The paradox of high ministerial pay in Singapore

When you have ministers who are the highest paid in the world. Then they will never be able to walk away from the job….and when a man no longer has the free will to put a thing down.

He will never ever see the wisdom of sticking his neck. Or for that matter standing his ground. No matter what the personal cost.

Instead he will eventually become a lackey.

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‘It has been said. It is ‘an admirable sentiment’ to expect capable people to step forward to serve the country when so little is on offer. I have thought long and hard about this and I tend to believe, it is precisely because it is an admirable sentiment, that is why it is a matter of strategic priority for the state to seek out such men and women for public service.

I am not suggesting for one moment those who are eminently qualified to serve and who are prepared to sleep on a wafer thin straw mattress, dine on boiled water and sunflower seeds, wear a hair vest and who enjoy self flagellation can serve.

I think the correct context was raised in the city harvest case where a judge mentioned something to this effect, you can be true to your faith, but you dont have to be so extravagant. What this judge meant to say in my opinion (I stand to be corrected as always) is – you can be true to your faith. But you dont have to do it with penthouses, sportscars, satin sheets, first class air travel, caviar and champagne.

That to me is another way of saying for those who aspire to lead without controversy, it is best to do so considerately and thoughtfully with regard to the prevailing the social economic landscape.

If lets say Singapore is like Sweden where a garbage collector can go for two holidays every year and even set aside a modest sum to invest in a summer home that overlooks a pictureque lake in the country side. Then i think it will not be an issue to pay ministers the highest pay scale in the world. Because this arrangement is in synch with the social economic ecology.

But if old people are eeking a miserable living by collecting cardboard and still have to work a seven day work week clearing cutlery in food courts or they’re always thinking of ever more inventive ways to commit suicide because their twilight years is so hellish and against this backdrop the custodians of power are talking about value in the context of paying ministers the highest salary in the world.

Then there is something terribly wrong with this bengkok (bent) picture.

And if you cannot understand where and how the dissonance may arise. Then it is a big problem. Only understand this. And understand it maturely and wisely. The problem resides with YOU and not on those who may be critical of the worlds highest pay for ministers.’