On another forum, the topic of discussion being this
ChannelNewsAsia article about "Tay Kheng Soon's criticisms of
the PAP / Sg Govt"
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/5-governments-5-hdbs-5-moes-tay-kheng-soon-on-decentralisation-8843960
In the forum thread, nayr69sg posted :
My father used to be a senior civil servant. He has often
given me insights into the workings of the civil service. He has
worked with Mr Howe Yoon Chong before. While a very bad tempered
and fierce person, Mr Howe generally made good decisions for the
good of the public.
Back then, the salary of Ministers was not that much higher
than the civil servants. Hence they worked together closely. Ideas
were shared. Civil servants were often told their job was to serve
the people, save the country money, never overspend and make the
best decisions for the overall good.
Things changed after LHL and his gang of SAF people started
coming in.
Of course we know about the massive increase in salaries of
the Ministers which made them feel way more superior and "smarter"
than the civil servants. Health benefits of the civil servants were
taken away by LHL too. LHL's SAF cronies were placed into more
positions in the senior civil service ranks.
Over the years they have raised the salaries of senior civil
servants as well. It is to reward the cronies and further establish
obedience. If you have lots to risk and give up (ie you know you
command salary way higher than what you are worth in the private
sector) then you are more likely to be a yes man and be a
cheerleader for the boss's ideas and opinions. Makes the boss's job
easy.
In the old days, civil servants worked because they really
wanted to build Singapore. It was not for the money because their
salaries were pretty crappy anyway. They did have pensions which
were another reason to stay on for. But these days there is no
pension either. So clearly those civil servants who stay are
because they know they cannot do better anywhere else.
Personally, my experience with MOH and internal Singhealth
and NHG admin is the same. Nobody really wants any "new
ideas".
Why?
When there is a meeting and the boss asks "Is there anything
we need to improve on? Are there any problems?"
This is a bait/trap question. The one who answers "Yes there
is XYZ problem. Can we try to do ABC? It will improve XYZ. Right
now XYZ is causing LMNOP problems" is either a very stupid henta
kaki fellow or a very newbie. When the boss asks such a question,
if you answer that way, he/she will view you as incompetent. Boss
will think "why this stupid fellow cannot solve the problem
himself/herself? Why must tell me? Then want me to solve the
problem? Useless bugger"
Boss wants to hear "everything is going well Sir/Madam!" Then
there will be a bit of a pause. Everyone keeps quiet and then Boss
says how about A Department look into improving Q issue? I have
identified XYZ problem and think Q needs to be improved"
The smart officers will say "That is an excellent idea boss!
I think it is very good. We should look at improving that. I will
look into it right away and come up with some proposals"
In other words never be the one to bring up any suggestions
because if you do, you also are implying there is a problem. And
that problem may not be what boss thinks is worth his/her time to
look into.
Let the boss direct what needs to be done.
I learnt this the hard way myself because my father worked in
a time when the civil servants were really asked to sit at the
table almost of equal standing with their bosses. Remember Philip
Yeo? Another example. And this worked well for Singapore of course.
See the massive improvement and growth prior to LHL coming into the
fold.
After LHL......it is all a pile of feces. Officers who do
well in Civil service now are ones who are good at implementing the
boss's directives and very good at apple polishing.
To which numero uno replied :
you got to be joking when you mentioned philip yeo" Remember
Philip Yeo? Another example. And this worked well for Singapore of
course. See the massive improvement and growth prior to LHL coming
into the fold....". this guy is the classic example of a pompous
bureaucrat who knows nuts. all his project from suzhou to A star
and biopolis were great flops and a waste of billions tax payer
money. I still remember the ST quoting him as saying he knows all
about genetics after reading a small primer on it overnight!!!! As
you can see Astar and biopolis were great flops. 20 years and not a
single achievements at all. this guy thought you can replicate
overnight the academic aura of esteemed insituitions just by
employing all these dead wood. I still remember I almost fell off
my chair when shitty times reported in thier front page about
singapore being able to teach USSR about science and technology!!!!
how pompous can you get!!!!! they have send man into space and here
we are talking [email protected] The old man LKY read it and was so embarrassed
that he ordered a clarification/retraction on the news the next
day. philip typifies these arrogant people. all the nobel laureates
they hired were flash in the pan coming here for their million
dollar salary and running away after getting their fill. please
don't insult all the businessmen, scientists and doctors in
singapore by quotng philip yeo as a good example. suzhou is a
classic example of how an arrogant obnoxious guy was brought to his
knees by overseas people in their backyard.
