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In light of the large amounts of claims made to the former CCC Chairman, will there be a full audit of all payments made by the CCC to the said CCC Chairman?
-
What was the exact nature of the “claims” made? Why was there a need to incur such large “claims” in relation to voluntary work on behalf of the CCC?
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What was the total amount of “claims” made by the CCC to the CCC Chairman, and what were these “claims” for?
http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=4237
Said Mr Lee: “The PAP makes promises they deliver. The Opposition cannot deliver.”
“If you have a flood, just carefully think who is more likely to get the drainage put right and have the flood alleviated as quickly as possible: A PAP candidate with links to the ministers and Prime Minister, or a non-PAP candidate who has become an MP, like in Potong Pasir or Hougang, and who has to manage on his own?”
“That’s a fact of life.”
Source: Today newspaper, “MM Lee explains his tough stance against Opposition, throws a challenge“, 29 April 2006.
http://mrwangsaysso.blogspot.sg/2012...signation.html
Grace Fu Should Consider Resignation
Singapore has the world’s most highly-paid ministers. If I recall correctly, they have held this world record for about the past 20 years. It is a record that has caused a huge amount of public unhappiness. Especially in the past decade, during which the government didn’t ever seem to be particularly impressive or outstanding.
Now, finally, ministerial salaries are going to be cut. Mind you, after these cuts (which are quite substantial in percentage terms - about 36%), the ministers will STILL hold their world record. Which must surely suggest to any half-intelligent person how grossly overpaid the ministers have been all along.
But then you get the likes of Grace Fu (who is our Minister of State for something or the other). Writing on her own Facebook wall, Fu says:
“When I made the decision to join politics in 2006, pay was not a key factor. Loss of privacy, public scrutiny on myself and my family and loss of personal time were. The disruption to my career was also an important consideration. I had some ground to believe that my family would not suffer a drastic change in the standard of living even though I experienced a drop in my income. So it is with this recent pay cut. If the balance is tilted further in the future, it will make it harder for any one [sic] considering political office.” Grace Fu.
Now, lots of Singaporeans are angry with Grace Fu. The comments have come thick, fast and furious. As of right now, her Facebook post has drawn about 1,300 comments (that’s about 650 times the average number of comments on her other Facebook postings). And of course, there is plenty of negative media attention, online and in the newspapers too.
Putting aside the other issues for now, I’m startled at Grace Fu’s lack of political sensitivity. It was really, really stupid and unnecessary of her to write such a thing. Fu wasn’t even under pressure. It wasn’t as if she was at a press conference, and a belligerent journalist had just thrown an unexpected and difficult question at her, and she couldn’t think fast enough about what best to say.
Instead - we can imagine it - there she was, relaxing in her living room, playing with her iPad, sipping a nice cup of tea, logging in to check her messages. And then suddenly, Fu decided to write what she wrote. On Facebook. Not in a private journal, not in a personal memo, but on Facebook.
She must have totally failed to foresee what would happen next.
What poor judgment! What a severe lack of foresight. And she’s a minister, for goodness sakes. Who knows what other horrible errors she might have spoken or written, on other past occasions.
Now, of course Fu is backpedalling and she has made a statement that she had been “misunderstood”. This is damage control …. for completely self-inflicted damage. LOL, that is funny.
Imagine this - you are a minister, and you say something, the public is shocked and angry. And then you say, “Oh, all of you tens of thousands of people, you’ve misunderstood me. I am the poor, unfortunate, misunderstood one.” Sing me another song, birdie.
“Me talk nonsense. Also can sing song.
How much you pay me?”
If Grace Fu can be so badly misunderstood, then that surely says something about Grace Fu’s communication skills. It is extremely difficult to get thousands of people to misunderstand you. I am sure that I could not possibly succeed in pulling off such a feat. (But then I am not a PAP minister, I lack such talent).
However - and this will surprise many of my own readers - I am not actually angry about the content, the actual substance, of Grace Fu’s statement.
Why am I not angry?
Look - this woman is merely a product of the system. And what is the system that I speak of? It is the PAP recruitment system that Lee Kuan Yew decided to create, 20 years ago. A system that deliberately entices job applicants with world-record-setting amounts of money.
The inevitable result - the PAP attracts many talented political wannabes whose main interest is in the money. (Meanwhile, talented political wannabes who just hope to serve the nation can join the Workers’ Party - like Chen Show Mao did).
And when the money gets cut, well, you can naturally expect the PAP ministers (at least, the more money-minded ones) to get upset. Isn’t that logical? If you had come for the money, then you WOULD be upset by a pay cut, surely.
My blog post is entitled “Grace Fu Should Consider Resignation”. Sounds sensationalist, doesn’t it? But it isn’t really. (I’m not that kind of blogger, lah). Let me just explain my thinking.
It goes like this - if any minister is really very unhappy with his or her pay, then he or she can always quit. It’s not like they are being forced to be ministers.
Unhappy employees don’t perform well - we know that from our own experiences in working life. It is better for the company if they quit. It is better for themselves too, for they can go elsewhere and find another job that is more satisfying for them.
Why would we expect things to be any different for our ministers? If they are not happy with their pay, they won’t perform well. They should just quit and get a more lucrative job elsewhere (if they can, of course). After they resign as ministers, Singapore can replace them with new ministers who care less about the money, and care more about serving the nation.
So I say this to all the ministers - if you’re not happy with your pay, please quit. Now, rather than five years later. Do yourself a favour, and do the country a favour. Just get out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
skyleon
Hi kuasimi your information is outdated . Can you please provide the latest ? Thanks a lot . But then everyone knows our ministers are paid even better than President of United States if I am not wrong .
It is not outdated because the Minister’s pay still does not match reality and remains overpaid.
Issues that were 10 years ago remains today and unresolved.
It is sad but true that everything above still applies today.
Every election for past 50 years always have bread & butter issues as main theme. It did not go away.
Entire world had improved materially, not just Singapore. This means Singaporeans continue to struggle with livelihoods.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sadfa
Please La.
Where would all of u be without me.
Ppl like u obviously don’t keep abreast of news.
Barry Obama got a 20 million book deal. Both his wife n kids are also set for life without a cent from him.
US presidents pay is low but his perks like air force one n all meals provided 24/7 n secret service detail is unmatched OK.
And even Clintons also got huge book deals n appearance n speech fees.
One year easily make millions.
They don’t need to work n Chelsea Clinton also don’t need to work
If they want to take the job, there’s nothing more prestigious for Facebook or Apple or esso or some Arab oil fund than being associated with former US president in terms of them being patron or director of yr company. Plus US lobbying so strong. Israel n middle East countrys or even worse China will bid millions to have a former US president in their corner.
It’s only whether Barry or Clinton or Bush or jimmy want to take the offer or not
______
Exchange points ignorant ma
State benefits only apply when you have the position. It is not your personal benefit to take away when you leave the job. But salaries are personal to keep for life usage regardless you leave the job.
To use USA State benefits for high office as consolation for Singapore’s Government Highest Pay in the world does not make sense at all.
Book deals depends on demand and supply. Not all USA Presidents got fantastic book deals by default. But key difference is book deals still need to be won and earn by USA Presidents. Singapore Ministers rather get highest salaries then do book deals for the equivalent money.
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/gove...ty-bonding-lim
Higher budget estimates for People’s Association is to help community bonding: Lim Swee Say
The 2015 budget estimates allocated to The People’s Association (PA) reflect a higher level of commitment by the government towards promoting social cohesion and racial harmony, Lim Swee Say, Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, said on Monday.
In a written reply to queries over the 51.3 per cent jump in the PA’s expenditure estimates to more than S$1 billion for FY2015, Mr Lim said the PA “promotes community bonding in Singapore”.
Of the S$339.6 million or 51.3 per cent increase in the estimated Financial Year (FY) 2015 expenditure of the PA, S$239.3 million (70.5 per cent) is for the development of facilities for residents’ use.
These include the building of the Tampines Town Hub, construction of nine new community centres (CCs) and two Water-Venture outlets as well as the upgrading of 28 existing CCs under its 15-year upgrading cycle.
Mr Lim added that the increase of S$100.3 million, or 29.5 per cent, in operating expenditure will go into implementing the Pioneer Generation Ambassador programme.
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...s-association/
High time to audit the books of the People’s Association
By Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss
The People’s Association (“PA”) is an organ heavily funded by taxpayers’ money.
For FY 2012 and FY 2013, it received S$399 million and S$540 million in Government grants respectively. [1]
Earlier this year, the Government increased by 51.3 percent the estimated expenditure of the PA, and allocated the PA over S$1 billion from the public coffers to fund its activities for FY 2015. [2]
On Wednesday (15 July 2015), the Auditor-General’s Office (“AGO”) published its Report for the Financial Year 2014/15 which revealed troubling lapses in PA governance, suggesting that taxpayers’ money granted to PA is not being wisely and accountably spent.
The AGO revealed that 35 Community Club/Centre Management Committees (“CCMCs”) had awarded S$17.78 million worth of tenancy contracts without proper approval.
More surprisingly, it was revealed that Admiralty CCC’s Chairman had approved claims to himself amounting to S$114,767 via seven payments. Conflicts of interest were also discovered in the approving of two contracts totalling $32,000.
By any standards, S$114,767 is a significant amount of claims to request reimbursement for.
This is especially so in the context of a volunteer organization like a CCC.
MPs for Sembawang GRC Mr Khaw Boon Wan and Mr Vikram Nair were quick to highlight that there was “no evidence of dishonesty”.
That is beside the point, and in any case a very low threshold to cross.
The specific questions Minister Khaw and Mr Nair should answer, in relation to Admiralty CCC, are:
A much more significant point of concern is this: the AGO audits are conducted on a test check basis, they do not reveal all irregularities and weaknesses (see page 2 of the AGO Report [3]). In other words, the full extent of the lapses in PA finances and processes highlighted by the AGO Report remains to be ascertained.
Huge amounts of public funds are granted to PA every year. This year, the PA was allocated an unprecedented amount for its expenditure. The worrying lapses revealed by the AGO call for decisive action – the immediate appointment of independent auditors to conduct a full and thorough account of all public funds disbursed by PA. The public has to be assured that the lapses are not endemic. The PA has to be held accountable for how it has deployed our money.
The PA was historically created to help the ruling PAP control the grassroots. [4] It is an organ of the ruling party. The PA’s Chairman is the Prime Minister. It is not politically neutral. Only PAP MPs can be appointed as PA Grassroots Advisers, opposition MPs cannot.
It is also high time to ask if the PA, a politically compromised, heavy user of public funds, should even continue to exist at all. A taxpayer-funded mass movement arm set up to benefit the ruling party has no place in a fair, just and democratic Singapore.
[1] The People’s Association 2013/2014 Annual report
[2]
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/gove...ty-bonding-lim
[3]
http://www.ago.gov.sg/docs/default-s...52ec114080.pdf
[4]
https://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2...ion-each-year/
Half billion taxpayer dollars go to People’s Association each year
Published 9 February 2014 politics and government 20 Comments
I am sure there are denialists just as there are creationists zombie-ing among us. But I dare say for most Singaporeans, it is as clear as day that the People’s Association is and has always been, an affiliate of the People’s Action Party, in effect if not in name.
The currently trending story about former PAP stalwart and independent presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock having his invitation to a tea party withdrawn throws a spotlight once again on (a) the issue of the politicisation of the People’s Association, and (b) the question of what purpose it serves — even for the PAP…………………
https://www.facebook.com/workerspart...type=3&theater
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
sadfa
Wrong!!!
All ex US presidents n immediate family got secret service detail even after leaving office
And US presidents influence is world wide.
Given the new economy, DEFINITELY there’s a demand to hear their inside story.
Unlike in the past where book deals aren’t common or in 8 figures, in this new world, DEFINITELY all ex us presidents will rake millions from all kinds of deals even if not book deals. Sit on board, already can make millions liao. Some big China company can pay Clinton or barry millions just to attend their product launch. That’s part n parcel of being a well known figure thanks to being ex us president.
In this new economy, even if you’re not paid millions in salary, if you got exposure to millions on social media, it’s good enough for u to make alot of money. What more if your name is known to billions cos u were ex us president
Not only us presidents but most western leaders or famous ones set for life EXCEPT for those hermit kind who after being president or leaders decide to have zero contact n don’t want to make any money.
______
Exchange points make money ma
‘Reasonable pay will help to maintain a bit of dignity’
Member of Parliament Lim Wee Kiak of the Nee Soon group representation constituency (GRC) defended ministerial salaries by saying a reasonable payout helped maintain “dignity” for politicians.
He was quickly slammed by netizens, many of whom pointed out in various posts on the Web that “dignity” should not be justified by salary alone.
The multi-million dollar pay of ministers was a hot-button issue in Singapore’s recent General Election, which saw the ruling People’s Action Party win 81 out of 87 seats but at a significantly lower share of the total votes.
Following the results, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the formation of a committee to review the “basis and level of political salaries”. Any pay changes would take effect from 21 May this year.
“If the annual salary of the Minister of Information, Communication and Arts is only $500,000, it may pose some problems when he discuss policies with media CEOs who earn millions of dollars because they need not listen to the minister’s ideas and proposals. Hence, a reasonable payout will help to maintain a bit of dignity,” Dr Lim told LianHe ZaoBao in Chinese.
In reaction, Francis Oen postedon Facebook: “Hi Wee Kiat.. Suggest you clarify your statement. Does it mean that only $ talks?! … And if someone earns less, does it mean he cannot have dignity?”
Winnie Lim tweeted: “So according to Dr Lim Wee Kiak’s theory, our ministers will ignore Obama because he earns less than all of them.”
On his Facebook page, Dr Lim said that his quote was taken out of context.
“Minister’s pay issue is a sensitive one. There must be a balance. After all, capable individuals who are willing to come forward to serve should not so because of pay and perks,” he replied to a user’s question about his quote.
He added, “On the other hand, they do have families and dependents and need to consider for retirement, etc.”
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SiaSuay
How to cope with high unemployment and high rising cost ?
These were the conditions for revolutions, uprisings, rebellions and upheavals. Governments and dynasties fell the violent and bloody way. History kept repeating itself for 5000 years.
As long the gap between rich, powerful, connected vs poor, unemployed, weak, helpless become too wide, inequality reached the extreme points then society will start to destabilize. Protests will become riots. Riots will become revolutions, uprisings, rebellions and upheavals.
History never lies.