New announcement for even higher Minsiters' pay...
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I just hope our neighbours weren't tuning into that piece of news.
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i think they are laughing us louding why are we work so hard yet get so little?Originally posted by ditzy:I just hope our neighbours weren't tuning into that piece of news. 
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Officers in the Civil Service such as those in the Education Service, the Corporate Support Scheme and the Operations Support Scheme, will also see a pay adjustment of 3-5% in their annual salaries which will be performance-based.Originally posted by simnatic:I have to agree that most ministers do not deserve a pay rise, they already earn ten times what average Singaporeans earn, how much more do they need?!?
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 there is no monthly salary adjustment for existing teachers unless they were deemed to be performing.... -
now i realised why some people say singaporeans are too proud because of one manOriginally posted by soul_rage:Oh I cannot help but salute the old man's arrogance.
With a superb sweeping statement, he has just insulted all our neighbours, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos.
And what will happen? These countries will be pissed off with Singapore, and once again, they will take out their anger on us, the ordinary Singaporean.
No wonder we are hated in ASEAN. Our govt seems to always think we are the best and the greatest in ASEAN, and along the way, insults the rest. No one really appreciates our aid, no matter how many billions we donate to them, coz we give them the impression we are looking down on everyone ard us
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Originally posted by soul_rage:
I believe he just called the gov of Denmark, Finland, and Switzerland mediocre as well.
MM Lee, opposition MP Low Thia Khiang debate increase in salaries
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SINGAPORE : Opposition MP Low Thia Khiang questioned the need for such high salaries for ministers and top civil servants to prevent corruption.
He said Singapore ranked below Finland, Denmark and Switzerland, in a UN report on how corrupt a country is, but these countries pay their top civil servants less than Singapore.
This had Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on his feet and challenging his statements.
"Does he realise that Singapore's GDP is only one-third of its external trade? Our external trade is 3 1/2 times that of our GDP, higher than Hong Kong. And if this economy ever falters, that's the end of Singapore and its First World status. Denmark, Switzerland and Finland are part of Europe. You can fail and you're still caught in the European situation. If you fail here, you go back to a Southeast Asian situation. Just look around you," said MM Lee.
"So is the Minister Mentor saying that without paying such a high salary, we are bound to fail? And even if we pay top earners' salary, can the present government bring Singapore up to superpower (status), as what he has mentioned for those in Denmark?" challenged Mr Low, MP for Hougang.
"I am putting a simple question and asking for his clarification. He has compared Singapore as if it were Denmark, Finland or Switzerland. Their systems and governments never produced the kind of transformation that we have, and their system and government have a broader base and can afford a mediocre government," said the Minister Mentor. - CNA /ls -
I believe someone just made us look like jealous little heathens.
Finland has beaten Singapore in economic competitiveness for years.
Apparently, liberal quoting ad-nauseum seems safe to do now eh.. -
First world standard is like this - self-praise and making of all kinds of of assumptions and bullshitting all the way through without proof like benchmarking of ministers' worth to the private sector successful entrepreneurs which is purely conjectural.Originally posted by Skibi:I believe he just called the gov of Denmark, Finland, and Switzerland mediocre as well.
For all the talks that we will lose talents none of the ministers are leaving because of insufficient pay. If there is such a minister who is leaving people will fight for higher pays for him without there being necessary to increase their own pays through clever one-sided selective benchmarking which deceive the public/
We still have many talents like Francis Seow and Tang Lian Hong and more other talented people in the queue who given an opportunity would do a better job in creating greater economic competitiveness and social cohesion to build a more vibrant country. -
What the heck. He hardly answered the question. He just tried to scare him into submission. What kind of stupid answer is that? So what if we fail? We are too weak to pick up the pieces? Is he trying to say that? Oh alright, he just insulted his own country too.
Between us and those countries, I say the people of those populaces have far greater resiliency than us, especially when they had to live through countless wars through their history and still survived as a nation through all the centuries of warring. -
Ok, we now get no SAND or GRANITE from our immediate neighbors...
And HIS latest statement that Europe's governments are mediocre, I wonder what's next that we will not be supplied with...??
It's just unbelievable the size of our gov's EGO and degree of ARROGANCE!!!
The things he says about the world around us is akin to sh|tting on our dinner tables!!!
HOW IN HECK, are such remarks beneficial in maintaining world relations???
Is our old man saying that we can positively stand alone as an island??? -
used to cursed him but not now.... pls people of SINGAPORE, let me cash out first, than by all means, do whatever you want with the OLD MAN.Originally posted by ShutterBug:Ok, we now get no SAND or GRANITE from our immediate neighbors...
And HIS latest statement that Europe's governments are mediocre, I wonder what's next that we will not be supplied with...??
It's just unbelievable the size of our gov's EGO and degree of ARROGANCE!!!
The things he says about the world around us is akin to sh|tting on our dinner tables!!!
HOW IN HECK, are such remarks beneficial in maintaining world relations???
Is our old man saying that we can positively stand alone as an island??? -
SPEECH BY MR LEE YI SHYAN,MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, AT PARLIAMENT ON SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR MINISTERS AND SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS
April 9, 2007
Introduction
1. Our debate today is about fair pay for ministers and civil servants. Their job is to lead the country, translate vision into reality. If they do their job well, our economy will grow, society will remain cohesive and lives of Singaporeans will improve.
2. Before we can come to any conclusions, I think we need to address three questions:
(a) what is the job about, ie what is at stake
(b) What kind of people do we need to do the job well; and
(c) What is a fair pay for these people.
What is the job about, what is at stake?
3. The job of any modern government is a complex one. It not only has to address current issues, it also has to plan for the future. It has to affirm the successful, it also has to encourage and assist the weak. It has to protect its citizens, but also challenge them to be responsible. It should not be populist, but should seek to strengthen consensus and unity amongst its constituents so as to achieve a common vision.
4. While these job descriptions may seem common for many governments, the job of governing Singapore is made much more difficult because of our smallness and vulnerabilities. Despite all odds, we have accomplished much. Singapore is worth much more now than forty years ago and the stakes are high.
How much is SingaporeÂ’s worth?
5. Based on our GDP of S$210bil growing at 4 to 6% annually, every 5-year term of good government will produce new combined value add in excess of S$1 trillion.
6. What about our foreign reserves managed by GIC, savings in the banks and investments in the SGX? They run into hundreds of billions.
7. We all know that commercial buildings are worth a certain price. Likewise, our factory buildings, MRT system, roads, airport and seaport all have monetary values that can be realised if they are listed and sold to international investors. Yet, we have not put a price tag to these assets.
8. Imagine if we go one step further and impute values to the intangibles of the operating environment in Singapore: safety, reliability, stability, efficiency and integrated-ness? These are valuable attributes money canÂ’t buy, yet, these values have become synonymous with SingaporeÂ’s infrastructure.
9. SingaporeÂ’s value is also expressed through other countriesÂ’ curiosity at our achievements.
10. Just a few months back, a Middle Eastern country actually wanted to buy over the entire JTC. In Saudi Arabia, one marketing brochure for a new, 150 sq km City reads “Singapore in the Middle East”. Many of the oil-rich middle-eastern countries are diversifying their economies by building new cities and infrastructure. Many of them wish they could build an “instant Singapore” into their systems. I think if we had offered, they would have bought up not just JTC, but PSA, CAAS, IDA, MOE and many other key institutions too.
11. Sir, as far as I know, not a week passes by without a foreign delegation in town studying our systems, with the aim of adapting it back in their countries. They come from China to the Middle East, Russia to India and not to mention officials under training from Asean countries. They are interested in our urban planning, environmental protection, medical 3M, eGovernment, workers upgrading programs, CPF and soon Workfare Bonus Program.
12. This week, the second Jiangsu province delegation, comprising 18 party secretaries and 11 mayors are visiting Singapore. What makes the delegation unusual is that either the Number 1 or 2 persons of the major cities in Jiangsu are here at the same time. They are very serious about studying our urban planning and public administration system.
13. When the first Jiangsu delegation visited us in November last year, one of the mayors commented to me: “In terms of individual buildings, I believe we have more outstanding architecture than you have. But when you assemble all our buildings side-by-side, your city looks so neat and beautiful. They are in harmony. So what is your secret”.
14. Our former chief national planner, now a senior director of RSP Architects, Mr Liu Thai Ker has been doing architectural and city master-planning work all over the world. He reminded me that “Singapore is the world’s only brand new, well functioning global metropolis built up in the past forty years”. That is why we are a subject of case study and analysis, from countries near and afar.
--Cont'd-- -
--cont'd--
What kind of people do we need to do the job?
15. Does it make sense now that we know we are dealing with trillions of assets in Singapore, and we want to relax the system and allow lesser people to run the country?
16. Consider an executive search firmÂ’s view below:
“Singapore's bureaucrats are seen as "positive minded achievers who know how to work ethically within the system with a view to actually get things done and deliver to the population quality products and services” – be it in healthcare, public amenities such as transport & housing, utilities like water & power, environmental issues and, most important, education”.
“The current "global initiatives" of Singapore to expand its presence beyond its shores and into the large emerging markets of India, China, etc are being watched closely. Singapore's experiences in setting up SEZs in Bangalore (ITPL) & in China are practically textbook cases for many countries which are looking to expand their GNPs by co-investing worldwide. The successes of Singapore’s Civil Service Professionals in these areas make them extremely valuable to countries seeking to repeat these achievements. So the next wave of Executive headhunting from Singapore to many other countries in emerging markets could involve senior civil servants - at salary levels far in excess of the ones currently prevailing at home. This process could start happening within the next 2 to 3 years as more and more countries are on a platform to take off & need high quality governance to ensure sustainable world class infrastructure is in place”.
17. Sir, I am worried that there might be an exodus of talents from the civil service. If we are unable to appreciate our own talents, others will express appreciation on our behalf.
18. Of course, I am not trying to over-simplify any career decisions at the senior level to just a single dimensional consideration of “dollars and cents”. In fact, I believe it is most common for any executive offered a new opportunity to consider 4 key factors: (a) mission and meaning of the job (b) challenge and growth opportunities (c) environment for self and family and (d) monetary compensation.
19. In the talent wars out there, firms are competing by raising the bar in every of the 4 components above. If all that we can offer in public sector leadership are the first 3 components, and have a very weak 4th component, it is most unlikely that we can compete effectively against other career opportunities, much less convince anyone to take up public sector leadership positions.
20. For multinationals, they can recruit worldwide for their CEO and the senior management team members. In Singapore, for positions of ministers and permanent secretaries, we can only choose from the limited pool of top local talents. We cannot possibly appoint foreigners or PRs to the cabinet, least we will end up having many foreign ministers! This is a severe constraint on our building the best team from a population base of 4 million.
What is a fair pay for these people - Market Benchmarks
21. The Straits Times reported on 6 April that Mr Wee Cho Yaw was the best paid banker at $9.25 million last year. DBSÂ’ Jackson Tai and OCBCÂ’s David Conner were reported to receive around $7.5 and $5 million respectively. In the real estate sector, CapitalandÂ’s Mr Liew Mun Leong was paid $5.14 million, City DevelopmentÂ’s Kwek Leng Beng received $4.25 million and Keppel LandÂ’s Lim Chee Onn $5.5 million. Earlier on, it was also reported that SingtelÂ’s new CEO, Ms Chua Sock Koon, would be paid $5 million if she meets her performance targets.
22. I think our companies paying their CEOs regionally-competitive salaries is a good sign. As our companies grow in sophistication, assets and their international reach, their management teams will also be valuable to other international companies. I am sure their boards, in deciding the level of compensation, have taken into consideration the job scope, complexity and the market value of these leadership positions.
23. Some people argue that running a business is different from running a country. Running businesses require functional and execution skills; you also need market knowledge and business acumen. Hence, you need to pay top dollars for this unique blend of rare qualities.
24. For political leaders, donÂ’t they need to possess strong functional skills and the political acumen to take into account a wider range of variables in decision-making? See how the Thai stock market plunged by 15% and US$25 billion was wiped out overnight on the announcement of currency control measures.
25. What about anticipative work, such as averting terrorist attacks, keeping our sea lanes open, keeping drinking water flowing, ensuring sand and granite supply coming? Do they need organizational skills and execution skills? Do they need plans and preparation? Do they need imagination and risk-taking?
26. I believe good political leaders not only need to be rational and analytical - the head factor, they must also have the character, empathy and temperament – the heart factor. They must have exceptional abilities to connect with people.
27. It is fair to assume that the top 500 professionals in Singapore have the basic “head” factor. Then as we begin the filtering process, using the “heart” criterion and relevant skill sets, removing the PRs and non-Singaporeans along the way, we will quickly come to a much shorter list of qualified potentials. If we talk to them, telling them the kind of drastic pay cut they need to expect, and the heavy burden and nature of the political office, I think they will consider the 4 components of a career choice, speak to their family members, and finally, politely decline the opportunity to serve. We will have very few people coming forward. With the war for talents intensifying, the situation will be worse in the future. Should we then lower our standard of selection, by going down to the next 500 or next 1000?
28. The further down we go, the less capable people we are recruiting into the team. The less assured will be our future.
29. Some people argue that business leaders are faced with greater risks. But wonÂ’t leaders of nations face the same risks and more? We just need to remember the Asian financial crisis, 911, SARs, terrorism, the possible pandemic flu, the rise in oil prices in recent years, and the more recent shortage of sand.
30. A business can leave a hostile operating environment, retrench workers and pack up and move on to greener pastures. However, our government cannot relocate Singapore. We have to accept the situation as it is, retrain displaced workers, restructure on a national scale, sustain livelihoods and maintain confidence.
31. Bankrupt businesses can fold up under Chapter 11 and get reborn with new capital and owner. If Singapore folds up, we would not even have a place to call ‘home’ anymore.
32. Some people argue that corporate leaders face fluctuating incomes every year. They argue that ministerial pay should be tied to their work performance. Yes, but we should also recognise that good business leaders deliver strong performance over a period of time. Likewise, we should look at a cabinetÂ’s performance in leading the country in its 5-year term or longer.
33. However, I also want to caution against an over-zealous performance-based implementation that will encourage short term behavior. We know that not everything that is quantifiable is important, and not every important thing is quantifiable. Many decisions taken for a country must be long term in nature. Master-planning of the city, the population model, policies on a social safety net, defence policy etc. Even when to build our new MRT lines has very long term implications.
34. If we over-incentivise short term behavior, as you see how many other governments do, we could end up implementing populist policies, squandering our reserves away and neglecting capacity building and investments for the future. In the corporate world, we have heard of CEOs creating short term results or turnaround by stripping assets, scrapping staff training and trimming R&D just to maximize profits. A company can be propped up for a few years but will die of poor nutrition thereafter. This approach should not be the outcome of our performance-based compensation system for ministers. -
--cont'd--
In perspective
35. I met with the Chairman of a large industrial park developer in a neighboring country two years ago. I was curious at his business model. I asked him: “Industrial park development in most countries is a money-losing proposition. Government typically has to put in a lot of infrastructure around the industrial park for it to work. Roads, water, power plants, sewage system, telecommunications - all are very expensive investments. In Singapore, we set up JTC to do just that. How is it that you can develop greenfield industrial parks and still make money?”.
36. The founder-Chairman replied: “Oh.. in my country, the government is not so organised and have people like yours. We the private sector must organise ourselves to build our own industrial parks. Besides charging land rental, I also provide utilities, telecommunications, canteens, workers’ uniforms, housing … anything that my tenants need I would provide. We create a revenue model from our tenants and. we become profitable”.
37. Impressed, I asked further: “You have created a new industrial park from ground up. What about your capital city? It is a large metropolis. But traffic congestion is choking it. Is there any plan that you or your government has to tear some old buildings down, widen up roads, build more subway lines and perhaps also bury overhead power cables underground?”. Without much hesitation, is entrepreneur said: “No, if the government attempts to do that, there will be riots. They will be overthrown the next day. We are too democratic, too many voices and there are too many interest groups. Don’t forget, our government is weak. Your PAP government is half a communist! When you say you do, you will do!“
38. Sir, whatever others may call us, we deliver benefits to our people.
39. The latest Merrill Lynch report has this to say about Singapore: “At the risk of being abstract, we would say that Singapore is amongst the best countries in the world. . . There is no prescribed way to analyse a state’s Grand Strategy. But you can start with its perspective. How it sees its goals, strengths and fears…. These are key issues for a country… countries with governments that have strategic vision and the ability to implement, also have strongly-performing stock markets. Those that don’t, have not.”
40. Sir, persuading the ablest men and women to lead this country must be an urgent priority for the present generation of leaders. The Prime Minister needs every tool he can have to make it easier, not harder for talented people with the right character to come in. We should give our strong support to the proposal to pay ministers and senior civil servants, and statutory appointment holders market-based salaries.
41. Sir, paying S$56 million for a cabinet to run a GDP of S$210bil is cheap. You canÂ’t get that anywhere in the world.
42. Conversely, paying a team of $46 million (or $4.6 million as practised in some countries) can be too expensive, if the result is a floundering economy, high unemployment, empty government coffers and a divided people. All these can happen faster than you think, with an incompetent government.
43. Sir, the choice is clear.
Source: Asia1.com -
The 'strong man' strikes again...Originally posted by soul_rage:MM Lee, opposition MP Low Thia Khiang debate increase in salaries
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SINGAPORE : Opposition MP Low Thia Khiang questioned the need for such high salaries for ministers and top civil servants to prevent corruption.
He said Singapore ranked below Finland, Denmark and Switzerland, in a UN report on how corrupt a country is, but these countries pay their top civil servants less than Singapore.
This had Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on his feet and challenging his statements.
"Does he realise that Singapore's GDP is only one-third of its external trade? Our external trade is 3 1/2 times that of our GDP, higher than Hong Kong. And if this economy ever falters, that's the end of Singapore and its First World status. Denmark, Switzerland and Finland are part of Europe. You can fail and you're still caught in the European situation. If you fail here, you go back to a Southeast Asian situation. Just look around you," said MM Lee.
"So is the Minister Mentor saying that without paying such a high salary, we are bound to fail? And even if we pay top earners' salary, can the present government bring Singapore up to superpower (status), as what he has mentioned for those in Denmark?" challenged Mr Low, MP for Hougang.
"I am putting a simple question and asking for his clarification. He has compared Singapore as if it were Denmark, Finland or Switzerland. Their systems and governments never produced the kind of transformation that we have, and their system and government have a broader base and can afford a mediocre government," said the Minister Mentor. - CNA /ls
Arrogance and insults aside, i don't believe he even gave a reasonable answer to Low's question? Like a wily politician, he reversed the positions and instead threw the onus back on Low to clarify his position. So instead of answering why ministers should be given high salaries, he questions Low on the purpose of his comparing SG with developed nations like Denmark.
Did our SM not previously compare ourselves with Switzerland? Did he not use the 'swiss standard of living' as a model for SG? Obviously, there is some internal conflict over such audacious comparisons now; or perhaps the party whip was not efficiently enforced by Lim Swee Say?
Swiss standard of living indeed...emotions emotions, it seems like MM Lee was personally insulted by Low's remark, that inflation of ministerial salary is a crime and any who question it is implying as such.
I wonder just how many within the party truly believe that this pay hike is the right course of action. -
The bottom line to all the malcontent is this:
Not too long ago, PM Lee told us to swallow the bitter pill, keep our costs down, and remain competitive in our jobs.
It seems that our govt is not content to lead by example, and instead will conveniently choose whatever course of action bulges their pockets.
While i do agree that finding talent is extremely difficult, surely the person who turns it down because of money isn't fit to serve? And if we up the pay sufficiently to attract people, surely those joining are doing it for the sake of high salary?
As Catherine Lim said, to raise the salary of a govt office to attract the 'right' talent is to demean the office. -
Hey, since we have now just seen the PAP prove that all they care about is money, then I think they don't really care whether the pay hike is the right course of action (just pay me more, more, more!)Originally posted by BillyBong:The 'strong man' strikes again...
Arrogance and insults aside, i don't believe he even gave a reasonable answer to Low's question? Like a wily politician, he reversed the positions and instead threw the onus back on Low to clarify his position. So instead of answering why ministers should be given high salaries, he questions Low on the purpose of his comparing SG with developed nations like Denmark.
Did our SM not previously compare ourselves with Switzerland? Did he not use the 'swiss standard of living' as a model for SG? Obviously, there is some internal conflict over such audacious comparisons now; or perhaps the party whip was not efficiently enforced by Lim Swee Say?
Swiss standard of living indeed...emotions emotions, it seems like MM Lee was personally insulted by Low's remark, that inflation of ministerial salary is a crime and any who question it is implying as such.
I wonder just how many within the party truly believe that this pay hike is the right course of action.
Once again, its shown that the PAP PRETENDS to listen, but in fact, they had already decided before they even inform the public.
And for the above, you and I both know that the govt brings in comparisons to their own advantage. Every comparison is made to show how competent, smart, etc they are.
I can only sigh, and wish that our dear fellow Singaporeans are no longer gullible. We do not need to topple the PAP. We just need to push in more opposition to ensure these arrogant elites start to listen.
So... please all remember this lesson. And stop getting bought over by the meagre 1k or so that they throw at you each election. -
if you haven't known, Reuters is reporting the entire fiasco, and almost every part of the world has access to that news.Originally posted by ditzy:I just hope our neighbours weren't tuning into that piece of news.
Singapore PM to earn 5 times more than Bush
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SINGAPORE, April 9 (Reuters) - Singapore's prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, will earn five times more than U.S. President George Bush this year after a pay rise on Monday boosted his annual salary to S$3.1 million ($2.1 million).
A minister told parliament on Monday that other Singapore government ministers -- who are already among the best paid in the world -- will also see their salaries jump by about 60 percent to an average of S$1.9 million ($1.26 million).
"For the public service to remain an attractive employer, our terms must keep pace with the private sector," Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also minister in charge of the civil service, said in parliament.
The ministerial salary increase -- which will take effect in two steps by the end of next year -- is slightly smaller than the government had originally proposed.
Lee said last month the salaries of ministers and top civil servants might have to rise by as much as S$1 million ($660,000) to S$2.2 million ($1.45 million) because they had fallen way below benchmark top salaries in the private sector.
Lee's announcement sparked an outcry, with hundreds of Singaporeans signing an online petition and writing to newspapers to protest against the move.
Some Singaporeans said the ministerial salaries did not reflect the country's economy or the government's performance, adding that the government was tactless to raise ministers' salaries now given Singapore's widening income gap.
One regional politician questioned the size of the increase.
"From the announcement today, I sense that it is a bit too high," said Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's former deputy prime minister-turned-dissident, at a Foreign Correspondents' Association dinner in Singapore.
Anwar said that politicians needed to be paid reasonably well but that salaries should not be "blatantly high, unreasonably high" as this could erode the sense of public service.
Since 1994, the salaries of Singapore ministers have been set at two thirds of the median pay of the 48 best-paid bankers, lawyers, accountants, engineers and executives in multinationals and manufacturing firms.
Under the wage revision, the bonuses that Singapore ministers receive will depend on their performance, to be assessed by Lee, and the rate of Singapore's economic growth, Teo said.
He said ministers can get a maximum "gross domestic product bonus" of four months worth of salary if the Singapore economy grows by 8 percent or more.
Lee, who is estimated to have earned S$2 million previously, will earn six times more than Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after the pay hike. The last pay hike was in 2000.
The government has defended the salary increase as necessary to attract the brightest people and to prevent corruption.
Lee Kuan Yew, modern Singapore's first prime minister and father of Lee, told parliament on Monday that resource-poor Singapore needed an "extraordinary government" to support it.
"If you fail here, you go back to a Southeast Asian situation," Lee senior said. "Just look around you." -
My apologies for using this group to spread the
message but if you disagree with the pay hike that was
announced yesterday, please sign the petition and
forward it to EVERYONE you can. it is time for the
people to speak and be heard!
http://www.petitiononline.com/paypap1/petition.html -
"Does he realise that Singapore's GDP is only one-third of its external trade? Our external trade is 3 1/2 times that of our GDP, higher than Hong Kong. And if this economy ever falters, that's the end of Singapore and its First World status. Denmark, Switzerland and Finland are part of Europe. You can fail and you're still caught in the European situation. If you fail here, you go back to a Southeast Asian situation. Just look around you," said MM Lee.
So is our economy doing well or is it not? According to what our MM says, it is very fragile and not strong. That why we need multi-millionaire ministers; but if it isn't doing well, why are we paying them millions of dollars???
I'm confuse but MM seems to be slapping himself in the face.
"We're doing a lousy job at keeping the economy stable but you need to pay us millions to do this lousy job because no one else can".... -
It's stupid to peg their bonuses to Singapore's economic growth. This is an obvious sign that they do not really care about the lower rung of our society.
How much the economy grows....does it mean that salaries of the masses increase as well?
Only business companies should do that, not a country. -
Originally posted by shade343:
On top of that, the PAP government has managed to restructure our country such that we are now enjoying a property boom. All this thanks to our dear leader.
Let us not deny him a fair wage for his efforts in rebuilding and rebranding Singapore
[/b]
What restructuring do you mean? And what did they actually do to create the boom. All they do is to control the land supply- as much as they control any other aspects of Singapore (mind you- they are the owner of Singapore).
One thing--where are the usually noisy opposition members who care to oppose the Government at times. Where are they now? This is the RIGHT time for them to do somthing--to voice out something that hit kaisee Singaporean heart and soul.
Do something right for crying out loud .
This is one of the practical reasons why we need an opposition in the Government. How can one approve of one own's pay rise? Peg to the private sector. Mr Lee- wake up! Do you know how salaries are adjusted in the pte sector? It has to be approve by the board of directors- and who are our board in this case. Pls tell me you didn't talk to yr daddy over dinner yesterday evening!!!
For those who oppose such one-side Government- pls sign
http://www.petitiononline.com/paypap1/petition.html -
Originally posted by Black Aces:
I just signed both this and the GST petition.
[b]My apologies for using this group to spread the
message but if you disagree with the pay hike that was
announced yesterday, please sign the petition and
forward it to EVERYONE you can. it is time for the
people to speak and be heard!
http://www.petitiononline.com/paypap1/petition.html [/b]
After all, I don't think there's anything wrong to raise your objections to the issue objectively.
So the rest here, hope you guys also sign the petition -
Hi Soul-rage,Originally posted by soul_rage:I just signed both this and the GST petition.
After all, I don't think there's anything wrong to raise your objections to the issue objectively.
So the rest here, hope you guys also sign the petition
Did you leave any comments there? Yoiu can find my signature and comments at comments 1109. -
i think the whole world is laughing after the article appeared in CNN..Originally posted by ditzy:I just hope our neighbours weren't tuning into that piece of news.
the drama is not over yet, there is another revision at the end of the year, so that means its gonna go up again.. talk bout greed.. -
Hanor.Originally posted by 4getmenot:i think the whole world is laughing after the article appeared in CNN..
the drama is not over yet, there is another revision at the end of the year, so that means its gonna go up again.. talk bout greed..
One time hike not enough.
Not even one year later, they will hike their salaries again.
Sounds familiar right?