Another Day of Mourning in Parliament.

I just saw PM Lee's *"bway ko yok" speech [Link] & [Link] in defending Gerrard Ee and his committee's recommendation on "competent and committed" ministerial salary and I am sad. Serious. Very sad.

At the end of his long long speech, he said he hopes Singaporeans understand what he's doing. Sorry, as a Singaporean, I don't understand. I'm 60% dazed and 40% confused by this waste of time.

All in all, Lee's speech is nothing but a rehash of of what his deputy Teo Chee Hean said yesterday, albeit, with more venom and sarcasm (both in words and facial expression) when he remarked: "And I'm encouraged to see the Workers Party also accept these basic principles although they have a different formula and a different notion of what the number should be, in the same ball park as what the committee has recommended but of course slightly lower 'cos having looked at the committee's report, they decided that as an opposition party surely they must recommend something a bit less"

In justifying what he and his team gets (clean or dirty millions), he went about saying, "no one owes Singaporeans a living" and "we are different from them". Without any sense of "decorum" but same sarcastic tone and face, he went about denigrating systems of Italy, Japan, and other ministers, presidents and MPs of UK, USA and countries in EU like Finland and Belgium.

His grudge on the money earned by USA ex-presidents as public speakers was damning. Why he mentioned examples of "revolving system", "conflict of interest" and "gesture politics" of others is amazing. HIs remarks were so cringe-making that I had to rewind the video and see it again, to make sure that this guy said what he said. He did. What about his dad who wrote memoir after memoir? I've been told he's paid pretty well as a public speak especially in overseas circuit? If I've been told lies, please correct me.

• Does Singapore has the "revolving system" of directorships and other cushy positions for MPs and ex-ministers?
• Is there "conflict of interest" when father, son and daughter-in-law, each holding the highest positions in Temasek, MAS and PM's office simultaneously?
• Damned! If this Review of Capable and Committed Ministers' Salary is not "gesture politics", then what is?

This "gesture politics", a "public spectacle" or what most of us prefer to call Wayang to LHL may be an earth shattering sacrifice, an altruistic performance to ensure that capable leaders will come forward to serve as ministers in this generation and next, but . . . but . . . but . . . To poor commoners like us, it just another whitewash to appear whiter-than-white and win more votes in the next election!

Other cringe making quotations from our dear PM Lee:

• "Singaporeans have reaped a Singaporean dividend . . of carrying a pink IC", like the shirt he was wearing during the speech, "And therefore your value in the world has gone up . . people want to hire you". But we are losing jobs to FTs!
  
• "We should be careful not to lose what we have already gained." PAPay Govt?
  
• "We are different from them." They have complicated wage system we have "clean wage" But leeders get more hum when when they buy Char Kway Teow. So said One. No?
• "... on the opposition side, Mr Chen Show Mao has come in, aged 50 after a successful career, now he is ready to do public service. . do pro bono work . . they can serve 1 or 2 term years . . ." But there's One in Singapore who served since 1965 and still refuse to give up!

Poor PM Lee. He found it difficult to recruit "top lawyer Shanmugum" who took substantial pay cut and "Ng Eng Hen, a successful surgeon" and had to "raid SAF and the Civil Service" to get his prize catch.

Sheesh, was it difficult for WP's Low Thia Khiang to recruit politicians like Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Pritam Singh, Yaw Shing Long, Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap and Gerald Giam? Money, money, money, it is a (rich man's) PAP's world!

Duh . . . how much is enough? Enough for What?

"Men, the don't get it!' Heard that before? I must add that neither does the PAP! From PAP's Amy to Alvin to Sam to Zagy and others, they harped about WP's Chen Show Mao's, "WP plans differ little from recommendations: PAP MPs", Straits Times [Link]. Please read Chen Show Mao's and you will understand why those in PAP don't get it. Don't they know the difference between privilege and sacrifice? Don't they understand that you do not have to give a DISCOUNT to ETHOS? Which I last checked means: character, moral nature.

Duh . . .

Read Chen Show Mao's speech here. [Link]

feedmetothefish

*"bway ko yok" in Hokkein = "sell medicine"= "sell snake oil"