Today's papers (18th June 2004) featured a small but bloody
interesting article. 400 top politicians, civil servants, etc will
have their pay reinstated by 10% then another 14-19% (total
24-39%)by 2005. This is in lieu of the improving economy. WTF...
Hmmm let's look at yesterday's papers (17th June 2004)... 990 new
millionaires, with at least S$1.7 million in liquid assets! Civil
servants count amongst these well-heeled folks too...
I cannot understand what is going through the minds of these
people. Let's do the maths: using the recent article on well-paid
administrative officers with an average salary of around S$300k,
we're looking at around S$2000-$3000 in pay restoration, easily.
That's S$1 million in restored pay, per month, and to well-heeled
individuals mind you. People who don't bat an eyelid for $3000.
What's $1 million? Twenty-five thousand ordinary folks can benefit
with a $400 pay increase per month with that cool million!
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND needy Singaporeans... compared to 400 who
don't need it.
The rich get richer, the poor stay poor... when times SEEM bad, you
cut and squeeze. When times SEEM good, you reward yourselves. To
ordinary folks like you and me, it makes no sense at all.
I liken Singapore to a tree. If a tree is weak, you water it, you
give it fertilizer, you tend it. You basically strengthen the
roots. Then in turn, the leaves, flowers and fruits are beautiful,
bountiful and strong. The tree stands tall and strong.
However, if you turn it around... when a tree is weak, you tend the
flowers, the leaves, you pay attention to the top, neglecting the
foundation. In the end, the tree will fall, regardless of how
wonderfully kept the top was.
Even if you want to run Singapore like Singapore Inc, please treat
the employees well. If not, your erstwhile loyal employees are
going to jump ship. Trust me on that.
Lau Ah Pek
18.06.04
