Comments Term 3

Dear all,

Please visit this Google Document for the list of comments I have made:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Zu-k89qvGl5vNcd8GnxDy0xgBph5BZbvNItQjxk7tw/edit?hl=en_US

Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

Regards,

Ivan

High Ministerial Pay Debate

From The Economist:

As a citizen, I feel that ministers are entrusted with the responsibility of looking after the welfare and needs of the citizens when they are sworn into office, since we are the ones who chose them to lead us. I believe that all of us want a minister who has the passion to lead the people, and is willing to listen to their opinions and not someone who wants just materialistic objects, like money. Denmark has also the lowest corruption rate, and yet their ministers are paid around $300000, far higher than Singapore’s. In an interview by UniversityPost with Denmark’s Minister of Science Charlotte Sahl-Madsen in response to university deans in Denmark earning higher than she herself, she responded that she didn’t see anything wrong with the salaries considering that the deans are in charge of arduous responsibilities and tasks of education. Quoting from her, she said that the minister job is rewarding in many ways, and that the wage is not everything. I think that this is precisely the mindset which our ministers are lacking, and this result in them allowing for such high payrolls. I feel that the ministers forget all about listening to the people’s opinions; the influx of foreign talents would be a great example. Therefore, high salaries do not necessary attract people with compassion to public service.

Next, I feel that the ministerial salaries are too exorbitant to the extent where the government no longer pays attention to looking after its citizens, but only on developing Singapore as a whole, essentially widening the income gap. Even though ministers have longer working hours, a loss of privacy, and make sacrifices to serve the people, it does not justify the payroll. Then Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew defended the policies of the high ministerial salaries by arguing that the high salaries had kept Singapore’s governance top-notch and uncorrupt for 50 years. Although it is true that Singapore has indeed one of the lowest corruption rate in the world and that the high salaries do play a part in deterring corruption, I still feel that the ministerial salaries are absurdly high. Singapore’s Prime Minister is paid 40 times our Growth Domestic Product (GDP) each year, and not to mention that it ranks among the highest of all countries, he is still entitled to a pension for life even after stepping down amounting to two-thirds of his last drawn pay. Revisions of the ministers’ payroll are neither discussed in Parliament nor asked for approval or opinion from the people, and yet they draw taxpayers’ money at such a rate, isn’t it unreasonable to have the government decide their own pay?

I feel that lower pay should be implemented to attract competent and honest individuals to participate in public service. Decades ago in the 1960s and 70s when Singapore was still a country fighting for its identity and not a developed one, our founding fathers including Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee and Lim Kim San were selfless men who served the people genuinely. Once, a Singapore government-linked company set up by Mr Goh learnt that he was living on a net monthly income of $8500 per month, and offered a cheque for $500000 to Mr Goh’s wife which they claimed was for in appreciation of a book the company had written on Mr Goh. His wife had instantly cancelled the cheque and wrote to the CEO to thank him for his kind gesture, and said that what her husband had done for the company was not for money, not for power, not for glory, or even to be honoured, but for Singapore and Singaporeans. Mr Goh was indeed a man we should all respect.

I would also like to mention an interview by Mr Yadav with Mr David Marshall in 1994, the year Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew suggested pegging ministerial salary with that of the private sector; Mr Marshall mentioned that there isn’t a need to have a minister earning so much money a year. As quoted from him “Where does the money go to? It can’t be eaten. Your children don’t need the money.” He said that the ministers should be contented with pay that is enough for them to use. After all, the poor like us could use the money for something more useful and we would be much thankful to the government. From the same interview, “We have lost sight of the joy and excitement of public service, helping our fellow men. The joy and excitement of seeking and understanding of the joy of the miracle of the living the duty and the grandeur. We have lost taste for heroic action in the service of our people.” This is what pragmatism has brought about today; money is more important than anything else. As a result, high remuneration will attract the wrong people to public service.

In conclusion, I believe that lower pay will attract more empathetic ministers who truly have a heart to serve the people, both the rich and the poor.

'This I believe' Essay - Teachers

Teachers

Before Primary 4, I have always led a carefree life free of stress from school work and from friends. After joining the GEP, my whole world changed. I had never imagined the piles and loads of school work it would bring. After a long day at school, I still had to sit down and complete my homework, catch up on assignments, an work on projects. The first year in Primary 4 was a long and tedious year. I had problems with my English, Chinese and Science and I was first exposed to Maths Olympiad in that year, and I was literally struggling are barely passing my exams. The first common test I took for English in Primary 4 was a baseline pass, and my Chinese compositions were week in many areas and I often write off topic, resulting in a failing grade. Fortunately, my teachers have helped me tremendously in those three years. I remember many teachers who have made my life in primary school a much more enjoyable one.

However, before Primary 4 when I was in a neighbourhood school, I had always topped the class since the year I entered in Primary 1, and even though I did not top the level, it didn't really matter. I still remember the form teacher of my class from Primary 1 to 2. She taught us English and we called her Mdm Teo. After so many years (6, 7 years), she is still a teacher whom I will always respect and remember her as my teacher. Why then is she so special? Firstly, she always talked to us and gave us counselling sessions, serving not only the role of teacher, but also the roles of mother and counsellor. We have to understand that students from neighbourhood schools come from a variety of backgrounds and many of the pupils have financial problems, divorced parents, learning disorders etc. At that time, I was still ignorant of all these problems of other children and it was she who made me see the real world out there. She was effortless and unselfish in her teaching, she had the student's best interests at heart, she helped us through in times of need, she shared with us the happy memories and laughter, and she also shared the burden and sadness of the pupils.

On the last day of Primary 2, I distinctly remember our class standing in two neat rows outside the swept and cleaned classroom, and Mdm Teo was standing in front of the class and looking at us with eyes of reminiscence. On that day, she told us what all teachers would always tell us, to continue to work hard and strive better results. Although that might seem very ordinary to some of you, those few sentences left a deep impression on me, and I also believe on the other students. There was one thing though, on the last day, she wanted all of us to remember how to spell the months of the year, and it was then when I started falling in love with learning. It might seem amazing how one teacher can change your entire life.

[On the other hand, there were also some teachers who made my life in school a living torture. (Read more here: http://ivanlablog.blogspot.com/2011/02/to-kill-mockingbird-chapters-1-11_14.html)]

In our 16 over years of education, we will be taught by many teachers and some of them will eventually play a huge influence in our life, personality and character. Teachers shape who we are today and we should learn to appreciate what they have done for us, even if it might be for the worse. After all, we should learn to look at the bright side of things and that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you, all the teachers who have taught me so far.