Dear Hsien Loong,
Dear Mr Prime Minister,While you have your lymphoma, I have my share of heart attack and ventricular fibrillation.
While you are concerned about your mum's health, I had the greatest understanding of the fragility of life and the inevitability of death while taking care of my dad (as old as your dad if he's alive today) when he was down with his degenerative disease.
While you were growing up as the son of a prime minister in big but shabby Oxley Rise house (so said your sister [Link]), I was growing up with 8 other siblings in a $25-per-month-rented-one-room flat as the son of a Singapore Traction Company bus conductor moonlighting as a pirate taxi driver so that his family could survive.
You did Harvard and Cambridge and whatever you fancy, the best I did was Senior Cambridge Certificate (today's 'O Level' equivalent).
Today you are the highest paid politician in the whole wide world earning $3.7 million (excluding your BG and after-55-PM-pension), I'm making do with about $24,000 per annum hawking my skills as a self employed. I have no pension and I'm not entitled to any of the benefits which your PAP so often makes a song and dance about at every election and/or Budget Statement. Please do not tell me about my GST rebate as it's nauseating since the GST went the your salary too.
No, I'm not complaining of my state of being. Being rich and happy is where your mind is at, not what you can suck out of others! As my kids can take care of themselves, $2000 a month is enough for me and my wife to have a simple comfortable life. My family and I are blessed with what we are happy with!
How much is enough?
Enough for what?
It depends on the individual's sense of value, contentment, greed, sense of power and one's one-upmanship. Does it feel good to be paid 6 times the POTUS?
You tell me :)
Though we are of about the same age, we were made differently. I guess the only thing we have in common is that we are, born-in-Singapore, Singaporeans.
As much as I'm a pauper compared to your riches, I'm delighted that I do not have to bear the responsibilities that you do.
My wish for you is that you'd be blessed with grandfatherhood which I'm most grateful for when my child gave birth to another child.
When one loves life, when one truly cares and has the free will to do so without the hindrance of position, power and face value, one is always free . . . . . . . . even to blog until one is caught :)
I sincerely hope that the job you do now is the job that you love, not the job imposed by your father or whoever.
Though I have been told by those who know you that you are not as useless (ie. for the magic salary you pay yourself, people expect magic performance too) and callous as you appear to be, I still have my doubt.
From the pedigree that you were inseminated with (what with your dad laughing again at dummies like me for not having university education [Link]), I was shocked to hear of your "mee siam mai hum" and "fix opposition and buy votes". Which devil made you do that?
You were silent for many days when Mas Selamat jalan.
You were silent for many days when Singaporeans were hurt by the Lehman fiasco and toxic financial products.
You were silent for many days when Town Councils burned themselves with Lehman too.
I have never written to politicians especially ministers level as I know what I write doesn't mean squat to them . . . just another tiny voice in the wilderness.
However, I'm writing now to do my part as a Singaporean before I die from my next heart attack.
Yes, before I'm fedtothefish, I hope that as highest paid prime minister of the universe, you will do the gracious thing of investigating why your PAP MP Dr Ong Seh Hong is in such a fix right now with the Ren Ci CEO Ming Yi saga.
Silence may be golden but your reticence in commenting on the crucial happenings in Singapore lately is not helping you in your job. It is not helping people to "Staying Together Moving Ahead" It makes a joke of your PAP manifesto. If you are still at a loss on what to say, Singaporeans will be wondering, "WTF is he doing?"
Please say something worthy of your salary and position for the benefit of all Singaporeans on Ren Ci/Dr Ong's issue.
Even if you were to tell us that "it's not an issue at all as he became whiter-than-white MP only after he cleared the loan", we would still be happier than to have you keep your mouth shut again.
We look forward to it.
Thank you.
feedmetothefish.
posted by FeedMeToTheFish @ 10:23 PM
34 Comments
34 Comments:
Mr. Fish, indeed a "very sincere appeal" on your part to the highest paid political leader in the entire world, some say universe and not too far fetch for some to include the galaxy as well !
Ah Loong may just decide to speak,
but only after the oldfart has spoken, yet again. Observing famiLee protocol lah, Mr. Fish.
But should the oldfart departs for the grave(long overdue), you may get your wish to hear Ah Loong talk without any inhibition. lol
On the one hand our government tell us to wait and die in JB if we cannot afford to pay for the unaffordable nursing homes in Singapore, on the other hand the super talent that is making obscene amount of money can put on a straight face that there is nothing wrong with borrowing money from the very charity that are helping the people that need the money most to pay for a house that cost >$560,000... Is this the kind of values and principles our leaders live by!!!????
This really make me sick!
RookieLim
Hi FeedmeTotheFish,
Begin to read your blog recently and loved it. I would like to write out my thought too. But, I am no good in expressing it through writing.
Take care.
From: NoDirectionInLife
Hi!
Woah! Nice letter to the PM. Really a good read! Hope you don't get fed to the fishes soon! :)
Right now the media is focusing on AWARE, not on Dr Ong Seh Hong, an issue which they are probably trying to whitewash or sweep under the carpet as fast as they can.
In any case Dr Ong can say bye bye to taking further part in PAP politics.
Lost Citizen
PS : don't ever go before Lau Lee and his immediate famiLee members.
You must be around to give the send off speech before the famiLee is lowered into their graves.
I can't think of any person better than Mr. Fish to do the honours on behalf of all citizens.
thanks in advance.
to above,
i think no need to say so much like the tv ad when lee & lee is lowered into their graves.
just spitting on them is enough to express our feelings.
If you look closely enough, LHL is actually a puppet, and he is not PM material.
No one has ten fingers alike. I sympathise with Mr Fish and many others. I went through the same hardship like Mr Fish's father. I had seen and told part in the riots in the 50's. The suffering and hardship of many Singaporeans before 1964. Let us give some respect to LKY and his old guards who had developed Singapore. Without their foresight and sacrifises, will you, your children and grandchildren are able to live comfortable in HDB or private houses.
When you drink the water, let look back at the source.
I do give my full support to the first generation...........but not this generation, which materials come first.
It is sad that the Singapore reserve safe is opened.......when will the money flow back into it again?
Chinese has a saying, "father saves, son spends, it will not last for three generations"
Let milk the mother cow as much as possible, and save it for the family future.
Singapore has no natural resources -only people. Those that can afford will migrate.
Good luck to those who can survive in thirty years time, in this tiny island.......under a different group of government.
Mr. Fish, I read your moaning. I would say the only fault of your gomen is they extended simple logic a little too far. By creating Billions through smart investments, they feel that they should be rewarded. Let's see, what is the total sum paid to all the Ministers s$200 million? Based on reports, the sovereign funds average some 9% return on us$350 B, i.e. a cool us$31.5 or s$44 B; 200M out of 44B = less than 0.5%!!
Well that is the logic of it. Anyway, it is not as bad as many other Asean countries where thet collect may get paid less than s$10 K, but have Billions in assets!!
Remember LKY once angered many Asian leaders when he said that he was the highest paid PM in Asia but also the poorest?
Look at some of the Malaysians - some are so corrupt that they pocket millions through kickbacks in just one mammoth transaction. I can just imagine how much untold billions are siphoned off this way every day of every week of every month and year.
In Singapore, at least we have the transparency. I also think our ministers are paid way too much but better this than rampant, surreptitious corruption that will ruin a small country like Singapore in a matter of a few years.
Singapore has licked many problems that our Asean neighbours have failed to do: elimination of secret societies which were widespread in the 1950s and 60s, corruption, kidnapping, drug addiction, and general lawlessness.
Also, there is inter-communal tolerance of the kind which is superior to those in other countries.
Of course, there are occasional lapses in all the above-mentioned areas, but they are not runaway problems.
For all these, I think we have one of the best governments in the world. But I will never stop lamenting about the subtle clamps on freedom of speech and the media.
I hope that the knots will be loosened over time and that our leaders will be less kiasu and think that every dissenting voice is the voice of the enemy.
May they learn to realise that patriots need not always agree with their views and policies.
Bubblehead
50 years on and we have one of the best govt in the world ? Can't be !
No need to be modest, I believe we have the best govt on this planet.
Which govt has a father and son team + 2 SMs + 2 DPMs ?
Which govt in the world has someone with more experience than our own LKY ?
Which govt has won more consecutive elections than our own PAP in the last 50 years ?
Which govt can boast of having 81 MPs versus 2 opposition MPs ?
Which govt in the world can claim it has not made mistakes ?
Only our PAP govt can do so !
I believe them because they have never ever admitted to making mistakes.
In other words...perfection.
It is also one reason why the 30 highest paid politicians are all from S'pore and perfectionists deserve to be well paid.
Perfection requires this govt to stay in power by whatever means and only such a govt can create the "golden period" for its party members to have retrenchment-proof jobs and recession-proof salaries.
By the way, this govt is tightening things up and it should do so to achieve perfection, even arresting any person deemed unsuitable. What a great law from a govt that thinks of everything in our interest. I just luv the famiLee to death man !
ps Mr.Fish, can you say something nice when the oldman kicks the bucket, like praising him to heaven ?
I agreee100%. Singapore has no hope and destiny
Hi Mr Fish, PM Lee has my sympathy - I feel that he is having a very difficult time being the PM. He appears to be subservient, not only to his father, but probably the senior state men who are closely linked to his father. I do not envy his position. PM Lee could have been a brilliant Mathematician or economist, and no one might question his talent. But as the anointed one, he carries a big luggage.
Dear Readers,
We ought to be thankful that we can afford our Ministers' salary. Above all, please remember that all man are corrupt by nature. Can you imagine the how clean S'pore governmant can be if they are not rewarded with adequate pay which some may still consider as peanuts. If we suffer, it is but for a little while. So, let's live and let live.
tolong mr fish,
please don't stress pinky loong liao!
wait he will tell u he's not earning enough for the work he's paid to do. then we will suffer again.
Mr Fish,
Your letter has been translated so that the Chinese-educated Singaporeans can also share your thoughts.
See here:
http://wayangparty.com/?p=8209
For those who feel Singapore has no future, I think you are welcome to seek your opportunities in another country where u can find hope.
For those who care, there is hope. I am ok about paying high salaries, like the commercial sector. But if they don't perform, like the commercial sector they should be relieved of their jobs. And not wait until the next GE.
Maybe as an indicator of how each of the Ministers perform they sh stand in Single Wards. The people will vote for their performance. They should not be bundled up in a GRC where they can tumpang on other stronger Ministers.
Good ministers whom I felt performed well are:
a. Ng Eng Hen
b. Vivien Balakrishnan
c. Raymond Lim (Don't get angry about the ERP, it is only a small portion of his responsibilies. I love to drive thru the KPE. And the traffic lights management.)
d. Teo Chee Hean
e. Mah Bow Tan (quietly he had implemented many national development and good ones too.)
f. Khaw Boon Wan (reach out well.)
g. Tharman Shanmugaratnam
h. Lim Swee Say (connects well with the masses. Talk like one of us lah! But must need to re-arrange hairstyle!)
i. George Yeo
j. The following can't be judged as they are relatively new: Shanmugam, Gan Kim Yong, Lim Hwee Hua, Lui Tuck Yew.
I like your good intentions Mr. Fish. You speak from the heart.
Ah Loong knows we know that he is there only because of old Lee and without a doubt he will always be papa's boy.
It is just our misfortune to have a father and son team who simply will never understand that as leaders, they should love the country and its people more than their famiLee and PAP.
One half of our misfortune will be buried in the grave soon and you must be around when that happens.
I have vintage booze to share. lol
I am very touched by this letter. I hope all Singaporeans will get to read this letter. CASHEW NUTS
The next GE is not far away. I do agree with Rodney Tan's comments.
Many ministers and MPs performed well, and should have the confidence to stand in a single ward, and let the people to judge whether they are over-paid for their performance.
The new and weak candidates can form a GRC, and feel threaten can enlarge it. Let the young party members swim by themselves, and test the depth of the water. If they lost the election, they learnt
their mistakes.
It is time that the Singapore Government should amend its Constitution, if the current party has the confidence to form the next government to bring Singapore to a greater height.
Give the people an opportunity to cast a vote of confidence to the single candidate/group in the ward/GRC, if this is a democratic country.
The successful single candidate/GRC will be proud to be elected into the Parliament, but not currently just walk into the Parliament, without election for the single candidate/GRC
If MM is going to stand in a single ward, I still vote for him.
It is a time to CHANGE.
Hi all,
I appreciate your thoughts and comments.
I guess the laws, rules & regulations in S'pore serve some better than others.
Ain't it weird that Dr Ong Seh Hong who borrowed as much, if not more than Raymond, before he started work at RenCi was not asked to testify?
Is it a case of 'what's good for the gander may not be good for the goose'?
Or does white uniform play a part?
feedmetothefish
Whoever is the writer of the article "Dear Hsien Loong", I am quite certain, judging from his command of the written English Language, isn't just a "Senior Cambridge Certificate" holder and merely earns $2,000/month.
Yes, the salary of our PM is definitely not peanuts, but why begrudges him or the salary he receives when you are enjoying the fruits of many years of sacrifice starting from his father, SM Goh and now from him.
Could you honestly think we would have been better had someone else from the Barisan Socialist or Workers Party or other local politicians been governing Spore?
I am a Sporean. The PM and ministers through the years had made blunders and I don't agree with all the policies from the government. However, on the whole I do give credit when it is due.
As we still look forward to improvements in many aspects governing our life in Spore, (especially more freedom to voice our political opinions without the real or the perceived fear of big brother looking behind our shoulders), we should also concede that many things in Spore have changed for the better.
I like to read comments from bloggers but I much prefer to read constructive comments.
Kim Seng (one of many with same name sake)
Remember we still have ISA and now the revamped Public Order Act (POA). This the kind of things that cannot be bluffed as "change for the better". Whoever think otherwise is either being brain-washed or have vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Another high-handed phrase is "constructive comment". It means any thing that criticizes the ruling party is non-constructive and therefore must be silenced by, perhaps, ISA and POA. Such circumstances breed a people who are politically apathetic. How sad!
anon to anon @ May 6
I fully concur with you.
Can we claim things in S'pore has changed for the better with 81 PAP stooges in parliament who have great difficulty speaking up ?
Mr.Fish, I never realised you have only Senior Cambridge but not being brain-washed I can figure out that you have made the effort to improve your English over the decades lah! lol
However the point is not about the academic qualifications one has but whether one has courage, conviction to speak up for ordinary folks.
PS: my comments are meant to be constructive.
i believe that the government has been doing a great job in giving us a great country to live in and i believe it will continue to do the same in the future.
humans will make mistakes once in a while but learn from them so as not to commit it again.
i feel sorry for you guys for what you had just written, regarding the grumbling of your bad lifestyle and the high salary of the minister.
All great men on earth don't born great, many rich people are born poor.
who to blame when u don't have the qualification... cant u apply for degree while u are working....
It's the work of ur mind.
i dont know ur profession in real life, but i pray that you are not be or become politicians or my Nation will be in wrong hands.
P.S. pardon my poor english
Very well-written and true letter to Ah Loong. Unfortunately, we live in a time when those holding government positions in what are called democracies are corrupt and above the law. This is true not only in Singapore, but in my own country - the United States. Singapore, however, is the worst example of a country claiming to be a democracy. Is there a solution? Exposing the likes of the Lee family may help - but is that enough when fear causes people to vote for the PAP?
Again, thanks for the great letter to Ah Loong.
People in support of MM SM and PM always based such support on the "SACRIFICES" made by them!!!
Did they have to fork out own money or suffered physical abuse or lived in prison or suffer hunger strikes for a free Singapore like Gandhi or Mandela???
Did they have to do their jobs without being paid or spend sleepless nights or go thru a long march like the communists in their fight with the KMT?
They earn millions of our tax payers monies without accountability based on the principles that they manage and earn billions for us; but fail to commit suicide ( Teh Chean Wan ?? )or cough out the millions of salaries received when billions are lost thru their bad investments very often thru not only unsound policies but reckless investing policies like ABC learning in Australia making Singaporeans look thoroughly stupid.
They stay in power by containing Singaporeans with the largest vote base - making our lives miserable and hard so that we have no chance to dislodge them from the rule perhaps in perpectuality.
We Singaporeans are the ral people who made sacrifices - no the ruling party ; Go read Aniimal Farm
mee siam - mai ham
dun fool us again -
Right now the media is focusing on AWARE, not on Dr Ong Seh Hong, an issue which they are probably trying to whitewash or sweep under the carpet as fast as they can. In any case Dr Ong can say bye bye to taking further part in PAP politics. Lost Citizen
People in support of MM SM and PM always based such support on the "SACRIFICES" made by them!!! Did they have to fork out own money or suffered physical abuse or lived in prison or suffer hunger strikes for a free Singapore like Gandhi or Mandela??? Did they have to do their jobs without being paid or spend sleepless nights or go thru a long march like the communists in their fight with the KMT? They earn millions of our tax payers monies without accountability based on the principles that they manage and earn billions for us; but fail to commit suicide ( Teh Chean Wan ?? )or cough out the millions of salaries received when billions are lost thru their bad investments very often thru not only unsound policies but reckless investing policies like ABC learning in Australia making Singaporeans look thoroughly stupid. They stay in power by containing Singaporeans with the largest vote base - making our lives miserable and hard so that we have no chance to dislodge them from the rule perhaps in perpectuality. We Singaporeans are the ral people who made sacrifices - no the ruling party ; Go read Aniimal Farm mee siam - mai ham dun fool us again -
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