WHILE I agree we have to pay market price to acquire and
recognise talent, one should not set a price for honesty
('Singapore has priced honesty correctly' by Mr Kanagasabai
Haridas, last Saturday).
The reasons offered to justify a price for honesty do not stand
up to scrutiny.
First, that Singapore is still a young country: Corruption
afflicts countries young and old and the passage of time does not
guarantee a country will become more honest.
Second, a longer political life must be accompanied by higher
pay to ensure continued honesty and incorruptibility. The point is
to identify, dismiss and charge politicians who have become
dishonest and corrupt.
Third, politicians in the United States are already rich or will
become wealthy after leaving politics, unlike in Singapore. But
Singapore is like the US in that some new politicians must take a
pay cut to accept lower ministerial salaries. After leaving
politics, many are assigned lucrative positions in
government-linked companies or have no problem returning to their
lucrative and successful private practice.
Fourth, there is no lucrative lecture circuit in Singapore.
Apart from the US and a few larger European countries, how many
other nations have one? Furthermore, being successful on the
lecture circuit requires charisma and entrepreneurship. How many
Singapore politicians have those qualities?
Ho Chee Khuen
