Ministerial Salary Review

[DesertWind]

concern2:

Interesting read. A quick summary for people like me who only started reading politics in recent years.


Insight: What price a minister? 42 years of controversy

By Andrea Ong
1970

Hi concern2,
Thank you for reproducing the article here, I had missed reading this in the papers!
What a fantastic summary of history of the ministerial pay and I almost fainted reading through it! I felt my heart pumping and beating very fast, felt a bit breathless reading the rising monthly pay through the various period and almost wanted to throw up mid-way through! I can understand all the logic until end of 1980s and figures look somewhat reasonable to me. Then from 1990s onwards, almost wanted to puke at the monthly pay of SGD99k, certainly not helped by then PM Goh's remarks on \"peanuts\" and \"monkeys\" (mmm....so that was where the NKF remark came from...).

I mean, agree, pay those top private earners who entered politics that kind of pay which is justifiable. But majority of those did not originate from the private sector right? Nowadays green-horns also become ministers. Not tried and tested, the argument is really too far fetched for such a group!

Silvia Lim is right. The average Singaporeans has never seen nor can even dream of this type of pay. Mr Chiam's call for the pay to be at SGD50K per month is already very reasonable. Very rich already lah!

Many years ago I had the same feeling of fainting reactions and breathlessness after reading a Straits Time article about the ancient women's practice of feet-binding. The article described the process of feet-binding in great detail on how to obtain the \"perfect\" 3-inch foot. Starting from baby, start binding the baby girl's feet tighting until the growth is stunted. Then after that, bind the feet so that the toes get bent backwards so that it is CRUSHED. After that, continue binding so that the feet perpectually stayed at 3-inches. That is considered beautiful and sexy to the ancient men.....

How on earth can one be persuaded that the 3-inch feet is sexy and feminine?

Likewise how did we got persuaded that it is only right for an SG minister to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars per month of salary when the average man may only earn a few thousands if not only hundreds of dollars?

[limlim]

mum_sugoku:

Agree.. Plus didn't they too concede that their highly attractive pay had failed to attract top corporate talents to join them in GE2011? After all, earmarked ministerial-calibre political newbies like HengSK and MG Chan are all recruited from public/civil/military services.

Plus, CSM is a living example that you do not need top dollar to attract Top talent.. it's the passion that matters.

[Strparent]

limlim:

Plus, CSM is a living example that you do not need top dollar to attract Top talent.. it's the passion that matters.

limlim ,

paiseh, u juz give me another opportunity to hightlight again how impressive CSM is, compared to all the elitist candidates the garmen has been targetting and some of the existing deadwood :stupid:

see the expressions and faces of the backbenchers listening to this devoted talent who is there not for the high pay, but to serve the common people with passion. :love:

equally impressive in English and in Chinese :salute:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tezhzB5kon8][/youtube]

[Musings]

limlim:

mum_sugoku:

Agree.. Plus didn't they too concede that their highly attractive pay had failed to attract top corporate talents to join them in GE2011? After all, earmarked ministerial-calibre political newbies like HengSK and MG Chan are all recruited from public/civil/military services.

Plus, CSM is a living example that you do not need top dollar to attract Top talent.. it's the passion that matters.

While I applaud his decision to enter politics and on the side of the opposition, please note that CSM has already made his millions as a partner in an international law firm. So like it or not, he has a safety net. I would not want him to be too poorly paid compared to what he used to earn either.

[hquek]

Thanks for the link. halfway through the video, I started to feel an urge to sing Majulah Singapura!

[limlim]

Musings:

While I applaud his decision to enter politics and on the side of the opposition, please note that CSM has already made his millions as a partner in an international law firm. So like it or not, he has a safety net. I would not want him to be too poorly paid compared to what he used to earn either.

Yes. If he deserves it, it's only right that he be paid reasonably.

Same for the MIW MPs.. I feel it's ok to pay them adequately.. provided that they delivers..

I guess pegging their salary to the citizens median wage or bottom 20% is good move. When the country (Not a few individuals or companies) progresses, so does their salary.

And no one will say anything..

[MMM]

Musings:

While I applaud his decision to enter politics and on the side of the opposition, please note that CSM has already made his millions as a partner in an international law firm. So like it or not, he has a safety net. I would not want him to be too poorly paid compared to what he used to earn either.

I personally feel that safety net of his past earnings (millions) is besides the point. It's his passion that drives him. I've seen him at the heartland couple of times talking to man on the street and it's after election. All by himself without a gang of helpers/ supporters who need to get the \"commoners\" ready just to meet him. I really applaud this man for his passion. This is the kind of talent we need. It's not about $$$.

[corneyAmber]

MIW may be feeling regret not to get CMS on their party as he can even convince people to pay him the obscene salary. wow from me


Yes his speech in English and Chinese are totally differently written as he quotes from different apt sources. This is indeed impressive because his speeches are not direct translation but he writes his speech according to the appeal of the language that the audience masters and hence exposure.

If we have a differing voice like CSM and in the past GKS who gave constructive differing views within MIW, we have hope.

[concern2]

Musings:

While I applaud his decision to enter politics and on the side of the opposition, please note that CSM has already made his millions as a partner in an international law firm. So like it or not, he has a safety net. I would not want him to be too poorly paid compared to what he used to earn either.

Hm...I do not quite agree with this, Musings. Precisely because he could be earning much more elsewhere that he did not have to enter politics in the first place, not to mention joining the oppositions.

Your argument brushes aside one of the key arguments for paying Ministers highly, which is that it is difficult to attract people of high calibre (and thus highly paid) to join politics in Singapore. When a character like CSM emergences, it crushes that argument. You may say, yeah, how many people are like CSM? That is true, he is unique. But he brings hope. He inspires children and many young people, who may one day be our future leader. CMS balances the extreme attitude that one should be \"realistic\".

It's about time we strike \"a sense of proportion\".

[Musings]

concern2:

Musings:

While I applaud his decision to enter politics and on the side of the opposition, please note that CSM has already made his millions as a partner in an international law firm. So like it or not, he has a safety net. I would not want him to be too poorly paid compared to what he used to earn either.

Hm...I do not quite agree with this, Musings. Precisely because he could be earning much more elsewhere that he did not have to enter politics in the first place, not to mention joining the oppositions.

Your argument brushes aside one of the key arguments for paying Ministers highly, which is that it is difficult to attract people of high calibre (and thus highly paid) to join politics in Singapore. When a character like CSM emergences, it crushes that argument. You may say, yeah, how many people are like CSM? That is true, he is unique. But he brings hope. He inspires children and many young people, who may one day be our future leader. CMS balances the extreme attitude that one should be \"realistic\".

It's about time we strike \"a sense of proportion\".

I don't disagree with your views or CSM's sincerity. I do think it is laudable for him to join politics on the opposition side no less and give up a lucrative career. There is no doubt he joined not for the money but with a desire to serve. But we should note that it is much easier for one to make this sort of decision when you already have millions in the bank account and not struggling to be financially secured.