Read: How the govt likes to dodge questions
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A question of motivation
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Have ministers undermined their moral authority by giving themselves such large pay increases?
This was the line of questioning advanced by at least three MPs.
Nominated Member of Parliament, Associate Professor Kalyani Mehta, said the Cabinet would be the "target of envy" among Singaporeans, especially the lower-income group, who were struggling to make ends meet.
"The management of envy is a very difficult task. If the envy rises year after year, the social compact could collapse," she said in an impassioned speech on the second day of debate on the pay increases for ministers and civil servants.
Responding, Mr Teo Chee Hean, the Minister-in-charge of the Civil Service, stressed that the Government has not lost its grip by revising salaries. "What is most important is the motivations of the person and his willingness to devote the time to serve. If a person is motivated by money, then even a low salary has its dangers," he said in a wide-ranging speech to address concerns raised by MPs, after Monday's announcement that salaries of ministers and civil servants would go up by between 3 and 33 per cent — an increase that will cost the Government $214 million.
Other MPs, such as Mr Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio GRC) and Mr Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), were more critical of the timing of this pay revision, coming less than three months before the 2 percentage-point increase in the Goods and Services Tax, which kicks in on July 1.
Mr Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) was worried that the pay increases for ministers and top civil servants had undermined support for Workfare and GST offset packages. "I don't think we have been sensitive to the feelings of many people. Many people have asked me: Did we increase GST to pay for this increase in salaries? While that is clearly not the case, it is most unfortunate that a support package so carefully crafted in good faith to help our lower income families should be seen as such light," he said.
Responding, Mr Teo said it was crucial that any salary adjustments be done "in good times". "We have had no major adjustments since 2001. We've already waited six years. Economic recovery has been going on for the last three years. We've not raised salaries as quickly as we should have. If we wait too long and fall too far behind, it will be difficult to revise salaries and in the long term, this will be detrimental to Singaporeans," he added.
Over the past two days, several MPs also called for an independent panel to be set up to review the private sector benchmark for ministers' salaries. In a pointed speech, Ms Denise Phua (Jalan Besar GRC) compared the situation of ministers deciding their own pay increases to CEOs in the private sector using their power to influence the board of directors to write them higher paycheques. Other MPs like Mr Alvin Yeo (Hong Kah GRC) and Madam Ho Geok Choo (West Coast GRC) suggested doing away with the benchmark and setting up a remuneration committee, a practice adopted by many large companies in the private sector.
Mr Teo, however, pointed out that even with such an independent body, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet would have to step in at the end of the day to decide whether to implement its suggestions.
"You can't escape from that responsibility," he said. "What happens if the (proposed) number is too high? Do you just go along and say that this was an independent panel that decided it? I don't think you can escape the same difficulties we face today," he said. - /sh -
This is by far the best, people said independent panel. He said PM will still have to step in.Originally posted by soul_rage:Nominated Member of Parliament, Associate Professor Kalyani Mehta, said the Cabinet would be the "target of envy" among Singaporeans, especially the lower-income group, who were struggling to make ends meet.
Responding, Mr Teo Chee Hean, the Minister-in-charge of the Civil Service, stressed that the Government has not lost its grip by revising salaries. "What is most important is the motivations of the person and his willingness to devote the time to serve. If a person is motivated by money, then even a low salary has its dangers," he said in a wide-ranging speech to address concerns raised by MPs, after Monday's announcement that salaries of ministers and civil servants would go up by between 3 and 33 per cent — an increase that will cost the Government $214 million.
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He is not answering the question. He is dodging the question. He doesn't make sense when he says "If a person is motivated by money, then even a low salary has its dangers"
OF COZ a person who is motivated by money, but has low salary, will cause problems.
People is asking about the high pay, he answers something else.
Other MPs, such as Mr Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio GRC) and Mr Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), were more critical of the timing of this pay revision, coming less than three months before the 2 percentage-point increase in the Goods and Services Tax, which kicks in on July 1.
Mr Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) was worried that the pay increases for ministers and top civil servants had undermined support for Workfare and GST offset packages. "I don't think we have been sensitive to the feelings of many people. Many people have asked me: Did we increase GST to pay for this increase in salaries? While that is clearly not the case, it is most unfortunate that a support package so carefully crafted in good faith to help our lower income families should be seen as such light," he said.
Responding, Mr Teo said it was crucial that any salary adjustments be done "in good times". "We have had no major adjustments since 2001. We've already waited six years. Economic recovery has been going on for the last three years. We've not raised salaries as quickly as we should have. If we wait too long and fall too far behind, it will be difficult to revise salaries and in the long term, this will be detrimental to Singaporeans," he added.
People are asking about the sensitivity, he is talking about good times. AGAIN, dodging the question.
[quote]
Over the past two days, several MPs also called for an independent panel to be set up to review the private sector benchmark for ministers' salaries. In a pointed speech, Ms Denise Phua (Jalan Besar GRC) compared the situation of ministers deciding their own pay increases to CEOs in the private sector using their power to influence the board of directors to write them higher paycheques. Other MPs like Mr Alvin Yeo (Hong Kah GRC) and Madam Ho Geok Choo (West Coast GRC) suggested doing away with the benchmark and setting up a remuneration committee, a practice adopted by many large companies in the private sector.
Mr Teo, however, pointed out that even with such an independent body, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet would have to step in at the end of the day to decide whether to implement its suggestions.
"You can't escape from that responsibility," he said. "What happens if the (proposed) number is too high? Do you just go along and say that this was an independent panel that decided it? I don't think you can escape the same difficulties we face today," he said. - /sh
end of the day, what did this session accomplish? NOTHING. Basically, its a waste of time debating, coz he just brushes away everything, rejecting every single debating point with ambiguous responses
Either he is really smart (dodging questions), or he REALLY cannot understand -
Originally posted by soul_rage:
Is he worrying that with an independent panel, the ministers might end up with too high a salary?
Mr Teo, however, pointed out that even with such an independent body, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet would have to step in at the end of the day to decide whether to implement its suggestions.
"You can't escape from that responsibility," he said. "What happens if the (proposed) number is too high? Do you just go along and say that this was an independent panel that decided it? I don't think you can escape the same difficulties we face today," he said. - /sh -
I believe he was instructed to act dumb and give dumb answers by none other than - our Minister Mental.Originally posted by soul_rage:This is by far the best, people said independent panel. He said PM will still have to step in.
end of the day, what did this session accomplish? NOTHING. Basically, its a waste of time debating, coz he just brushes away everything, rejecting every single debating point with ambiguous responses
Either he is really smart (dodging questions), or he REALLY cannot understand -
Why don't we just scrape the MP system altogether? Just leave the Ministers in govt.Originally posted by ShutterBug:I believe he was instructed to act dumb and give dumb answers by none other than - our Minister Mental.
After all, keeping so many MPs, whose questions result in no changes, is a waste of money.
$13,000 x 60 (my estimate) MPs = $780,000 per month that can be used to help the poor -
then you have a dictatorship...mps as the british intended was to represent the people...here clearly it's been abused.....Originally posted by soul_rage:Why don't we just scrape the MP system altogether? Just leave the Ministers in govt.
After all, keeping so many MPs, whose questions result in no changes, is a waste of money.
$13,000 x 60 (my estimate) MPs = $780,000 per month that can be used to help the poor -
Here, our MPs are puppets - who basically sings and dances (quite litterally as in recent months..) to the whims and fancy of who else???Originally posted by countdracula:then you have a dictatorship...mps as the british intended was to represent the people...here clearly it's been abused..... -
What the emperor wanna-be is doing is to keep his subjectsÂ’ stomachs full but the heads empty. ItÂ’s easy to lead the ministers by raising their income using other peopleÂ’s money.
He throw one stone hit two birds !
Even LKY whoÂ’s a lawyer by training cannot convince the people with his reasoning, how can his subject Teo Chee Hean talk sense? HeÂ’s thinking NOT with his head but with his buttocks.
We need many opposition MPs to entertain us in Parliament debates. -
see la! see la!!!
u all duwan to support british last time!
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The PM is gonna donate the increased amount of salary to the charities.. Meaning PM still get same salary.. But I think it's still abit too high le..
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they dodge we also ll.
Got anyone dare to say "Mr teo, u never answer my question /or / mr teo, why u dodge my question ah???" -
haha...dun tell me u pple now den know huh??..our govt are v good in coming up w rubbish when they try to defend themselves..if opposition came up w anything, they will say their views rubbish..but they will never say theirs are rubbish...cos they govt mah..watever they say is right..watever u say is wrong!!
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w8 a min, do our ministers get taxed?
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don't think so. ministers' pays are tax exempted.Originally posted by jay_rocks:w8 a min, do our ministers get taxed? -
Someone said that matching salaries is a must to retent talent within the government sector.
But with the current salary which even the US cannot match, what talent would be lost? -
maybe if we increase our ministers pay to 2.2million so as to retain talents, other countries might follow
such as their ministers will say i'm gonna corrupt if u dun pay mi 2.2million a year.. causing an uprising and GIC can buy other countries companies cheaper due to political factors 
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We've not raised salaries as quickly as we should have. If we wait too long and fall too far behind, it will be difficult to revise salaries and in the long term, this will be detrimental to Singaporeans," he added.
How is not raising salaries supposed to be detrimental to me, my friends, and my family (singaporeans)? -
we are not the United States, with the 7th Fleet to park offshore.Originally posted by cloud210:maybe if we increase our ministers pay to 2.2million so as to retain talents, other countries might follow such as their ministers will say i'm gonna corrupt if u dun pay mi 2.2million a year.. causing an uprising and GIC can buy other countries companies cheaper due to political factors -
Maybe we are not as talented as the ministers to see the danger?Originally posted by Vigelic:How is not raising salaries supposed to be detrimental to me, my friends, and my family (singaporeans)?