The former 0.6 Million Dollar CEO

So what is this about now?

I find this a bore already but damn....

As far as public opinions go, most people seem to target on the $600K price tag. Including myself.

But really, the seriousness of the matter is not how much money the man in question earns. It is not to do with how the board agree with the remunerations the guy earns. If I am not wrong, it is a non-profit organisation. That's right. No shareholders. The money comes from donations. And Mrs Goh Chok Tong's (why is she known as Mrs Goh Chok Tong but Mdm Ho Ching is not known as Mrs Lee Hsien Loong?) point of view is this:

"All NKF asked for was a retraction, because what was stated was not true. Instead they have expanded the case into other matters. I have no question on the NKF's transparency, and have complete faith in the NKF and Mr Durai."

Hmm....then she went on to comment that the pay was peanuts compared to the amount that he was managing. I seriously think that makes sense.

But if we compare Durai's role to that of a minister? Are they similar? Are we comparing apples and oranges (they are both bloody fruits!)?

So that brings us to this: How much should a minister be paid? There was an Asian Wall Street Journal report on this before. Generally, the Prime Minister's pay is about SGD2 million dollars. An average minister should be getting about SGD1.1 million. According to the proportional reasoning given by Mrs Goh Chok Tong, the Prime Minister and ministers are potentially grossly underpaid. And there are still factions who think they (ministers) are overpaid. These factions compare them to leaders from US, UK etc etc...well....that would be comparing apples and oranges.

The rationale (at least in Singapore) is that the pay of public servants should be pegged to the private sector so that public servants are less likely to succumb to corruption. I think it works. I damn hope it works.

below is an extract from a JBJ supporter. Enuwy recently blogged about him. It's about Mr Davinder Singh who is also the MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

Take real cases. I practiced law in Singapore for 11 years. Let me tell you what I know. Take Davinder Singh of Drew and Napier. He is praised as one of the best lawyers in Singapore. Personally I do not see anything special in him. There are lawyers much more capable, and especially much more experienced than him. Yet the government makes him a Senior Counsel, Drew and Napier makes him their Chief Executive Officer and he gets all the big government cases. He does pretty well.

He has one quality that others may not have. He is a card carrying member of the Peoples Action Party, a PAP Member of Parliament, and has absolute unshakeable loyalty to Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, his son and the PAP. Singh knows this, the legal fraternity knows this and everyone in Singapore knows this. In any other free country, a self respecting individual would be ashamed of receiving special treatment not because of his ability but because of his connections. I have seen Singh at the trial of Dr. Chee soon Juan in November last. He did not seem to be at the least bothered. I suppose, if Lee asked him to jump, he would ask “how high"?

I don't know how much of a puppet he is, but damn, he is a brilliant lawyer. Or is it that I am just not exposed to such eloquent and mercurial use of the English language. He tore down Durai's integrity, gave him a hobson's choice and damn....everyone knows what happened. Mr Davinder Singh, if you are reading this, you are the reason why potential slanderers are wary in Singapore. How you stoutly shielded Harry Lee from lesser humans....to quote from Da Ali G: R.E.S.P.E.C.K.

I think Durai and Co. vacating the Kim Keat office may or may not the best thing. But I agree they should leave. For these reasons: That they breached the public's trust given their coffers were filled by the public in the first place. For telling lies, despite having the chance to revise the published figures for patients in their care.

Yes, I know the great mathematicians out there will say how they can just invest their money in almost risk free bonds and operate from their perpetually. But we must remember, NKF started from a kidney dialysis centre into presently an umbrella organisation for children kidney and cancer funds. What is in their horizon? Funds for autistic children? Funds for AIDS related research? Funds for children of kidney patients who need financial aid to continue schooling? We might not know now, the entire board stepped down.

And can you imagine how rude the many people who call up NKF to ask for their donations to be cut? Or worse, refunded??!! WTF? Please do not be rude to the phone operators. They are unlikely to be given 10-12 months bonus.

Have we given thought why they ought to have a shower in the premise? Maybe the board members are so hardworking that they have no time to shower and have to shower at the work place.