According to this article...NCMP's allowance is about
SGD1800...Elected MP's allowance would be about
SGD12000...
Source : http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,105964,00.html?
ELECTRIC NEWS
'It's a lonely battle'
Opposition candidate Steve Chia is contesting the single ward of
Chua Chu Kang in his third election
May 04, 2006
As told to Leong Ching
Click to see larger image
--HEDY KHOO
I set my alarm for 7.45am and wake up to catch up on the news in
the papers. I finish by 8.45 and leave home to drop my wife off at
the MRT. She works in retail in Orchard Road.
Before the electoral boundaries report came out, I used to spend
half an hour with my baby before dropping her off at my
mother-in-law's.
I have meetings, plan for elections, and meet with my volunteers.
Days before any Parliament sitting, I used to go to the Parliament
library.
For example, three weeks before the budget sitting, I was doing
research preparing questions and crunching figures for the budget
speech debate.
When I became an MP for the first time, I didn't know how to
prepare for a Parliament sitting. So I asked two retiring PAP MPs -
and they asked me to seek the librarian's help.
I used to do some monitoring and trading of equity stocks but I
have stopped since early last year.
As an NCMP, my allowance is $1,800 a
month - roughly 15 per cent of an elected MP's. I am
surviving. I keep my costs down and supplement the allowance from
my trading, investments and life-coaching services.
When I go to the ATM, I withdraw $50 and I try to make it last as
long as I can. My wife supports the baby's expenses and
child-care.
I usually skip lunch because I have a heavy breakfast - noodle,
lontong, whatever the coffeeshop sells. I have another meal at 4pm,
just before I do walkabouts at night. I often eat alone unless I
have appointments.
Now, I am almost a full-time politician, planning and strategising.
I go for block visits with two to four helpers.
They walk with me, help me knock on doors and talk to residents. I
give out my handphone number to residents - I get people calling,
telling me I should do this and that.
I tell them 'come and help me'. Not many do. They just want to SMS
and e-mail. It is a lonely battle for me.
I try to finish at 9pm usually. I take along a cooler bag of 100
Plus and we drink it at the void deck. There is a brief discussion
about how everyone feels about the ground.
By 9.30pm, we are done. I will take them home or to the MRT. After
that, I will go my mother-in-law's place and have a meal before
taking the whole family home.
I used to go on the exercise machine for an hour but with all the
walkabouts now, I am probably over-exercised.
By midnight, we put the baby to sleep. I shower, catch up on e-mail
and by 2am, we try to sleep too.
