True to form, Teo Chee Hean dodged the bullet and went off tangent to highlight that political salaries have not gone up in the past 3 years even as the benchmark they are linked to has risen by around 3% per year over the period. He itemised the "3 Principles" which guided their iron-clad rice bowl connection:
- Salaries must be competitive;
- Ethos of political service entails sacrifice, reflected as "discount" in wages;
- Salaries paid without hidden bonuses
Even the most daft of Singaporeans can spot Pinnochio's nose lengthening as he spoke. Compared to Eduardo Saverin, Obama and Shinzō Abe must feel like living the subsistence of a Mother Teresa. Teo can't be making too much of a personal sacrifice when his residential home, funded by public service pay, consists of two houses sited side by side in a Good Class Bungalow estate. As for the "hidden bonuses", what they are getting from the newly introduced National bonus component - wherein ministers can receive up to 3 months bonus if the targets set by the Cabinet (meaning themselves) are met - are not exactly public knowledge.
The most infuriating part of Teo's retort is his not-too-subtle suggestion that political salaries should go up after 3 years. He may actually be swallowing Lui Tuck Yew's line that "train reliability has actually improved" when we are witnessing a transportation disruption every week, if not every other day. Teo should take a closer look at the top 1,000 earners whose pay they are benchmarking against - these guys actually get marching orders if they are not up to scratch. Just ask Magnus Bocker, ex-chief executive of the Singapore Exchange (SGX) who chose not to seek to extension of his appointment beyond his current contract, which ends on June 30 this year. Not for him the option of saying, "If we didn't get it right, I'm sorry. But we will try better the next time."
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Taking the cue from Minister Khaw, there should be a "hara-kiri" clause in their employment contracts. Their ability to self-praise knows no bounds, even as the facts show otherwise. "Train reliability has actually improved"; "Singapore housing is better than in UK or HK". Who are they trying to kid? Time to kick them out, these self-serving idiots.
ReplyDeletehttp://shanghaiist.com/2015/03/11/airport-rice-cooker-bro-shandong.php
ReplyDeleteEven an lowly educated overseas construction worker knows that if he was over-promised for salary for work he is supposedly to do, but the heartless employer would turn around and tell him that his money is not his money, he would have the common sense to walk out of a dishonest social contract. What more trying to find sympathy in a soul-less city state like Singapore.
Do you think half of Singaporeans are as smart as he is?
Why pay for politicians who has a grossly huge self-entitement of ruling in perpetuity, in highest paid salary, in fame and power, and a iron-clad rice bowl, regardless of results and accountability? Can it be that the quality of the electorate is worse than this Shandong man who at least has some discernment?
pap ministers really have a grossly exaggerated sense of their worth. They can trumpet all they want, take all they want.
ReplyDeletePointless debating with them.
I'll tell them what I think, through the ballot box.
Since Ms Jo Teo said national service cannot be measured in dollars and cents, and Mr Teo said they haven't gotten a raise for 3 years already, so they must have canceled each other just nicely , correct?
ReplyDeleteAre PAP Millionaires two faced hypocrites since there seem to be so many contradictions?
DeleteWhat do you think?
She is right, you know. They measured it in the millions of dollars.
DeleteAm not trying to defend the DPM, he does come from a Rich family, so his GCB could be one from inheritance the other bought with his super high Ministerial Salary.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, these are a bunch of Greedy men and women who are just toeing one Old man's infamous question.
FYI, one former DPM owns two bungalows and two condo units, all paid for in cash. No wonder Goh Keng Swee was pissed off at being short-changed.
DeleteYou don't need to stay in Jervois to feel rich.
DeleteJust look at the monthly CPF statement is enough for them to know that the pension money is their money.
Even a consulate staff member can easily afford to buy several units in an upscale bangkok condo for investment. Let alone millionaire Ministers tagged unaccaountably to top 1000 top earners.
As for the peasants CPF, that's another ball altogether.
Do you know that they lost no time to increase the petrol tax when crude oil was near its lowest, the tax will remain perpectually to become a substantual gain when crude recovers its price?
ReplyDeleteThis is what these cunning Ministers are famous for, hitting hard at those who are especially vulnerable without giving a damn for those who really need to own a car in order to make their living like a lot of those in sales & marketing line. It is almost like reducing these group of middle class earners to become virtually working like slaves in this country.
Just ask anyone doing a sales marketting job whether their working careers has been reduced to virtual slaves because of unbearably high COE prices, chances are 9 in 10 will be cursing & swearing like mad that PAP has become a tad too greedy in swelling their coffers!!!
VTO in the next GE seems to be the only option left to stop their greed.
My road tax renewal notice was printed before the budget announcement. But when I paid my road tax last week, the 20 percent rebate was not recognised. Yet I have been paying the new hike in petrol tax of 20 cents per litre since that day of the announcement. This is definitely chow-kuan government.
DeleteThey should offer themselves to the private sector and we wait
ReplyDeleteand see how many would be selected and above all offered a salary close to what they get now.
This would put to rest the stupid idea that they are so much in demand...
Thought they can increase their own pays, anyway they did before and no one opposed.
ReplyDeleteSinkies no issue with Rulers oaying thensekves any amount. Sinkies only need the Rulers to do their jobs well and maintain their integrities. And they will be voting them again.
patriot
"Public service wages must be fair and realistic to ensure flow of able and committed leaders." DPM Teo Chee Hean
ReplyDeletePerhaps the more frequent breakdowns of our trains is just a symptom of the unfair and unrealistic public service pay in spite of improvements in train reliability?
Saycheese
If Teo Chee Hean is hinting at a pay rise for themselves, I hope they have the guts to implement the increase before the coming GE. This will give voters a fair and realistic expectation of leaders able to commit hara kiri standing for elections.
DeleteSaycheese
Well, after 2 weeks of daily breakdowns in the MRT, the headline (propaganda) news is "public transport satisfaction rise". So paying themselves the rising target of 'median salary of the top 1000 taxpayers' will always sound like a big "sacrifice". Doublespeak has reached new heights in red dot.
ReplyDeletetrololololllll..i almost spilled my coffee this morning when i read the headline.they have to invent this fake survey of satisfaction (again), thus giving her the excuse that the terrible taxi situation should be status quo....election lai liao
Delete"Salaries must be competitive". ..
ReplyDeleteLet's make sure that their battleground and marketplace is also competitive. Is only fair that way as there are many talents who are waiting to take their lunch, just like how citizens and PMEs are facing daily.
More competitive salary means more competition.
ReplyDeleteMore competition means removing FPTP.
We need to remove all these deliberate man-made barriers set up by PAP in order for genuine contest to thrive.
http://www.democraticaudit.com/?p=11541
Competition and democracy are close relatives. Competition matters as much in politics as it does for supermarkets, probably more. In limiting competition, standards inevitably fall. This market truism applies equally to the market for political parties, policies, politicians and to their experience relative to people’s wants and needs. The past not the future is the way to power here.
It definitely sounds like Tong is planting a red herring and paving the road for another quiet pay hike for the politicians; after DPM's answer to Tong's question, no one can blame them for bypassing the parliament on such a BIG issue, right? But why so urgent to have to do so sneakily via an MP's planted question is the 'big unknown'. Of course we all know about the posters put up asking around the neighborhood asking all to go inspect the voters' registers. Maybe its because after the next GE, there might be no more chance to ever increase their pay and perks again? More likely, it's just to placate another few graceful ministresses to continue sacrificing themselves in the coming election so the incumbents can field each GRC with at least 1 "big wig" minister/ministress. Ah ya, what do we know, we just dumb peasants only needed to pay tax!
ReplyDeleteYup, it is an artful move, with Ah Tong giving the opening for Talk Cock Hean to make his pitch about being "Underpaid". Like poor Oliver asking "Please sir, I want some more". What do you think? Jeez, greed knows no bounds for these unconscionable characters.
DeleteFor a party that prides itself as not taking populist route, and unafraid of unpopular but right policy, I dare the DPM to "adjust" salary for the cabinet lor.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I am curious as to why Ms Teo now said the best solution to the taxi fare connundrum is no solution for now? Why har, scare huh?
Everyone waiting for the old coot's machine to dysfunction so they can immediately call for election to gain sympathy votes issit? Whatever happens to tough leadership?
The older they are, the greedier they become. And their skins have become thicker and thicker by the days, months and years. So much so they have become shameless and guiltless, without any conscience whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder wise people always say:
Power corrupts and Absolute Power corrupts Absolutely!
Cake! Cake!
ReplyDeleteWhere's my cake?
I need to eat cake!
Let me eat cake!
I need to eat cake!
Cake! Cake! Cake!
cakecakecakecakecakecakecakecake
keksim ah!
“If we don’t do that (increase the Ministers’ pays by 60%), in the long term, the government system will slowly crumble and collapse.” - Teo Chee Hean, 2007
ReplyDelete