Singapore Ministers Pay, Legitimised Corruption
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Honestly, what can we do about it?
Pray that you are a Singaporean next life, study hard, become a president scholar, then join politics.
Must be plus a bit of luck here and there, you can become a full minister before 40. The rest of your clan is blessed forever.
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Well,if they didnt take so much salary n if they were clean,even if the "sometimes" go wrong,they will still get the support from the public.But by openly corrupted so much money as their "salary",when a revolt occurred i am sure they have no time to run away!!!Originally posted by AF2005:in case sometimes go wrong, they have millions to depend on.
i agree they should be well paid , but benchmark against leaders of the top contries and NOT leaders in the billion dollar industry.
lucky they never benchmark against bill gates and steve job as they drew very little salary. sometimes steve works for free in apple. -
No,u are wrong,if that is the case,then the person n his clan will be cursed becoz many ppl would like to gun them down!!!I believe that is why our top leaders seldom show their face in the public in recent years unlike the 70's n 80's.Originally posted by Nerazzurri:Honestly, what can we do about it?
Pray that you are a Singaporean next life, study hard, become a president scholar, then join politics.
Must be plus a bit of luck here and there, you can become a full minister before 40. The rest of your clan is blessed forever. -
Originally posted by crazy monkey:
If the above figure is true,then this is what the public have been discussing,"openly corrupted"!!!
[b]Singapore Ministers Pay, Legitimised Corruption
Singapore Review, 2 May 2003 (updated May 2005)
By Mellanie Hewlitt
The below table puts things back in proper perspective: (these are basic figures as of July 2000 and did not include last year's pay hikes or other benefits. Otherwise the updated numbers may well be much larger)
1. Singapore President's Basic Salary US$1,483,000 (SGD$2,373,100)*a year
Singapore Prime Minister's Basic Salary US$1,100,000 (SGD1,958,000) a year
Minister's Basic: US$655,530 to US$819,124 (SGD1,166,844 to SGD1,458,040) a year
2. United States of America President: US$200,000 Vice President: US$181,400 Cabinet Secretaries: US$157,000
3. United Kingdom Prime Minister: US$170,556 Ministers: US$146,299 Senior Civil Servants: US$262,438
4. Australia Prime Minister: US$137,060 Deputy Prime Minister: US$111,439 Treasurer: US$102,682
5. Hong Kong Chief Executive : US$416,615 Top Civil Servant: US$278,538 Financial Sec: US$315,077
Source: Asian Wall Street Journal July 10 2000 *Singapore President's salary which was updated in 2005 from the Singapore Straits Times
In relative terms, less then 20% of Singaporeans here have take home salaries
exceeding SGD100,000/- A YEAR.
In stark contrast, BASIC SALARY FOR A MINISTER STARTS AT SGD1,166,844 A YEAR,OR JUST UNDER SGD100,000 A MONTH.
What these ministers earns in just ONE MONTH exceeds the ANNUAL TAKE HOME
salary of 80% of Singapore's income earning population. Lets not even begin to compare annual packages which will exceed SGD1 million easily.
With the above numbers and figures now in perspective, it is easier to give substance to the words "leading by example". Several facts are noteworthy here;
a) That the ministerial salaries are grossly out of proportion, even when compared with their counterparts in much larger countries (US and UK) who have far heavier responsibilities.
b) That these salary reductions were long overdue. In the past, such handsome remuneration were "justified" on the back of resounding performance. However, Singapore's economy has been in the doldrums of a recession for several years now (with beginnings reaching as far back as the 1997 Asian economic crisis). This economic barometer is a rough measure of performance and implies that ministerial salaries were due for review at least 3-4 years ago.
c) That adjustments should be made to bring them back within the industry benchmarks. Taking the salary of US vice president as a rule of thumb, the percentage for reductions should start at 50% of current pay. Even if a Singapore minister takes a 50% pay-cut, he would still be earning much more then the US vice president.
d) The percentage reductions should greater then 50% if the intent is to bring the salaries within the perspective of Singapore's domestic scene.
With such inflated figures, it is understandable why the local government controlled media (Singapore Press Holdings) have taken pains to exclude mention of actual numbers for the world to see. The numbers would be too glaring and no amount of window dressing or creative writing could have reconciled these numbers with a sane figure and restored credibility.
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The government must always remember what happened to Durai....in a matter of a few weeks, he and his entire board can be thrown out of office. The power of internet forums and sms were said to have played an important role in this regard.
The results of the next election can be affected by internet discussions like this thread. We should keep up the pressure...More young people are getting to vote at the next election, people who have access to the internet.. -
Originally posted by oxford mushroom:
YES.... "many young people are getting to vote at the next election, people who have access to the internet...."
The government must always remember what happened to Durai....in a matter of a few weeks, he and his entire board can be thrown out of office. The power of internet forums and sms were said to have played an important role in this regard.
The results of the next election can be affected by internet discussions like this thread. We should keep up the pressure...More young people are getting to vote at the next election, people who have access to the internet..
YES.... that is the situation that strikes a fear in the heart of the "Reverend" MM LKY, who has gone to the extent of attempting to push through a scheme that will allow the "Elderly" to cast TWO VOTES, while the "Young" will have ONE VOTE !!
YES.... already there are legislations passed that will restrict the discussion of politics during the election period, and anyone who contravene this law will be severely punished - "financially" !!!
Read : "Singapore limits election politics on the internet"
http://www.singapore-window.org/sw01/010813re.htm -
Many young people are getting to vote but the current ruling party is a smart action party. They will surely modify the GRC format some more such that it is very difficult for opposition to enter new or even maintain their GRC.Originally posted by Atobe:YES.... "many young people are getting to vote at the next election, people who have access to the internet...."
YES.... that is the situation that strikes a fear in the heart of the "Reverend" MM LKY, who has gone to the extent of attempting to push through a scheme that will allow the "Elderly" to cast TWO VOTES, while the "Young" will have ONE VOTE !!
YES.... already there are legislations passed that will restrict the discussion of politics during the election period, and anyone who contravene this law will be severely punished - "financially" !!!
Read : "Singapore limits election politics on the internet"
http://www.singapore-window.org/sw01/010813re.htm
If you look at how many households are hanging the national flag in the old estates like Queenstown, AMK, etc you will notice that even the ah peks aunties don't hang their flags any more. So I don't mind the gov giving them 2 votes cos they will not vote for the current party.
From Atobe's website:
"On barring election surveys and exit polls, the minister said these gave the illusion of reflecting public opinion but were often based on small sample sizes, bad question design and improper sampling, which led to inaccurate and slanted results." True. Most netizens are well educated and skeptics. But no wind gives no wave. The ruling party must be really afraid of the internet, esp after the NKF Durai incident.
But I guess a non Singaporean citizen can start up a survey website right? And I think there are some used-to-be-Singaporeans in Sgforums. -
I think PM draws double pay since he is still holding on as Finance Minister...plus other appointments....
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The Gahmen has decided to raise MinistersÂ’ salaries in order to help citizens get accustomed to widening income gaps due to globalization.
The move was made after Labour Minister Lim Boh Heng said that Singaporeans cannot avoid seeing the wage gap widen because of global economic conditions.
The latest Gahmen household expenditure survey reported that between 1998 and 2003, the income of the poorest 20 percent of Singaporeans fell by 3.2 percent, while the richest saw their income rise by 1.1 percent. Last week, it was also reported by the StateÂ’s Times that both bankruptcy and the growth in number of local millionaires were at an all time high.
“We can’t hold back globalization,” said Mr. Hang Cheng Pai, a spokesman for the Ministry of Manpowerlessness. “Neither can we practice protectionism. So people must just get used to this. The Gahmen is aware of the problem, and intends to take a leading role in helping the citizens adjust.”
And so in an act of supreme leadership, Cabinet Ministers will initiate an initial pay rise of 10%, subject to increase depending on circumstances.
“It’s a painful decision, but they have no choice,” said Mr. Hang. “It is being done for the good of the people. If we don’t practice at home what is happening on a global scale, Singapore will be finished.”
The Cabinet will be taking even more steps towards tackling global economic issues, such as purchasing overseas homes, sending their children to schools abroad, and taking more holidays. -
just 2 words
KUM LAN or
legalised corruption -
Indonesia may raise salary of civil servants to combat corruption
By Channel NewsAsia's Indonesia Bureau Chief Sujadi Siswo
JAKARTA : Indonesia plans to increase the salary of its six million civil servants in an effort to combat corruption and improve public service.
The pay increases are targetted at junior civil servants, whom observers say are prone to corruption because of their low wages.
After a request was made in June to double the take-home wages of 550 members of Parliament, authorities are now considering doing the same for their public officers in an effort to improve their working conditions, especially the lower-ranking ones.
Many are living on incomes below the minimum wage set out for the private sector, which is why observers believe they are more likely than others to be involved in corruption.
Junior officers earn about US$120 a month. The pay hike, scheduled for next year's budget, will see them getting up to a 30% increase.
The top civil servant -the Indonesian President - with his monthly basic salary of US$5,000, will get a 5% pay rise.
Indonesia's basic wage does not include benefits such as housing, personal and family allowances or a car, which will usually add up to another 30% or more.
Said Indria Samego, a military analyst at The Habibie Centre: "An Indonesian 4-star general, his income less than 5 million rupiah. Usually they get benefit and extra income because of their position. Their money come from everywhere, from somebody who needs political umbrella from him. So it's a lot of money."
So while critics support the government's motive to reduce corruption by increasing public officers remuneration, they say the fight against graft is just scratching the surface.
"The current effort in combating corruption focuses mainly on middle and small cases of corruption. They haven't touch the big fish - the big cases of corruption," said Luky Djani with the Indonesia Corruption Watch.
- CNA /ls -
Originally posted by iveco:
I am not saying that you are trying to use this article to defend our ministers' exorbitant salaries. I would just like to point out, before any tries to use the article in that way, that the situation in indonesia is at the extreme opposite end of the spectrum. I do not think any meaningful parallels can be drawn here.
[b]Indonesia may raise salary of civil servants to combat corruption
By Channel NewsAsia's Indonesia Bureau Chief Sujadi Siswo
JAKARTA : Indonesia plans to increase the salary of its six million civil servants in an effort to combat corruption and improve public service.
The pay increases are targetted at junior civil servants, whom observers say are prone to corruption because of their low wages.
After a request was made in June to double the take-home wages of 550 members of Parliament, authorities are now considering doing the same for their public officers in an effort to improve their working conditions, especially the lower-ranking ones.
Many are living on incomes below the minimum wage set out for the private sector, which is why observers believe they are more likely than others to be involved in corruption.
Junior officers earn about US$120 a month. The pay hike, scheduled for next year's budget, will see them getting up to a 30% increase.
The top civil servant -the Indonesian President - with his monthly basic salary of US$5,000, will get a 5% pay rise.
Indonesia's basic wage does not include benefits such as housing, personal and family allowances or a car, which will usually add up to another 30% or more.
Said Indria Samego, a military analyst at The Habibie Centre: "An Indonesian 4-star general, his income less than 5 million rupiah. Usually they get benefit and extra income because of their position. Their money come from everywhere, from somebody who needs political umbrella from him. So it's a lot of money."
So while critics support the government's motive to reduce corruption by increasing public officers remuneration, they say the fight against graft is just scratching the surface.
"The current effort in combating corruption focuses mainly on middle and small cases of corruption. They haven't touch the big fish - the big cases of corruption," said Luky Djani with the Indonesia Corruption Watch.
- CNA /ls
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Government earned their living through taxes, which is tantamount to theft. It would have been a crime to accept money that had been earned at the expense of the country's less fortunate citizens.
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If the ministers can solved the people's problem, they deserved to be paid the salary.
But, they dun.
Being a MP is not about putting your face on every LAMP POST during National Day and shaking fish monger's hand during the arrival of ELECTION.
Being a MP is not about making the grassroot leaders running around to make sure that the streets and road are SPICK and SPAN during the MP visit.
If you do your job well, your picture will be in every heart of the resident that you served.
Sad to say, the senior group of MP are wasting millions of singapore hard earned money in some branding contest and not interested at all in helping the people. -
the next generation of PAP will even be more money minded.
now this NKF pay thing is also closely somehow link to how PAP decides minister 's pay.
using people's money to overpay ministers.
but first must clarify, is the one million for minister correct?
i find hard to believe, maybe the guy include MP pay and minister pay.
this is serious. I think correct figure should be below $500 000.
any link to official site to how much our guys are being paid?
just don;t want to jump to wrong conclusion. -
posted at channelnewsasia under "Business" thread: babybang wrote:
If government does not give them jobs like CEOs or GMs in all the GLCs, our talents would just end up as unemployed, or security guards, taxi-drivers or consultants of some kinds not creaters of Samsung, Hyundai, LG etc.
If all those scholars claim they're so good....why can't we create Samsung, Hyundai, LG, KIA...even China brands such as Haier, TCL,,,and Lenovo....what we can only create is just OSiM, Breadtalk...etc, nothing spectacular to boost the economy.
Many of the talents are now retired into insignificance and many of them have tried and failed in their own businesses. That is the state of our presumptuous talents in Singapore promoted skyhigh by our self-serving meritocracy system.
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I say, I say, did anyone forgot to mention this -
besides hyper inflated salaries, many MPs and ministers are also earning sideline incomes - as directors of GLC and private companies. Hundreds of thousands of dollarss in director fees and fat bonuses.
So actually they are all earning many times more than their already hyper-inflated salaries, really! -
Originally posted by iveco:
Although u try to defend our ministers,but the title of ur post (Indonesia "may" raise the salary of civil servants to combat corruption) already making ur post less convincing."May" meaning Indonesia havent raise the salary of the civil servant,and becoz Indonesia political system is now more democratic than Singapore,they still have to go through their parliament n ppl consent before they can implement the idea.
[b]Indonesia may raise salary of civil servants to combat corruption
By Channel NewsAsia's Indonesia Bureau Chief Sujadi Siswo
JAKARTA : Indonesia plans to increase the salary of its six million civil servants in an effort to combat corruption and improve public service.
The pay increases are targetted at junior civil servants, whom observers say are prone to corruption because of their low wages.
After a request was made in June to double the take-home wages of 550 members of Parliament, authorities are now considering doing the same for their public officers in an effort to improve their working conditions, especially the lower-ranking ones.
Many are living on incomes below the minimum wage set out for the private sector, which is why observers believe they are more likely than others to be involved in corruption.
Junior officers earn about US$120 a month. The pay hike, scheduled for next year's budget, will see them getting up to a 30% increase.
The top civil servant -the Indonesian President - with his monthly basic salary of US$5,000, will get a 5% pay rise.
Indonesia's basic wage does not include benefits such as housing, personal and family allowances or a car, which will usually add up to another 30% or more.
Said Indria Samego, a military analyst at The Habibie Centre: "An Indonesian 4-star general, his income less than 5 million rupiah. Usually they get benefit and extra income because of their position. Their money come from everywhere, from somebody who needs political umbrella from him. So it's a lot of money."
So while critics support the government's motive to reduce corruption by increasing public officers remuneration, they say the fight against graft is just scratching the surface.
"The current effort in combating corruption focuses mainly on middle and small cases of corruption. They haven't touch the big fish - the big cases of corruption," said Luky Djani with the Indonesia Corruption Watch.
- CNA /ls
[/b]
So next time,before u wanted to defend our ministers "blindly",please post some articles that is more convincing,or wait until the Indonesia really raise the salary of their ministers then u come n post it here ok?