Prataman Making CASH CALL!

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Let's raise $8m for charity: President
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Nathan urges all S'poreans to help needy families in the downturn </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Goh Yi Han
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The 2009 President's Challenge was launched at the Singapore Flyer last night by President SR Nathan and (from left) Mrs Shirley Leow, member of the Singapore Flyer executive committee, and Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports. -- ST PHOTO: ALBERT SIM
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->PRESIDENT SR Nathan has set a fund-raising target of $8 million for this year's President's Challenge.
Speaking at the official launch of the 2009 President's Challenge, held last night at the Singapore Flyer, the President said: 'We must focus on helping needy families who are even more vulnerable in this downturn.'
He urged all Singaporeans to play their part, noting that about 20 organisations have already pledged to support the charity.
The President's Challenge, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is an annual charity drive featuring a series of community-based events and activities.
Since its inception, more than $70 million has been raised for about 400 beneficiaries, with the help of organisations such as the Singapore Totalisator Board and Singapore Pools. More than $12 million was raised in last year's event.
This year, more than 260,000 people are expected to take part in various events over the next several months such as the President's Star Charity show, which is slated for October.
Last night's launch, which featured live music and entertainment as well as a spectacular fireworks display over Marina Bay, was held in conjunction with the Flyer's first anniversary celebrations.
During the ceremony, which saw 250 invited guests, President Nathan launched a set of 10th-anniversary commemorative stamps.
Also, the Singapore Flyer unveiled a donation bank to be placed at the attraction from now until Dec 31 to raise funds for this year's President Challenge. The Flyer also made an initial contribution of $10,000 to the challenge.
Mr Nathan expressed hope that Singaporeans will extend kindness and cheer to all the charity's beneficiaries.
'Every contribution helps, be it a monetary donation or the giving of time,' he said.
The public may contribute by donating online at www.pc.org.sg
They can also raise public awareness for the cause by signing up at the President's Challenge Cause page, found on social networking site Facebook. [email protected]

 

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Singapore's World Records
On this small island lives the 30 best-paid politicians in the world, comments a blogger. MySingaporeNews.
Apr 3, 2009
As the economic crisis worsens and thousands are being retrenched, the huge salaries of Singapore's political leaders have come under the spotlight not only here - but overseas.
With G20 leaders gathering in London to work out solutions to the global crisis, the Times compiled a list of "the 10 best-paid politicians in the world" - naturally with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong taking the top spot.
The story was picked up by The Australia, which also works out their salaries when ranked against population.
Mr Lee earns S$3.76 million (US$2.47 million) a year, excluding bonuses, allowances, pensions, etc which add on a significant bit.
This is about 54 cents per head of population. In second position was his counterpart from New Zealand at 9 cents. The rest of the world are all down there, below even the lowest-ranking minister in Singapore.
But Singaporean blogger redbean's "My Singapore News" carries a calculation from its reader, Green Peas, expanding on the UK and Australian reports.
It pointed out that the world's 30 best-paid politicians (a definition that will include ministers, elected president, etc) are all from Singapore.
Here's what the blogger says:
The TOP 30 highest paid politicians in the world are all from Singapore:
1. Elected President SR Nathan - S$3.9 million.
2. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong - S$3.8 million.
3. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew - S$3.5 million.
4. Senior Minister Goh Chok Thong - S$3.5 million.
5. Senior Minister Prof Jayakumar - S$3.2 million.
6. DPM & Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng - S$2.9 million.
7. DPM & Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean - $2.9 million
8. Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo - S$2.8 million.
9. National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan - S$2.7 million.
10. PMO Miniser Lim Boon Heng - S$2.7 million.
11. Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang - S$2.7 million.
12. PMO Minister Lim Swee Say - S$2.6 million.
13. Environment Minister & Muslim Affairs Minister Dr Yaccob Ibrahim - S$2.6 million.
14. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan - S$2.6 million.
15. Finance Minister S Tharman - S$2.6 million.
16. Education Minister & 2nd Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen - S$2.6 million.
17. Community Development Youth and Sports Minister - Dr Vivian Balakrishnan - S$2.5 million.
18. Transport Minister & 2nd Minister for Foreign Affairs Raymond Lim Siang Kiat - S$2.5 million.
19. Law Minister & 2nd Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam - S$2.4 million.
20. Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong - S$2.2 million.
21. PMO Minister Lim Hwee Hwa - S$2.2 million.
22. Acting ICA Minister - Lui Tuck Yew - S$2.0 million.
23 to 30 = Senior Ministers of State and Ministers of State - each getting between S$1.8 million to S$1.5 million.
Note: 1. The above pay does not include MP allowances, pensions and other sources of income such as Directorship, Chairmnship, Advisory, Consultancy, etc to Gov-linked and gov-related organisations or foreign MNCs such as Citigroup, etc.
2. Though it is based on an estimate, the data cannot be far off the official salary scales.
The above was posted in redbeanforum by Green Peas.
(London Times report: http://timesbusiness.typepad.com/mon...the-world.html)