Tan Jee Say confirmed he will ONLY accept $500K for salary of President

[Khun Ying Pojaman]

Pro-Singaporean presidential candidate Tan Jee Say has promised to accept a salary of ‘only’ $500,000 a year if elected.

The amount is a far cry below the $4.2 million dollar annual salary of the Elected President, which is nearly 10 times that of U.S. President Barack Obama.

Mr Tan Jee Say’s supporters were spotted distributing flyers advertising this campaign promise at a walkabout at the Hari Raya bazaar at Geylang Serai on Saturday evening.

The flyer states, among other things, the lines: “Presidential salary: $500,000 a year is plenty for anyone to live on. Anything else should go back to the people of Singapore.”

When asked on how he arrived at the figure, Mr Tan replied:

“People ask me what is a good figure to live on so I think this is a good figure, it’s a lot of money to live on…I think it’s generally far above what an average family needs.”

$500,000 a year amounts to about $41,000 monthly which is many times higher than the median monthly salary of an average Singapore worker – a mere $2,500.

In contrast, PAP ministers are paid obscene salaries of millions of dollars annually excluding their many months of bonuses which are pegged to GDP growth.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is paid more than $3 million dollars a year, far more than the combined salaries of the leaders of the G7 group of countries.

When asked about the issue earlier, PAP-endorsed presidential candidate Tony Tan declined to say if he would donate his salary to charity except that he would accept the expected pay cut to be made by the Ministerial Review Committee.

Tony Tan is currently still receiving a monthly pension from the state as he was a former PAP minister. It is not known if he is still entitled to his pension on top of the presidential salary should he get elected.

While we applaud Mr Tan Jee Say’s pledge to accept a $500,000 salary, we implore him to consider dedicating part of his annual salary if elected to support worthy causes such as setting up an Independent Commission for Police Misconduct, a Media Commission and a Human Rights Commission under the Office of the President.

 

[Khun Ying Pojaman]

So what's next ? Prata man to 'back pay' citizens ?

 

[depeche]

Give TJS a vote!!!

 

[roaringlion]

Then how can he face his counterpart (PM)? Perhaps the salary cap for the Gov should be $500K.

 

[rusty]

He has my whole family votes comprising 3 generations! (Total 35)

 

[Kohliantye]

Give TJS a vote!!!

TJS is the right man to hold this high office. He is educated, articulate and most importantly humble and down to earth. What he say about the salary is a point to remember. It has been very truthfully stated that most Singaporeans "survive" on meagre salaries of about $2500 per month as compared to the "indecent" salaries of ministers. He leads a modest life and is frugal. Right qualities as president.
TT has enough money. Born with a golden spoon in mouth since young, he is a very wealthy man today and still enjoy his pension as an ex-minister. He doesn't need such a monstrous sum as a President (if elected). Instead he should channel his entire salary as President (if he ever reach the Istana) to worthy cause for disbursement to needy people like the poor ah-pek's who sweep Changi Airport and the poor ah-soh's who collect discarded cardbox boxes so as to be able to have a box of rice with curry and some vegetables.
TKL is a gentleman and his idea of giving a pension to the old is indeed worthy of applaud. We should NOT fault him for his poor pronounciations. It is intelligence that is important not the way a person speaks. He has helped many people during the last financial crisis. Imagine the situation is he had kept quiet over the financiAL debacle. I am sure he would act in the interest of all Singaporeans if he is elected. He has shown that he CAN and WOULD in the near future.
TCB, as a doctor, has shown his desire to help those in need but he is very careful with his words. God knows what makes him talk in this way. There is nothing to worry, as he is no more with the party.
Finally all Singaporeans should cast their votes without fear come Aug 27 2011. This day should be made to enter into our history as the day that brought true liberty, equality and fraternity into our midst.
Long live my beloved Singapore and her beloved people.
Next stop, GE 2016

 

[HedgeTrader]

This is becoming a farce to say the least. PE becoming HR interview, what's your expected salary? LOL!

 

[Khun Ying Pojaman]

This is becoming a farce to say the least. PE becoming HR interview, what's your expected salary? LOL!

This is not a farce. The President is the Head of the State. If the President feels that as Head of State it's not right to be drawing millions, he effectively sets the benchmark for ministerial salaries as well as civil servants. Gerard Ee becomes obsolete.

If the President is compassionate and feels that it's disgraceful to draw millions of dollars while ordinary citizens are living from hand to mouth, he sets the moral compass of public service.

If the Head of State draws $500K, the ministers will have to hide in shame for drawing astronomical salaries at the expense of ordinary citizens. Zorro Lim will not dare to say "I feel so rich !"

 

[scroobal]

Bro, the proper way is to become President then turn the excess salary or give it away. This sounds cheesy and not classy at all. Its populist . Remind me of Edmund during the GE 2006 where he gave his personal handphone number than had to change it. TT certainly does not need a cent. He is a billionaire. TCB also does not need it. I am sure none of the 4 need it.

Where do you stop - tell the people that you will not stay in Istana and save electricity and operating expenses. These are cheap tactics. I think TJS knows this but trying to scuttle TT. I am sure it had nothing with the salary per se despite that it is excessive.

This is not a farce. The President is the Head of the State. If the President feels that as Head of State it's not right to be drawing millions, he effectively sets the benchmark for ministerial salaries as well as civil servants. Gerard Ee becomes obsolete.

If the President is compassionate and feels that it's disgraceful to draw millions of dollars while ordinary citizens are living from hand to mouth, he sets the moral compass of public service.

If the Head of State draws $500K, the ministers will have to hide in shame for drawing astronomical salaries at the expense of ordinary citizens. Zorro Lim will not dare to say "I feel so rich !"

 

[Varuna]

For many years until today, ministers' salary has always been hotly debated on and off like fried rice that has been fried and re-fried repeatedly. Hence it is always very tempting for any opponent to use it to apply pressure on the ruling party to his advantage. I think TJS sees the fastest approach towards trimming down ministers' pay is to drastically pull down the salary of the highest paid Civil Servant, who is the President. I read his suggested model of how to pay a President and who to peg in ST. Unless they can come up with a good reason for a President, who holds the second key to our nation's wealth, to be paid lower than the PM or the minister, else all the rest of the civil servants below the rank of the President will have to logically settle for a figure that is not higher than the benchmark figure given to our head of state.

 

[steffychun]

500K is so much more than what TJS will ever earn in the private sector. He should ask for 0 dollars if he is so gun-ho about public sector salaries.

And TR is super shit, considering that all of the writers live overseas. Obama's Presidency is not the same as Singapore's President.

I say vote for TCB.

 

[tomoko]

$500K sounds like a reasonable figure for these money hungry politicians.

 

[jeesus]

500K is so much more than what TJS will ever earn in the private sector. He should ask for 0 dollars if he is so gun-ho about public sector salaries.

All the ministers are earning more than what they will ever earn in the private sector. What is your point?

TJS was asked a question (his stand on the president's salary), and he replied (S$500k per year is more than enough, the rest should go back to the people). Do you prefer him to dodge the question? For those who think that he should accept a high salary and then give the excess away, you fail to see the significance of the difference. Accepting a lower salary lowers the cost of government. Accepting a high salary and then optionally give a portion away does not. Also, if the President is paid S$500K, those below this position has no legitimacy to receive more than that.

 

[PTADER]

This is indeed a brilliant move by Tan Jee Say. This is what Lee Kuan Yew stated in 1996:

"At the next election, the opposition can offer to be the government for one-half or one-quarter of the price. They must name their potential prime minister, minister for finance and minister for defence. Singaporeans can take their choice." ​

Tan Jee Say has just done that. He has stated the "price" of the Presidency.

The price TJS has named is significant as the rest of all Ministerial salaries needs to and will have to be referenced to it. It will put pressure on the PAP to lower their salaries to an equivalent level.

Kudos to TJS for making this move and stating what is obvious to everyone except PAP politicians; i.e. that it is more than enough money to live on. PAP Ministers who wish to earn millions should go into the private sector and subject themselves to the stress, rigours and competition of the private sector where you will not - unlike them - be able to survive for years and decades despite poor, mediocre or underperformance.

Win or lose, Tan Jee Say has done each and every Singaporean who has been complaining about the high Ministerial salaries since it was first mooted by LKY in 1994 a huge favour. He has done so by naming the price of the Presidency. He has put himself at the opposite end of Phony Tan who has been parroting what LKY says by championing the millions that must be paid to PAP ministers to "attract" them, to keep them "honest" and to make they sure they don't turn "corrupt".


*****************

MINISTERIAL SALARIES ... IT'S AN EMOTIONAL PROBLEM, SAYS SM LEE

147th Prostitute Press
20 July 1996


AFTER all the arguments he had mounted in favour of paying ministers market salaries, Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew acknowledged last night that the crux of the problem was an emotional one.

People had become so used to ministers being paid below market rate that the very thought of a minister getting private-sector pay filled them with unhappiness, even envy.

"I cannot solve these emotional reactions," he said.

"But I can solve real problems, and how to get good people into government is a real problem," he added, describing the difficulties the Government faced in recruiting for political appointments every year.

"In my judgment, the long-term consequences of continuing with the old system would be a lowering of the quality of the people entering politics, and a gradual but inevitable corruption that will creep in, as mediocrities as ministers exercise immense powers over our resources."

He said that he had gone against conventional wisdom before, as when he rejected collective pension schemes in favour of individual Central Provident Fund retirement accounts, or when he instituted individual health insurance (Medisave) accounts.

Yet these measures had been proven right, compared with the problems created by free medical services in Britain, France and Germany, and compared with the private insurance system in America.

Many people would say he was wrong now, he said, but in 10 to 15 years' time, they would change their minds.

The same uncomfortable reaction had accompanied the introduction of certificates of entitlement (COEs), he noted, but this was changing gradually.

"This is the way to ensure that our government and system stay clean and honest, with able and dedicated men, who can stay in office for several terms, and develop the judgment that comes with experience," he said.

"If we keep to the old system of nominal salaries, it will fail. Because the revolution is over ... in India, the former prime minister had to prosecute some of his ministers for corruption, while in China, the Beijing governor was sent to Xinjiang - the Chinese equivalent of Siberia - for the same reason."

He noted that while the country needed dedicated and committed ministers, this must be achieved within the realistic setting of present day Singapore.

"It's a problem enough persuading a man to change his lifestyle and enter politics. On top of that you ask him to give up his earnings - very tough!"

Leaving no doubt that he saw ministerial pay to be an issue in the next General Election, he said that if in spite of market-pegged salaries the country elected mediocrities in government, then Singapore could go back to mediocre wages.

"At the next election, the opposition can offer to be the government for one-half or one-quarter of the price. They must name their potential prime minister, minister for finance and minister for defence. Singaporeans can take their choice."

Calling the current pay policy "realistic and necessary", he argued that it would ensure continued growth.

"Honest and able ministers will ensure that your properties will double in value in the next 10 years, with upgrading programmes, better infrastructure, extended MRT ... Your incomes will double in 10 years, and the Singapore dollar will increase in value and make your holidays and our imports cheaper.

"On the other hand, a corrupt and incompetent government will destroy everything we have built in the last 37 years - everything will go down: the value of your Singapore dollar, the value of your properties, your stocks, your savings, your jobs and your children's future."

In the end, he said, the people should go by whose judgment they trusted.

"You know my judgment has been tested time and again in the last 37 years," he said.

"I know Singapore as it was in the 1950s, and how it got from riots, disorder and heavy unemployment to what it is today, stable and prosperous with full employment and high wages. I know what is needed to move Singapore ahead in the way it has progressed."

"Whichever way we compare ministers' salaries, the conclusion is the same ...' - SM Lee.

 

[Khun Ying Pojaman]

Win or lose, Tan Jee Say has done each and every Singaporean who have been complaining about the high Ministerial salaries since it was first mooted by LKY in 1994 a huge favour. He has done so by naming the price of the Presidency.

Precisely ! Whether TJS will ultimately assume the office of President is immaterial. Unlike ordinary peasants this time round the greedy ministers can no longer accuse his dissenter(s) of jealousy.

We now have a very qualified Singapore citizen who wants the job of the President but not the obscene salary. People who accuse TJS of being a populist, in this instance, missed the point altogether.

 

[yellowarse]

Bro, the proper way is to become President then turn the excess salary or give it away. This sounds cheesy and not classy at all. Its populist . Remind me of Edmund during the GE 2006 where he gave his personal handphone number than had to change it. TT certainly does not need a cent. He is a billionaire. TCB also does not need it. I am sure none of the 4 need it.

Disagree. TJS has said that $4.2 mil is excessive and he has to walk the talk. (He does have strong personal opinions about the astronomical ministerial salaries.)

View it as a symbolic protest, rather than as a cynical vote-buying move (voters aren't going to benefit from his donating $3 mil+ to charity, unlike HDB upgrading and 'Grow and Share' dividends').

 

[rusty]

Lee Kuan Yew said;

"Many people would say he was wrong now, he said, but in 10 to 15 years' time, they would change their minds"

Eat your words, you fucking frail and ailing! It's more than 15 years now and you are still wrong.

 

[jeesus]

500K is so much more than what TJS will ever earn in the private sector. He should ask for 0 dollars if he is so gun-ho about public sector salaries.

And TR is super shit, considering that all of the writers live overseas. Obama's Presidency is not the same as Singapore's President.

I say vote for TCB.

Go read what has been reported in the news. TJS said 500k is what he was earning when he was working in the private sector, and is more than enough for his family to live on.

 

[mojito]

I think I am beginning to see this as a masterful stroke by TJS.

Of course TKL was the first to suggest $2m as the benchmark, it shows that good ideas can be outbidded.

If the highest office in Singapore, the elected president takes a pay cut down to $500k, the ministerial pay commission chaired by Gerald Ee will have to take that into account when pegging their salaries. Will this ripple through the parliamentarians and the elite Administrative Service? Imagine Vivian Bala's pay is a few thousand dollars more than Tin Pei Ling a month. Just thinking of that makes me feel all wriggly inside!

Rank and file civil servants will not be affected. In fact, our noble friends will contribute to the nation's reserves with a sudden surplus in the fiscal balance.

This is colossal. Looks like my decision came down to a common HR question - "What is your expected salary?"

 

[elephanto]

TJS is the right man to hold this high office......
Finally all Singaporeans should cast their votes without fear come Aug 27 2011. This day should be made to enter into our history as the day that brought true liberty, equality and fraternity into our midst.
Long live my beloved Singapore and her beloved people.
Next stop, GE 2016

I concur mightily especially your last statement. Majullah Singapura - Singapore is for all Singaporeans who care - LKY you have no monopoly for being concerned & obsessed with only you are the Messiah ....