Late David Marshall: Genuine Humble Minister of SG
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Quote of Late David Marshall:
I've got nothing against money. I'd like to have money myself! I'd like to have a house and a garden and dogs and a car and a chauffeur but, look, I've got a flat. I've got a swimming pool attached to the flat.
I've even got a car but I use taxis. I have a dignified way of life without being wealthy.
I don't see the necessity of owning a Mercedes-Benz and a swimming pool and a couple of mistresses. I think we've got our values all wrong.
You know $96,000 a month for a Prime Minister and $60,000 a month for a minister . What the hell do you do with all that money? You can't eat it! What do you do with it? Your children don't need all that money.
I never earned $60,000 a month or $90,000 a month. When I was Chief Minister, I earned $8,000 a month.
Look, what is happening today is we are encouraged to and are becoming worshippers of the Golden Calf.
Today,
The cabinet are full of greedy people. -
100k a month is ridiculous!!
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ministers should be the ones that say "look, i don't need all these money. give them to the welfare programmes!"
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Need high salary to defeat corruption?
Are our government ministers indirectly saying they need more money to tame their greed? -
Accoding to a world survey of ministers.
Spore PM n SM r the world highest paid ones!!!
But wat the joke!!!! we hve only 4 millions ppls and from N-S is 25 km only!!
No wonder our NKF ex-chairman Durei 's pay etc S$60k p.m is peanut lah !!!as compare with Gods. -
Dont 4get the pension 4 life n other perk for PM n Ministers!!!Originally posted by Lowclassman:Quote of Late David Marshall:
I've got nothing against money. I'd like to have money myself! I'd like to have a house and a garden and dogs and a car and a chauffeur but, look, I've got a flat. I've got a swimming pool attached to the flat.
I've even got a car but I use taxis. I have a dignified way of life without being wealthy.
I don't see the necessity of owning a Mercedes-Benz and a swimming pool and a couple of mistresses. I think we've got our values all wrong.
You know $96,000 a month for a Prime Minister and $60,000 a month for a minister . What the hell do you do with all that money? You can't eat it! What do you do with it? Your children don't need all that money.
I never earned $60,000 a month or $90,000 a month. When I was Chief Minister, I earned $8,000 a month.
Look, what is happening today is we are encouraged to and are becoming worshippers of the Golden Calf.
Today,
The cabinet are full of greedy people.
Not so little man,pls read the gov budget for these greedy Gods. -
wow, 96k.... 5k per month for my bmw 7 series.... 8k per month for my orchard condo.... 10k for my food... 5k for my bills.... 20k for my spending money.... YIKESS!! I STILL HAVE LOTS MORE!!
wow....if only ....
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Isn't that the reason given by the husband of the peanut wife?Originally posted by laurence82:Need high salary to defeat corruption?
Are our government ministers indirectly saying they need more money to tame their greed?
"More money for minister will have less corruption or something?"
So it means that there is corruption but does it mean that the money is now used to cover up corruption or reduce corruption or is just feeding the greedy to become more corrupt thus finding more ways to be even more corrupt. No one can answer but we all can see. Just look at the backing of all the companies in Singapore and we all can know if there is something going on... But the only thing I know of is that this Goh fellow mentioned about saving "bleeding" but profitable companies like our transport monopolies which turned out to be lies. His wife turned out to be as doubious and yet all these people are taking our money and living the high life - pretending to be with the people and yet at the same time slapping us with peanut comments
All I know that it is an established fact that Higher Salary does not mean Zero or No Corruption. Most of the cases of major corruption/governance issues are done by people who are paid sky high salaries. But we cannot conclude it is true here but there is a higher tendency. Look at Enron, AP-Brewery etc.
I stop donating because I feel that whatever money that does not go to the charity is heading to the big, deep pockets of these undeserving people. -
Hear Hear!!! David Marshall is quite right on his values in life.
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Our sg elites or the big shot a s s always claim that if they were to work in private sectors, they will command or draw even much more higher salaries and perks. Is that the way to compare? Morally, one, if he or she is willingly to serve the country...would he or she mind being paid XXX figures?Originally posted by mistyblue:Isn't that the reason given by the husband of the peanut wife?
"More money for minister will have less corruption or something?"
So it means that there is corruption but does it mean that the money is now used to cover up corruption or reduce corruption or is just feeding the greedy to become more corrupt thus finding more ways to be even more corrupt. No one can answer but we all can see. Just look at the backing of all the companies in Singapore and we all can know if there is something going on... But the only thing I know of is that this Goh fellow mentioned about saving "bleeding" but profitable companies like our transport monopolies which turned out to be lies. His wife turned out to be as doubious and yet all these people are taking our money and living the high life - pretending to be with the people and yet at the same time slapping us with peanut comments
All I know that it is an established fact that Higher Salary does not mean Zero or No Corruption. Most of the cases of major corruption/governance issues are done by people who are paid sky high salaries. But we cannot conclude it is true here but there is a higher tendency. Look at Enron, AP-Brewery etc.
I stop donating because I feel that whatever money that does not go to the charity is heading to the big, deep pockets of these undeserving people.
Our wise ex-chief Minister had said ''you can't eat all the money or neither your children need all the money''.
With that amount of money earned per month, bonuses, perks, dividends and so on....... what and how are you going to do with so much money.
Isn't it this is greedy?
Yet, sometime ago; I heard from our Big GoD said...our planet Earth is depleting with resources in don't know how many donkey years, if....and with that kind of salaries, aren't they are also contributing to the disruption of planet Earth's environment?.
I have said earlier in the forum...their ridiculous amount of salaries and perks are the most disruption to the mother Earth's environment!!!
What a hypocrisy!!!!!!
I hate this sort people. Saying one thing but doing is another kind of thing. Hypocrisy....Hypocisy is the word that is to award to them. -
I feel that GREED, is worse than CORRUPTION....Originally posted by laurence82:Need high salary to defeat corruption?
Are our government ministers indirectly saying they need more money to tame their greed?
Because GREED, knows and respects no boundaries - and no boundaries can curb GREED. -
Originally posted by Lowclassman:
Most private company employees know that "public servants" cannot employ because, they have never work a day in their lives. These people are a waste of time, good at tai chi, super at steal credit, wonderful at eat snake and really good at brown nosing..
Our sg elites or the big shot a s s always claim that if they were to work in private sectors, they will command or draw even much more higher salaries and perks. Is that the way to compare? Morally, one, if he or she is willingly to serve the country...would he or she mind being paid XXX figures?
Our wise ex-chief Minister had said ''you can't eat the money or neither your children need all the money''.
With that amount of money earned per month, and bonuses, perks, dividens and so on....... what are going to do with so much money.
Isn't it this is greedy?
Yet, sometime ago; I heard from our Big GoD said...our planet Earth is depleting with resources in don't how many donkey years....[b]and with that kind of salaries, aren't they are also contributing to the disruption of planet Earth's environment?.
I have said earlier in the forum...their ridiculous amount of salaries and perks are the most disruption to the mother Earth's environment!!!
What a hypocrisy!!!!!!
I hate this sort people. Saying one thing but doing another kind of things. Hypocrisy....Hypocisy is the word that is to award to them.[/b]
Its a chicken and egg issue. How these people get to these high positions, all can tell it is not by "merit" alone.. Without the benefit "high" positions and these people would not even command much of a salary in private sector. Their worth is in the network they have build because of their position, all thanks to the opportunity Singapore gave to these people to represent us. These people used their position to add value to themselves at the cost of the nation and now being the ungrateful public service personnel, tells us they deserve more pay even when they are one of the highest paid public official in the world? The worse part is when the relative salary of the man on the street had not made much adjustment while th Cost of Living keeps increasing and these people have no shame to tell us they will increase their salary (Look at the last increase) because the economy just recovered. Then suddenly more and more roads, even those with not much traffic has ERP and GST goes up nd etc.
I think these public officials need to wake up and understand they are playing a dangerous game. They can brainwash the next generation but how long can they keep this up.
if the thinking process of the people at the top is screwed, the people at the bottom will get the message. I am not surprised so many people throw in the resignation letter to quit from Singapore Inc. I am not surprise to meet people who are indifferent to fellow citizens because our govt only tell us to be nice, civil and smile to people who have money - IMF/WB. I am not surprise our people have no heart-ware because our govt cannot be bothered to help out our own people in need and the public have to donate. Yet at the end, to have our money siphoned to some rich fellow like Durai, or the SARs funds disappear or even have GCT wife involved in the saga, later to find out the bad investments by GIC/TH/Singtel and all being run down by one.. and one by one, before things crash, they leave before implication. -
One indian ex-colleague told me, India is corrupted but at least it is overt. People know about it and can handle it. People work around the systems and sometimes corruption is minor greed and can be overcome..Originally posted by ShutterBug:I feel that GREED, is worse than CORRUPTION....
Because GREED, knows and respects no boundaries - and no boundaries can curb GREED.
With Singapore, it is different. Everything is hush hush and everyone knows, is fearful and no one dare say a word. it is covert and there is no way around the system. It is in fact worse and no one knows how to work the system or get things done because everywhere you walk, you walk into walls - there are no opportunities in Singapore and all are controlled by the govt. There are always corruption everywhere because it is a fact of life but in Singapore, it i so covered up, and people are so fearful - no one really knows how far it runs here. For all the "safe country" touted by Singapore, it can become a double edge sword. Beside, other countries will catch up and others have benefits beyond "safety". With the influx of "foreign special service talents", "safety" in Singapore is a illusion.
It is a fact that no police system will be sufficient and there are more weak places that remains unguarded. The fact is that if any of our neighbouring countries want to attack us, they only need to fire a missle from their country or from the sea and we would be effectively dead. All that is just once again, a mind game. It is only whether the other countries want to take down Singapore. -
Well SaidOriginally posted by mistyblue:Most private company employees know that "public servants" cannot employ because, they have never work a day in their lives. These people are a waste of time, good at tai chi, super at steal credit, wonderful at eat snake and really good at brown nosing..
Its a chicken and egg issue. How these people get to these high positions, all can tell it is not by "merit" alone.. Without the benefit "high" positions and these people would not even command much of a salary in private sector. Their worth is in the network they have build because of their position, all thanks to the opportunity Singapore gave to these people to represent us. These people used their position to add value to themselves at the cost of the nation and now being the ungrateful public service personnel, tells us they deserve more pay even when they are one of the highest paid public official in the world? The worse part is when the relative salary of the man on the street had not made much adjustment while th Cost of Living keeps increasing and these people have no shame to tell us they will increase their salary (Look at the last increase) because the economy just recovered. Then suddenly more and more roads, even those with not much traffic has ERP and GST goes up nd etc.
I think these public officials need to wake up and understand they are playing a dangerous game. They can brainwash the next generation but how long can they keep this up.
if the thinking process of the people at the top is screwed, the people at the bottom will get the message. I am not surprised so many people throw in the resignation letter to quit from Singapore Inc. I am not surprise to meet people who are indifferent to fellow citizens because our govt only tell us to be nice, civil and smile to people who have money - IMF/WB. I am not surprise our people have no heart-ware because our govt cannot be bothered to help out our own people in need and the public have to donate. Yet at the end, to have our money siphoned to some rich fellow like Durai, or the SARs funds disappear or even have GCT wife involved in the saga, later to find out the bad investments by GIC/TH/Singtel and all being run down by one.. and one by one, before things crash, they leave before implication.
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The interview with David Marshall by Dharmendra Yadav in 1994 was very timely, as David Marshall passed on from this life in 1995.
Reading his commentaries from this interview will reveal the breadth of this gentleman, one who would have made Singapore quite differently had he pursued successfully in politics.
Unfortunately, Singapore was fated not to have a generous man to be a national leader, but moved on to be what Singapore is today through the understanding on the use of brutish and forceful grip to Political Power by the 'Power of ONE'.Selected extracts from 'Meeting David Marshall in 1994' :
"In my time, I tried to educate our people in an understanding of the dignity of human life and their right as fellow human beings, and youth was not only interested but excited about what I consider things that matter. Things of the spirit; the development of a human being to his true potential in accordance with his own personal genius in the context of equal rights of others. "
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"I am frankly terrified by this massive control of the mass media, the press, the radio, television, antennae, [and] public meetings. You canÂ’t write a letter to the Straits Times; if there is a shadow of criticism, itÂ’s not published. And the Chinese press follows suit. ItÂ’s a very dangerous position because experience proves that no one group of human beings has got all the wisdom in the world.
I meanÂ… well, two of you are Chinese and one Indian [Ed: actually, the interviewers were one Chinese, one Jew and one Indian]. I donÂ’t know much about Indian history but look at China. You had Confucian authoritarianism for more than 2500 years. What happened to China? She was a fossil. She had to reinvigorate herself with the Western ideology of communism. Another authoritarian ideology! And what was the result?
There must have been a million decent people who were transformed into vipers, vicious obscene vipers. IÂ’m afraid of this control of the mass media. "
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"But you say to yourselves, “Well, you know, what do we seek in life? We seek a rice bowl, full!”
It is full and overflowing, in fact. They serve you your rice in a jade bowl with golden chopsticks; not that it makes much difference to the taste of the rice. But youÂ’re empty!
YouÂ’ve got technocratic skills and you are seeking more but internally you are empty. Money is your acid test of success.
IÂ’ve got nothing against money. IÂ’d like to have money myself! IÂ’d like to have a house and a garden and dogs and a car and a chauffeur but, look, IÂ’ve got a flat. IÂ’ve got a swimming pool attached to the flat. IÂ’ve not even got a car but I use taxis. I have a dignified way of life without being wealthy.
I donÂ’t see the necessity of owning a Mercedes-Benz and a swimming pool and a couple of mistresses. I think weÂ’ve got our values all wrong. "
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"We have lost sight of the joy and excitement of public service, helping our fellow men. The joy and excitement of seeking and understanding of the joy of the miracle of the living the duty and the grandeur. We have lost taste for heroic action in the service of our people.
We have become good bourgeois seeking comfort, security. ItÂ’s like seeking a crystal coffin and being fed by intravenous injections through pipes in the crystal coffin; crystal coffins stuck with certificates of your pragmatic abilities.
What has changed?
The self-confidence of our people has grown immensely, and that is good to see. Our pragmatic abilities have grown magnificently, and that is good to see. Very good to see!
You are very able. YouÂ’re ambitious, and the government has heroic plans for the future. It hasnÂ’t finished.
I take off my hat to the pragmatic ability of our government but there is no soul in our conduct. It is a difficult thing to speak of because it is difficult to put in a computer, and the youth of Singapore is accustomed to computer fault. There is no longer the intellectual ferment, the passionate argument for a better civilisation. The emphasis on the rice bowl! "
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The government doesnÂ’t see I do respect them immensely. They donÂ’t see IÂ’m a genuine friend. They only see me as a critic and to be a critic is to be an enemy who must be erased and destroyed. There is no such thing as an honest critic to the PAP. ItÂ’s a blasphemy to criticise the emperor, spoilt son of heaven.
[Lee] Kuan Yew says you mustnÂ’t lampoon a Chinese gentleman. Oh, dear me! Ya, what happened? What happened to China?
In Europe, they institutionalised the court jester and the court jester had total immunity against any result from his public criticism of the kings and emperors and the courtyard. Open public criticism – that was his job! They tried to laugh it off but at least there was one person to prick the bubble of their overgrown egoism.
And which civilisation has progressed better for the development of humanity? The Western civilisation or the Chinese civilisation?
You talk of Asian values. I only know two Asian values and, I wish someone would really pinpoint them instead of pontificating ponderously in humbug and hypocrisy.
Family values - I think we have more family cohesion in Asia than in Europe; more family warmth and I like that. I accept that there is a greater tradition of family warmth and family cohesion.
Two, we have a greater passion for education. My secretary – I asked her once what her background is. She said her mother is a washer-woman and, here is this lovely secretary doing a damn good job. She was educated. How her mother could save enough to give her the education?
So these are the only two values I know. Somebody tell me what other values that are Asian, which everybody talks and nobody mentions the exact parameters.
And you know we use this concept of family cohesion to place on our youths the burden of caring for aging and ailing parents and grand-parents.
The young have got their own lives to make. To carry in your own homes aging irritable ailing parents and grandparents can destroy the family life of the young.
But then, the alternative is for the government to pour so much mountains of gold into building homes for the aged. That’s sacrilege – gold is to be gathered and not to be spent.
I want to see more crèches, more homes for the aged.
Our Prime Minister [Goh Chok Tong] talks about gracious living. Where is the gracious living?
So I am a bad boy, IÂ’m ostracised. The Straits Times makes slimy remarks about me.
The [press are] running dogs of the PAP.
For complete interview, click on - 'Meeting David Marshall in 1994' -
I have always held him in high regard. A real loss to Singapore, he would definitely have a few choice phrases and words for Lee Jr's administration.
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Remember Karma!!!Originally posted by mistyblue:One indian ex-colleague told me, India is corrupted but at least it is overt. People know about it and can handle it. People work around the systems and sometimes corruption is minor greed and can be overcome..
With Singapore, it is different. Everything is hush hush and everyone knows, is fearful and no one dare say a word. it is covert and there is no way around the system. It is in fact worse and no one knows how to work the system or get things done because everywhere you walk, you walk into walls - there are no opportunities in Singapore and all are controlled by the govt. There are always corruption everywhere because it is a fact of life but in Singapore, it i so covered up, and people are so fearful - no one really knows how far it runs here. For all the "safe country" touted by Singapore, it can become a double edge sword. Beside, other countries will catch up and others have benefits beyond "safety". With the influx of "foreign special service talents", "safety" in Singapore is a illusion.
It is a fact that no police system will be sufficient and there are more weak places that remains unguarded. The fact is that if any of our neighbouring countries want to attack us, they only need to fire a missle from their country or from the sea and we would be effectively dead. All that is just once again, a mind game. It is only whether the other countries want to take down Singapore.
All these Gods,u must take care of yr daughters n sons!!!karma will take care of u n the next G -
I remember reading somewhere where LKY told the guy: " to efficiently lead the country u need to get control of the guns, coffers and the media". He really live up tto his words did't he. The government now hav control over the country.
What are the temptation for man? There are 3. First and the greatest power. 2nd money. 3rd women. Wow i can say that LKY attain all this. But are these the qualities of a politician who should put the well being of the people in the first place? Like what late David Marshall would say the joy of a politician should be serving and helping your fellow brothers. -
Not only the above!!! Businesses as well!!!Originally posted by NewAge:I remember reading somewhere where LKY told the guy: " to efficiently lead the country u need to get control of the guns, coffers and the media". He really live up tto his words did't he. The government now hav control over the country.
What are the temptation for man? There are 3. First and the greatest power. 2nd money. 3rd women. Wow i can say that LKY attain all this. But are these the qualities of a politician who should put the well being of the people in the first place? Like what late David Marshall would say the joy of a politician should be serving and helping your fellow brothers.
He has managed to control all major businesses in Singapore!!! So...Majority are working for him!!! If you are working directly or indirectly, majority will not dare to vote against them. Simple!!! -
Lets not forget mistresses.. even a china one will set u back 7K/mth..Originally posted by mhcampboy:wow, 96k.... 5k per month for my bmw 7 series.... 8k per month for my orchard condo.... 10k for my food... 5k for my bills.... 20k for my spending money.... YIKESS!! I STILL HAVE LOTS MORE!!
wow....if only .... 
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i tend to believe karma dont work on the rich.Originally posted by foomwee88:Remember Karma!!!
All these Gods,u must take care of yr daughters n sons!!!karma will take care of u n the next G -
It will ....is a matter of time...if you are still very young...you might see thru'.Originally posted by dragg:i tend to believe karma dont work on the rich. -
There's nothing more truth than this.Originally posted by Lowclassman:
Quote of Late David Marshall:
I've got nothing against money. I'd like to have money myself! I'd like to have a house and a garden and dogs and a car and a chauffeur but, look, I've got a flat. I've got a swimming pool attached to the flat.
I've even got a car but I use taxis. I have a dignified way of life without being wealthy.
I don't see the necessity of owning a Mercedes-Benz and a swimming pool and a couple of mistresses. I think we've got our values all wrong.
You know $96,000 a month for a Prime Minister and $60,000 a month for a minister . What the hell do you do with all that money? You can't eat it! What do you do with it? Your children don't need all that money.
I never earned $60,000 a month or $90,000 a month. When I was Chief Minister, I earned $8,000 a month.
Look, what is happening today is we are encouraged to and are becoming worshippers of the Golden Calf.
Today,The cabinet are full of greedy people. -
MP Henry LeeOriginally posted by mhcampboy:wow, 96k.... 5k per month for my bmw 7 series.... 8k per month for my orchard condo.... 10k for my food... 5k for my bills.... 20k for my spending money.... YIKESS!! I STILL HAVE LOTS MORE!!
wow....if only .... -
David Marshall was a passionate man. He had his heart in the right place, but sometimes he just let his emotions control him too much. But overall I agree with him regarding the issue of ministers' pay.