The inevitable is here

Today is a very important day. Luckily it is not April 1.

Ominous signs are everywhere, from the front page of the major news media and through all the pages. It is the sign a sickness that will eventually eat up everything. We have gone down the slippery road and everyone is cheering what a great ride it is as we go down.

When it is time for a change, it will come and nothing can be done about it. All the factors will pull and push towards the change. And don't be surprised it will come much sooner than expected.

changing times changing values

Time changes everything, it changes men, ideals and value systems. Even the value of money also changes. The days of youthful idealism, of sacrifice for people and country are over. At best such values can be called 'admirable sentiments.' Today, everything is about self, self worth and how much. The western ideals of self as the most important element in living has taken root in our island. Everyone shall look after his own interest first. All the silliness about serving society, serving people, helping the poor and weak and ideals are best shafted into the cabinet and forgotten. Welcome to the real world of the 21st Century. Be the best of the best, and champions of champions and be paid handsomely. There is no room for philantrophy, no room for generosity, no room for magnanimity, no room for charity. In future, all political parties will present a package on the minister's salary during a general election and the people will vote accordingly. As how much to pay the ministers become a major issue, all the good men will get together to form their own parties and decide how much they are worth. And the people will have the opportunity to see which party provides the best value for the money they are asking for. It is all veru business like. It will be a transparent thing. No more raising of minister's pay after an election. It will all be upfront, transparent. And the electorate likes that.

Year 2XXX, Ah Kow's Party sweeps to power

Year 2XXX, Ah Kow's Party sweeps to power Ah Kow appoints himself as the Prime Minister. And he names his Cabinet. Minister of Defence: Mr Wang See Foo, Master pugilists of Lion's Roar Martial Arts School. His martial art training is very useful for training the soldiers. Minister of Home Affairs: Mr Sam Seng Kia, former gangster chief who knows the crime world like the back of his hand. Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mdm Mah Ma San. Her diplomacy and skills in handling clients will put her in an advantage when dealing with other FMs. Minister of Trade: Mr Pah Kang Tau. The most ideal man in making trade deals. Minister of Finance: Mr Tai Yee Long. Very skillful man in handling money, interest rates and collecting debts. Minister of Education: Mr Boh Tak Cheh. Highest standard passed, PSLE. But believes that adult education from the University of Hard Knocks is very valuable to people like him. Minister of Transport: Mr See Ho Yee. Owns a private bus company. All the ministers will naturally be paid the super talent ministerial salary package handed down by the past regimes. Each will be geting $10 million while Ah Kow will be paid $25 million. As political leaders are elected by the people and educational background is not a criterial as long as they have no criminal records, any tom, dick and harry could actually become super talents, or at least be paid super talent salary. Ah Kow and his gangs laughs all the way to the bank.

One good suggestion.

One good suggestion. The civil service and political service should learn from the uniformed services. Pay and promote them young and fast to the top and catapult them to the private sector to earn more millions. With all the experience and networkings they have made they should worth very much more. The headhunters will love them. And their joining the private sector is not a loss to the country. They are still contributing in a more productive capacity. It is like a second career, and more lucrative too. By having this alternative route in addition to a fast track, the civil service will become even more popular and more in demand. And it will be lighter on the taxpayers pocket.

the thing cannot be said

In an island somewhere in the Pacific, a mother and daughter were checking in at the immigration and had to go through the standard screening. Daughter: What are they doing, mum? Mum: They are checking for things? Daughter: What things mum? Mum: Hmmmm...that thing? Daughter: What is that thing? Mum: Officer, can you please tell my little girl what you are checking? Officer: Getting annoyed, 'We are checking for that thing lah!' Daughter: Getting a little frighten, 'Mum, I still do not know what is that thing?' Officer overheard and screamed: That thing is that thing. No one can say it. If you say that thing you will get into trouble with me. Mum: Alright girl. No more questions. Daughter: That thing, that thing, dunno what thing. Officer: If you say that thing once more I will lock you up. This kind of thing can only happen in some primitive little islands.

And now the second part. 'Payrise is not an entitlement.'

And now the second part. 'Payrise is not an entitlement.' The way the proposed payrise is put forward, it is like an entitlement. As long as the top eight income earners in the formula made a killing, the ministers should also be entitled to a killing. Logical? Should we ask what are they doing, what have they contributed, what are their achievements? And forget about the last 40 years of achievements. Some of them were probably kids when all the hard work were put in to build the strong foundation for what Singapore is today. What are their contributions for the present Singapore? The other issue is the portfolios they are holding, or without portfolio. Some are shouldering very heavy responsibilities, some very little. Some looking after the welfare of kids, sports, some looking after the elderly, some looking after the economy, the safety and security of the people and country. Should all be paid in millions? We need to need to look at the jobs, the responsibilities and the contributions, current contributions, to pay them accordingly. Past contributions have already been paid, and continuously being paid in the form of pension. They should be paid by their own performance and not the performance of the top eight high earners. The pay of ministers is from public money and needs to be accounted for prudently.

ungrateful singaporeans

Let me post two opposing views on this hot potato. I will title this first part 'The ungrateful Singaporeans.' It is quite distressing really, for our ministers to come up in the open to ask for a payrise for themselves. The payrise for ministers should be pushed by the Singaporeans for all the great work the ministers have done for Singapore. Over the last 40 years, the ministers have worked so hard to bring Singapore from a struggling small sea port to a first world city. Now that is achievement and hard work, brain work. They deserve every penny we pay them and more. They deserve to be paid more. And they are the best talents that Singapore has produced. So logically they must be paid the highest salaries as the rest in the private sector are second to them. They did not want to be politicians. They were called to be politicians against their wills. Otherwise they will be the captains of the industries and be in the top positions of all the professions in the private sector. And they wear so many hats. Everyone of them wears probably more than 20 hats, and all for the people and country. Can't the people appreciate that? And for doing so, they work at least 18 hours a day. Who else would want to work in this way, no day and no night? Then the big sacrifice, they have very little time for their own families. Their children very likely see them less than the people. Their time are public time. What is more amazing is that having made it in life, all of them have a big fat account in the bank and do not need to work any more, they refuse to retire and smell the roses and play with their grand children. They still come forward to slog for the people and nation when they don't have to. And the people are so ungrateful, criticising them and calling them names. Just remember, we have a clean, competent, conscientious, committed and corruption free govt because of all these great men that stepped out to serve. Pay them what they should be getting.