tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post8158436593769689591..comments2024-03-19T18:44:15.041+08:00Comments on Little Stories: Ministerial Salaries And A Sentimental Stroll Down Memory LaneGilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-55124180737078222762009-02-04T17:07:00.000+08:002009-02-04T17:07:00.000+08:00Government should not be run like a corporation an...Government should not be run like a corporation and hence should not by remunerated similarly. If this models is adopted we should have casulty from the government side at this present situation, regardless of global meltdown. Government is to serve our citizens.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-56995109218719795592009-02-02T01:23:00.000+08:002009-02-02T01:23:00.000+08:00That being said, the current economic crisis is no...That being said, the current economic crisis is not Singapore's fault, it's America's fault. (It was housing speculation run rampant in the USA that led to a storm of foreclosures, which led to bank failures and near-failures, which led to banks clamping down on credit, which led to the economic troubles. Since America is a big economy, it dragged the rest of the world with it.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-56115289429498011992009-02-02T01:19:00.000+08:002009-02-02T01:19:00.000+08:00Let's look at this from a logical point of view. S...Let's look at this from a logical point of view. Suppose you are making the rules and charging taxes and coining money. You decide you want more money. So you give yourself more money. Does that ensure you do a better job? No, it ensures that you become richer. Having multiple different branches of government, with each branch independent and capable of restraining other branches, along with accountability to the public, encourage people to govern better, not money. For example, in the USA, we have at least three branches of government (the legislative, judicial, and executive) and perhaps a fourth (the bureaucracy, which is nominally part of the executive branch, but which is often given free reign over some affairs by both the executive and legislative branches) and perhaps even a fifth (the media, which enjoys tattling on government authorities who've done something wrong). The three main branches are able to keep each other in check by executive vetos, legislative impeachments and authorizations of law, and judicial declarations of unconstitutionality and other rulings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-88438388182925648002009-01-31T16:19:00.000+08:002009-01-31T16:19:00.000+08:00Oh yeah? You need high salaries so people will ser...Oh yeah? You need high salaries so people will serve the government? Well, Singapore pays its civil servants the HIGHEST in the WHOLE WORLD, but do you see any other developed countries having any trouble finding civil servants? And don't give me that "four million people" crap. Even counties in America that only have 2,000 people can have 1% of the population perform community-benefiting jobs. In Singapore with 4 MILLION people, even 0.5% should get you 20,000 people, and with such high salaries, shouldn't it be 3%?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-32721965406175863282009-01-24T17:24:00.000+08:002009-01-24T17:24:00.000+08:00This salary hike is one of the few major strategic...This salary hike is one of the few major strategic error that MM has made in his political life. Instead of preserving and cementing the stability of PAP in general and PM Lee in particular, this will turn out to be the one single decision which will be their own undoing.Falconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02892629037629598914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-86226871480078316662009-01-23T14:09:00.000+08:002009-01-23T14:09:00.000+08:00Fargoal,The short answer is yes, but it would have...Fargoal,<BR/><BR/>The short answer is yes, but it would have to be different KPIs for different ministries. At the very top, we can have an overall KPI for economic performance. Say, the additional percentage points of GDP growth above the global average.(Or GDP per capita.) Say, if the world GDP growth is 2.5% and Singapore's is 5.0%, then we obviously outperform and should be rewarded accordingly. On the other hand, if the world is doing +2.0% and we are doing -2.0%, then what do we do? Cut their pay?<BR/><BR/>Conceptually, I am not in favour of KPIs for the government. We are not running a company. Many of the ills we are seeing now are due to the fact that the government is running Singapore Inc. Profit matters. Privatise those that are not profitable. Increase prices at will for the monopolies.<BR/><BR/>Some time back, I actually sat down and draw up 5 or 6 KPIs each for each Ministry.Thehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02941744057903049051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-54463931077299923882009-01-23T12:06:00.000+08:002009-01-23T12:06:00.000+08:00To "The" (January 23, 2009 9:34 AM)Thanks, that so...To "The" (January 23, 2009 9:34 AM)<BR/><BR/>Thanks, that sounds like a sensible and reasonable suggestion. <BR/><BR/>If I may add, my quibble would be that the KPI for our Ministers should not be just raising the salaries of the low income or reducing the Gini coefficient. They should be responsible for other KPIs as well. Maintaining a good rate of economic growth, making the correct political decisions for our foreign policy, developing our nation's human resources, etc. Some of these things may not be easily quantifiable.<BR/><BR/>My question would be whether it is possible to come up with an alternative formula that captures the various KPIs that our Ministers are supposed to achieve. That is perhaps a more scientific way to look at this issue.Fargoalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04989329451348414543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-91957415650644595902009-01-23T09:58:00.000+08:002009-01-23T09:58:00.000+08:00Woo . . . Tks Anon January 21, 2009 10:54 PM The T...Woo . . . <BR/><BR/>Tks Anon January 21, 2009 10:54 PM<BR/> <BR/>The Taiwanese 6-parter is insightful. What revelation! Didn't know our MM did so much maneuvering to get us here. We also owe it to the Taiwanese.<BR/>who now feels slighted as MM is also courting China for Singapore's gains.<BR/>He has again to maneuver, inbetween China and Taiwan, given that we don't wish to offend either, given that China is the regional economic & military power and Taiwan our early benefactor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-15783177170009615662009-01-23T09:34:00.000+08:002009-01-23T09:34:00.000+08:00Fargoal,That is a good question. My main grouse wi...Fargoal,<BR/><BR/>That is a good question. My main grouse with the current formula is that it has a survivor bias. It is akin to buying your 4-D bets after the results are known and picking the first 3 winning numbers - sure win. I don't mind it they peg their salary to the champion horse - but please be decent and honest enough and stick with that particular horse. So, when next year, that champion horse breaks a leg and becomes fertilizer, too bad, you also become jobless.<BR/><BR/>Look at the real world. No employee can consistently maintain peak performance and command high salary over decades. The high earners in some years will become the jobless, become retrenched or suffer mental breakdown or sacked from the job. Shall we peg the salary of ministers to the top earners of Lehman Brothers? What are those folks earning now?<BR/><BR/>If the government is really serious about the Gini co-efficient and want to level up society, then a simple formula would be to link the salary to the bottom decile of the wage earners, instead of the top decile.<BR/><BR/>If the average monthly of the bottom decile (or 10th percentile) of Singapore worker is, say, $1,600, then pay the Ministers 100 times that, or $160,000 a month, or $1.92 million before bonuses.<BR/><BR/>This way, there is the incentive to really bring up the lower strata of society. One easy way to reward themselves is to quickly implement a minimum wage scheme. Although this will be really self-serving, but it will have the happy effect of bringing up the poor as well, and so the lesser of two evils.<BR/><BR/>I seriously think this is a workable solution. We can quibble whether it should be 100 times, or 50 times, or 150 times, but the main point is that it should be linked to the low-income group rather than the current system of linking to the high-income group.Thehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02941744057903049051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-41698419091754189832009-01-22T13:58:00.000+08:002009-01-22T13:58:00.000+08:00Ministerial salary benchmarks are calculated from ...Ministerial salary benchmarks are calculated from the salaries of the top 8 highest salaries from 6 professions.<BR/><BR/>The real question we should be asking is whether this is a good formula. If not, how can we improve it? What would make every Singaporean happy (or equally unhappy, i.e. a compromise by all)?Fargoalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04989329451348414543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-80546409793367496002009-01-22T06:54:00.000+08:002009-01-22T06:54:00.000+08:00Let's leave out the politics and focus on the econ...Let's leave out the politics and focus on the economics for now.<BR/><BR/>Politics is a thing for the GE. After which losers and together with the winners must sit down and together solve the country's woes. The loserrs must stop the whining and condemnation. Provide meaningful feedback for the government of the day to consider. Leave the sabotage, blames, curses, etc., to the next election.<BR/><BR/>Look at Hilary Clinton.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-34974831111752821202009-01-21T22:54:00.000+08:002009-01-21T22:54:00.000+08:00Nothing beats this:-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...Nothing beats this:-<BR/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3YFl-dY9Qg<BR/><BR/>Anyway, we have tasted British rule, Japanese rule, David Marshall rule, Lim Yew Hock's rule, Malay rule (Malaysia) and 45 years of PAP rule todate. Just ask yourself honestly who's best (given that nothing's PERFECT in the world).<BR/><BR/>Btw, Monaco is the world's smallest FRENCH-speaking country. Big brother France will never let her down. It's actually a "dependency" of France. The hinterland is France and Europe. Luxemburg is a small landlocked country inside Western Europe and a part of EC and NATO using the euro. They are all Judeo-Christian ang mohs!<BR/><BR/>Singapore? Our neighbours? Malaysia and Indonesia? One threatens to cut off our water supply. SAF daily on TV is our deterrent if you aren't a blok. Big brother Indonesia recently cut off our sand and granite supply even despite our having poured millions of dollars into helping Aceh. These are green countries with green eyes!<BR/><BR/>Carry on dreaming . . . "Chinaman" cos u are perceived as one by them! <BR/><BR/>If u had the time u shd also sit down and watch how our great, wise leader LKY won Singapore for Singaporeans @<BR/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0TSNy3Yk50&NR=1<BR/><BR/>We and our children in fact owe him a lot. This man is God-sent. Without him all of us will be "non-bumis" wondering abt our and our children's future every day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-427933629619963032009-01-21T11:23:00.000+08:002009-01-21T11:23:00.000+08:00Quote: Right. To put it simply, the PAP's marketin...Quote: Right. To put it simply, the PAP's marketing pitch runs something like this:<BR/><BR/>1. "All good things that happen to Singapore are as a result of our superb leadership"<BR/><BR/>2. "All bad things that happen to Singapore are as a result of external factors in the big bad world"<BR/><BR/>brilliantly put, Mr Wang. I think this sums up the issue here. <BR/><BR/>its a bit like a pseudo-religion too... good things happen to you, god is good... bad things happen to you, god works in mysterious ways...ILMAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03862779921501673375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-61704331716530892562009-01-21T09:57:00.000+08:002009-01-21T09:57:00.000+08:00To sum it all.Jealousy & Envy versus Greed.For...To sum it all.<BR/><BR/>Jealousy & Envy versus Greed.<BR/><BR/>For me and others who voted the PAP in since 1965 we don't care two hoots. So long as the job is done and people at large get the bread and butter on our table and also get to travel every year to sample reality checks elsewhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-16032133697936135882009-01-20T23:41:00.000+08:002009-01-20T23:41:00.000+08:00Dear Mr WangThank you for this article on Minister...Dear Mr Wang<BR/><BR/>Thank you for this article on Ministerial Salaries.<BR/><BR/>I have read through 69 responses and have yet to see anybody grasp the greatest truth of all regarding the myth of the Ministerial salaries.<BR/><BR/>The greatest truth is that the obscene salaries actually pose a barrier to block any honest and decent candidate from agreeing to join the PAP and the Cabinet. Think this through carefully - if there is any candidate who is honest and who care to render his services to the people of Singapore, would this person allow himself to draw this obscene salary?<BR/><BR/>In my view, the high Ministerial salaries are making it impossible for PAP to get honest citizens to join them. All those who do join them must necessarily put their conscience aside. That precludes honesty.<BR/><BR/>All those who do join them must necessarily be GREEDY. Q.E.D.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-69994380455474695122009-01-20T23:27:00.000+08:002009-01-20T23:27:00.000+08:00Iceland has a HUGE fishing industry and abundant g...Iceland has a HUGE fishing industry and abundant geothermal energy. Oh and by the way, Iceland is bankrupt now.<BR/><BR/>Ireland has oil and gas resources, and a highly developed and modern agricultural industry.<BR/><BR/>Luxembourg and Monaco has a MUCH longer history than Singapore, and them being more successful than Singapore DOES NOT take away from the fact that what has been achieved in Singapore has been quite a miracle.<BR/><BR/>I wish people will actually quote relevant facts, and quote them in perspective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-56016117642869118982009-01-20T20:05:00.000+08:002009-01-20T20:05:00.000+08:00Check this out. Knowing Dr Fareed Zakaria, an emin...Check this out. Knowing Dr Fareed Zakaria, an eminent US based political journalist, not known to patronize anyone. <BR/><BR/>Watch Lee Kuan Yew - Interview with Fareed Zakaria on CNN @<BR/><BR/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLyPpUsNkAEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-14480059513576288582009-01-20T16:57:00.000+08:002009-01-20T16:57:00.000+08:00To Anon @ January 20, 2009 10:58 AMOur geographica...To Anon @ January 20, 2009 10:58 AM<BR/><BR/>Our geographical location is an ADVANTAGE not a natural resource. You may call it a geographical advantage thanks to nature, but please don't call it a natural resource. <BR/><BR/>Anyway if Singapore had any natural resources, we would be in a lot more trouble. Think about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-86942929123159782012009-01-20T14:52:00.000+08:002009-01-20T14:52:00.000+08:00Under "normal" circumstances, it's not like Icelan...Under "normal" circumstances, it's not like Iceland, an island with 320,000 people and with few mentionable natural resources, has the higher GDP per capita, low GINI ratio, and kicks Singapore's ass in practically every single measure.<BR/><BR/>Under "normal" circumstances, it's not like Ireland, with a population of 4.2 million, has highest GDP growth in the world for years, as well as higher capita GDP, despite not having much natural resources either.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, it's not places like Monaco or Luxembourg even exist. Singapore is totally unique in being a prosperous place with a small population and no natural resources.<BR/><BR/>My "A" in my econs module in uni tells me so. ;)<BR/><BR/>Anyway, it's not like every primary school social studies textbook mentions Singapore has a wonderful geographical location, and it is not like Singapore is 8 hours flight from Tokyo as well as Sydney.<BR/><BR/>You see, if it weren't for the Magneto powers of the MM, ships would not start detouring towards Singapore in 1965. (Now you know the real reason why he is called MM)<BR/><BR/>Before 1965, Singapore is just a stinky fishing village with no economic activity whatsoever.<BR/><BR/>Damn, if only Stamford Raffles figured all these out 150 years earlier. Imagine what he could have done!<BR/><BR/>Ingrate Singaporeans should also bear in mind, that if it werent for PAP, Singapore, with our powder keg racial proportions and communists agitating for revolution, Singapore would have been DOOMED! Just take a look at the piece of Singapore that was ripped off in 1958, <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_island" REL="nofollow">Christmas Island</A>. Oh the inhumanity, after getting ravaged over and over again by racial riots and communist revolutions and repeated invasions by the Indonesians, I heard the people there live on bat shit.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, it's not like you can find Singapore Improvement Trust flats built there. HDB is a uniquely PAP idea.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, the MM cried tears of joy when he won his sovereignty in 1965. All his talk about merger with Malaysia was just wayang show. He foresaw how prosperous Singapore would be as an independent city state.<BR/><BR/>Had Singapore not won our independence and we stayed stuck with the British, we would be as badly run as, say Hong Kong. That would be so horrible indeed.Jimmy Munhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927345822970412901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-68215943624799453702009-01-20T13:25:00.000+08:002009-01-20T13:25:00.000+08:00/// Under NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES Singapore has indee.../// Under NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES Singapore has indeed surged past many countries economically despite its minuscule size and lack of natural resources.<BR/>January 19, 2009 2:48 PM ///<BR/><BR/>What about the flip side? Under normal circumstances, heck - under ANY circumstances, Singapore is indeed lacking in natural "resources":<BR/><BR/>Lack of earthquakes<BR/>Lack of tornadoes<BR/>lack of typhoons<BR/>Lack of hurricanes<BR/>Lack of volcanoes<BR/>Lack of tsunamis<BR/>Lack of snow/blizzard<BR/><BR/>How many billions were destroyed during Hurricane Katrina? And how many more billions are needed to repair the infrastructure and restore the services?<BR/><BR/>How many billions worth of property and damage were destroyed in the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, in the TangShan earthquake in 1976 and in the 2008 earthquake in SiChuan?<BR/><BR/>How much damage was done to Singapore in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami?<BR/><BR/>How much damage did Singapore suffer in the last 1,000 years due to earthquake, volcano, typhoon and other natural disasters?<BR/><BR/>Indeed, Singapore has no such natural resources...Thehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02941744057903049051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-73470529935384824622009-01-20T10:58:00.000+08:002009-01-20T10:58:00.000+08:00Reply to January 19, 2009 4:26 PM's blogger.Althou...Reply to January 19, 2009 4:26 PM's blogger.<BR/><BR/>Although you do talk sense,but I disagree with you that Spore has no natural resources.that is the traditional thinking and toatlly out of date in this 21st century.<BR/><BR/>I can name one big natural resouce that we hv,and that is our georgaphical location.<BR/><BR/>There is no nedd for me to elobarate how wonderful is this natural resource,suffice for me to shout<BR/><BR/>Location,location,location!<BR/><BR/> fr which how many billionaires are made in this world?<BR/><BR/>Think out of the PAP box,then we survive and prosper,we are global citizens remember!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-5737276554422514212009-01-20T10:44:00.000+08:002009-01-20T10:44:00.000+08:00Wow,great but arrogant economist.I no economist,bu...Wow,great but arrogant economist.I no economist,but pick a little here and there.<BR/><BR/>Would like yr great wison on what I think:<BR/>Truly appreciate.<BR/>There are 3 ways to increase the GDP of a country,increase in labour,increase in capital input and increase in productivity.<BR/><BR/>That is why American Paul Krugman who won this year's Nobel economics prize,after studying Singapore economic,declared that Spore growth is not substainable.<BR/><BR/>In his very American way of thinking,there is no way for Spore to increse labour supply and capital input,these are but limited resources,the only way for Spore to grow is to have more eductade workers and thus increase the productivity.That is how normal economy grows.<BR/><BR/>Little did Paul Krugman realised then that he was referring to one very special leader,one who comes along in every 10,000 years.<BR/><BR/>Increase in labour supply-no problem,we started fr 2.5 -3 million,now we are 4.8 million,and we are going 6-8 million.<BR/><BR/>Increase in capital input,no problem,put all the resources of the whole country under PAP,we would make all the investment decision,in one stroke,PAP became the biggest single investor in the whole world.<BR/><BR/>Except productivity growth,which is long,slow and very difficult,so they dont want to talk about it,in fact,our national productivity is going down,and our per-capita income in S$ is not growing mmuch,these are things they and 154th refuse to talk about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-38802561486765021402009-01-20T10:39:00.000+08:002009-01-20T10:39:00.000+08:00Global downturn is unavoidable.yes I agree but nee...Global downturn is unavoidable.yes I agree but need to add that the Wall street ba(n)kers should take the blame which most of them did,now Qing for dole,if any.<BR/><BR/>As for Singapore,no,someone must take the balme as there is no compelling reason to turn the red dot into the biggest punter in the world during the last decade.<BR/><BR/>Or is it gospel truth that we must punt,the biggest too.<BR/><BR/>Some one does not have a brain.my humble opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-30843357334724816072009-01-19T19:37:00.000+08:002009-01-19T19:37:00.000+08:00Reply to January 19, 2009 4:26 PM's blogger.Appare...Reply to January 19, 2009 4:26 PM's blogger.<BR/><BR/>Apparently you didn't study Economics (from reading your write-up).<BR/><BR/>Let's do some simple Economics. Do you know why one hardly finds a provision shop beside say, a mega or supermart like NTUC Supermart? Simple. Unlike the latter it has no economies of scale like breaking the bulk to compete. <BR/><BR/>Next, did you know city states like Singapore don't survive long? How many city-states are there on the planet today and how many are in the same first world league like Singapore? You'll be surprised to learn that we're the one and only!<BR/><BR/>Finally, large countries like China and Indonesia can absorb massive calamities and move on albeit poorer e.g. Sichuan earthquake and Aceh Tsunami. Singapore? Don't tickle my toes.<BR/><BR/>Finally, when our overseas markets dry up, our reserves will also dry up feeding the unemployed. Common sense right? Since the world now can't afford to buy our goods and services where is income to come from to feed the 4.5 million Singaporeans? Our CPF perhaps? After that? That's why my fren city states don't last. Big countries can, albeit a lower standard of living, eking out a livelihood by farming. Perhaps you might think we go to Chua Chu Kang and compete with the corpses?<BR/><BR/>Go back to JC and study the principles of economics. What a product!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-14184470727447596052009-01-19T18:46:00.000+08:002009-01-19T18:46:00.000+08:00"But they are already the world's highest-paid min..."But they are already the world's highest-paid ministers, and their salaries STILL went up? "<BR/>Methinks the answer lies in the secret formula they devised for their paycheck. One clue came about when Raymond Lim revealed that bus fares were calculated to factor in inflation and other factors. Now everyone knows the CPI, the measure of inflation, is a basket of indices which includes the cost of transportation. So they have this scam of spiralling increases that defy gravity!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com