Singapore to reward former city planners
Singapore to reward former city planners
SINGAPORE (AFP): After hiking ministers' salaries, Singapore
has announced plans to reward officials who plotted the island-
state's growth into a thriving metropolis but retired before they
could benefit from its success.
"They are the ones who planted the trees. The fruits which we
enjoy today are because of the trees which they planted, the
careful nurturing which they gave," Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
told parliament late Thursday.
Goh said his government intended showing appreciation for the
services of the politicians and top officials who retired in the
1970s and 1980s before economic takeoff made Singapore one of
Asia's most affluent states.
He did not give details but said an announcement would be made
soon.
Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) last year soared to
some S$90 billion (US$61 billion) against less than S$40 billion
($27 billion) seven years ago, according to official statistics.
Nine out of 10 Singaporeans live in their own apartments.
There is a doctor for every 700 Singaporeans, a hospital bed for
every 290, a taxi for every 210 and a telephone for every 3.8.
Every 10 Singaporeans own a car although cars are more
expensive here than anywhere else in the world because of very
high taxes.
Goh said that the pioneers fought communists and communalists
at great risk to their own lives, adding that the veterans
"stout-heartedness and great personal sacrifice" had made a
difference to Singapore's history.
"They are not enjoying the fruit which we are all enjoying
today, certainly not to the same extent which younger generations
are enjoying today," he said.
Parliament on Thursday passed a government proposal to peg the
salaries of Singapore ministers, already the world's highest, at
two-third the incomes of Singapore's top 24 professionals among
them lawyers and accountants.
Despite government arguments that the bigger pay packets were
necessary to draw Singapore's best and brightest into politics
and government, the proposal came under unprecedented attack
including criticism from some government MPs.
"If we persist in equating public service so closely and
intimately with high remuneration, then we will surely kill
altruism and infect our younger generation with the seeds of non-
altruism," said Kanwaljit Soin, a nominated MP.
The new salary scheme will see ministers pay packets rise some
40 percent from about S$600,000 ($408,000) annually now to more
than S$800,000.
"Why do the ministers want so much money? People are already
saying that to be appointed minister is like winning the
lottery," opposition MP Chiam See Tong said.