Singapore's Good Deed

Singapore will give $29m more to poorer neighbours
(Think Centre)

01 December 2004 by Tan Khim Chuan

Check out the headlines on (Nov 30,2004) ST [Straits Times]. "Singapore will give $29m more to poorer neighbours Aid to help Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam towards economic integration"

"...SINGAPORE will be giving additional technical aid worth $28.9 million to the four poorest countries in Asean over three years. The assistance is an extension of its current five-year $59 million aid package to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, which began in 2000..."

Our government is so ready to contribute to the well-being of our neighbours but I felt the money could be given to improve the living conditions of our poorer citizens here instead. For example, I still see elderly folks scouring trash bins for and rubbish areas for cardboard, just to sell all these for a measly sum.

These people have contributed to nation building but sadly, elderly folks, especially those who remain unmarried or are widowed, are, in my point of view, not being taken care of by the country.

Tan Khim Chuan

News.Telegraph

Before you read the following article I would like to remind you of the salary of the Ministers in Singapore:

1. Singapore Prime Minister's Basic Salary US$1,100,000 (SGD1,958,000) a year
Minister's Basic: US$655,530 to US$819,124 (SGD1,166,844 to SGD1,458,040) a year


2. United States of America President: US$200,000 Vice President: US$181,400
Cabinet Secretaries: US$157,000

3. United Kingdom Prime Minister: US$170,556 Ministers: US$146,299 Senior Civil
Servants: US$262,438

4. Australia Prime Minister: US$137,060 Deputy Prime Minister: US$111,439
Treasurer: US$102,682

5. Hong Kong Chief Executive : US$416,615 Top Civil Servant: US$278,538
Financial Sec: US$315,077

Source: Asian Wall Street Journal July 10 2000

By Sebastien Berger, South East Asia Correspondent
(Filed: 10/11/2004)

Older people should work longer for less money, Singapore's ageing population has been told.

The official retirement age in the city-state is 62, but Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding father, said he was working on a scheme to allow workers to remain in employment. However, because their strength and energy would be less, the pay would be lower.

Mr Lee, 81, still sits in the cabinet, with the title of minister mentor, and retains huge influence in the government, which is headed by his son, Lee Hsien Loong.

"I've been lucky," he said. "My father lived to 90-plus and I don't abuse my body unnecessarily. So if I had to retire at 62, it's a dead loss."

Singapore's birth rate is at an all-time low. On current trends, the number of over-65s will quadruple by 2030, threatening the economy.

Mr Lee pointed out that medical costs, which must be met by individuals or through insurance, rise with age and working for longer would allow people to build up more savings.
End of Article.

Mr Lee says "I've been lucky,", yeah right! That's one way of saying it.