The Much Debated Pay-Rise

After giving it much thought..... and reading off Andrew's blog, I was more or less convinced that the pay rise was justified. Was especially convinced with what our MM, LKY said about retaining top people in the public service to ensure a non-corrupted government served by top people to rule the nation. Against my better judgement, I agreed.

However, after reading further outbursts..... some truly crap ones, though I did find some good read. My personal favourite was by the wife of a civil servant whose husband was paid $200,000 p.a. at age 36. Her husband attempted to leave for private sector as he noticed promotions are tied-in with boot-licking and was not comfortable. The truth though, the private sector were willing to hire him but not at the same pay he was commanding at the service because his worth is not tested. The myth of higher pay for top civil servants going to the private sector is thus broken.

These top ministers are already over-paid. No, it is not true that they are highly sought-after in the private sector. The only companies wanting them are the GLCs linked to Temasek Holdings ran by Ho Ching. The scholars have an unfair advantage in the civil service and that needs some revision to see if they justify their potential instead of giving them increment based on past promise shown earlier in their academic days. The worst quote has to come from PM on his profit is GDP being $210 billion....... Hello!!! GDP does not equate to profit...... duh....... likening GDP to revenue is already unfair much less the term profit. By accounting standards too, if every company's turnover is recorded as his profit too.... that is double counting..... a very poor analogy given by him I must say. I do admire his willingness to give the rise of $600,000 p.a. for 5 yrs to charities though. Hmmm, he does get more tax rebates from this though.. hahaha.

Concluding, Andrew is right in saying, don't expect civil service to be purely noble and sacrificial. Give them what they deserve. I feel the rise for the floor is fair but that of the ceiling is unjustifiable. The ministers..... they should shut up. If anything, I see them as not much difference to TT Durai in the way they decide their pay packets.