minister's pay debate

Finally we are seeing a real debate going on. The issue of minister's pay is being discussed everywhere and by everyone. And the points raised are serious and relevant, not polemics or hogwash. Many valid points have been put forth by the public, mostly to oppose the linking of minister's pay to the private sector, or the current formula. Some even question the multiple hats that senior servants are wearing, which to me, is not an effective utilisation of a man's ability no matter how supertalent the person can be. Everyone is limited by the 24 hours we have per day and minus all the rest hours and time for food, bed and R & R, there are just a few hours left. And expecting a super talent to take on 5 or 6 important appointments with the same limited hours is just asking too much and expecting too much. Dilution will be the consequence of such a hectic demand, or skimming through the details will be another. One point that I would like to add is that civil servants and minister's are getting double or almost double what they are getting today. I am not referring to the perks and other benefits that they could derived from their appointments but pension. They are entitled to pension which is 2/3 of their last drawn salary for life. This is a very significant portion of their pay that have not been included into the current formula. Many have raised the issue of public service and private sector employment as two different kinds of fish and rightly cannot be compared the way it is being done. We need people with passion to serve the nation and be paid reasonably well and not exorbitantly well, like the private sector whose main interest is profit to pay themselves. If money is what they want and their main motivation, then let them join the private sector. There are always brighter and more eager young talents to take over their places. No one is indispensable. As it is, the top echelon of civil servants are very well paid, including ministers. This is the view of the masses. It is the junior officers that were doing the donkey work and being paid like national servicemen. The recent survey of new graduate salary is a glaring example of how underpaid are the young officers. They will simply leave. For those at the senior levels, resignation is not a problem and should be encouraged to share their expertise and talents with the private sector. Let the debate continues. It will be good if the MPs and senior civil servants will also share their views on this.

myth 125

The Asian Corrupt Culture Asians are born with a hereditary condition called corruption. Corruption is in their psyche and the earlier we know and accept this condition the better. The good thing about this is that the outbreak of this sickness can be delayed by money and more money. The bad thing about this is that how much money will be enough is relative. So the disease will soon rear its ugly head and need more money to suppress it and keep it benign. As long as there is periodic increase in money, be it $1 million or $10 million or $100 million, the sickness will be contained but will not go away. It is like syphillis.

payrise need more convincing?

The other day I saw Lim Swee Say in the news trying his very best to explain why pay rise for ministers is important and necessary. Somehow it just did not come through as convincing. You can see the doubt in the faces of the listeners. Is it because he did not explain it well enough or the issue is simply too difficult for the people to accept? Or is it that the people just cannot accept it? Whatever, the increase will be a reality comes 9 April. The govt has explained and that is what it is going to do. And it is done for the good of the people and country. Can't imagine the consequences if all the ministers quits to join the private sector for more pay. Things can be worst if the payrise is not implemented.

poor buggers - indon quarry workers

1500 quarry workers in Karimun out of jobs and running out of money. There could be another few thousands in Batam and Bintang in the same state of despair. Thanks to their govt for looking after them so well. Their govt is trying to get them a better deal, a better price for their granite and sand by demanding that buyers must pay the price they want. This is how they think business should be done, a seller's market. They do not need to read economics to know that the price is determined by demand and supply and needs to be negotiate and not shaft down the buyer's throat. For the time being the quarry workers can go hungry for all they care. Poor pawns in a big corruption game. Any price increase will not translate to any increase in their pay but go to someone else's pocket. The people deserve the govt they get.

ERS/NSS and new citizens

We are now being given ERS/NSS shares as citizens. Does anyone know whether there is a qualifying period for new citizens to be given these shares? Or if one becomes a citizen yesterday one will immediately be qualified for such shares? The payout of ERS/NSS were from revenue made from funds accumulated and contributed by citizens in the past. New citizens or very new citizens, eg those who are less than a year, an arbitrary figure, do not contribute to the cumulative national reserves that generate this revenue and it is unfair that they be given these shares immediately. (To newsgean: this is an issue that questions the right of new citizens to benefit from national reserves which they have not contributed to. It is like some countries that rule out citizens not by birth from holding top govt offices.)