Of complacency and leading by example
Monday, 7 July 2008, 7:00 am |
New Paper front page headlines (Jun 5) : “100 days on, still no sign of him - Mas Selamat”
Was the HomeTeam just complacent in Mas Selamat’s escape, or has the Home Team been complacent in other things as well?
I have been insured under the SCDF (Singapore Civil Defense Force) Group Term Life with Personal Accident Insurance Scheme for many years. I received a letter dated 8 May 2008, informing me that my “policy is due for renewal on 1 January 2008 ….. inviting renewal at the same rate”.
The annual premium is $ 1,639.80 for my sum insured of $ 300,000. Why is it that it took more than four months to send out the renewal notice ?
Am I and other Home Team (SCDF) insureds under the scheme covered from the expiry date of the policy on 31 December 2007 ?
On the same day that I received the above mentioned renewal notice, I also received the Home Team’s NS May/June 2008 magazine.
On page 3, there is a Home Team NS Insurance Scheme covering term life insurance and Personal Insurance (the same cover as my SCDF Group Insurance Scheme) at a much lower premium of $ 624 a year for the same $ 300,000 sum insured.
This new premium offer is 62 per cent less than my current renewal premium.
Why are there two schemes for Home Team NS members with such a wide difference in premiums ?
Some members may not be aware of the cheaper scheme if they do not read the Home Team NS magazine.
Shouldn’t the HomeTeam have the responsibility to inform members individually that there are two schemes ? Why wasn’t all SCDF Group Scheme members migrated to the new much cheaper scheme ?
Would the HomeTeam like to comment on the above ?
Does the Police talk to the ICA?
I refer to the article “$2 m cheat blows it all on gambling” (ST, Jun 10).
It states that “After the police took away his passport during the investigation, (he) went to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), claimed that he had lost his passport and obtained a new one”.
Since both the Police and ICA are under the same Ministry of Home Affairs, how could this lapse have occurred ? What’s the point of impounding passports, if one could just go the ICA to apply for a new one ?
Don’t the Police talk to the ICA ?
After the Mas Selamat escape, I think Singaporean’s confidence in our Home Team may have diminished.
Will there be an inquiry to ascertain how this lapse occurred, with a view to ensuring that it does not happen again ?
Over the years, how many have managed to escaped, despite having their passports impounded ? Are we being complacent in discharging our responsibility to be fair to citizen taxpayers?
Tax relief – unchanged for years?
I refer to the Ministry of Finance’s reply “Ministry explains rationale behind parent tax relief” (ST, Jun 9) to David Goh’s letter “Be more realistic in allowing parent relief” (ST, Jun 3).
It states that :
As the parent relief is not aimed at compensating the taxpayer for the costs of maintaining his parents, it is not pegged directly to inflation or the cost of living. However, the Government has made major moves to reduce personal income tax burdens.
According to the Budget’s estimated receipts for FY 2008, the estimated tax revenue from Personal Income Tax at $ 5.9 billion is an increase of 26 per cent over FY 2006’s $ 4.7 billion.
As to the 60 per cent of Singaporean workers paying no income tax due to the reduction in income tax rates over the years, and the exemption of the first $ 20,000 of income from tax, the estimated GST revenue at $ 6.2 billion is an increase of 55 per cent over FY 2006’s $ 4 billiom.
Since GST is generally a regressive tax, relative to income tax - which means that the lower-income may pay more tax relative to the higher-income, compared to income tax - Singaporeans end up paying 55 per cent and 26 per cent more in GST and income tax, respectively.
One of the main reasons given for introducing and increasing GST, was to compensate for the cuts in the corporate tax rate.
In this regard, even the corporate income tax estimate for FY 2008, at $ 9.2 billion, is an increase of 8 per cent over FY 2006’s $ 8.5 billion.
In view of the above, as well as the Budget surplus of over $ 6.4 billion, surely we could be more generous in increasing the parent relief to help Singaporeans cope with rising inflation which is at a 26-year high of 7.5 per cent, instead of saying that it is just symbolic, rather than compensatory.
Are there any countries in the world which pegs tax reliefs symbolically, without regard to the realism of the actual impact on taxpayers ?
By the way, for how many decades has the Wife Relief remained at $ 2,000 without any inflation or cost-of-living adjustment ?
Are we being complacent in shouldering our responsibility by not leading by example?
Malaysia leads by example. How about Singapore?
I refer to media reports (“Belt-tightening in KL as Abdullah announces cuts, ST, Jun 10”, “Ministers’ allowances slashed, Today, Jun 10”, “Malaysia cuts ministers’ allowances to save money, My Paper, Jun 10”) that Malaysia has announced a 2 billion ringgit (S$833 million) cost-cutting package, including a 10 per cent cut on the entertainment allowance for ministers and limiting official overseas trips.
In Singapore, the acting Minister of Manpower said recently that:
Raising wages to address the issue of rising costs may be an enticing option but that is not the right solution.
He also said:
Adjusting wages upwards to meet rising prices would only result in a ‘price-wage spiral’ and Singaporeans should look at the bigger picture. What is more important is for us to have a realistic expectation of wages that reflect the underlying economic strength of our industries and also of our productivity. That will allow us to ensure that our economy will be able to sustain its growth momentum.
The minister has made a very good point, as our national productivity declined by 0.9 last year.
In the spirit of leading by example, I would like to suggest that the ministers consider reversing their pay rise in April 2007 and 31 December, 2007, and their next scheduled pay rise on 31 December, 2008.
By “sharing the pain” with ordinary Singaporeans, I feel that the minister’s advice may be better accepted by workers.
In this connection, the median monthly income for employed residents grew at 1.4 per cent per annum from $2,000 in 2001, to $2,170 in 2007.
It would be a great gesture which I’m sure the ordinary worker earning one to two thousand dollars a month will appreciate, if ministers who already earn $1.9 million or more a year (which is many times their Malaysian counterparts’ pay), don’t increase their own pay, whilst asking workers not to ask for more pay to cope with rising inflation which has hit another 26-year high of 7.5 per cent in May.
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Lead by example?
Sounds good on paper and if you’re an aspiring officer cadet, fresh from JC/poly (more so though if you’re from JC and happen to be idealistic).
Idealism has no place in Singapore, a purely pragmatic country, and we cannot expect a minister to lead by example, unless it is pragmatically beneficial to do so. Which would be about now, i would say…
Pragmatism has always been and being the motto of our leadership, I do not expect it to change its’ ethos. It is better to hope for change of leaders.
Ideally, we be ruled by people loving leaders, but thus far, it is evidently money loving.
patriot.
Sze Hian,
It is interesting to note that despite record inflation, the govt has not announced any belt-tightening measures for govt expenditure.
Then again, we’re told regularly that the economy is doing well. So, instead of tightening belts, the govt will be increasing salaries for their ministers.
belt tightening measures by the govt? more like tightening the rope around our necks!
Constanlty reaping the credits and benefits from the common peasants while passing the buck when our “Indispensable” Super Talent Minister screwed up.
Let’’s move on and get ready for a change in the top leadership. The change is long overdue!!!
Constanlty reaping the credits and benefits from the common peasants while passing the buck when our “Indispensable” Super Talent Ministers screw up.
Let’’s move on and get ready for a change in the top leadership. The change is long overdue!!!
I have always wanted to find out what is the lowest salary the current cabinet is willing to settle for, perhaps I can do so with my vote!
Talking about inflation, the official stance now is to encourage companies to make a 1 time “Inflation” payment / bonus to employees, to help them tide over.
It was then reported recently in a letter to the ST Forum, that an employer was shocked to find out that his employee, having been given this “little help”, had it cut further due to CPF CONTRIBUTION!
Now I wonder, for those sandwiched class who have to pay income taxes, come tax season next year, any rebates? Or are they going to get taxed for this “little help” as well?
The only way to tighten belt is to topple the govt and instal a new alliance govt which is pro people and not money face govt. It can be done provided singaporeans are daring enough to vote them out this time. The performance of a few ministers I observe, are not on par with CEO capability, so it is a waste of money to pay them million of dollars
Of parental relief, how about giving some money to those who still have to support parent but have retired? They don’t enjoy any income tax relief but have to pay GST.
I like this lead by example business. Great if they take your plea of reduction in ministerial pay, esp Wong Kan Seng’s.
MOM said, “Adjusting wages upwards to meet rising prices would only result in a ‘price-wage spiral’ and Singaporeans should look at the bigger picture.”
So, why doesn’t that theory pply to ministerial salary? Wouldn’t increasing ministerial and superscale civil servant salaries result in “price-wage spiral” in the private sector, as the latter raise pay further to entice certain civl servants???
Also, this inflation bonus proposal is just bullshit (nothing but a PR exercise). YOur employer can give you a “bonus” now, but it from your year end bonus!!
And they still haven’t found what they are looking for……
183673.3 in reply to 183673.2
Learn to say sorry
1 October 2003
Lee Han Shih
peccavi013@yahoo.com
WHY do political and corporate bigwigs find it so difficult to apologise in the public?
Look at the two events that shocked Singapore recently.
At listed Asia Pacific Breweries, a trusted finance manager allegedly embezzled $116 million.
True, the case is now before the courts and the company has acknowledged that it is reviewing some of its procedures to plug loopholes. But has here been an apology? Unfortunately, no.
In the government-run Environmental Health Institute, where a 27-year-old researcher caught the Sars virus, an apology was made eventually, but not on the day the botch-up was announced.
What’s more, the person who apologised was Environment Minister Lim Swee Say, who was not even on the frontline of the fight against Sars.
In contrast, Acting Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan preferred to focus on the lessons to be learnt from the episode. And Mr Wang Nan Chee, director-general of public health at the National Environmental Agency, the man so visibly in the public eye when the new Sars case was first discovered, was not present alongside Mr Khaw to take the flak.
It was Mr Wang who had first asserted that the virus could not have come from his labs. His comment had suggested there was another source of Sars in Singapore. This, in turn, raised widespread concerns and caused the stock market to plunge.
His expression of regret came only later when Mr Lim showed the way.
It is sad, but keeping mum in the face of mistakes has become something of a Singapore tradition. Everyone in the public and private sectors does it.
Remember the fiasco where the Infocomm Authority of Singapore “accidentally” overpaid Singapore Telecom $388 million? Were there any apologies to the public? Nope.
Remember when an employee of formerly-listed Centrepoint Properties was convicted for corruption? Not a word of apology was conveyed to investors.
How about the seven-month delay of the North East MRT Line? The Land Transport Authority went silent.
Nothing, however, beats the Housing and Development Board’s upgrading job at Marine Parade, which has gone through three contractors and numerous delays.
At first, the HDB refused to apologise. Then its CEO Niam Cheng Meng, did say sorry but directed it mainly at Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, MP for the area.
Singapore likes to boast it has the best government in Asia. This claim is hard to dispute when it comes to economic achievements.
But look at Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Their politicians may behave like thugs and corruption is rampant. But public apology is a way of life.
The higher you climb up the greasy pole of politics, the more publicly you apologise for your misdeeds or your subordinates’ mistakes.
In the UK, apologies are often accompanied by resignations.
Never mind that those are mostly perfunctory acts and politicians who resign are reinstated quickly. They still fill a necessary function.
In a democracy, governance is not just something that must be done, but it must be seen to be done.
Public apologies and resignations are, thus, signs to the public that their governments acknowledge their mistakes openly and are willing to take responsibility for them.
This is something Singapore needs to learn, and fast. For decades, the public was content to remain voiceless and minority shareholders gave up their power in exchange for a clean and efficient government and well-run companies that delivered profits regularly.
In the midst of a soul-destroying recession, the mood is less tolerant. Those in charge cannot walk away from mistakes without a full explanation, an apology or even some form of restitution.
The key word is accountability.
The writer is a freelance journalist. He can be contacted at peccavi013@yahoo.com
As long as Singaporeans take things for granted and let the government decide everything for them, then MM Lee’s prophecy that Singapore will do under in fiver years will fufil itself whether there is a freak election results or not. In fact, even if PAP holds on to power for eternity, Singapore will do downhill once the critical mass of bo-chaps is reached.
To apologise means admitting you have made a mistake. A mistake, especially big mistakes quoted by Lee Han Shih could mean the end of one’s career in Sg. (Perhaps not in the civil service or Ministers)
This avoidance of admitting mistakes or apologies is so well entrenched, it is practised by those in the private sector as well as the public sector.
This story was printed from channelnewsasia.com
Title : Singapore could face another round of inflation if firms raise wages
By :
Date : 09 July 2008 2154 hrs (SST)
URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/359295/1/.html
SINGAPORE : Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has warned that Singapore could face another round of inflation if companies increase wages to help workers cope with the higher cost of living today.
He said this will also affect Singapore’s competitiveness and the ability to create jobs.
Mr Tharman was speaking to some 500 workers at the Singapore Industrial and Services Employees’ Union dinner on Wednesday evening.
Higher rice and oil prices have led some Singaporeans to call on the government to set the tone by raising wages.
But Mr Tharman said such short-term measures are not prudent. Instead, he said the government has provided assistance to help Singaporeans deal with the higher cost of living.
These include S$500 million in GST Credits - to help citizens cope with the increased Goods and Services Tax - and special bonuses for senior citizens.
Mr Tharman said Singapore also addresses the problem of inflation mainly through its exchange rate policy. Since the beginning of last year, the Singapore dollar has appreciated by 11 per cent against the US dollar.
However, the minister said there is a limit to how much Singapore can allow its dollar to rise to fight inflation. Mr Tharman said if Singapore dramatically strengthens its dollar to offset the higher prices, it will instead hurt economic growth badly.
He said oil prices have increased by 50 per cent since the start of this year. And it has gone up by about 100 per cent compared to a year go. Food prices globally are now up to 60 per cent higher than one year ago.
Mr Tharman cautioned Singaporeans to brace themselves as oil prices may increase further.
He said, “We expect inflation to be between 5-6 per cent on average this year, with inflation being lower towards the end of the year. We also expect inflation in the second half of the year to be lower because the effects of last July’s GST increase on inflation will wear out.
“However, the recent sharp increase in global oil prices will add pressure on inflation. So we are monitoring this and the impact on inflation closely, and will decide if inflation forecasts for this year need to be revised.”
Looking at the global situation, Mr Tharman said the weakness in the US economy could extend into next year. But he maintains that Singapore can expect Gross Domestic Product growth to average between four and six per cent this year.
Mr Tharman said the lasting solution to inflation is to continue with efforts to help workers upgrade their skills and earn better wages.
He said it is also important to help experienced, mature workers stay employed and help home-makers get back to work. This will not only increase the household income, but help improve Singapore’s tight labour market. - CNA/ms
Copyright © 2008 MediaCorp Pte Ltd
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here we go again, credits and pay rise goes to our govt.
what abt us?
i know who i should vote for if my district doesnt do a walkover again.