Im surprised that the proposal to increase the ministerial pay comes at a time when the govt itself is stressing on the need to "help the poor", with a series of effort to 'bridge the gap' between the rich and the poor. These can be seen in the Budget Report released a month ago, which also see a GST hike come July.
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And now, it seemed that the rich-poor gap just got much wider. Ministers are paid 'just S$1.2 million', which is 'well below the S$2.2 million' that they 'deserve'. Of course, I am in no position to query the work they do, but is that amount justified?
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I read yesterday's papers and I agree with one of the columns. It roughly has the idea that the govt is justifying its own pay that it is getting. Something like: Oh, I think I deserve more, so I shall increase it myself. And, it certainly seems pointless to let this pay hike go through a series of parliamental debates or what, as it is unlikely that such a move will not be supported. At least that is the impression that I formed.
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I feel that, at a time when everyone is still grumbling over the proposed GST hike, which goes to help the poor, such a hefty pay increase proposal shouldn't surface. People will think that the GST hikes are landing into ministers' pockets, instead of the poor. And others will think, that the average $400 that they are getting this year as GST-offset, are peanuts compared to ministers' offsets, which may amount to an extra $1 million a year.
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Pardon me, and many others for feeling negatively, as this really isn't the right time. And certainly I don't think the way the benchmark for the pay packets is set is largely fair, though i admit i have no suggestions for it. And lastly, so many others certainly deserve pay increases, like NSFs, but I know that this is a different matter, as NSFs are impossible to leave the public sector for the private sector.
人生是黑白的.
3:57 PM <3
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