I was recently ask to do a reply on a chap's very long winded rant against the Singapore government. Since I had to invest so much time addressing the points I felt I might as well put it up here.
All words in italics are not mine. They are from the original email.
The writer, S. L. K., was a Colombo Plan scholar.
This letter is well researched, argued and compiled.
If all the letters to the Ministerial Committee are of this quality,
I think Gerard Ee will have a hard time not to do something
drastic to cut Ministerial pay to a decent and reasonable level,
otherwise ...Enjoy
If all the letters to the Ministerial Committee are of this quality,
I think Gerard Ee will have a hard time not to do something
drastic to cut Ministerial pay to a decent and reasonable level,
otherwise ...Enjoy
Mr David S.L.K(63-year old tertiary-educated native-born S'pore Citizen, who had completed full- time National Service)
I'm a 200 year old Iguana. Who obviously has not done National Service. (Do you see what I did there?)
Regardless, thank you for having done your duty in defence of the country.
First off, let us establish a basic rule here at least. Every person is entitled to their own opinion, however, no-one is entitled to their own facts. The facts stand where they are alone.
This reply, it must be admitted, has the luxury of being written after the initial drafter to discuss and in some cases rebuke the points raised.
1 World-Infamous Obscenely-Humongous Million-DollarPUBLIC SECTOR Salaries in Singapore
1.1 Quotable Quotes:
-- US President Barack Obama (BBC 11 Jul 09):
"...No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves..."
-- From a Financial Times article (TODAY 26 Nov 10):
"...In a society that lacks political checks and balances, such waves of public outrage can develop a force rarely seen in democratic societies..."
1.1 For a start, the initial quote is highly laughable in light of the current situation in the United States. Obama could have acted more forcefully or conceded less. When the Democrats had the majority in Senate and Congress, he cold have pushed through more reforms for the American people. Which he didn't. Which of course wasn't helped by the "Blue Dog" Democrats completely destroying the idea of healthcare reform.
Actually, that is the wrong tack to take. Obama is both right and wrong in his quote. The United States stock market for a while in 2010 had effective wallpapering over of the underlying issues which caused the 2008 economic crisis. Yes, it is true of the leaders simply exploit the economy to enrich themselves, there will be no wealth generation.
However, my gripe is that this quote is obviously aimed at Singapore in an inaccurate way. In what area has the Singapore economy been so grossly exploited at the behest of the leaders that the citizens are suffering terribly in poverty while the leaders and corporations simply scavenge more and more from their backs?
Are you trying to compare this places to Libya? Syria? Any place in the Middle East? Get real. Of course there should be reforms looked into, but your line is threatening popular uprising if... if what? If the government keeps raiding homes in the middle of the night to drag away dissidents? If there are no jobs for Singaporeans? At an unemployment rate of around 2%? What? What are you going into popular uprising for? If foreigners keep coming in?
1.2 Very Telling PAP Political U-Turns (confirming that PAP has lost its "moral compass"):
THEN (Straits Times 21 August 1989 )
"To build a country, you need passion. If you just do your sums --- plus, minuses, credit, debit --- you are a washout." --- PM Lee Kuan Yew
18 YEARS LATER (Straits Times 5 April 2007 )
When it was put to him that people hoped for leaders who werewilling to make sacrifices and who were not there for the money, he (MM Lee Kuan Yew) replied that these were "admirable sentiments but we live in the real world".
NOW (Straits Times 22 May 2011 )
" Politics is not a job or a career promotion. It is a callingto serve the larger good of Singapore." --- PM Lee Hsien Loong
1.2 - On the subject of moral compass and political u-turns... what exactly are you trying to point out? That in 18 years the situation of Singapore has changed? Lee Kuan Yew made the same statement in his new book, and what was his point? That people growing up in different generations grow in a different socio-economic and political climates.
What is the moral compass you are discussing? I am confused here. Has the country deteriorated? Are things a lot more grimmer than they used to be? I heard last time you used to be able to take a swim in the Singapore river and die from the sheer pollution. I regret I was not around during that period. Oh wait, no I don't.
What is the moral compass you are discussing? I am confused here. Has the country deteriorated? Are things a lot more grimmer than they used to be? I heard last time you used to be able to take a swim in the Singapore river and die from the sheer pollution. I regret I was not around during that period. Oh wait, no I don't.
You want a generational rant? I can do a generational rant. In my father's time, kids would sit down at the table, and damn well sit still and wait until the food was there instead of tooling around. Mainly because they were really hungry. Anyway. In my time, I still sat down and waited for the food to come. Patiently. Without distractions available. And now, kids these days, iPhones everywhere, Nintendo's, PSP etc... See? I can do completely inaccurate timing rants without accepting that situations change too! Isn't this fun? What can you come up with?
1.3 "Monkey Politics" in Singapore:
PAP say: Pay PEANUTS and you will get CORRUPT Monkeys!
S'pore Voters say: Pay BIG BANANAS but still get INCOMPETENT Chimpanzees !!!
[ Just one example of INCOMPETENCE taken from a long list --- The Mas Selamat Great Escape Monumental Fiasco, which led toSingapore (and its Prime Minister) becoming a laughing stock amongst the International Coalition Against Terrorism ]
"Monkey Antics" of Singapore Political Elite:
I scratch your back, you scratch mine.
I cover your butt, you cover mine.
1.3 - Mate, if you're just going to rant. Just say so. But don't expect reasoned debate back in turn. Mat Selamat mind you, was indeed a fiasco. I hope they learned from that. As a side note, remember the incident of Singapore Airlines Flight 117? No? Same government in charge. And that ended with all terrorists dead. On what ground are you rating this government
Are there worries of complacency? Yes. As always, when things succeed, it is important that people know that they have to build on those success not rest on their laurels. Is the government full of incompetent apes? Well... let me put it to you like this. China is growing larger and larger. And if a country cannot stay economically relevant in the face of the rising Dragon, it will suffer ruin. Particularly those countries that cannot kick the dirt and unearth iron ore and other precious metals.
You are of course, welcome to your opinion that this government are apes on those two incidents alone. I would of course be very keen to hear that if the Singapore government are apes... what do you consider the other governments of the world to be run by? I would be happy to learn which country in the world sets the enlightened gold standard. If this place is corrupt and incompetent... perhaps you should now avail yourself of the internet resources and see the situation in other countries.
Note! That this doesn't mean I feel the government is above criticism. Far from it. But if you want to be taken seriously, then don't introduce random rants in the middle of a letter. The government can always improve. It MUST always seek to improve itself. However back this up with facts if you want to call the government incompetent and corrupt. Why no facts?
1.4 Main Bug-Bear of many Singaporeans is the HIGH COST of LIVING --- arising from high cost of government; high cost of homes (both HDB and private); high cost of healthcare; high cost of transport (both private transport and public transport), etc......
HIGH COST of GOVERNMENT in Little Red Dot Singapore:
(a) A BLOATED CABINET comprising an extravagant entourage ofone Prime Minister, one Minister Mentor, two Senior Ministers,two Deputy Prime Ministers --- followed by 15 Ministers, 10Ministers-of-State --- plus 4 Parliamentary Secretaries, 5 CDC Mayors and 82 PAP MPs [ Parliament set-up, prior to 2011 GE ]
(b) A BULGING BLOATED BUREAUCRACY with 9 Organs of State, 15Ministries and 64 Statutory Boards.
NOTE: The high cost of this Top-Heavy Government is paid for NOT from PAP Party Funds BUT from PUBLIC FUNDS (i.e. the hard-earned monies of S'pore Taxpayer-Voters collected through numerous taxes/dues)
1.4 Geezus, this should have been split into two separate sections but fine. We'll address it this way.
High cost of living. - Well, heh. I can't reply to that. This is alleged to be the main bug bear. I'm not sure where to start. The HDB situation. Well, yeah. Messed up there mate. The guy in charge overall was busy trying to drag in foreign companies to do up Marina Bay area. Which has been a success. Unfortunately that meant the housing sector suffered. I suspect they are rectifying that at the moment.
High cost of healthcare... isn't there a government public healthcare system. The government healthcare system is rated 6th in the World by the World Health Care organization. Now if you don't trust their assessment, that is fine. But here is the link anyway. http://apps.who.int/
So we have the lowest infant mortality, apart from Iceland. And the longest expected longevity. So the system works. Somehow. Like I said, I don't know much about the area but it seems that people are government subsidized if their income bracket requires it. What areas is healthcare too expensive and what reforms do you think should be implemented in that case? Well, the government can handle the reforms. What areas do you feel healthcare is too expensive?
Now if you want to say, discuss private healthcare, then well, yes. It is crazy expensive. However that is out of the realm of government control.
(a) What is the basis that the cabinet is bloated? Which government are you comparing it to?
(b) These aren't funded solely through tax payers funds. The various governmental affiliated companies and corporations work to ensure foreign investment in the country. Your contribution to the building of a glorious Singapore is however, duly noted and praised. Again, what basis are you saying that these ministries are bloated bureaucracies?
1.5 PAP Government's World-Infamous Double Records:
(a) PM Lee Hsien Loong confirmed as "World's Highest-PaidPolitician" by Economist/Financial Times.
(b) All the world's Top 30 highly-paid politicians are found in SINGAPORE (in PM Lee's Cabinet, of course!).
1.5 What was your point here? Do you know the rationale behind the high pay? The high pay is intended to entice only the best AND to prevent corruption. Has it gone overboard? Perhaps it has. That is the committees job to decide. You are also welcome to assess other world government's vis a vis Singapore and make your own assessment. But if you assess the Americans, as you have done before, don't simply check the pay of the President alone. You should try to take into account the amount of kickbacks, and the amount of people from Goldman Sachs on their Financial Advisory board. Just something to keep in mind perhaps.
1.6 Singapore's fat-cat ministers getting fatter each year:
BASIC Annual Pay (Source: Straits Times reports)
President's pay: $2.6m(2006) $3.2m(2007) $3.9m(2008)
[ THIS MUCH for a largely ceremonial post (shaking hands, kissing babies, cutting ribbons, opening Keppel Bay bridge, attending charity functions, hosting state dinners ....) ??? ]
PM/MM/SM pay: $2.5m(2006) $3m(2007) $3.8m(2008)
DPM pay: $2m (2006) $2.5m (2007) $3m (2008)
Minister pay: $1.2m(2006) $1.6m(2007) $1.9m(2008)
[ Current MP Allowance (for a part-time job!) = $13,500 per month ]
[ PM Basic Pay = $3.8m per year = $320,000 per month =$10,000 per day ]
[ Minister Basic Pay = $1.9m per year = $160,000 per month =$5,000 per day ]
1.6 President's pay is under review. So I'll personally hold off my opinion.
Minister's pay is also under review. So I'll wait till that comes out.
1.7 Justifiable/Understandable Anger of S'pore Voters:
(a) We, Singaporeans, Not DAFT !!!
Neither are we uncivilised nor barbaric to expect our Politicians/Bureaucrats to work "for free" or to survive on "fresh air and love of the people".
We will readily support adequate/reasonable
BUT the above figures are not just humongous but obscenely-humongous salaries, going by both local/international PUBLIC SECTOR standards !!!
(b) How could tiny Singapore's PM be earning six times the pay of the American President and ten times that of the Japanese PM and the Australian PM ???
[ All the latter three Heads of State are governing very bigcountries with large populations, and very complex political/economic/social issues. ]
If Singapore's PM screw up, only S'poreans will suffer.
But if the American President screw up (and presses the wrong buttons), the whole world (including little red dot Singaporeand its entire Lee Family) could go up in nuclear smoke !!!
(c) Are we paying TOO MUCH for TOO LITTLE transparency andaccountability ???
Do we really have a "visionary and competent" Government or just "grossly over-paid" Politicians/Bureaucrats ???
With such obscenely-humongous public sector salaries, how can these PAP politicians ever earn the "moral authority" [much less the respect] of S'poreans to govern this tiny island
nation ???
[ "People do not always hate the rich. People hate those who are immorally rich."
--- Mr Qiu Liping, professor of social stratification atShanghai University. MYP 16 Dec 09 ]
1.7
(a) The pay is under review. So pending. I can't comment on it. You're welcome to feel steamed about it. All I can say is, as far as I understand, we're the only country in the region where corruption isn't an issue and you can have faith in the government. You are welcome to fact check how Singapore ranks in the Global Competitiveness report. I had to cover this for a legal course. Mainly addressing the question of why law and order is easier in
http://www3.weforum.org/docs/
http://www3.weforum.org/docs/
(b) But if you wish to discuss why Singapore is "less" complicated I can bring that to table. On what grounds is running Singapore less complicated than running any of the above countries? Is it simply size alone? Well, their size also brings benefits. Because if they screw up, then the size allows the country to take a financial/ natural/ nuclear disaster and keep on going. Because of the aforementioned size. Singapore has no fall back. Either this country is ticking over nicely or it goes under. Right now Singapore needs to maintain relevance in the face of China's own growth as well as maintain an even keel in the current economic instability.
I don't understand what you're trying to say here either. You say if the Singaporean PM screws up, only Singaporeans suffer. If American President messes up we face nuclear annihilation. I still don't understand how you are comparing the two. Do you want the American President to get a pay rise? Or is it more cut the pay of the Singaporean PM? Well, you said it yourself, if the Singaporean PM screws up. Singapore suffers. And why the hell would we want to suffer. I still don't understand the jibe you're trying to make.
Singaporean PM should have less pay because only a smaller percentage of people globally suffer if he/she messes up? Is that your angle? Focus. Singapore handles its own affairs, America handles its affairs. Also, I want to pose this hypothetical question. In your current situation, imagine yourself in the equivalent situation in America. Would you be happy with how the American government and politicians are running the place? Have you done your research on the state of America is now? The corporations control the strings of government to a ridiculous extent. I still contend that your analogy is terrible
(c) The ministers are immorally rich because...? Because this is a tiny nation and therefore the pay should be smaller? Singapore's wealth exceeds its size. Singapore's regional influence, exceeds it size. Singapore is not that fondly looked at because of that but that is the price of success. What grounds are you basing the earning of moral authority on?
What are your criteria to earn the respect of the people and the moral criteria?
Are you basing the moral authority on the mandate of heaven? The old Chinese philosophy?
I don't know you are cutting at. Your comments here are populist but they contain little in the way of substance. If a leader leads well and the government governs well, does the country not enjoy stability, peace and prosperity. Are we lacking heavily in those areas? Is this country a lot poorer than it seems?
Note, that just because we enjoy prosperity does not mean I contend no one is poor here. That would be a ridiculous statement to make. What I ask is, is the country not stable? Is the country peaceful, are the citizens able to make a living on their own. Does the government try to connect with the people, help the needy, use the funds for the betterment of the nation's infrastructure? What are you comparing this place to that your tirades make it sound like this is a shithole? Which place are you comparing it to?
1.8 AN IMPORTANT NOTE:
(a) The above-stated mind-boggling SINGLE-DIGIT MILLIONS represent just BASIC Annual Pay i.e excluding mid-year bonus, year-end bonus, Performance Bonus, GDP Bonus, CPF/PENSION
and other perks.
TOTAL Annual Pay = (disclosed) BASIC Annual Pay + (undisclosed) bonuses/other perks.
(b) For our political office holders, their Basic Annual Pay are publicly disclosed. However, theirundisclosed Total Annual Pay packages have been an endless source of speculation
and bottled-up public anger on the Internet.
(c) For Comparison, the 2010 TOTAL Annual Pay packages (as DISCLOSED in published Annual Reports) of the CEOs in various public-listed Temasek-Linked Companies* range from $6.7m
to $11.5m.
[ *DBS, Keppel Corp, SembCorp, CapitaLand]
In 2007, CapitaLand CEO Liew Mun Leong (a former pen-pushing Civil Servant) received a whopping Total Annual Pay of $20.5m --- which led to a public outcry.
(d) Taking the cue from the CEO pay packages of Temasek-linked companies, many netizens have "deduced" that the Total Annual Pay packages of Temasek Holdings CEO Ho Ching
and our Cabinet Ministers would likely be in the two-digit millions and upwards of $15m.
But this could mean anything between $15m and $99m --- hence the never-ending and widespread Internet speculation surrounding Ministers' Pay
1.8 I still don't get what you are ranting at. Do you want more funds to be allocated somewhere? Is there an area which needs more funding? To the needy? Perhaps the government should indeed look into that. I will say this of (d) though. You're just speculating there. If you come back with concrete proof I'll have to concede that point. But if you're just basing it on speculation, then I cannot take that point seriously.
2.1 Since 1994 (when the PAP Govt first bull-dozed through Parliament and arm-twisted Singaporeans on the Ministerial Pay Issue), there has been never-ending public consternation
over the million-dollar remunerations of our political office holders.
As such remunerations are paid out of public funds, Singaporetaxpayer-voters certainly have every right to know the full facts and figures.
Lack of transparency on this rightful public concern will only aggravate the voter disenchantment that turned into a Super-Tsunami Wave of Public Anger during the recent general elections.
2.1 Sure, some transparency. Why not. I agree with this. Can't be that much of an issue is it to the government. Please consider that would be a good way to start I suppose.
Also, your SUPER MEGA ULTRA TSUNAMI OF RAGE where... 60% still voted for the government.... don't get too hyperbolic. Of course it would be good to see change and a more transparent workings, but don't presume to speak for the population as a whole.
2.2 In the private sector, to promote good corporategovernance, the Singapore Stock Exchange requires public-listed companies to disclose the Total Annual Pay packageswithin salary bands for their CEOs and other senior staff.
Our public sector should also follow suit as an act of good political governance.
2.2 Sure, why not. I agree.
2.3 Put simply, "TALK IS CHEAP" and S'pore Voters expect nothing less than PM Lee Hsien Loong to "WALK THE TALK" on the following:
(a) his inaugural speech (as PM) calling for "an open andinclusive Singapore".
(b) his brief to the Salary Review Committee to make recommendations which will "help ensure honest and competent government".
[ NOTE: All the three words "open, inclusive, honest" carry this same message --- to "come clean" and "clear the air" once-and-for-all on whether our Cabinet Ministers are reallyserving the people (as their true masters) or enriching themselves at the expense of the people (as taxpayers). ]2.3
(a) Its not even 6 months yet. Wait a bit. I'm not even sure of the context of his speech. Open and inclusive. Well, we certainly are trying to be inclusive. Not sure what you mean by open. If you want Minister's pay to be open. Then sure fine. Why not.
(b) I still don't get where you feel that the Ministers are doing nothing but enriching themselves at taxpayer expense. What area of the country looks like the Minster has been sitting on his/her arse all day playing Minesweeper?
Enriching themselves at the expense of the taxpayer is the kind of term you'd use for terrible lousy governments where nothing is done for the people or the country. Is that how you feel this country is like?
If you think the government is corrupt, bloated and incompetent, this must be the most amazing bloated, corrupt and incompetent government I have ever seen in world history. Not even for this current era. World history. For a bloated, corrupt and incompetent government somehow Singapore has risen high up in the global rankings as a country.
Check the links out for Singapore's ranking if you don't believe it yourself.
http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GlobalCompetitivenessReport_2010-11.pdf
http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/results
http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/SGP.html
Enriching themselves at the expense of the taxpayer is the kind of term you'd use for terrible lousy governments where nothing is done for the people or the country. Is that how you feel this country is like?
If you think the government is corrupt, bloated and incompetent, this must be the most amazing bloated, corrupt and incompetent government I have ever seen in world history. Not even for this current era. World history. For a bloated, corrupt and incompetent government somehow Singapore has risen high up in the global rankings as a country.
Check the links out for Singapore's ranking if you don't believe it yourself.
http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GlobalCompetitivenessReport_2010-11.pdf
http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/results
http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/SGP.html
GAME OVER
ps. The email was not well researched, argued or compiled. Just letting you know that. Whoever is sending this around, this is not good academic or journalistic writing. Half of it are rants, which have no sources, no good comparisons, nothing. The end was better. The author calmed down and raised valid points. Yet, I state again, just because you are one angry person on the internet, don't presume to speak for all of the population.
