Staff Cars usage by Top Officers.....
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I think the one of the hottest news about SAF wastage is how the staff cars allocated to the top ranks are done. Yeah Mindef has given lots of replies regarding its use.
But what do you guys think? Is it ok for taxpayer's money to be spent on Mercedes or Audi's etc etc etc....Suggestion : I had read about Mindef's policy of not allowing Mindef personnel to drive home vehicles which were registerred under MID. However , I notice that some of the army officers are still driving these vehicles from home to office and back to home. I am of the view that these vehicle should remain in the camps or office for staff to use when required and not for use as personal vehicle by specific personnel. The public may form an undesireable opinion that MID is wasting public fund of providing vehicles to their staff.Please enlighten me on Mindef stand of the issue.
Date of Reply : 17/05/2005
Reply : Dear Sir/Madam,
1. We thank you for your suggestion and appreciate this opportunity to clarify.
2. Staff cars are used for official duties and ceremonies and only senior SAF officers holding selected appointments are accorded the use of staff cars for official purposes.
3. However, to optimise the use of staff cars when they are not required for official purposes, SAF officers are allowed to use their allocated cars for private journeys, subject to payment of a monthly fee and purchase of car insurance. They will also be taxed for the benefits derived in using the cars for private journeys in line with IRAS? requirements.
Ms Jamie Foo
Staff Officer (Special Duties)
MINDEF HQ
Tel : 6768-4916
Email : [email protected]Suggestion : As part of an already lucrative package of top military personnel, luxury cars soon become the norm ie Mercedes.
Whilst cars are necessary to transport military officials to state functions and other important events, the public should only fund military cars up to 1600cc. Above this, perhaps the users of the cars ie the top ranks themselves should top up the difference and pay for the additional costs of procuring a luxury car. This saves costs, lessens the image that the military is a haven for top scholars only, and increases accountability of public funds used for a small elite number of people who are already well to do.
Date of Reply : 03/02/2005
Reply : 1. We thank you for your suggestion and appreciate this opportunity to clarify.
2. We would like to clarify that only Service Chiefs and above (i.e. Chief of Defence Force, and the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force) are allocated a Mercedes Benz.
3. The use of `luxury cars? as staff cars is not the norm. The impression is created because in a tender in 2001, the Audi was chosen because the company, for its own marketing reasons, put in a bid that was cheaper than the bid for a common Japanese model. We agree with you that we need to be cost conscious in the choice of staff cars. That is why we depend on open tenders and we do not specify the level of luxury.
4. Only officers in selected appointment are entitled to staff cars. It is unreasonable to ask individuals to `top up the difference? for staff cars because the individual would not be entitled to the use of staff cars when they change appointments. However, to optimise the use of staff cars when they are not required for official purposes, SAF officers are allowed to use staff cars for private journeys. They are required to pay a monthly fee and purchase car insurance. They will also be taxed for the benefits derived in using the cars for private journeys.
Ms Jamie Foo
Staff Officer (Special Duties)
MINDEF HQ
Tel : 6768-4916
Email : [email protected]Suggestion : Hi,
I refer to the following
Category : Defence
Subject : Staff Cars for Senior Commanders
Suggestion : Many senior commanders in the SAF seem to be driving big luxury continential cars (MID plate), my Div Commander is personnally driving an Audi. Is it really necessary for them to have such expensive vehicles? While i'm not suggesting for them to drive a Proton instead, would not a Japanese-model like a Accord or Cefiro suffice at a lesser cost?
Date of Reply : 29/01/2004
Reply : We thank you for your suggestion and appreciate this opportunity to clarify.
The selection of the cars were made through competitive tender. The Audi was chosen as it had the lowest life-cycle cost (i.e. including maintenance) over its lifespan in that engine size category. Special attention was paid to ensure that the tender conditions did not rule out the common makes like Japanese cars, but the Audi was still the most competitive bid. Please note that the relative prices of tender bids for bulk purchases do not necessarily correspond to the relative prices in the retail market, as companies have different marketing strategies.
Name: Ms Shirley Tay
Title & Designation: Executive Officer (Pride)/PS21 MINDEF
Organisation: MINDEF Systems Organisations
Telephone number: 6373-1969
Email address: [email protected]
Name: Ms Jean Gwee
Title & Designation: Staff Officer (Special Duties)
Organisation: MINDEF HQ
Telephone number: 6768-4916
Email address: [email protected]
I question the rationale why is staff car provided in the first place? Are there hundred of cars to be maintained and the cost (maintenance, heavier petrol consumption by luxury cars) will be million of dollars every year.
A co-payment scheme, or mileage claim mechanism will be more equitable. The funds saved can go to useful defense expenditure.
Date of Reply : 05/03/2004
Reply : We thank you for your suggestion and appreciate this opportunity to clarify.
1. The SAF works on a chain of command. Soldiers, airmen and sailors look up to their commanders for inspiration and direction. SAF commanders need to lead, inspire, direct and discipline their men. Commanders need to move among their troops frequently and they have to be seen and heard by their troops. The commander?s presence must be felt by the troops. This command presence is an important element in a military chain of command. At all times, the SAF also require key commanders to be able to return to camp or to be present at the site of an emergency quickly.
For these reasons, less than 70 selected officers are given the use of staff cars, depending on rank and appointment. An easily identifiable car helps to communicate the commander?s presence. The presence of the car informs the troops that their commander is now with them even as their carry out their training and operational duties.
2. You have suggested implementing a co-payment scheme or mileage claim mechanism. For private journeys, the officers are already required to pay a monthly fee to use the cars. In addition, they have to purchase 3rd party insurance and pay tax to IRAS for the car benefits.
Ms Shirley Tay
Executive Officer (Pride)/PS21 MINDEF
MINDEF Systems Organisations
Tel : 6373-1969
Email : [email protected]
Ms Jean Gwee
Staff Officer (Special Duties)
MINDEF HQ
Tel : 6768-4916
Email : [email protected] -
U wrote these letters?
Don't bother......when MINDEF give such replies, it's not as if they conveyed a meeting to discuss on the reply. It's simply a cut & paste process from their standard templates from previous similar enquiries.
Imo, MINDEF wants to ensure a certain prestige for its commanders, so they wouldn't even consider Jap models.
It's a very intricate and stubborn culture inside there. -
No la. got this from the cut waste panel website...Originally posted by Rock^Star:U wrote these letters?
Don't bother......when MINDEF give such replies, it's not as if they conveyed a meeting to discuss on the reply. It's simply a cut & paste process from their standard templates from previous similar enquiries.
Imo, MINDEF wants to ensure a certain prestige for its commanders, so they wouldn't even consider Jap models.
It's a very intricate and stubborn culture inside there. -
in my unit, my lao ban, the Chief Engineer Officer, a COL, drives a MID Proton and Chief of Medical Corp, a BG(DR), drives a MID Audi.
they used to drive their MID cars to and from work. but before i ORD, they started driving their own cars to camp.
their own cars are much more posher than their MID cars.
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My direct boss gets an audi too.
but he didnt drove it back home. he explained... if he uses the scheme that can allow him to drive home the car, then wad will happen to his own cars.
if he sell the cars that he had... then after his term in office... he still need a car ... he cant possibly used the audi... so quite ma fan...
he drove a nissan... but dunno why he like to drive his wife honda crv... -
My CO usual car...
LX 300.
Some days.. E320.
even better than the Station wagon he drives.
Now if you think about it... a CO are entitled to 2 cars. Command GP and GP Car.
One is a G-wagon, the other Mitsubishi/Opel.
Staff Appointments (Audi) they usually only 1 car.
But you all should give SAF a break lah. Even though they are using "luxury" brands, at least they are not extravagant. We have a S$10billion Budget with active troop stg of 60,000.
Indonesian armed forces... annual budget is S$1.7billion with active troop strength of 400,000. Soldiers gotta moonlight to get extra income, units need to do side business..
but you see their staff driving a variety of cars. S-classes to 7-series. Now I call that wasting money. 1 Staff officer get 2-3 luxury cars. -
I think if I were the Div Comd, I'd drive my own car, for convenience' sake.
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Hmmm I heard their car are those confiscated by police during raid.
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now where did u get tat info...?Originally posted by banzie:Hmmm I heard their car are those confiscated by police during raid. -
and i thot it applies only on the BMWs of the highway patrol.Originally posted by banzie:Hmmm I heard their car are those confiscated by police during raid. -
yea those car are those found in trafficking ones.... Actually to be auction off or something. Anyway I know for sure the police one are not. They are real sports car purchased to catch people who speed.
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so... our commanders audi's and ford's and protons are all seized car?
wad a joke... -
may i know how u know?Originally posted by banzie:yea those car are those found in trafficking ones.... Actually to be auction off or something. Anyway I know for sure the police one are not. They are real sports car purchased to catch people who speed. -
Out of curiousity, i have looked through the logbook of one of the MID ##(insert 2 digits here) staff car used by one of the division commander. Surprisingly, he was quite a down to earth guy and he updated the logbook regularly (or maybe he forced the NSF driver to do so
but it was signed under his name.)
Anyway, some of the details were for travelling to and fro home. But, a large number of details though were for travelling to posh hotels and restaurants in Scotts road (maybe SAF personnel gets discount there
) Those were for lunch meetings with :
1. SembCorp CEO
2. LTA CEO
3. NDP organisers
4. Mayors/PAPers
5. Foreign delegates
Details are usually from 11am to 3pm (more or less lunch timing). Seemed to be mostly for work related matters so i don't really see him "abusing" the staff car usage. -
times hv changed, last time my CO drive the MID hyundai elentra onli... everytime got problem... after he left, his replacement got his own car...
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i know of a certain LTC...(yup...a LTC) who die die needs to have a GP Car at his perusal everyday....my driver friend showed me the logbook...wah lau...u'll be shocked...
Singapore Zoo la, his residence la, orchard la...
this guy really take things for granted for a LTC
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lj sia. i see before a chrysler 300c with 2 star around changi area. nv waste money.