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| 18/12/2007 |
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SALARY RISES FOR TOP PUBLIC SERVANTS NECESSARY, SAYS SM GOH
By Raymond Lo Wan Mou @ 9:51 PM :: 1477 Views ::
13 Comments ::  :: General
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Dear Administrator,
SM Goh was reported to say (Sunday Times, Dec 16) to quote "if we do not adjust our salaries, these people will say: If I go outside, my pay will be much more than this immediately"- unquote.
With due respect to SM Goh, if money is the top priority for any aspiring national leader or top civil servant career, Singapore is really blessed that he goes 'outside'.
Most Singaporeans will not begrudge salary or pension rises for the present and two past prime ministers, and some very good ministers and permanent secretaries(PS) both present and past as they have within 40 years time, brought Singapore from a third world to a first world country. These outstanding political leaders, I believe did not think of money as their first priority when they decided that politics would be their career choice. Their priority, I am also sure are their passion to advance the interest of Singapore and its people.
As such it is difficult for most of us to believe that salary adjustment will be the main attraction for outstanding individual to join politics and civil service.
If our political leaders and top public servants of old, and some are still in services have this mindset as mentioned, our country will never be able to reach the status of what it is today namely, upper half of First World nation and 17th wealthiest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita.
Undoubtedly, salary is one of the most important factors of choosing a career for many people. But for the present and future generations of Singapore, what we want are leaders who have passion, long term vision, discipline, responsibility, humility and perseverance for the long term interest of Singapore and its people.
People who only purse higher salaries will not be thinking deeply for the people. They will as a Chinese idiom says "ge zi wei zheng" (meaning each administrates in his own way and interest) The pitfall of such administration has been demonstrated over and over again in human history the downfall of individuals, private/public institutions, and even nations.
Therefore, I strongly believe that career happiness and those who have deep desire to serve the nation will go beyond dollars and cents. Their priority, I believe is to see in what ways they can do to help the weak and the poor out of perpetual poverty livelihood, improve general standard of living and address injustice. They will work passionately to bring Singapore forward further. They will feel extremely glad and at peace with themselves if they have achieved their objective.
These are the qualities and attribute that Singaporeans want for their leaders. And it is the responsibility of our elected government to find them.
Raymond Lo Wan Mou |
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| Comments |
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hope_still @
19/12/2007 8:15 PM 
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There is a good point in that our old guards might have started out to serve the people and to build a nation out of passion and inspiration; monetary gains wasn’t their utmost priority. I salute their great spirits and sacrifices.
Now we have a new generation of leaders, selected and trained by the old guards, continuing the legacy; cannot compare them apple to apple. But the system that had brought us this far should be trusted, and that we are having the elites with the most of requirements.
Just say we do, then why don’t we pay them their worth?
If they can perform and receive the handsome payroll, it doesn’t mean that their passion and inspiration are any less?
The quality of leadership is more important than their big payroll.
May we always get the right people in our government and perhaps one day, when the nation and people advance to a new level, we will get leaders who will willingly downsize their pay package? Perhaps this is not the time? We are not there yet.
How do we graft our youths? How do we inspire our young?
Typical, “Aiyo! My child, study hard, get a good education, then can make good money!”
Tomorrow’s leaders are in the mould. Until we change the mould, we are not there yet.
I hope our leaders have hearts as “big” as their brains. They will be the ones to set directions for change.
Our education, domestic policies, pillars in welfare etc will mould the next generation’s hearts and minds.
“Some problems will be blown over in 1-2 generations’ time”…
Towards an elegant society within and beyond a prosperous nation.
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By
Fishy @
19/12/2007 9:46 PM
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They have already raised their pay earlier this year... why must it increased the 2nd time? Might as well increase at one go.... Personally, i don't support their pay hike when cost of living is so high now... But then SM Goh back them up.....
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By
confucious @
20/12/2007 7:48 AM 
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My view is the the current salary "increment" or "adjustment" is deem too excessive.
Firstly, comparing private sector to public sector salary is like comparing apple to orange. Private sector workers have less secure jobs and salary is unstable. One can lose their jobs anytime.
Secondly, are they implying paying these civil servants an extra S$1 million will "motivate" them to work "harder", despite their million dollar salary ? And if their salary is reduced by S$1 million from S$4 million, will they resign en-mass ?
Singapore is doom.
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By
Raymond Lo Wan Mou @
20/12/2007 7:12 PM
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Dear All,
Thank you very much of your views and comments. I appreciate them very much.
With due respect, I find that one of the poster's comment in ST Discussion Board is very meaningful.
I would like to share with all of you.
Quote- "Strongly agree. Beyond the appeal of high remuneration, the passion, drive and aptitude for the job is even more important. Fair compensation should not be defined by those in power. An independent committee should have been set up to study and link performance measures against compensation amounts. Pegging public sector compensation to the private sector is like pegging the S'pore dollar to the Euro. The different pace of economic development/ efficiency/ productivity will cause systemic strain to the currency.
Posted by: mystykyl at Wed Dec 19 10:15:58 SGT 2007" - unquote.
WARMEST REGARDS & A HAPPY MERRY CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR.
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By
Dracon @
21/12/2007 11:49 PM
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Frankly, the increment of pay of the ministers had caused much controversy among many citizens.
Many of us felt that the pay increment are unjustifiable. The government had not made the life of Singaporean better but had made it even harder by increasing cost of living (GST, ERP, taxi fare, buses...and many more). And now the seemingly action to enriching themselves caused much displeasure to the people.
Many a times, Singaporeans did not seem to have any voice or any say in their lives and are at the becking of the government. The government seems to say they hear...but do they listen?...when they say they listen?...do they act?
Younger Singaporeans like myself wonder why we should even support the party that does not have the concerns of the people at heart but are more concerns about their own pay.
If the pay increment of 20 percent is given to the lower tier of the civil servants, most Singaporeans will have no argument as we are aware that many of them are not well paid and with the increase in cost of living, it would benefit them.
But alas, it was made to the ministers who are already the highest paid civil servants in the entire EARTH.....it is really not appealing well to the people.
Frankly, I wonder whether our so-called talented ministers are really talented because they seems to be relatively dull-witted to the feeling of the ground. Again...maybe they had never suffered before (as many of them are scholars) with roads of gold and diamond build for them hence they had never had their feet on the ground like the ordinary citizens.
Sigh...I pity my generation and the next. Enslave to a life of low paying job, with high cost of living to service a superbly high paying ministers. I always thought that it should be the other way round, where public servants serve the public. It seems not to be so in Singapore.
Seriously, the younger generations should consider alternative voices. We do not need super talented but unsensitive ministers. In reality, we need ordinary people who are passionate to serve the people.
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By
mark liu @
24/12/2007 3:03 PM
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Hi Raymond,
Think you made valid points. Increases in salaries of the top people in government are 'excessive' generally. Imagine 350 people paid about S$ 250 mio per annum or at least S$ 1.25 bio per elected term of office !! Least those of us who made non-positive comments about public sector salary increases are accused of engaging in the politics of envy, we should make it clear that not all ministers are a Wee Cho Yaw equivalent or a founder of the Hong Leong business empire. If they are, we should release them into the private sectors because the government need people with a different set of skills, not the hard noses of successful entrepreneurs. Come elections again, for those who agree with this type of benchmarking as being excessive, we should let it be known by casting our votes.
However, we should also keep in mind that one of the main arguments in pegging public sector salaries to the private sectors was to ensure that corruption do not emerge in the public sector which is highly important. We see the problems when the police forces in our surrounding countries are underpaid and we do not wish to see the same things happening here. However, the good intention of this salary benchmarking which was originally acceptable to the public may have gone too far though some politicians and senior civil servants ( the minority in numbers) may more than deserve it.
We have to wonder how these highly paid civil servants and politicians for all the hard work and hours spent in working for the public good find the time to spend all these monies? Probably using to speculate on properties?? It is important to note that corruption comes in many forms and one of the most efficient and proven check on all forms of corruption are public scrutiny. I am not certain but understand that the singapore public are now bound by law and prohibited from discussing in public matters concerning politicians?? Not that many are interested but if that's the case, than the intention of increasing public salaries as a countermeasure against possible financial corruption is weaken. Of course, the PM still holds the final word on this but to rely on one man may serve us for one more generation but going forward, is this a trustworthy framework to run a country?
Overall, I am in agreement with your comments that the increases in public sector pay are generally excessive. The voters are already saying to their children that it is better to work for the public sector as a career because of better pay !! Who among singaporeans are going to become entrepreneurs and grow the economy efficiently?
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By
joe @
26/12/2007 8:22 AM
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Really,this a case of destiny.You tell your children to study hard and get that degree that is the dream of parents.From there you tell them to choose between private and public sector.Actual fact is that one can make more money outside of the civil service.And the freedom that comes with it.Do your research,experiance adversity and stand the ground.
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By
Dracon @
26/12/2007 10:02 AM 
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I do have to agree with Joe. Not all civil servants are highly paid. Many of the lower tier and the mid-tier are also suffering from the norm of being overwork, underpaid. Unless your child is a scholar...then the whole story is different as most of us know that a scholar's path is more or less set for big money even if he/she cannot really work.
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By
hope_still @
26/12/2007 8:38 PM
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Firstly, I’m not totally for their salary increments. But I like to stand on the other side of the field to say something.
If this pay scale is the price to pay for what we need at this point, for stability, security, corruption-free (say minimal), economic growth, etc; why not pay? What do we get out of it? A 80% Government; as SM Goh had mentioned. Very good price already. Think of the big picture, 200 billion GDP, international reputation, your pay, my job, etc; they are not to be taken for granted. Do look at some of the giant factories at times, who would be willing to invest like that in our high cost environment? Because of 4 million smiles? Ha.
What they are asking for is to be on par with the private sector,ok or not? No?
As Joe said, civil and private sector, which is the preferred choice?
How do you advise your kid? What is your kid inspired to be? And how is our own mentality? What choice do you make for yourself? Make the money or serve the people? Why not both?
People make the government. Until Singaporeans become a “beautiful” people, the government can’t be “perfect” (ai peen ko ai cheen”)?
Government moulds the people. If meritocracy prevails in the future trend, how do you look for new blood? Your people will want to sway towards the private sector, you need to persuade, to use monetary incentives; Singapore flag should be redesigned with 5 “dollar signs” instead of 5 stars. So, meritocracy is the best policy? Maybe for now, but anything better for the next level?
80% Government we have, very good already. My friends, don’t try to bring it down. We can try to make it perform better, 80.1%, 80.2%, 81%? Personally I think, there has been improvement in the new guards, or at least they are trying.
With the many channels of feedback and including REACH, I believe they are sincere. Let’s be positive.
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By
Dracon @
26/12/2007 10:51 PM
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Unless the current government starts to prove that they are thinking of the people not for the people...there might still be hope. Having many channels to get feedback but none of the feedbacks are actioned than whatever are spoken are void.
The current jobs and salaries that most Singaporeans hold are not enough to cope with the even increasing cost of living. Trust me, when many of the low-income and low-mid income people starts not to be able to cope with the cost of living, the stability and peace of the country will be thrown out of the window. Crimes will be on the increase (such as con jobs, robbery, stealing, dishonesty)
In ancient wisdom, there is a saying "安民 (content the citizen), 安心 (content the heart), 自然安国亦 (naturally will ensure the peace of the nation)". If the government wants to prove that they are listening not hearing, then prove to the people by controlling the cost of living and increase the standard of living. Currently, the cost of living is higher than the quality of living. Many Singaporeans are insecure, holding two jobs (maybe three) to ensure enough pay to cope with their cost of living. If things go further upwards, then I will not be surprised that whatever our forefathers build not just our government - remember that point do will starts to collapses.
We have seens these from many ancient dynasties and countries and small Singapore is not given special privileges that it can avoid this if the government insist on heading that direction.
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By
sunfacer @
27/12/2007 7:58 AM
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I heard that crime rate is low in Singapore.
I see otherwise.
But set aside feelings and personal sentiments, this country has provided a very good platform for business. It is also a very safe home.
If I were to black out the entire political arena and see the input - output only, I think perhaps the salary increment is justified.
So I ask for this - sure. Pay our politicians more. Transfer the wealth and security to the people.
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By
Dracon @
27/12/2007 11:16 AM
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Running a country is not always looking at the bottomline and the profitability to made. The country's stability is made out of the nucleus of the country, the family. If all the nucleaus are negatively affected, then the country will starts to disstablize.
In accordance to ancient wisdom, you first have home then you have a country. The word 国家 is made out of 国(country) 家(home). Reading in accordance to ancient Chinese which is from the right to the left. So the home come first then the country.
Noting that, how has the average Singapore home become? How many babies are raised personally by their parents? How many children have dinners with their parents every night? How many children spent at least 3 to 4 hours a day with their parents? A lot much fewer than in the past.
Why is that so? Working parents are slaving to bring back the bacon (sometume holding two to three jobs) and to cope with the cost of living. Leaving little time for the family....and little time to breathe.
Trust me, when people are starting to find coping with the cost of living based on what they are earning...people will have no choice but to risk turning to crimes or illegal means to get the money to feed their families (remember Water Margins - if you read Chinese classic, that is). Look at the current statistics, there are more and more people committing white-collars crime and in no time you will see that there will be an increase in the number of robberies, thiefts, prostitutions and many others.
Reasons, the people cannot cope. No sane people would want to turn to crime but if it is a matter of survival people will. Quoting from an UN report "Crime was both the cause and consequence of poverty, insecurity and underdevelopment"
If the government does not control the cost of living (again...PUB increase their tariffs..sigh) and let it go out of control, I need not be a prophet to tell you that crimes will hit the roof.
Most Singaporeans I believe will have no qualms if the government is addressing this cost of living issue and increase the quality and standard of life for the average Singaporean that they increase their pay. However, this is not the case.
Sunfarer, if I am not wrong, you are not a local. Not a personal attack....I know most expats have their income tag to the cost of living and is adjusted annually. If you cannot cope, you can simply leave the country.
For a local (less educated or have deep root in Singapore) it is not so simple. We have to bear the yoke. And according to a survey done, most lower income or mid-level income employees' pay were not adjusted to cope with the cost of living in Singapore. The rich businessmen and of course the elite of the nations are getting most of the incomes.
Many lower income individual are still earning around $1K to 1.5K - minusing CPF, taking buses (always increasing), food (always increasing), electricity and water (always increasing) , what is left of your income?
Hence, that is the reason why there are many frustrated Singaporeans around today. Again...maybe I am like playing lute to a cow (对牛弹琴)...who is listening...the government?
Sigh.....
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By
mark liu @
03/01/2008 12:12 AM
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Do not believe the often quoted loss of freedom can justify the substantial pay increases. The only justification for better pay in public office or for senior civil servants is simply truly serving for the public interests and not for itself. There cannot be any other justification.
Any other lame excuses for salary increases are clear signs of an inability to carry such a policy through. What freedom are political appointees and senior civil servants giving up? I cannot think of a situation where what can be embarassing for political appointees are also not embarassing for private individuals. Most singaporeans share the same core values. From what we can all observe and hopefully that is really the case are that current political appointees have either strong religious beliefs or personal core values or ambitions. If pay are the main attraction for current team of politicians, we are all in trouble because money is 'never enough'. That is our fear.
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