MM Lee, opposition MP Low Thia Khiang debate increase in
salaries
Opposition MP Low Thia Khiang questioned the need for such high
salaries for ministers and top civil servants to prevent
corruption.
He said Singapore ranked below Finland, Denmark and Switzerland, in
a UN report on how corrupt a country is, but these countries pay
their top civil servants less than Singapore.
This had Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on his feet
and challenging his statements.
"Does he realise that Singapore's GDP is only one-third of its
external trade? Our external trade is 3 1/2 times that of our GDP,
higher than Hong Kong. And if this economy ever falters, that's the
end of Singapore and its First World status. Denmark, Switzerland
and Finland are part of Europe. You can fail and you're still
caught in the European situation. If you fail here, you go back to
a Southeast Asian situation. Just look around you," said MM
Lee.
"So is the Minister Mentor saying that without paying such a high
salary, we are bound to fail? And even if we pay top earners'
salary, can the present government bring Singapore up to superpower
(status), as what he has mentioned for those in Denmark?"
challenged Mr Low, MP for Hougang.
"I am putting a simple question and asking for his clarification.
He has compared Singapore as if it were Denmark, Finland or
Switzerland. Their systems and governments never produced
the kind of transformation that we have, and their system
and government have a broader base and can afford a mediocre
government," said the Minister Mentor.
