NFK saga symptom of bigger problem in S'pore
14 Jul 05
The matters surrounding the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) make
for sorry reading. But as ghastly as the revelations have been, the
saga is only symptomatic of what ails our system, which is the lack
of transparency and accountability.
Can anyone say that he/she is truly surprised at what has been
revealed about the pay and perks of NKF? Didnt our Ministers set
the tone for Singapore that we should pay top dollar for top
talent even though top talent is open to wide interpretation, and
that the idea (and ideal) of public service and sacrifice is no
longer worthy of consideration in this country?
Why should our executives not demand out-of-this-world salaries
when our Ministers do? Is it any wonder then that the authorities
are not speaking out on the matter? How can they without looking
like unmitigated hypocrites?
If Singaporeans want to get to the root of the problem, then they
cannot but look at the way the Government handles itself. Not only
is the pay that our Ministers pay themselves an outrage, there is
no accountability as to why they are paid more than the president
of the United States when our economy has just come through two
recessions in five years and presently hovers on the brink of a
third. Working Singaporeans continue to see their pay packets
shrink and bankruptcies rise. The result? It affects the Ministers
obscenely lavish salaries not one iota.
Singaporeans knew very little, until recently, about the problems
of the NKF. But this is nothing compared to the darkness that
shrouds the Governments handling of our financial reserves. Most
people continued to have trust in the NKF and donated generously to
the charity whenever called. Now theyre up in arms. Will our lack
of holding the Government accountable for the use of our reserves
also result in a similar problem? The difference here is that in
the latter case, our futures and lives are at stake.
The lesson from this episode is clear: transparency and the ability
to verify what those in charge tell us is absolutely essential.
They are the tenets of democracy and good governance. As indignant
as Singaporeans are with NKF, they should target their concerns at
the real problem the Government. The question is: will
Singaporeans realize this or have the courage to act before it is
too late?
Chee Soon Juan
Secretary-General
14 July 2005