New announcement for even higher Minsiters' pay...
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maybe the UN will save us from this?Originally posted by mrwonderful:what if Parliment sets out a new law by 2011 that abolishes elections? Singaporeans also cant do anything, just follow law. HAHAHAHA!
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what if Parliment sets out a new law by 2011 that abolishes elections? Singaporeans also cant do anything, just follow law. HAHAHAHA!
dont know about you, i will out in the streets fighting the freedom of singaporeans free from dictatorship!! -
All these increase in Ministerial Salaries for what, when solutions to current issues are provided by students from schools???
Highly paid to seek ideas from public while they shake legs???
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Temasek Poly students invent device to close gap between platform and MRT train[/b]
[b]By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 25 March 2007 2256 hrs
Minding the gap between an MRT train and the platform will soon be a thing of the past if three students have their way.
The Temasek Polytechnic students have come up with a device to bridge the gaps and prevent objects and feet from getting stuck in them.
The 8-centimetre gaps have tripped and trapped about 10 passengers since 2005, according to SMRT.
Two of the three students who invented the device are Vincent Tan and Chua Thiam Koon.
Vincent said: "While we were travelling on the MRT, we noticed that there are people who are disabled, on wheelchairs and for mothers with prams, the wheels will actually get stuck in the gap. So we decided, 'why not we do something to cover up the gap?'"
So the group of third-year students spent several afternoons researching at MRT stations before coming up with a prototype.
The one-metre prototype costs about $1,200 to build and it is designed to be attached to the bottom of train cabins.
It is timed to work in tandem with the opening and closing of train doors.
Chua Thiam Koon said: "It will raise automatically once the door (of the MRT) opens and it will retract once the door is fully locked. We use about four months to build everything, plus research and stuff."
For their effort, the Land Transport Authority gave them the best project award of Temasek Polytechnic in 2006.
It is part of the annual LTA-polytechnic collaboration which recognises the top five student projects in all polytechnics.
It will take a while before the project is implemented in reality.
LTA says it will have to consider several factors, such as durability and costs.
More tests will also be conducted on the prototype before it is adopted.
For now, the gaps will remain, to minimise contact between the moving trains and the passengers standing on platforms. - CNA/ir -
Hope I'm not being overly presumptious when I say that it is students like you that make teachers want to go to work everyday! Not many students today will make and appreciate the kind of observations you have made. I volunteer at my daughter's school and I share your observations. Your teacher has done well..Originally posted by simnatic:HOWEVER, if this pay rise is for civil servants THAT ACTUALLY serve, in particular teachers, then I think they deserve it. Now, I'm not a teacher but I am a student who will be taking a national exam soon.
EVERYDAY, i see my teachers who are really dedicated to what they are doing, but their salary is really meagre compared to those in the private sector. My teachers come to school at 6 to start teaching (those who need it) and end at 6.30. i mean, most of them are earning btw $2500-$5000, but for the amount of work they are doing, their salary definitely is LESS than what they should get. As a teacher, don't forget that you bring home work to do. Worksheets,essays to mark, exam papers and tests to set and the list goes on. They work longer than the private sector (9-5) but this is what they get? I really pity some of my teachers. Most of them would even voluntarily come down on Saturdays to give us tuition....
So, in conclusion, though i think the ministers do not deserve the pay rise, I think people like our teachers who work long hours, some passionately, do deserve a pay rise. Just my 2cents worth...
Just as the culture of an organization depends on the guy on top, so too the relationship between a government and its people.
One wonders how many of these top echelon people are still single? How many are holding multiple portfolios that they donÂ’t even have time for any social live? How many are parents who donÂ’t even know what are their kids favourite pastimes? Or are they so stretched that they donÂ’t even know when their kids are writing about poor souls and asking them to get out of their elitist face.
Is this what the “Happiness” or “Quality of Life” index is flagging out? Could this be one of the reasons why people at the top are leaving? How many more Directors/DD/M/AM/SOs can be hired to share the load, with the intended salary increases? Even if the existing pay can only attract the 2nd best, a team of 2nd best can certainly out produce a lone maverick! Indeed, team dynamics may even ensure that the lone political-maverick-of-a-boss does not get away with a good-on-paper, tough-but-necessary policy but which is out-of-touch and impractical to implement!
If these top guns are recipients of such enlightened approaches to their own dilemmas, instead of continuously being thrown with more money and then told “you are paid enough, so solve the damn problem!”, or “We will rotate you and provide you with more challenging tasks”, they in turn are more likely to do the same for their own departments. Who knows, the outcome may be better-thought-out-but-still-tough-and-necessary policies which are accepted with less outcry from a more forgiving population. More forgiving because when the private sector takes the cue from it, the whole nation is less stressed and may even find some of its other problems (like lower fertility, juvenile delinquency, etc) resolving itself! Too simplistic?
If the government really does so, pushing the envelop with this World Class approach, instead of the traditional “throw-money-to-solve-the-problem” approach, showing the rest of the world how small countries can better solve issues using non-traditional methods, they will have my vote on this issue. -
Be transparent about PM & ministers' work & preformance after the pay rise
The pay rise for minsters cannot be stopped!Since there is transparency about minister pays,there should also be transparency about ministers' work & performance.Show us what the ministers do daily!The people should know! -
unless u are able to go upfront and challenge PAP or able to dock their pay lor
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Originally posted by PRP:
PM's email to Minister:
[b]Be transparent about PM & ministers' work & preformance after the pay rise
The pay rise for minsters cannot be stopped!Since there is transparency about minister pays,there should also be transparency about ministers' work & performance.Show us what the ministers do daily!The people should know![/b]
What plans do you have coming up?
Minister's email to Civil Service HOD:
What plans do you have coming up?
Civil Service HOD's email to Subordinates:
What plans do we have coming up?
Subordinates' email to HOD:
Thinking of this blah blah blah
HOD's email to Minister:
Thinking of this blah blah blah
Minister's email to PM:
Thinking of this blah blah blah.
PM's email to Minister:
Ok, let's implement it.
Minister's email to Civil Service HOD:
Ok, let's implement it.
And the cycle continues... -
It saddens me to see the state of affairs in Singapore. Frankly, when someone in private practise command a pay of S$2.2mil per annum, he brings in money many times its size. How many ministers can say they are in the same league?
Isn't serving your country a noble and sacrificial thing to do? Why does it has to be benchmarked against the top earners if you are out there serving your country? IsnÂ’t S$1.2mil a year enough to give you a comfortable lifestyle? If money is the motivation, then they should never come out and serve in the first place and go out there to earn that dream pay, if they good enough to make that pay in the first place.
I think it is a serious misconception to think that civil service standards are as high as those in private sector because in the private sector, people are measured by how much money they made while in civil service, they are measured on how much money they spend. -
We should be known on the map as Singapore Inc.
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4 pages of forum and a whole list of points why the ministers salaries should not be raise.
Surely the opposition can say something? -
4 pages of forum and a whole list of points why the ministers salaries should not be raise.
Most likely, the opposition would raise this issue in the upcoming Parliament sessions.
Surely the opposition can say something?
But seriously, even if they do raise this issue, like us, what can ever happen?
The pay raise would still be implemented! -
So the keep saying that if the ministers doesn't receive MORE pay, they will likely become corrupted.
That means to say that all our ministers are highly corruptible people?
I just think that it is only a bluddy LAME excuse.
CORRUPTED?? In the first place, who is there, to check on our gov and their ministers??? WHO dares, or are allowed to even QUESTION them???
So please cut that crap about CORRUPTION...
Just say you are GREEDY will do just fine... -
Yes.Originally posted by ShutterBug:That means to say that all our ministers are highly corruptible people? -
Not to mention its a SAFE hi-paying job.Originally posted by Sky Rider:It saddens me to see the state of affairs in Singapore. Frankly, when someone in private practise command a pay of S$2.2mil per annum, he brings in money many times its size. How many ministers can say they are in the same league?
Isn't serving your country a noble and sacrificial thing to do? Why does it has to be benchmarked against the top earners if you are out there serving your country? IsnÂ’t S$1.2mil a year enough to give you a comfortable lifestyle? If money is the motivation, then they should never come out and serve in the first place and go out there to earn that dream pay, if they good enough to make that pay in the first place.
I think it is a serious misconception to think that civil service standards are as high as those in private sector because in the private sector, people are measured by how much money they made while in civil service, they are measured on how much money they spend.
In private sectors, the highly paid people will get the axe should they make a mistake or underperform.
In our govt, so long as they are 'YES' men, they will continue to get their high pay.
Here we are, private sector people, slogging and continuously fighting to keep our jobs relevant. There they are, highly paid backend people, whom don't have the same worry as us, and yet earn a salary MANY MORE TIMES more than us.
Where is the oxford mushroom? (oxymoron). PAP supporters only hide whenever they find they have no arguments against us?
Std PAP tactic:
Step 1. Seek to persuade people to accept their ridiculous policies
Step 2. Seek to threaten people to accept their ridiculous policies
Step 3. Ignore and implement -
Thinking it through.... me agree wif the Pay to retain talents... But they better perform...
From wat I see now... They are not performing up to stardard.... tat's Y I still hv complaints now...
they better work hard to close the gap of the rich and the poor in sg... coz it's getting wider.... But to be fair... It's a v difficult job... Thus.. we need top brains which U and I who dun hv the million dollar salary can't tink of...
so ... they better perform... From the move.... It's like R&D.... the gov is betting on getting top brains to solve problems... when are there results??? I bet they dunno oso....
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So far, they have only been successful in INCREASING living costs, and their own friggin salaries...!!Originally posted by sunny6110:Thinking it through.... me agree wif the Pay to retain talents... But they better perform...
From wat I see now... They are not performing up to stardard.... tat's Y I still hv complaints now...
they better work hard to close the gap of the rich and the poor in sg... coz it's getting wider.... But to be fair... It's a v difficult job... Thus.. we need top brains which U and I who dun hv the million dollar salary can't tink of...
so ... they better perform... From the move.... It's like R&D.... the gov is betting on getting top brains to solve problems... when are there results??? I bet they dunno oso.... -
The issue is, in a company, you are appraised for your performance before a pay increment is determined.Originally posted by sunny6110:Thinking it through.... me agree wif the Pay to retain talents... But they better perform...
From wat I see now... They are not performing up to stardard.... tat's Y I still hv complaints now...
they better work hard to close the gap of the rich and the poor in sg... coz it's getting wider.... But to be fair... It's a v difficult job... Thus.. we need top brains which U and I who dun hv the million dollar salary can't tink of...
so ... they better perform... From the move.... It's like R&D.... the gov is betting on getting top brains to solve problems... when are there results??? I bet they dunno oso....
In their case, have they been performing well? To me, they have not (name one great achievement they have done, and you will struggle), and now they are talking about increasing their pay.
As a matter of fact, since they use taxpayers' money to pay themselves, we are their pay masters, and we should be able to decide if they should get an increment or not. -
Look at it in another way.... they are setting the path for the Future Ruling Party... if it pays gd to be in politics.... many would be more interested coz money can really make things work~!!Originally posted by soul_rage:In their case, have they been performing well? To me, they have not (name one great achievement they have done, and you will struggle), and now they are talking about increasing their pay.
As a matter of fact, since they use taxpayers' money to pay themselves, we are their pay masters, and we should be able to decide if they should get an increment or not.
If they can't perform.... Remove them slowing... may take a few elections... Time will tell.... -
Election is not necessary a good way.... Most people are apathetic and do not find out what is happening...They control the media and bombard the masses with propaganda dailyOriginally posted by sunny6110:Look at it in another way.... they are setting the path for the Future Ruling Party... if it pays gd to be in politics.... many would be more interested coz money can really make things work~!!
If they can't perform.... Remove them slowing... may take a few elections... Time will tell....
And you know how PAP "Engineers" elections....
*gerry Mendering
* Upgrading carrots
*progress package.
*Scaring of new entrants with their terror tactics (e.g. James Gomes Incident)
They can win 95% of the seats even if the opposition managed to get 40% of the votes. Where else can you achieve such statistically impossible figures? -
the young singaporeans are smarter and we are encouraged to dare to dream, dare to do... we can make a different in our life... if they really pay gd... somebody will chiong one...Originally posted by kilua:Election is not necessary a good way.... Most people are apathetic and do not find out what is happening...They control the media and bombard the masses with propaganda daily
And you know how PAP "Engineers" elections....
*gerry Mendering
* Upgrading carrots
*progress package.
*Scaring of new entrants with their terror tactics (e.g. James Gomes Incident)
Any they can win 95% of the seats even if the opposition managed to 40% of the seats. Where else can you achieve such statistically impossible figures?
maybe not the next election... maybe it will take a Few to change Ruling Party slowly... -
Tell them show us that they are capable in private sectors other so..called the ''GLC private companies''. Can they prove it.....OR, WHAT IF ASK ONE OF THE TOP MINISTERS TO JOIN MIRCOSOFT OR IN LEE KA SHING'S HELM.....Originally posted by Sky Rider:It saddens me to see the state of affairs in Singapore. Frankly, when someone in private practise command a pay of S$2.2mil per annum, he brings in money many times its size. How many ministers can say they are in the same league?
Isn't serving your country a noble and sacrificial thing to do? Why does it has to be benchmarked against the top earners if you are out there serving your country? IsnÂ’t S$1.2mil a year enough to give you a comfortable lifestyle? If money is the motivation, then they should never come out and serve in the first place and go out there to earn that dream pay, if they good enough to make that pay in the first place.
I think it is a serious misconception to think that civil service standards are as high as those in private sector because in the private sector, people are measured by how much money they made while in civil service, they are measured on how much money they spend.
You, ministers. If you are able to prove that you could do well in other private sectors (Not in GLC)...then I will salute you!!! -
Wat I guess is hor... Guess only huh....
they are urgently looking for politics talents coz my idol is v old le.... I guess he can't live past 2010 ... when a major stock market correction takes place... but looking at the valuations now.... most companies are not over-priced... and if the stock market does not over-heat in the next 2 yrs.... my idol can live another 10 yrs...
Cow Sh|T.... juz my imagination only... haha~ -
I think the time has come for a higher level of written protest...
Singapore's edge over others: Good, clean govt
So it's crucial to ensure competitive pay, says minister
By Sue-Ann Chia
Mar 28, 2007
The Straits Times
SINGAPORE has an asset that gives it a competitive edge over almost every country in the world, said Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean.
The asset: good, clean government.
Mr Teo highlighted this advantage yesterday when he explained why it was necessary to ensure that salaries of ministers and civil servants are competitive so that Singapore continues to have a good government.
Mr Teo, who is also Minister-in-charge of the civil service, acknowledged that the subject was difficult to explain to Singaporeans. However, he is confident that most people in Singapore would want a good government.
'I would ask that we pause and think what it is that will be required to ensure that we continue to have a good government. Not just for today but to put in a system that enables us to have good government for many more years to come.
'It is, of course, a debate which people will have many views on,' he told reporters after a dialogue with about 200 community leaders of Pasir Ris following the recent Budget debate.
The leaders had quizzed him about Workfare and the package to offset the July hike in the goods and services tax. They also indicated that more could be done to help the middle-income and senior citizens stretch their dollar.
In raising the issue of ministerial salaries with the group, Mr Teowas referring to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's announcement last Thursday that public sector pay is lagging behind the private sector.
The salary of ministers and top civil servants is pegged at two-thirds the median of the top eight earners in each of six professions. This would work out to an annual pay package of $2.2 million. However, the current pay of ministers and the top mandarins is $1.2 million.
An announcement of their salary revision is expected to be made by Mr Teo in Parliament on April 9.
Last night, he declined to disclose by how much the salaries will rise. But he had this message for Singaporeans if they want to ensure that the country has good government in the future. 'That', he said, 'depends on getting good people to come into government and making sure that we pay them reasonably well.
'If we don't do that, in the long term, the government system will slowly crumble and collapse...corruption will set in and we will become like many other countries and face the problems that many other countries face.'
In urging Singaporeans to think about the key issues for maintaining good governance in the future, he said: 'Having a good government is really one of the key advantages that we have in Singapore, and one of the few assets and resources that we have.
'It has taken many years to build this up and it is a key part of our competitiveness.
'And it is also a key reason why we are able to provide good services for Singaporeans - health care, water supply, good education for their children - and we want to be able to continue to maintain a good system in government.'
[email protected], asia1.com -
Defence Minister Teo's comment implies 2 very worrying mindsets:
#1: that if we pay our ministers any less, they will simply become corrupt and the system collapses. Is there any logic in his reasoning?
If a minister was paid, say a 6-figure sum annually, in comparison to equivalent ministers in developed countries like New Zealand, Norway and Denmark, it will already cover his cost of living and that of his family considerably, in addition to the almost unlimited perks stemming from lifetime pension, free membership to various associations and clubs, medical expenses...these are all taken care off which are totally transparent to the average Singaporeans; to say nothing of a 1.2 million salary they are already receiving, which will surely rank within the upper echelons of the private sector.
#2: that a 'reasonably good pay' is needed to attract talent.
While this is a fair statement on its own, it becomes rather absurb when it is linked to a proposed wage package of 2.2 million per minister, not including govt-releated perks of the highest order.
They are already being paid 1.2 million. Is that not enough to attract elite talent? If it isn't, then what is?
How much is too much?
Such a mindset adopted by the ministers will only influence our locals to shortsightedly link pay directly to workscope, each time asking for more. It's like Oliver (the orphan child) returning for more food, only this time he brings a bigger bowl. This type of approach is surely worrying in the long run, with Singaporeans swapping their passion for extravagent pay.
This implies that those who have the best talent and the right passion are not doing what they do best. By this, we can assume that the next crop of ministers won't join the civil service because they are driven by a desire to serve their country.
Such a notion has already been forsaken...for money. -
It's because of this pay rise issue and many other things related that I have given up on Sillypore...Will definitely not want to support this country anymore and subject my future children to things like NS...simply a waste of time....
There are many other countries that are not perfect but certainly better than Sillypore and the best part is that they do not need to pay high packages to keep their civil servants