March 28, 2007
NZ govt took heed of public views in setting pay
I AM rather disappointed with the Government's insensitivity in raising the issue of ministerial pay at a time when many ordinary Singaporeans are still trying to cope with rising living costs.
In 1994 when the then Prime Minister urged Parliament to approve the formula for setting ministers' pay, he suggested that paying $22 million a year for his team was a small price, compared to the cost of having an incompetent and corrupt government.
However, according to the TI 2006 Corruption Perceptions Index, there are four other countries which are less corrupt than Singapore. New Zealand is placed No. 1 (together with Finland and Iceland) whereas Singapore is ranked No. 5. Does this mean that the salaries of NZ ministers should be many times higher than those of Singapore ministers?
This doesn't seem to be the case. In a 2003 article by the NZ Herald, it was pointed out that even though the Prime Minister had the 'toughest job in the country' and an equivalent private-sector position would command a seven-figure salary, this would not be acceptable to taxpayers. Her increased salary of NZ$305,000 was deemed reasonable as US President George W. Bush earned only about NZ$330,470 a year.
In setting the remuneration packages of its ministers, the New Zealand government was sensitive to the perceptions of the public (whom it described as 'paying customers') and benchmarked figures against those of its Western counterparts.
As Singapore is an Asian country, should we not be benchmarking our figures against our Asian counterparts'? Even if we consider ourselves as a Western country, our ministers are already being paid many times more than President Bush himself.
So far, the impression we have been given is that serving our country is like any other financial transaction or commercial project; money is the primary focus and motivation. There is no altruism or patriotism linked to the discussion.
I hope that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Government can take a different approach to this issue.
Vanessa Teo Toon Lin (Ms)
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Would you?
If say your friend invited you over for dinner, would you after eating, immediately tell your friend/friend's mum that her cooking sucks?
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Aussies would make Singapore fail: Lee
March 28, 2007 - 1:59PM
Singapore would hit rock bottom if it was run by Australians, former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew said on Wednesday.
Mr Lee, 83, in Australia to receive an honorary doctorate from the Australian National University in Canberra, made the comments to reporters after the ceremony.
A handful of protesters waved placards outside the award ceremony, saying Mr Lee was an opponent of democracy and the rule of law.
Mr Lee said he was accustomed to a hostile reception on overseas visits.
"It's not going to change me and I'm not going to change you," he said.
Mr Lee said both Australia and Singapore prospered under their own style of government, but Australia's method would fail in Singapore.
"We're going to prosper, you're going to prosper, if I allow you to run my country it will spiral downwards and hit rock bottom," he said.
Mr Lee also defended the comments he made years ago in which he described Australians as the poor white trash of Asia.
He said he had made those comments in the heat of the argument but said at that time they were probably warranted.
"Perhaps at that time it was warranted," he said.
Mr Lee led Singapore to independence and served as its first prime minister, being regularly re-elected until 1990.
He ruled with ultimate authority and his zeal for law and order was legendary.
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Aussies would make Singapore fail: Lee
March 28, 2007 - 1:59PM
Singapore would hit rock bottom if it was run by Australians, former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew said on Wednesday.
Mr Lee, 83, in Australia to receive an honorary doctorate from the Australian National University in Canberra, made the comments to reporters after the ceremony.
A handful of protesters waved placards outside the award ceremony, saying Mr Lee was an opponent of democracy and the rule of law.
Mr Lee said he was accustomed to a hostile reception on overseas visits.
"It's not going to change me and I'm not going to change you," he said.
Mr Lee said both Australia and Singapore prospered under their own style of government, but Australia's method would fail in Singapore.
"We're going to prosper, you're going to prosper, if I allow you to run my country it will spiral downwards and hit rock bottom," he said.
Mr Lee also defended the comments he made years ago in which he described Australians as the poor white trash of Asia.
He said he had made those comments in the heat of the argument but said at that time they were probably warranted.
"Perhaps at that time it was warranted," he said.
Mr Lee led Singapore to independence and served as its first prime minister, being regularly re-elected until 1990.
He ruled with ultimate authority and his zeal for law and order was legendary.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
I can't see beyond my nose
It seems like some people can't see beyond their noses... Screen captured in case the entry is edited because of an "honest mistake". :op
Bill Gates+George Soros+Mother Theresa - How Much $$
Posted by elaina olivia chong at 4:56 PM
Money is the proverbial carrot. No matter how many people put themselves on the moral high ground, Money still talks for most others. If you want to get a job done you can’t do well yourself, pay some one well to do it well. If you want to get a job superbly well done, pay superbly more. Similarly, if we want Singapore to stay on the “Best Of” world list for a lot of things, we jolly well got to pay top dollar for the best people who can keep us right up there.
I can’t see why some forumers in our local chatrooms are questioning Ministerial pay rises and pegging our Minister’s pay to those in other countries. Spore isn’t like many other economies like the States, Britain or even Hong Kong where their economies can still remain alive even if their politicians are not making the best decisions. Not only are these economies self sufficient, they have people resources - to the extent where Supply far Exceeds Demand for geniuses at the top.
In many of these first world nations (whose Ministers’ pays have been “pegged” to ours), their economic engines are matured and almost self-piloting. These governments have inherited the fruits of their political forefathers and are now able to concentrate on improving the social and non-economic welfares of its peoples and say, spend time to build international relations with countries like us.
This government put Singapore, a country with no resources, with no historical ties or allies to begin with, on the world map in less than half a century. But will this last forever?
It takes more than a few good men to make a tiny red dot like Singapore a shining star it is today. Not an easy feat, and is not a task that every man on the street can do. Only the very best in the 4-5million we have, can.
Everyday is a new challenge for Singapore to stay competitive and ahead of economies thousands of times our size. If Ministers at the top stop what their doing; or aren’t clever enough to devise policies to keep us ahead of the global league, our economy will crumble. There’s no two ways about it. Some one has got to do it and able to do it very well.
Today, we have the PAP with a number of good men. Will we have the same people tomorrow and always? I’m not sure. I find it rather myopic and sadly presumptuous for so many of these forumers to assume that Singapore is forever going to be where it is, and that we will forever have exceptional geniuses willing to throw their lives to keep Singapore on its feet.
How many of our capable Singaporeans are willing to turn away high paying expatriate positions overseas? And choose instead, to stay home in Singapore, hold arms to protect and ensure the economic comforts for our families and posterity?
One of the ways and I'm not saying it is the only way, is to pay for them and pay them very well . To help keep them in Singapore, attract them into civil service or the PAP where they will join the “economic militia” and keep the Singapore flag flying high for a very long time
The life of a Minister is not attractive. How many are willing to sacrifice every evening either at Meet the People Sessions, chairing Review Committees and carrying another baby in a HDB kopitiam even on precious weekends?
A platoon with the acumen of Bill Gates, risk appetite of George Soros and the heart of Mother Theresa, I would think. And the compensation? Priceless. Haven’t we all heard this all too often, “Pay Peanuts Get Monkeys".
All that matters to me is for Singapore to stay ahead of the game becuase I choose to stay here. We sorely need more than a few Good Men to continue serving at the top so that our economy will continue its bull run. With a flourishing economy, Ministerial pay increments will pale in comparison to the prosperities and fortunes Singapore will be able to bring to its people. Because then, the man on their street will get his pay raise too.
---
I can't quite seem to recall, but the GST was raised to 7% to "help the poor"? Or was it to "help the poor minsters and elites"? The details are fuzzy here.
Bill Gates+George Soros+Mother Theresa - How Much $$
Posted by elaina olivia chong at 4:56 PM
Money is the proverbial carrot. No matter how many people put themselves on the moral high ground, Money still talks for most others. If you want to get a job done you can’t do well yourself, pay some one well to do it well. If you want to get a job superbly well done, pay superbly more. Similarly, if we want Singapore to stay on the “Best Of” world list for a lot of things, we jolly well got to pay top dollar for the best people who can keep us right up there.
I can’t see why some forumers in our local chatrooms are questioning Ministerial pay rises and pegging our Minister’s pay to those in other countries. Spore isn’t like many other economies like the States, Britain or even Hong Kong where their economies can still remain alive even if their politicians are not making the best decisions. Not only are these economies self sufficient, they have people resources - to the extent where Supply far Exceeds Demand for geniuses at the top.
In many of these first world nations (whose Ministers’ pays have been “pegged” to ours), their economic engines are matured and almost self-piloting. These governments have inherited the fruits of their political forefathers and are now able to concentrate on improving the social and non-economic welfares of its peoples and say, spend time to build international relations with countries like us.
This government put Singapore, a country with no resources, with no historical ties or allies to begin with, on the world map in less than half a century. But will this last forever?
It takes more than a few good men to make a tiny red dot like Singapore a shining star it is today. Not an easy feat, and is not a task that every man on the street can do. Only the very best in the 4-5million we have, can.
Everyday is a new challenge for Singapore to stay competitive and ahead of economies thousands of times our size. If Ministers at the top stop what their doing; or aren’t clever enough to devise policies to keep us ahead of the global league, our economy will crumble. There’s no two ways about it. Some one has got to do it and able to do it very well.
Today, we have the PAP with a number of good men. Will we have the same people tomorrow and always? I’m not sure. I find it rather myopic and sadly presumptuous for so many of these forumers to assume that Singapore is forever going to be where it is, and that we will forever have exceptional geniuses willing to throw their lives to keep Singapore on its feet.
How many of our capable Singaporeans are willing to turn away high paying expatriate positions overseas? And choose instead, to stay home in Singapore, hold arms to protect and ensure the economic comforts for our families and posterity?
One of the ways and I'm not saying it is the only way, is to pay for them and pay them very well . To help keep them in Singapore, attract them into civil service or the PAP where they will join the “economic militia” and keep the Singapore flag flying high for a very long time
The life of a Minister is not attractive. How many are willing to sacrifice every evening either at Meet the People Sessions, chairing Review Committees and carrying another baby in a HDB kopitiam even on precious weekends?
A platoon with the acumen of Bill Gates, risk appetite of George Soros and the heart of Mother Theresa, I would think. And the compensation? Priceless. Haven’t we all heard this all too often, “Pay Peanuts Get Monkeys".
All that matters to me is for Singapore to stay ahead of the game becuase I choose to stay here. We sorely need more than a few Good Men to continue serving at the top so that our economy will continue its bull run. With a flourishing economy, Ministerial pay increments will pale in comparison to the prosperities and fortunes Singapore will be able to bring to its people. Because then, the man on their street will get his pay raise too.
---
I can't quite seem to recall, but the GST was raised to 7% to "help the poor"? Or was it to "help the poor minsters and elites"? The details are fuzzy here.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Oh, really?
Changes to Civil Service salaries to be announced on April 9
Friday March 23, 10:17 AM
Civil service salaries are set to go up and details of this will be announced in Parliament on the 9th of April.
The salary review will be explained by Mr Teo Chee Hean who is the Minister-in-Charge of Civil Service matters in the Prime Minister's Office.
This was revealed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Administrative Service dinner on Thursday.
In his speech, Mr Lee said the government is also reviewing salaries for the political, judicial and statutory appointment holders.
He added that it is critical for Singapore to keep their salaries competitive so that the country can bring in a continuing flow of able and successful people to be ministers and judges.
The Prime Minister arrived at the Administrative Dinner with a clear message for his audience.
He said Singapore's Administrative Service is the core of the public service as it plays a central role in bringing about first class governance for the country.
And for the public service to remain an attractive employer, it must keep pace with the private sector.
The Prime Minister noted that salaries in the private sector have been progressing, with many good and well-paying jobs created in the last two years.
And demand for Singaporeans is not just coming from the local economy.
Mr Lee said: "We know from head-hunters that the entire top managements of some of our agencies are being targeted. The Middle Eastern countries are particularly interested. They have studied Singapore's success story. They want to tap our people to join them and replicate the miracle, and money is no object.
"Even foreign workers who have worked in Singapore shipyards here are in demand in the Gulf. We even received a feeler from one Middle Eastern country to buy the whole of JTC! All this will have an impact on the Public Service."
Mr Lee explained that there are two private sector salary benchmarks for the Administrative Service.
The lowest Superscale grade is where officers in the early to mid-30s enter the senior ranks.
For this group, the benchmark has climbed again but not for the second benchmark which is for the most senior Permanent Secretaries.
For this senior group, the yardstick is based on two-thirds of the median income of the eight top-earning professionals in six professions.
The private sector benchmark now stands at $2.2 million.
But in the Administrative Service, the salaries for this category has remained the same as the level in the year 2000.
It stands at $1.21 million, which is 55 percent of the private sector salaries.
Mr Lee said: "This is an urgent problem. We have experienced on previous occasions the painful consequences of responding too slowly when the private sector surged ahead. For example in the early 1990s, the Administrative Service lost entire cohorts of good officers. This showed up in the age profile of the Service - broad at the young and older age groups, but narrow at the mid- to late-30s range. We took many years to recover from the loss. This must not happen again.
"This is why the government is currently reviewing Civil Service remuneration schemes. The review will cover the Administrative Service as well as other services that are lagging behind the private sector, because every service is important, and each must be able to attract and retain good people."
Mr Lee reminded the Administrative Service officers that what they do affect how Singaporeans work, live and play.
And if everyone does their job well, the result will be a Singapore that everyone can be proud of. - CNA/ch
---
To which, this blogger replies to the points highlighted in bold:
Friday March 23, 10:17 AM
Civil service salaries are set to go up and details of this will be announced in Parliament on the 9th of April.
The salary review will be explained by Mr Teo Chee Hean who is the Minister-in-Charge of Civil Service matters in the Prime Minister's Office.
This was revealed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Administrative Service dinner on Thursday.
In his speech, Mr Lee said the government is also reviewing salaries for the political, judicial and statutory appointment holders.
He added that it is critical for Singapore to keep their salaries competitive so that the country can bring in a continuing flow of able and successful people to be ministers and judges.
The Prime Minister arrived at the Administrative Dinner with a clear message for his audience.
He said Singapore's Administrative Service is the core of the public service as it plays a central role in bringing about first class governance for the country.
And for the public service to remain an attractive employer, it must keep pace with the private sector.
The Prime Minister noted that salaries in the private sector have been progressing, with many good and well-paying jobs created in the last two years.
And demand for Singaporeans is not just coming from the local economy.
Mr Lee said: "We know from head-hunters that the entire top managements of some of our agencies are being targeted. The Middle Eastern countries are particularly interested. They have studied Singapore's success story. They want to tap our people to join them and replicate the miracle, and money is no object.
"Even foreign workers who have worked in Singapore shipyards here are in demand in the Gulf. We even received a feeler from one Middle Eastern country to buy the whole of JTC! All this will have an impact on the Public Service."
Mr Lee explained that there are two private sector salary benchmarks for the Administrative Service.
The lowest Superscale grade is where officers in the early to mid-30s enter the senior ranks.
For this group, the benchmark has climbed again but not for the second benchmark which is for the most senior Permanent Secretaries.
For this senior group, the yardstick is based on two-thirds of the median income of the eight top-earning professionals in six professions.
The private sector benchmark now stands at $2.2 million.
But in the Administrative Service, the salaries for this category has remained the same as the level in the year 2000.
It stands at $1.21 million, which is 55 percent of the private sector salaries.
Mr Lee said: "This is an urgent problem. We have experienced on previous occasions the painful consequences of responding too slowly when the private sector surged ahead. For example in the early 1990s, the Administrative Service lost entire cohorts of good officers. This showed up in the age profile of the Service - broad at the young and older age groups, but narrow at the mid- to late-30s range. We took many years to recover from the loss. This must not happen again.
"This is why the government is currently reviewing Civil Service remuneration schemes. The review will cover the Administrative Service as well as other services that are lagging behind the private sector, because every service is important, and each must be able to attract and retain good people."
Mr Lee reminded the Administrative Service officers that what they do affect how Singaporeans work, live and play.
And if everyone does their job well, the result will be a Singapore that everyone can be proud of. - CNA/ch
---
To which, this blogger replies to the points highlighted in bold:
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
I would like to say Thank You SBS.
One of the many grouses of public transport users... Heh..
I would like to say Thank You SBS.
Originally posted by HuatZai
Over the years i have been taking SBS and SMRT our world class transportation to school and now to work. Because if your irregular arrival time especiall for SBS bus i receive endless punishments in school, miss out lessons and scoldings from my boss. Normally at 7:30am when i leave my house the bus will arrive around 7:35am. Today dunno what cause the 3 feeder buses to arrivale same time at 7:50am and 1 was sardine packed 2 was rather empty. End up to kp by boss again.
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Hehe, and my tongue-in-cheek fictitious reply:
Dear HuatZai,
We thank you for your comments and assure you that we are looking into the matter. To set your mind at ease, we currently have planned a "Leave home earlier" campaign to go hand in hand with the "Flag the bus early" campaign in the pipeline as well as a "Its not our fault that 3 buses come at the same time, its yours!" backup plan ready. Once again, rest assured that as a 1st world transport provider, we will do whatever it takes to make our shareholders happy. Thank you for your time and kind understanding.
Yours sincerely,
Kant b'Bor Derd
No signature is required as this is a computer generated letter.
I would like to say Thank You SBS.
Originally posted by HuatZai
Over the years i have been taking SBS and SMRT our world class transportation to school and now to work. Because if your irregular arrival time especiall for SBS bus i receive endless punishments in school, miss out lessons and scoldings from my boss. Normally at 7:30am when i leave my house the bus will arrive around 7:35am. Today dunno what cause the 3 feeder buses to arrivale same time at 7:50am and 1 was sardine packed 2 was rather empty. End up to kp by boss again.
---
Hehe, and my tongue-in-cheek fictitious reply:
Dear HuatZai,
We thank you for your comments and assure you that we are looking into the matter. To set your mind at ease, we currently have planned a "Leave home earlier" campaign to go hand in hand with the "Flag the bus early" campaign in the pipeline as well as a "Its not our fault that 3 buses come at the same time, its yours!" backup plan ready. Once again, rest assured that as a 1st world transport provider, we will do whatever it takes to make our shareholders happy. Thank you for your time and kind understanding.
Yours sincerely,
Kant b'Bor Derd
No signature is required as this is a computer generated letter.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Welcome
Welcome to The Straitjacket Times! This will be an outlet where probably my craziest, zaniest and sometimes dumbest takes on local and world events go. I do hope you'll enjoy your stay!
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