The People's Association (PA) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) of the Government of Singapore that oversees neighbourhood communities and social organisations. Established in 1960, it was part of a nation-building programme to promote social cohesion and multiracialism. According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the People's Association (PA) had its origins as a national building programme 'designed to wean pro-Communist voters away from the opposition'. Besides serving as a communication channel between the government and governing party at the top and the people below, it was also intended for the PA to blur the boundaries between the government and the party, such that 'the people tended to praise the party for activities undertaken by the government'. History To counter racial and political tensions in Singapore during the 1950s and 1960s, and foster closer ties among different ethnic groups through centralised control, the Government of Singapore established the People's Association (PA) through an Act of Parliament, the People's Association Act 1960 and the statutory board came into being on 1 July 1960. Initial activities by the PA were to gain for grassroots support among citizens and to compete with activities by left-wing unions and associations. Minister of State for the Ministry of Culture, Andrew Fong, said that the residents' committees are "our democratic united front against the communist united front". Management According to the People's Association Act, the Association consists of: the Prime Minister, who is Chairman of the Association; a Minister (typically a member of the Cabinet of Singapore) who is to be appointed by the Chairman as Deputy Chairman; eight other members to be appointed by the Chairman; and one member to be appointed by the Chairman in consultation with each of the organisations mentioned in the First Schedule to the Act. More than 80 civic organisations are listed in the First Schedule, ranging from the Football Association of Singapore, to the National University of Singapore Society, to the Singapore Stamp Club. The powers of the PA and the management and control of the Association and its property and affairs are vested in the Board of Management. The Board consists of the persons mentioned in the first three categories listed above, and four members who are elected from among themselves by the persons mentioned in the fourth category at a general meeting of the Association. The Secretary-Treasurer of the Association is