OF DISCRETION AND EMOTIONS: DECISION-MAKING AT MEET-THE PEOPLE SESSIONS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS) were first introduced in Singapore in 1955. The actual function of MPS has been reduced to the writing of appeal letters in recent years, despite the original conception of MPS as a place for the MP to engage with residents on national and local issues. The current objectives of MPS are thus two-pronged ? to help residents in their dealings with government agencies and to garner political support for the MP as well as the political party. Although it is largely understood that bureaucracies do not offer those exercising policies the latitude in terms of any form of agency and discretion or even space for emotions, this paper argues that these are the very components that make MPS in Singapore successful. The volunteers present not only categorise the residents they come across at MPS into various groups, but also draw on notions of genuine and less-than-genuine cases.