Consolidation of all topics related to Ministers' Pay
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ministers and top civil servants pay to rise 2nd time
http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20071213-41009.html[/url] -
the gahmen have to keep with the benchmark, if not, their top talented minister will resign and go to the private sector and earn BILLIONS...Originally posted by angelfairy:ministers and top civil servants pay to rise 2nd time
http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20071213-41009.html[/url]
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Better quickly get the increment now.
With the subprime shiit and the stock market turmoil now threatening to turn next year into a "not so good" year, the people from the top will not be able to justify anymore pay hikes next time.
And yes, they will tell you the economy is not doing too good next year because of "external global forces" -
Is it legal for trustees to help themselves to monies like this out of public funds?
It is quite clear to the public and the judiciary under our general laws that it is wrong for public trustees to take monies from the public funds.
In the instance of NKF the public has expressed outrage over paying its CEO such monies belonging to the public even if the board or its chairman Richard Yong have given formal or informal approval.
Now it may be asked as well looking at the way the ministers are paying themselves monies from the public or taxpayers' funds whether it is proper for ministers to do so ? Is there a conflict of interest in putting up proposal to give themselves higher salaries and bonuses other than determined in established contracts of appointments?
If the ministers can do so then it may be asked can the directors and CEOs of companies put up some papers to the board and by sheer control of majority votes or power just proceed to take monies to reward themselves in such a cavalier manner?
Is there a legal basis to reward themselves in such a manner in present form of the constitution or the law or the court.
Singaporeans must ask themselves now this question to determine their own future - whether any elected leaders can use their power in such a manner against the normal laws by sheer political power.
Is this called rule of law? Is this called justice and equity? -
By having huge increases within less than a year, are they helping to close the income gap? These sickos definitely don't deserve to be paid so much. Keep taking care of increasing their own pay, so what about the 2% increase in GST to help the poor? Isn't it lip service when they said they will use 2% increase to help the poor? Lee Hsien Loong can't be trusted.
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I choose A.
One sentence : Shame on them.
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Look on the bright side: after this latest round of pay increases, Singapore with have the most incorruptible politicians on the face of the planet.
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I think I have to agree with you, they corrupt in a manner just like a daylight robbery where nobody can do anything about it. All of us might as well look on the bright side. At the very least Singapore does not have natural diaster or heavy crime rate like in other country. We should count it as a blessing.
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Let us remember that we have alternatives to choose from if we are unhappy with the government culture of pay does to this country.
As they always say, the rest is up to us.
"Members of Parliament have been trying unsuccessfully to get the Minister to increase the public assistance allowance from $250 to $300 per month. How will the people react if they found out that the Government is asking for a hike in MinistersÂ’ salaries?"
- SPP Secretary-General and Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong
"In fact, some who left (civil service) say they were drawn by the different challenges and new experiences, more so than by the money. The earlier the government comes to terms with this, the better for the people of Singapore."
- Workers' Party Secretary-General and Hougang MP Low Thia Khiang
"I would personally very much like to know what each individual Minister feels about taking more than $2m of taxpayers' money home each year, while fellow citizens struggle with rising costs and taxes."
- WP Chairman and Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim
"We believe the availability of examples like Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland (which the Singapore government had wanted to emulate) exposes the flawed argument that the progress of a country depends on highly-paid Ministers."
- NSP Central Executive Committee
"In what other country do Ministers draw exhorbitant salaries, far more than they are worth?"
- upcoming Reform Party leader J B Jeyaretnam
"However, Mr Lee's move to increase his salary and then announce that he will donate it away seems such an unnecessary show. Wouldn't it have made more sense to not increase salaries in the first instance?"
- SDP Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan -
i want to be a minister. -
Windfall salary increments and bonuses taken by power over and above that specified in the original contracts of appointments are not proper and can be deemed illegal and should be returned to the people.
There should be an independent panel set up consisting of people who are knowledgeable and unlikely to be influenced by the ruling party to decide on any change of salaries or rewards of bonuses.
Durai has been prosecuted for such taking of public monies even though his peanut pay was strongly supported by Mr. Goh Chok Tong and Ms. Ho Ching.
If we are following the rule of law in our governance then ministers should not be approving their own pays by their own ruling party members so that the ministers can have the moral authority to rule the country.
Any monies taken from the public by those in position of authority or trustees should be subject to investigation under the Corruption laws and prosecuted for illegal or improper taking of public monies as public trustees in the same way as has happened in NKF. -
I think we missed out that they have a pension scheme that is pegged to approx 60% of their current pay.
So the higher their pay, the higher their pension.
So I believe LHL still gets a pay increase (via the pension), but not enough so he is sulking in the reports. -
The majority of Singaporeans are against the pay increase for ministers.
But since the decision had been made by the PAP regime, there is nothing the public can do about it.
So I suggest the next best thing -- cut down on the number of ministers.
MM and SM are sucking up too much of tax-payers' money.
Why does our highly paid PM need the advice of these two? -
These scumbags are planning to exit politics. No dictators can last forever and they know it.
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In March of next year, there will going to be a Cabinet reshuffle as to who will be the next education minister. I think some other ministers will go.Originally posted by googoomuck:These scumbags are planning to exit politics. No dictators can last forever and they know it.
PM Lee has mentioned the search for the fourth PM is already underway. -
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This is how the leaders compare: S$10,000 pm (doctors or lawyers with their own law firms) ignored in the benchmarking !!! this group not worth comparing for ministers' salary benchmarking even though most MPs and ministers were drawn mostly around this group.
S$200,000.00 (doctors- the lucky few who happened to have started their own business during good years) acceptable for benchmarking even if it is a fact that most ministers were not from this group.
Thus it is clearly proven that the ministers' salary benchmarking is just a insidious scheme of self-reward and taking of taxpayers' monies by the ministers - worse than happening in NKF !!! -
People , remember this when you vote next elections
"Members of Parliament have been trying unsuccessfully to get the Minister to increase the public assistance allowance from $250 to $300 per month. How will the people react if they found out that the Government is asking for a hike in MinistersÂ’ salaries?"
- SPP Secretary-General and Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong
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Stand up and live with honour
Singapore Democrats
14 Dec 07
Two million was not enough, three million was still too little, now Mr Lee Hsien Loong wants an additional $700,000 for his annual salary. His ministers want $500,000 more. The lust is unbridled.
Without any resistance, they will continue to take as they please. In the meantime working Singaporeans bear the brunt of the escalating cost of living.
This is a classic example of those in power milking the masses for their own gain. It is nothing new. Ancient Rome did it, Imperial China was a master at it, and Medieval Europe were brazen about it.
While the rulers lived in opulence and planned grand designs for their children and grandchildren, the common folk toiled in despair and uncertainty.
While they received the best health treatments at little expense, the people compromised their health because of burdensome costs.
While they acquired land through their riches, the poor were forced to lease their homes and went into debt.
They put on solemn faces and tell the commoner that they are doing it for the good of the country. They frighten the folk that without their leadership, instability will result. If the people still resist, they resort to brute force to maintain obedience.
Deception, fear-mongering, intimidation and force are the favoured tactics.
This is why democracy was invented.
The people want to stop the exploitation and they want to have control over those who govern them. They want justice. They want to be able to get rid of rulers when corruption and greed set in.
Democracy allows the people to do that. It gives power and it can take away power.
But democracy means more than just voting. It means that people have the right – not privilege – to peaceful assembly and speech. And when we find ourselves treated like the common people in the Roman Empire, Imperial China or Medieval Europe, it is time to assemble.
People must know that freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are more than good. They are necessary. Necessary for our livelihood and well-being.
A people who remain silent and afraid to act despite the lies told to them and, worse, knowing that they are being lied to cannot prosper. For people who live in fear live in shame.
It is time to stand up and live with honour.
Contact us.
[email protected].
http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/articleministersalaries11.html -
Have people forgotten who is the person who caused Singaporeans ordinary folks and poors to suffer more for inflation after implementing 2 %GST? How come these ministers are talking about how good they have performed and have the 2nd pay raise. Don't they have no sense of shame? Are national servants turning into national bandit robbing tax payersÂ’ money by writing any absurd amount for their pay cheques?
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A responsible government will not cause inflation to the people while they themselves are getting $$600,000.00-S$700,000.00 pay increases with as many as 10 months bonuses.Originally posted by (human):Have people forgotten who is the person who caused Singaporeans ordinary folks and poors to suffer more for inflation after implementing 2 %GST? How come these ministers are talking about how good they have performed and have the 2nd pay raise. Don't they have no sense of shame? Are national servants turning into national bandit robbing tax payersÂ’ money by writing any absurd amount for their pay cheques?
Just imagine getting themselves so much pay increases without any approval of the people through a fair and unbiased independent panel. This is day light robbery. On top of this not only did the people not get any such pay increases they simply raise the GST knowing that it would cause serious inflation. Now it is confirmed that this raising of GST has caused a 4-6% in 2007. It is equal to a severe pay cut of 4-5% for most citizens as they do not get any similar salary increment as the private sector is not benefiting from NWC which only followed by the public sector.
From the above it is clear that the government has lost touched with the ground and they only care about their own welfare and not of the people. As long as they themselves get what they want like 4-21% salary increases and all the bonuses they will just let people cope with whatever happen and probably come up with new excuses or look-good assistances to a few near suicide cases and wash their hands of the whole social and community wellbeing of the people.
The government has the cheek to call this a first world country or an inclusive cosmopolitan society. What a shame this is the kind of talents we are getting despite paying them all the millions !!! -
http://www.forbes.com/2007/12/12/salaries-official-government-lead-citizen-cx_sm_1212leaders.html
Excerpts from Forbes article: Loss Leaders?
...size of the country does not always directly equate to the compensation paid to its leader. In a smaller country like Ireland, for example, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern was recently awarded a salary increase that would take his pay to 310,000 euros (217,000 pounds, or $434,000). But the rise, which would have put him at the top of the European pay league for prime ministers, was later deferred by a year.
...politicians of all stripes will say that a calling to public service, the exercise of power and the opportunity to shape their nation's destiny should transcend considerations of simple financial reward.
A week after taking office in 2006, Bolivian President Evo Morales made good on a campaign pledge and cut his salary in half, to just over $1,800 a month. While a symbolic move, designed to make more money available to pay teachers, it had the effect of imposing a pay cut on other members of his government and officials, since no one can earn more than the president.
Many leaders, of course, find a high-profile way of raising money and giving back after their elected career, through foundations or charity work--former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, or former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, for example, as well as sitting Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, while Tony Blair and France's Jacques Chirac, who both recently left office, are understood to be looking at setting up their own organizations.
...what do citizens pay for elected world leaders?
The U.S. taxpayer gives President George W. Bush $400,000 a year, while his No. 2, Dick Cheney, pulls down $208,575 for being a heartbeat away from leading the free world.
By contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin's official salary is just over $81,000, and a recent formal "wealth declaration" showed that his overall asset value had declined during his second term in office.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was named Forbes' "most powerful woman" for the second straight year, and who recently was critical of excessive executive salaries in the private sector, is paid around $318,000.
In Japan, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said last September that he would take a 30% pay cut on his salary of $355,000, and that other ministers would give up 10% cent of their pay.
But the top of the tree by some degree is Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong, who, following a controversial round of pay increases, is set to be receiving a salary of $2.05 million by the end of next year. While the rationale for the increase was--as the Hay Group found in its research--the need to keep government salaries competitive, Lee said he would donate his raise to charity. -
let me ask a blunt question: do you think that ministerial salaries would become the key campaigning issue for the general elections? What could opposition offer on this issue? -
Singapore. Civil Servants get more money
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In Dec 15, 2007 Straits Times article titled "Civil Service pay hike is to retain and attract younger generation talents: SM Goh", Mr. Goh Chock Tong explains why civil servants have to be paid more. According to him, unless they are paid attractive salaries, they will instead work in the private sector. Therefore money, lots of it, has to be paid to persuade them to join and remain working in the civil service.
As you know, this is the standard excuse given for pay rises in the government. According to Singapore government doctrine, Ministers will not stay in the government unless they are paid $3 million per year. What is more, even if they stay, they will become corrupt. Therefore the necessity of paying them $3 million per year, so as to prevent them from becoming corrupt if they remain in the government; and if they chose not to be corrupt, they will leave the government.
Since this is the standard reason of the Singapore government in justifying their outrageous salaries, the same argument applies according to Mr. Goh to the civil service. If mind boggling salaries are not paid, Singaporeans will not join the civil service. Instead they will work in the private sector and earn 10 times what is paid in the civil service.
These are arguments which, I think, most normal rational Singaporeans find difficult to follow. First coming to the $3 million per year of tax payers money paid to ministers; what evidence is there to show that any of these ministers have or will earn $3 million outside the government. No evidence has been shown of this. In fact my reckoning is that if Mr. Goh himself were to leave the government now, it is unlikely for him, even to find a job with $10,000 per month. Well look at it? What qualifications does he have other than the ability to please his master Lee Kuan Yew? He is not a professional, but merely an administrator.
But even if he was a professional, tell me how many professionals earn $3 million per year? I haven't come across any. Neither have other Singaporeans.
The same goes with all the other ministers. This theft by each of them of $3 million per year is outrageous. And to say that anyone of them could earn this outside without robbing UOB Bank is ludicrous.
But what is worse is the bad example set by these Lee Kuan Yew ministers. They have shown the Singapore population by their repeated salary increases and by their unashamed justifications of these excesses that all that matters in life is money. That the pursuit of money and money alone is the be all and end all of life itself. So these Ministers take as much money as they can. Now it is the civil servants turn to do the same.
And it is this shameless greed in this government's entire philosophy that destroys the minds of young Singaporeans. Are parents now trying to make their children pursue money at any cost? And what if they cannot become ministers like Goh Chock Tong and be paid $3 million a year? Is it permitted, then to steal and rob. After all what the ministers are doing is no different. It is theft anyway you look at it.
Is one really then surprised that the Singapore Bar has the highest rate of fraud among lawyers in the world. David Rasif only last year stole $12 million of his clients money and absconded. Since then, there have been a series of other cases of Singapore lawyers running away with their client's money, running into millions. Lawyers stealing their client's money in Singapore has become a way of life. They are no longer afraid of being caught. For them, in following the example of Mr. Goh Chock Tong, money is glorious. It doesn't matter how you get it.
But could there be another reason for Mr. Goh wanting to increase civil servants salaries? Could there be a brighter side to this? Could it be because, Singaporeans are refusing to join the civil service because it has been discredited? Are Singaporeans beginning to feel ashamed of their civil service being used by Lee Kuan Yew, not as an independent public service but as a political tool to destroy opponents? Are they looking upon the police as people who arrest innocent citizens such as Dr. Chee? A judiciary used to bankrupt citizens like JB Jeyaretnam? In other words, a civil service which has lost all pride and independence? Have the people decided that they refuse to be used by Lee Kuan Yew for his dirty work? Therefore is Mr. Goh finally realizing that civil servants are leaving the service in great numbers and there are few new entrants? Is this this the reason why he has no choice but to try to stem the tide of resignations by increasing salaries?
Is this another sign of desperation of the Singapore government?
Gopalan Nair
http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/2007/12/singapore-civil-servants-get-more-money.html