Singapore to reward former city planners<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AFP): After hiking ministers' salaries, Singapore
\nhas announced plans to reward officials who plotted the island-
\nstate's growth into a thriving metropolis but retired before they
\ncould benefit from its success.<\/p>\n
\"They are the ones who planted the trees. The fruits which we
\nenjoy today are because of the trees which they planted, the
\ncareful nurturing which they gave,\" Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
\ntold parliament late Thursday.<\/p>\n
Goh said his government intended showing appreciation for the
\nservices of the politicians and top officials who retired in the
\n1970s and 1980s before economic takeoff made Singapore one of
\nAsia's most affluent states.<\/p>\n
He did not give details but said an announcement would be made
\nsoon.<\/p>\n
Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) last year soared to
\nsome S$90 billion (US$61 billion) against less than S$40 billion
\n($27 billion) seven years ago, according to official statistics.<\/p>\n
Nine out of 10 Singaporeans live in their own apartments.
\nThere is a doctor for every 700 Singaporeans, a hospital bed for
\nevery 290, a taxi for every 210 and a telephone for every 3.8.<\/p>\n
Every 10 Singaporeans own a car although cars are more
\nexpensive here than anywhere else in the world because of very
\nhigh taxes.<\/p>\n
Goh said that the pioneers fought communists and communalists
\nat great risk to their own lives, adding that the veterans
\n\"stout-heartedness and great personal sacrifice\" had made a
\ndifference to Singapore's history.<\/p>\n
\"They are not enjoying the fruit which we are all enjoying
\ntoday, certainly not to the same extent which younger generations
\nare enjoying today,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Parliament on Thursday passed a government proposal to peg the
\nsalaries of Singapore ministers, already the world's highest, at
\ntwo-third the incomes of Singapore's top 24 professionals among
\nthem lawyers and accountants.<\/p>\n
Despite government arguments that the bigger pay packets were
\nnecessary to draw Singapore's best and brightest into politics
\nand government, the proposal came under unprecedented attack
\nincluding criticism from some government MPs.<\/p>\n
\"If we persist in equating public service so closely and
\nintimately with high remuneration, then we will surely kill
\naltruism and infect our younger generation with the seeds of non-
\naltruism,\" said Kanwaljit Soin, a nominated MP.<\/p>\n
The new salary scheme will see ministers pay packets rise some
\n40 percent from about S$600,000 ($408,000) annually now to more
\nthan S$800,000.<\/p>\n
\"Why do the ministers want so much money? People are already
\nsaying that to be appointed minister is like winning the
\nlottery,\" opposition MP Chiam See Tong said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/singapore-to-reward-former-city-planners-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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