JJ wrote:
Dream on.
Around when the pay hikes were announced, ST ran a series of
stories behind the scenes in various ministries on the crucial and
important work done on policies and how they benefit Singapore.
Perfect timing. You expect anything that will remotely make the
govt look bad? Those Singaporeans who do not link one event to
another can be easily led by the various news from various sources
into believing the official line.
The donations by PM Lee and Dr. Lily Neo are only a symbolic
gesture for him to be excused of a major setback to the strong
policy of his government.
Such a gesture is somewhat a reprieve intended to pacify the people
without abandoning the policy.
Think carefully it was PM Lee who pushed perhaps reluctantly the
"Pay top talents (undefined) top salaries" policy for he has to toe
the party line of which he plays a part all these years which is
incidentally also the brainchild idea controlled by someone
else.
So it will not be PM Lee to shoot his own foot by asking or
expecting the ministers to follow suit and donate generously. To do
so would undermine that policy and admit a fiasco or major defeat
of one of PAP major policies.
If PM Lee really and sincerely feels committed to donating his
extra monies he is entitled to receive he could have easily given a
hint and many of them will just take the cue and follow suit.
It is clear that PM Lee just does the little act he has to to save
his face by symbolically donating his own salary increases.
It is not a real intention to give or acknowledge policy setback.
If he allows MPs and ministers to donate away the pay increases it
does not help him or his party or the someone who directs the
show.
It would be a giveaway of his policy and that will backfire on the
whole PAP and hurt the supreme leader's feeling.
