Comments on: Politicians’ personal sacrifices – lets have a sense of proportion

By: GABRIEL

GABRIEL — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:05:55 +0000

AS top government officials and ministers are drawn from the top echelons of the private sector, it’s best that they understand and welcome the fact that public service is not where they can accumulate personal wealth.
A top private sector executive, for example, would have earned and saved millions by ther time he is 40 and if he choses to join the public sector then, he will have enough put aside and with prudent investment, sufficient means to see his family through the rest of his life.
Such a person will be able to devote hifs fullest attention to public service, despite the fact that he is receving a public servant’s nominal salary.
The trouble with our public servants and MPs is that they appear to spend more time worrying about their jobs (and their remuneration) rather than give more time to solving the problems of their constituents.
Call me an idealist, but civil servants paid million-dollar salaries (so that they will not become corrupt) are not worth the posts they deign to fill.
Such officials will probably spend more time making sure that they do not lose their jobs (and the million-dollar remuneration) rather than attend to the needs of their constituents.

By: GABRIEL

GABRIEL — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:49:46 +0000

If top government officials/ministers are to be drawn from the private sector, it would be best if they understand that public service is for the interest of the nation and the people — and not about growing one’s personal wealth.
A person who has done well in the private sector would, by the age of 40, have made and saved enough millions. This nest-egg, through prudent investment, would see him and his family through the rest of his working life, even if he did not have to work another day.
Such a top private sector individual would then be able to devote his complete attention to public service and be happy to draw a minimal public servant’s pay.
He is, after all, serving the people and that in itself is the greatest reward he can hope to receive.
Call me an idealist but MPs and others of their ilk who talk about sacrifice while devoting more time to their private business than their constituents’ interest are self-serving and deserve nothing but the people’s contempt..
The people suffer from having such MPs who will always put self before nation.

By: Cardin

Cardin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:19:55 +0000

Dude, Mother Theresa?! Might as well compare our budding scientists to Albert Einstein and our politicians to Abraham Lincoln. o.O Extreme example much?

By: CJ

CJ — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:01:34 +0000

Whatever they do… is always LAME.

By: nocityforoldmen

nocityforoldmen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:48:12 +0000

Mr. LKY should advise any of his money motivated ministers and MPs to be Cheaper, Better and Faster . If the average singaporeans are required to do that, these people should be taking the lead by example.

By: OB Marker

OB Marker — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:59:54 +0000

Pathetic, think if put 80 businessmen oso can run the country, money talks, it’s a fact.

By: Ho Chi Meng

Ho Chi Meng — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:50:02 +0000

the econ is reportedly on the rise.
maybe people will be getting more salary soon on top of millions?

By: ministar

ministar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:24:25 +0000

I agree that if a potential minister wants to do something for Singapore, he can keep his old job, and donate half his salary to the country. It would make more sense.

Besides, some of the current ministers honestly will not command a high salary elsewhere. Would a private company be willing to hire the minister who let the terrorist got away, or the chairman of a government investment board who lost lots of money, or the MP who fired the table tennis coach?

I guess the article is mostly about minister’s salaries. Perhaps this is not directly related to the article, but allow me to continue.

During the last GE, Low Thia Kiang said that it is wrong to benchmark minister’s salary to the top earners of Singapore because entrepreneurs take a lot of risk: It is likely that many people who try to start their own business end up bankrupt.

He argues that ministers being public servants should draw a salary that is a fixed multiplier of the lowest earning Singaporeans. This would motivate the ministers to work out policies for the benefit of these Singaporeans. He does have statistics to back him up, like the lowest earning 20% of Singaporeans not earning enough to get by.

I think that is a good idea, and the formula can be improved to take into account housing prices, NS allowance, and other factors.

By: Billy Bomper

Billy Bomper — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:09:23 +0000

I always admire Shanmugam. But like to hear what has he spoken up for the people he represents? I assume a lot. But what? I have not been reading any MSM news due to Financial Crisis.

By: HaiGong

HaiGong — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:56:49 +0000

I am worry, they keep on talking about money. They must be very greedy to always talk about money. What will it lead to????

Who force them to take up the job, do they understand what it take to be a politician?
Hope they understand , It is not about money, it about passion and commitment to serve the people.

If they are not passionate to serve the people, we are always for them to join the private sectors. Why force yourself so hard? and try ways and means to justify $M.

I have never heard of any great leaders in the world talking about their country not pay them enough.Uniquely Singapore.

By: Ho Chee Ben

Ho Chee Ben — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:52:58 +0000

Does this signal pay hikes to come?

By: lauleestingy

lauleestingy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:39:29 +0000

harlor..imagined they lose out when they were fightin for million$ dollar$ court case wherelse mother theresa have to tend the sick/poor/disease strickens with no minimum wages @ all
sure lo$e out what..have you ever seen leekuanyew tends the sick/homeless or the homeless? even in tanjong pagar grc..where 3 jumpers jumped to their deaths..where was leekuanyew? havin his night cap in istana perhaps?

By: Moe Gan Thai

Moe Gan Thai — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:46:16 +0000

Pap all are money face, don’t have heart to serve ? then resign lah go private sector.

By: spursian

spursian — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:52:48 +0000

Let’s not even mention their names (Mother Theresa/Gandhi vs MPs) in the same sentence as it’ll be insulting to the former.

By: Arix @UK

Arix @UK — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:46:26 +0000

It is highly insulting to put Ghandi and Mother Theresa in the same league as Indranee and Shamungam. Indranee and Shamungam are basically civil servants paid to do a job. Ghandi and Mother Theresa are not merely “poor fools”; they are individuals who, out of the goodness of their hearts, made tremendous personal sacrifices in order to help other people voluntarily.

As far as I would put it, Mother Theresa and Ghandi are far more deserving of million-dollar salaries than our current ministers and MPs!!

By: patriot

patriot — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:28:38 +0000

Let us deify them for their sacrifices!

Most of our Leaders make great sacrifices for the peanuts worth multi million SINDollars. Had they not make the sacrifices, they will be living in castles, owning private jets, luxury cruisers, eating caviar for breakfasts with beauties for companies.

Indeed, they are kinder than the so-called gods.

patriot

By: You sure or NOT

You sure or NOT — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:13:11 +0000

i hope they declare their private businesses and assets.

By: blackfeline

blackfeline — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:20:15 +0000

so meaning what? in the past they were enjoying 10 meals a day…now they have to be contented with 8 instead? what a stupid old toad!

By: mars

mars — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:07:37 +0000

If serving the public is not a higher calling, than let them go back to their old money making ways. Multi-million Ministers who constantly griped about money do not have their heart in their jobs and consequently do a lousy job to the detriment of millions of Singaporeans.

Unhappy ministers will consciously or unconciously think of ways and means to take revenge on Singaporeans who are unhappy and unwilling to pay them extra millions.

By: Yamamoto

Yamamoto — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:55:14 +0000

Mr LKY can say that they are sacrificing alot of their monetary income…but comparing their input/output of private sector and office-bearer….I can say it leaves alot to be desired.