No leh, Go Talk Cok said it is easy for him to earn $3 million
even at his age.
Maybe he can build a MLM company that sells "Swiss Standard of
Living" to Singaporeans.
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Civil service pay hike is to retain and attract younger talents: SM
Goh
By Ca-Mie De Souza, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 15 December 2007
1936 hrs
SINGAPORE : Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said the latest civil
service pay hike is aimed at retaining and attracting younger
officers.
He said the Prime Minister and others Ministers were concerned
about the timing of this salary hike, given the state of rising
inflation in Singapore.
Even though the hike was already announced in Parliament in April,
the latest announcement gave specifics to the annual wage increases
for the top brass.
SM Goh said: "PM discussed this. I mean he wanted my view. So I
said proceed, it's not going to be popular, you're not going to win
votes with this. But proceed."
Mr Goh explained the increase is necessary: "I want to emphasise
that the Ministers are less concerned about their own salaries. Of
course one can argue that the salaries must be pegged to those at
the top. But the Ministers are not too concerned because their
salaries I would say is quite attractive. But we are concerned
about the civil servants now and the next generation of people whom
we are trying to target to become Ministers."
He cited the example of former Minister of State Cedric Foo who has
returned to the private sector on better terms.
Mr Goh, who is also Chairman of the Monetary Authority of
Singapore, said he has seen the Board lose its talents to banks,
and even the SGX.
He also noted that this increase does not lessen the sense of
public service.
SM Goh said: "First, can we earn more than this? I'm prepared to
say I can earn more than this. Even in today's context,...the
Senior Minister's pay is not too bad, it's over S$2 million. But if
I were outside, I can earn more than this. I am confident I can
earn more than S$3 million. But over the years, sense of public
service, because we do get satisfaction in producing growth, wealth
for other people."
Mr Goh also noted that, in this review, Singapore is not comparing
itself with other countries. - CNA/ch
