Nicholas M Ong

For those of you who are thinking, just how lucky we Singaporeans are, I thought I reminded you folks about something. In December 2007, the Singapore Government announced 2 rounds of pay raise for government ministers. As my grandfather, grandmother and I sure many other grandparents of Singaporeans always said…

“you think the gahmen so good die give you money… don’t be stupid lah… one hand give you a bit… the other hand take and put in pocket while you not looking…”.

Sad isn’t? Hongbao budget or not. 20% tax rebate for 2008 (up to SGD2,000) or not. The cost of living in Singapore is rising at a ridiculous rate. Yes, we have no natural calamities like earthquakes, typhoons or tornados. Our crime rates are rather low making Singapore probably one of the safest cities in the world to live in.

Then again, GST, ERP, CBD, SMRT and Taxi fare just to name a few; makes me wonder if I can afford to live in Singapore in the long run. Is that the reason why more Singaporeans have been going aboard permanently in the last 20 years? Or maybe, the Singapore government is just building up reserves for Singaporeans? Damn, even a Taiwanese talk show had to jump on the opportunity to sock us time and time again. Talkshow was recorded in Mandarin and Hokkien.

Reuters - Saturday, February 16

SINGAPORE, Feb 15 - Singapore government ministers and other political appointees, the world’s best paid, will cost taxpayers another 15 percent in the coming financial year starting April, according to the city-state’s budget on Friday.

The state will spend S$66.5 million on political appointments, up from S$58.1 million in the current fiscal year to March — which was also 27 percent up on 2006/2007.

The government announced two rounds of pay hikes for ministers last year, raising Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s annual pay to S$3.76 million — at least five times that of U.S. President George W. Bush.

S’pore govt ministers to cost taxpayers 15 pct more - Yahoo! Singapore News

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