MP Lim Wee Kiak apologises for comments on high pay

last SG · 2011-05-28T15:08:33+00:00

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTIONer.... I am sorry ................

shanfan SG

WOW,the substandard PAP has more and more supporters. We know the standard and intentions of these people. hahahahhaha. No matter what, paper cannot wrap the fire. wahahahahah.

charlize SG

Wow there's so much damage done already...

I'm not here to challenge anyone's opinion on this matter, because your own opinion is your own business. I just want to point out that Obama and Bush cannot be dragged into this. True enough, they have low official pay as presidents of the United States. However, we are not taking into account the income they receive from speeches and talks they give, books they write, and any workshops they hold. The presidents actually earn more through this indirect income than their official pay.

We must also note the size of the United States and how its larger population will affect the number of people buying products endorsed up by them, books they write and the sheer number of people sending in money and gifts to support them. It's not a fair comparison if we just take their pay at face value.

Things are not as they seem.

Isn't what you say a rehash of what the pappies use as a justification for their own high salary?

Furthermore, this is your first post.

Can you be a little less obvious?

Geez, first time posting in internet forums is it?

shanfan SG

Wow there's so much damage done already...

Things are not as they seem.

Have you any evidence of your saying I highlighted in red? How sure are you that our LKY , LHL and other pap are not what you said, prove with evidence, please?

storywolf SG

Lim Wee Kiak defends ministerial salaries. (Yahoo! photo)

UPDATE

Member of Parliament Lim Wee Kiak of the Nee Soon group representation constituency has apologised for his remarks linking ministerial pay with the "dignity" of politicians.

In a note on his Facebook page on Friday, MP Lim said he would like to clarify the comments he made to Lianhe Zaobao and reproduced in LianheWanBao. The comments had been quickly slammed by netizens.

He had been quoted by the Chinese paper last week as saying, "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."

In his Facebook note, the MP said, "I withdraw those remarks and apologise for making them. Dignity cannot be and must not be measured purely in monetary terms."

He said he agreed that the example he gave and his comment that there may be loss of face if the minister's salary is low "is inappropriate and incorrect".

Noting that ministerial pay is a sensitive issue and one that many are concerned about, he said he would like to clarify his comments by making three fundamental points. We have re-posted them below in full:

1. We need a balanced approach to the question of Ministerial pay.

2. Personally, I think we should not use pay and perks to attract capable people to come forward to serve. I agree with PM that there is a service to country element and an element of sacrifice expected for the Ministers by the public.

3. On the other hand, we need to take into consideration their responsibilities and job scope when we remunerate Ministers.

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.

In reaction to MP Lim's earlier remarks on ministerial pay, Francis Oen posted on 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 earlier 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."

Read here for more comments from readers http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/reasonable-pay-help-maintain-bit-dignity-084833549.html

Lim Wee Kiak - may as well compare "dick-nity" = who more dick ! - he top of the list now !!!

shanfan SG

Lim Wee Kiak - may as well compare "dick-nity" = who more dick ! - he top of the list now !!!

PAP white elephants take turn to be on top. Just sheer arrogance!

angel7030 SG

They still haven't learn the lesson, aint they?

But then, as usual, PM Lee will apologise on their behalf

CardTrick SG

Yup, well i thought the forums would be a good place to express what i felt, but now it seems pretty obvious that anyone going against the norm of the discussion is going to be mercilessly put down. So sad right, even my disclaimer that i didnt want to change people's opinion was ignored.

Its tough getting flamed just for expressing your own views right? :) as people who support opposition you should know best how it feels

shanfan SG

CardTrick, i am waiting for you to produce proofs of what you said. Discussion also means producing proofs to substantiate your points.

angel7030 SG

Is this kind of CIA or ISA interogation? plse lah, post and forget

CardTrick SG

okay if i REALLY must then fine i'll go fetch some statistics. give me some time to research though. Sorry angel, it's going to be a bit longer before i finish

CardTrick SG

Naturally, information of Obama's pay is not public, but here's an estimate

Books written:

The State of Black America, The Audacity of Hope, Dreams from My Father, Change We Can Believe In, Barack Obama in His Own Words

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/3385579/Barack-Obama-victory-fulfils-Scottish-publishers-dream.html

Quote: The two books [The Audacity of Hope, Dreams from My Father] together have now sold more than three million copies in the US and are set to be translated into dozens of languages

Pricing - Audacity of hope: list price USD19.95 (http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0307237702?ie=UTF8&tag=beyotherhet-20&linkCode=as2&camp=15121&creative=390961&creativeASIN=0307237702)

Pricing - Dreams from My Father: list price CND32.00 [USD27.25445] (http://www.amazon.ca/Dreams-My-Father-Story-Inheritance/dp/0307383415/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306921525&sr=1-2)

Profit: 3,000,000 x USD[(19.95 +27.25)/2] = USD70,800,000

I can't be bothered to continue this with the other 3 books, but obviously its a profit. Furthermore this is only 2008, not accounting 3 years worth of sales. Let's say maybe manufacturing costs cut this number in half

USD70,800,000/2 = USD35,400,000

PM Lee's "Hard Truths" sales - estimated 100,000(http://forums.sgclub.com/singapore/sold_out_hard_333263.html)

Pricing - S$40.00

Total profits: 100,000 x S$40.00 = S$4,000,000 = USD3,124,536

Now, not accounting for the workshops and talks he gives as well, let's compare Obama to PM Lee:

Obama's profits per year: [USD35,400,000/4(number of years on sale)] + USD400,000(official pay) = USD9,250,000

PM Lee's profits per year: S$3,000,000(USD2,343,402) + USD3,124,536 = USD5,467,938

Therefore Obama's profits > PM Lee's profits

Keep in mind that Obama's profits is a very big underestimate noting that other books and other sources of income are not included into the equation. All conversion rates are used are accurate to the time frame in context, used with the converter (http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/)

CONCLUSION

I don't care if you tl;dr the whole thing, the point is that saying that the ministers are paid more than Obama is an invalid argument from the start. Is this enough proof? :)

shanfan SG

CardTrick, that is not proof, it is purely your very own personal assumption.

Since you are so adamant that it is not fair to say the Pap's ministers are paid more than respected President Obama, then let it continue be in your dream to be so. Your undying love for PAP/LHL is amazing, hahahahha!

Almond Cookies SG

50% Pay cut for them.

60% pay cut for president.

Still highest in the world.

charlize SG

http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2011/05/is-this-pap-value-system.html

shanfan SG

http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2011/05/is-this-pap-value-system.html

Small minded rich men's theory of Lim Wee Kiak is really amazing.

MissZ SG

Never did understand how a big pay check would ensure a person's integrity and uncorruptibility..

Then how come my family members and friends(who earn a pittance compared to them) all still decent, law-abiding people??

Also don't understand how having a humongous pay check=dignity?? So again, many Singaporeans are devoid of dignity it seems..

If it's dignity he wants, isn't being a public servant, the title of Minister good enough?

If you are greedy, whether you earn a little OR a lot, you would still want MORE!

angel7030 SG

Somehow, after the election, PAP peoples love to apologise here and there, another way to evade the public. I heard our PM do not accept apologise for failure, nor does he listen to problem, what he wants is solution and why it failed and what is the relevant ministers going to do about it. But nowaday, apologise seem to be their buzz words of expecting acceptance.

shanfan SG

Just to let you know that he made his maid (left) paid $20 for breaking plate. This is from a reliable source.

charlize SG

Just to let you know that he made his maid (left) paid $20 for breaking plate. This is from a reliable source.

Like this also you know.

shanfan SG

Auntie told me, she has connection. Taxi man also know.

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