" Pay Hike Day: a happy ministerial photo
Saw this at AsiaOne’s site not long ago. It is a REAL image used on their site. Or WAS used at their site. I included the URL in my screen capture in case you think I altered it with photoshop, ok? You may still be able to access it at their site.
The ministers here seem just a tad too happy about getting a pay hike, methinks.
There was a second version:
Then you look at the current photo used on their front page:
Ah, much better! Serious-looking leaders in this shot (and another variant), with a nice quote and none of that “pay slip” text. Pass!
(also spotted by eagle-eyed Sammyboyers at Sammy’s Kopitiam)
April 10th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
i cannot believe it.. even if we deliver super well in our job, it would be a luxury to consider a 10 to 15% increment. i meant we, the common, ordinary people.. no wonder, we are still the common and ordinary people.. sigh…
April 10th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Please go online & sign for the petition if you are against the hike. wtf?
April 10th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
By the looks of it the ministers seem very happy with the pay hike…i mean who wouldn’t?
April 10th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
well, i cannot say much. not that i cannot. but seriously, what help would that be. i know no one who earns as much and would like to say something bad about the government. it is only us who are down there and i mean down there that live through broken families and hardships daily in our lives and whatnots. unless there really is a justified reason for them to not have the increase, what can we as citizens do. Like as if our government will listen to us like that, on this matter.
April 10th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
I have a suggestion mr brown. We all know that Singaporeans are super forgetful, especially with things like Progress Package when election time is coming. How about have a site/sub-site that logs down events such as these? Then when election time comes… we have this site as a reference to remind us of all the Actions by the People’s Action Party.
My complain about this pay hike is that the ministers don’t even listen to us. They say they debate in parliament… but no voting. Also, why would anyone in parliament say no since its their pay they are talking about? I mean, if the ministers did do so much for Singapore, then qualify/justify it with KPIs, just like the top CEOs in private sector. If they can do that, I’m sure nobody will complain. Right now its just… “I have done well… hence I deserve a pay hike. Your complain is noted, but I’m still going to give myself a pay increment. Thank you.” Bleah.
Your site is the rox!
April 11th, 2007 at 12:46 am
Which is why we need more opposition in the parliament. So what if they are retired fireman, with a Primary 6 education level? At least we know for sure they are not there for the money. Not that the others are, but we can be less sure about that, especially with the current development. The important thing is numbers. We need to have more opposition in there in the parliament. If not the opposition will just get boo-ed all the time, and there are not enough people to back them up. There’s only so much Mr Chiam and Mr Low can do, people. We need not worry about the ruling party’s members getting kicked out because they will get into the parliament anyway. It’s like magic.
Right now, there are no self-checking mechanism in the system. We don’t know by what criteria they are evaluating their performances. How do we justify the across-the-board increment? Is it selective? Or for everyone? Does everyone deserve the same amount of increment? If yes, how do they evaluate or measure that? And why $1 million? Who sets the benchmark? And how many ministers and what’s the cost total? And do they all put in the same amount of work? And MR4? Explain? Not everyone thinks like a civil servant. Give us some contexts. Just by obscuring doesn’t mean we won’t question. I mean, things like that makes every ounce of me rage. I can go on forever if we’re talking about our wonderful ruling party.
April 11th, 2007 at 1:41 am
we should all go raffles… or send your son to be a raffles martian nerd and get scholarship.
young that time no hot gf only SJI ‘boy’friend, get bullied by AC boys and get owned on the rugby field, nevermind… its ok. grow up already can become PAP, get big pay, tax the AC boys till they cry, and increase GST so can increase pay to buy another nice house in london so their sons can live comfortably overseas while they tell others that we should be stayers not leavers and not escape NS.
quite shiok ah go raffles.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:45 am
Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.
George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)
April 11th, 2007 at 9:32 am
“And, Mr Teo said that he was heartened that many MPs agreed that it is vital to pay competitive salary for a good public service. ”
“Instead, it is all about the motivation and willingness to devote time and energy to serve the people”
Who would not agree to the pay hike when they are on the receiving end?
So they will be unmotivated and unwilling to devote time and energy to serve people if there is no increase in pay?
They are running a country, not doing business unlike the top earners.
Quotes are from channelnewsasia.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:43 am
how can civil servants compare themselves agst the private sector? have u ever heard of a civil servant being head-hunted to run an MNC???
i wish there’s a guideline for mr low thia kiang and all sporeans… which ctries can we compare ourselves to , which we cant. wat’s the point of being world class then?
btw, there’s alot of ppl out there who dont know where spore is…. so are we world class???
April 11th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
A few comments, not from a 30% minister but from a happy 3% civil servant.
1) It is not uncommon for admin service officers to be head-hunted by private sector firms because the assessment mechanisms used are fairly robust for their stated purpose e.g. intellectual capacity. It may be a fair criticism to question how in touch with ground sentiments they are.
2) Why are people saying ministers are being paid too much? For myself, I don’t know if there is any objective way at all to determine if ministers are being overpaid. However, I don’t think it would make any sense to only try to hire ministers who had been drawing a higher salary before taking on the job (together with a pay cut). I don’t know if there is any meaningful way to determine how many of them could have secured a higher paying job outside but there are certainly quite a few other equally lucrative job alternatives available for talented people. Investment banking being a prime example. Long-winded, but what I mean to say is what is too much? Enough to attract the right people? Or are some of us trying to make the more fundamental point that we don’t have the right people?
3) I say this without sarcasm. I enjoy serving the public and money isn’t all that important to me so I wouldn’t leave my job for a small pay increase. However, a large pay increase, like say 50% would certainly be very tempting. This % figure would be different for everyone, and pretty difficult to establish empirically but I think most would agree that it would be rather too late to establish this figure only after we’ve past the point. I’m pretty certain there wouldn’t be enough (quality) altruistic people remaining to maintain our current overall standard of government services.
4) I would like to think we really do have a pretty good civil service. Whatever complaints you have about us civil servants are welcome in the context of improving services but should still be made in the right context - improving our service levels and increasing the number of services we offer costs money and requires good people (who, in themselves, almost always also cost money).
5) It was just slightly sneaky to refer to ministerial and civil service pay in the same breath by establishing a benchmark common to both. However, it has been done transparently so I do appreciate that myself.
6) The two different pictures were really funny Mr Brown, thanks for posting them!
April 12th, 2007 at 1:09 am
kenneth,
1/2 my family was in civil service, including myself… n we know the ‘ qualities’ required to stay in it… we cant compromise our beliefs to fit in so we quit. if u like to think u do have a pretty gd civil svc, keep on thinking!! BTW, have u been ever head hunted by public sector??
April 12th, 2007 at 1:30 am
it seems like the anti-insurgents infiltrated mr brown’s podcasts.
hahah good job mr brown for reflecting the public’s feelings instead of the fake reports mediacorpse released.
lina lisp confidently (:
April 12th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Hi mee siam, yes I have. Just once. But a single case isn’t very relevant, is it? What is your real point? That you don’t personally know any civil servants who have been head hunted?
If you’re willing to share, I’d like to know what beliefs you found you had to compromise in order to fit in.
April 12th, 2007 at 8:26 am
One-mouth Citizen says:
The Chinese character of Governor has two “Mouths” in it. So, guys, forget about arguing your points. We only have one mouth. How to win! Save saliva lah!
April 12th, 2007 at 9:40 am
When asked why they need the hike, they compared themselves with private sector practices, when asked why don’t they measure increment by personal performance like private sector instead of using the GDI, they say they don’t function like private sectors. WHAT THE F**K!!!
They don’t want people to join for the money, yet they don’t want people to leave due to the money….. what a load of crap! They contradict themselves in a single sentence! Only a president scholar can do such thing.
April 12th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
hey the link is down liao ah… cannot access liao
April 12th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
kenneth…
JUST ONCE saysa it all…. was a mistake HAHAHA
April 12th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
They could have put this on the previous election manifesto/campaign/agenda and ask people to vote for it. This will defnitely give them the heavenly mandate to get whatever amount they like.
April 13th, 2007 at 4:05 am
I noe alot of civil servent are earning lower pay then privite sector. These ppl do deserve a pay rise but for those who are already highly paid, i dont think so. garmen always says average pay is at 4k. the comon ppl is earning abt 1.3k to 1.8k including usual civil servent. the high earners actually contributes to the high average. we do need to increase pay for the low earners, to keep them ON THE JOB. ESPEACIALLY CIVIL SERVENT EARNING BELOW 2K. civil servent earn above 5k should get at most $50 increment. above 10k shld get $30 increment. above 15k no increment!!!! The Tang danasty, in china history is one of the strongest danasty, even reduce their high position officals, so tat their ppl can affort to support the kingdom. WE SHLD SPEND THE MONEY ON INFASTURCTUE, MILITARY AND THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, THE POOR!! dONT FORGET IN HISTORY, IT IS USUALLY THE POOR (THE MASS) or the weak in military, TAT DESTORY THE DANASTY!!!
April 13th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
A good boss / leader will not need to resort to use incomparable high pay to keep his people.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
This is what I think.
1) I believe that civil servants should be well paid. Even if their pay is not comparable with private sectors, at least it should not be too far off, maybe about 7% off. If we are talking about a highly paid minister, 7% maybe a huge amount for a commoner like myself, but I’m sure it won’t affect the daily expenses by a lot. For a lower paid civil servant, 7% can be a big deal though. They should be paid fairly and reasonably well.
We all know that poorly paid civil servants end up with a very corrupted system. Don’t believe, just take a look at our neighbours. They are perfect examples.
2) I believe that to be a minister, it is a high calling. Your heart knows that you are called to take the responsibility and do it with passion. Therefore, I agree with Mr Yeo that government officials, especially top tanking officials, should not be motivated by money to take up the position.
3) I believe that if a minister want to leave his office because of money factor, he should be let go. In this respect, I totally disagree with Mr Teo that people should not leave because of money factor. If a minister felt that he can get higher pay elsewhere, it implies that he is no longer motivated to serve the people out of passion anymore. He is controlled by money. So, why make someone stay in the service when he no longer has the passion. I say, “Let Him Go!” (I say this in the context of my point #1)
4) Finally, if you are unhappy with whatever the government is doing, leave and migrate somewhere else if you can. If you are like me who is unable to migrate, just live your own life and be happy with what you already have. Life is too short to keep unhappiness in our heart. Don’t expect me to vote for any government, I choose to keep neutral for now.
April 13th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
PAP no different from former NKF…
April 13th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
teh-o i agree with you… haha…
April 15th, 2007 at 2:00 am
motivate me to study hard and be minister next time… with pay like that, no wonder all “chio mi mi” haha
April 16th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
“When an garmen official is corrupted, it is ILLEGAL. But when all the garmen officials are corrupted, it is LEGAL” - quoted from the secret saying of the “Pansai And Pakjiao”
anyway whats the point in arguing when u can’t even protest or start a rebellion in here?… they r still goin to increase their own pay from the hard earned tax payers:)
April 18th, 2007 at 1:10 am
what’s the point in complaining about the ministers’ pay ?
To put it bluntly, you get what you deserve - Why ? - Because you voted them in. If you are so unhappy, then YOU get everyone you know to vote them out of goverment at the next General Elections.
Think about it…..
April 18th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
And how many percent of Singaporeans voted instead of having walkovers?