That PM Lee is willing to donate all of his additional earnings
to charity is admirable. Few ministers and MPs are likely to follow
suit, especially since he has made it clear that what the others do
with their money is completely up to them.
However, the fact that certain MPs such as the outspoken Irene Ng,
have opened questioned 'What is so immoral' about the pay hike,
clearly illustrates that a portion of the MIW are so convinced that
they 'deserve' this pay hike.
Again i stress: what tangible results have they to show for that
makes them deserving of this pay rise?
The fact that some even dare question those who challenge their
increase indicates an obnoxious and self-serving mercenary who has
wormed his way into power and fills his mind with delusions of
grandeur, believing that it is their RIGHT to adjust their own
salaries at will, without the need to consult the very people who
PAY their exhorbitant wages.
Mr Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) was worried that the
pay increases for ministers and top civil servants had undermined
support for Workfare and GST offset packages. "I don't think we
have been sensitive to the feelings of many people. Many people
have asked me: Did we increase GST to pay for this increase in
salaries? While that is clearly not the case, it is most
unfortunate that a support package so carefully crafted in good
faith to help our lower income families should be seen as such
light," he said.
Michael Palmer raised a good point: Why on earth would people
see this pay rise as anything else but being funded by the
corresponding rise in GST and other price hikes? Why indeed? How
else would one see this potential quicksand? Why wouldnt the
obvious inference be made? Wasnt the budget plan and other
packaged offsets little more than a smokescreen to hide the real
issue a big fat raise for already fattened ministers?
