflects one avenue of income for political parties. I am not advocating or condemning any party. The PAP, with it's long history as the dominant party in Parliament would have had the resources and time to create a formidable war chest and this is neither immoral nor illegal. 

However, we should not use this as a basis of comparison against opposition parties, who face different obstacles and have to resort to different kinds of funding methods. If there is anyone that I am condemning, it is irresponsible parties like FAP and TR who try to mislead the public with half truths and lies.

I hope that in this GE, all Singaporeans can try to be a little bit more mature in how we treat different parties. 

There should not be any bullying or misinformation or irresponsible sensationalisation. We as a nation are already half a century old. It's time to put these childish things behind us.