TR EMERITUS

The Minister for Finance has appointed Mr Gerard Ee, President of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants, as a member to the board of the Singapore Accountancy Commission (SAC). Established in April 2013 as a statutory body, the SAC collaborates with local and international communities in order to drive accountancy excellence in Singapore through talent development, professional qualification, research and thought leadership. Its goal is to transform Singapore into a leading global accountancy hub for the Asia-Pacific region by 2020. Mr Ee had been a public accountant since 1978 until his retirement as a partner at Ernst & Young in June 2005. He is also the Chairman of the Eastern Health Alliance and Changi General Hospital, and the Chancellor and Chairman of SIM University, among his numerous appointments. Mr Ee’s term is effective from June 20 this year to March 31, 2015, the SAC said yesterday (24 Jun). Determining Ministerial Salaries Mr Ee’s most significant appointment to date was his appointment to chair the Ministerial Salary Review Committee in 2011 after the GE, helping to determine the salaries of the President, PAP ministers and PM Lee. The need for the committee arose because of popular discontent towards ministers being paid too handsome a salary, which was particularly notable during the 2011 General Elections as a sensitive topic that was raised on several occasions. In his swearing-in speech on 21 May 2011 after GE, PM Lee acknowledged that Singaporeans indeed, had genuine concerns over the salaries of their leaders. At the same time, Ministers should be paid properly so that Singapore will have capable and committed leadership over the long term, PM Lee said. He then appointed the Ministerial Salary Review Committee to review the basis and level of salaries for the President, PM, political appointment holders and MPs. He chose Mr Ee to lead the Committee. The Committee completed its review and submitted recommendations to PM Lee on 30 December 2011, which the government duly accepted. The new ministerial salaries are based on the recommendation that the formula for pegging ministerial pay be changed to the median income of the top 1,000 Singaporean earners less 40 per cent. It resulted in pay cuts for the various Government positions: However, after being forced to take a pay cut, PM Lee's salary is still one of the highest among leaders in the world. He still earns four times the salary of US President Obama and eight times that of British Prime Minister David Cameron [Link]:  Read More →

We refer to the article “CPF graffiti culprit jailed 4 weeks” (Straits Times, Jun 24). Homeless since 2003? It states that “he had been picking up cans as a rag-and-bone man … he had no home to go to since his release from prison in 2003 for causing grievous hurt. He could look for counsellors and family service centres? But DPP Lai said Loh could look for counsellors when he was in prison, and if he had problems in his daily life, he could approach family service centres when he was released from prison.” So many questions? This case may have highlighted or raised the following questions:- Why is a 71 year old Singaporean homeless since 2003? How did the authorities or NGOs helping ex-offenders assist him over the last 9 years or so? Was he provided counselling during or after his prison term? How did any family service centre help him? As we understand that “picking up cans” may only earn about $10 plus a day – Is he or has he ever received any financial assistance under ComCare? How many “Mr Lohs”? How many elderly Singaporeans are there like Mr Loh – picking up cans or used cardboards, selling tissues, etc (we see them every day almost everywhere in Singapore)? What this case may have underscored may not so much be “CPF”, but rather the plight of the elderly poor struggling on the streets of Singapore. This brings to mind the lyrics of the classic folk sing, “Streets of London”.   S Y Lee and Leong Sze Hian    Read More →

Raising eyebrows: Part of the reclaimed land on the Straits of Johor. (24 June)     The Federal Government has assured its counterparts in Singapore that it remains committed to international law amid concerns over possible massive land reclamation work in southern Johor. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Malaysia has been engaging Singapore on this issue through the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE). "The Government of Malaysia remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under the general principles of international law and in particular, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," he said on Tuesday.   Read more:     http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/06/24/Malaysia-in-discussion-with-Singapore-over-land-reclamation-work-in-Johor/    Read More →