Archive for April, 2007
What is CPF really for?
Sometimes I wonder… why don’t our nanny government trust its citizens to save for old age and illnesses themselves? Afterall, in today’s world, many Singaporeans are well-educated and smart enough to understand the need to save for a rainy day. Of course, there are exceptions, but I am certain they form a minority of the [...]
Danish citizen responds to MM Lee’s “mediocre government” comment
Today, I received an interesting comment from a reader all the way from Denmark. Here is his well-researched and insightful response, reproduced in full.
————————————–
I read with interest Mentor Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s remark in Singapore’s Parliament that Denmark, Finland and Switzerland can afford mediocrity in the remuneration of their ministers.
I shall restrict my [...]
For better or worse?
In today’s news, PM Lee was quoted as saying that Singapore’s economy will continue to grow at about 5% yearly. Sounds like “good growth” at first look, but if we think further about it, it’s hardly surprising, and perhaps 5% is even too low.
It’s quite clear by now that Singapore intends to have a population [...]
mrbiao goes on hiatus
mrbiao is going to stop ranting about Singapore’s societical problems for a few weeks while he mugs for his exams. Unless there is an event that compels him to blog (i.e. minister pay to go up to $10 million or something), there should be no updates until May. Do stay tuned for more updates, or [...]
Are we being heard?
Now that everything´s been said, it leaves to be seen whether feelings of the common man on the street will once again be blatantly disregarded, or will the government leaders for once reverse their decision on the salary increment?
Can the government for once respect Singaporeans´ opinions against the increment? Singaporeans are mostly well-educated and we [...]
Singapore PM’s salary stuns White House official
AFP – A senior White House official on Tuesday admitted he was floored by the news that Singapore’s prime minister earned five times more than US President George W. Bush.
“I’m going to emigrate and run for office in Singapore,” the official said on condition he be identified only as “a senior administration official who sits [...]
Continuing the justification…
Why does a ministerial payrise require weeks and weeks of non-stop, daily dose of defense and justification from ministers? Is it that Singaporeans are too stupid to understand the importance of an increment, or is it the opposite – that Singaporeans are no longer as guillible as before?
Today, Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean continues [...]
Fair views from MPs on ministeral payrise
Apparently, some ruling party MPs have questioned the need for and magnitude of the payrise announced today. It’s encouraging to know that the PAP now has some MPs who dare to speak up against their comrades who formulate policies, rather than just rubber-stamp them. However, it remains to be seen whether there will be any [...]
Meritocracy, at it’s best and worst
The word is out – Ministers´ salaries will go up by up to 60%. For permanent secretaries, their remuneration will go up by 66% by end-2008.
However, revisions for entry level civil servants´ salaries pale in comparison – A degree-holder at the management executive level will only receive a total of UP TO 16% increment.
This is [...]
Singaporeans not stupid
These days, I feel that I’m not getting anymore bang for buck for the $0.80 copy of The Straits Times. I’m better off reading international news websites like BBC and CNN. When I flip the ST, my eyes are treated to pages upon pages of articles on how wonderful Singapore is, and how our ministers [...]
