Seems Fishy/Misleading - Opinion on Singapore government and society

By Hilary Yeo on FB: It is only natural that Singaporeans desire the best talent for key roles. After all, we are taught to expect nothing but the best. That is why we are told to offer top-tier compensation to attract these "high-flyers" into government positions. However, I do not think they are worth the price we pay. All I have seen are short term solutions of vouchers and gst raises without addressing the elephant in the room. Which is that rent is too high for business to operate here. When both Parliament and the civil service are populated by these so-called "elites," all cut from the same cloth and shaped by the same narrow standards of success(GDP), the result is a stifling echo chamber with no room everyone else to breathe. They bring little diversity of experience, and society suffocates as a result. In an era marked by a rapidly evolving and disruptive economy, it is more crucial than ever to foster a diversity of thought and opinions. We need robust debates in parliament on policies where problems are viewed from different angles and perspectives. Not the same old, same old. Even if some of the opposition are not up to standard, they will offer different perspectives and viewpoints from these "high-flyers". And more than willing to earn the voter's approval. More importantly it will encourage others who are to step forward to challenge the status quo. In today’s rapidly changing economy, we need diverse perspectives and open debate, not just the views of a select few. A thriving society like a forest requires a variety of industries ecosystems, but many are leaving Singapore due to high rents, leaving us reliant on financial and property sectors, with little innovation. And a people obsessed with just making as much money as possible based on the sheer number of property and insurance agents. We have put our children in school through more stress than ever before only for them to cope with ever rising cost of housing and living while at the same competing with foreigners that do not need to do NS and the luxury of retiring back to their countries where cost of living is lower. We have seen how the PAP have run the govt over the last 20 years and we can clearly see going forward, they as well as the civil servants are ill equipped to generate fresh ideas nor the courage to try alternatives. Furthermore we have bloated bureaucracy where mayors are paid over 4 million a year to "serve as a Chairman of the Community Development Council in that particular district." You cannot really blame them when their high salaries do not allow them to take risks when they have so much more to lose than the voters because by default, bureaucrats are incentivized to make no mistakes and are risk-averse. So if we are to evolve and address the challenges of tomorrow, it is up to the voters to have the courage to vote for change for all our sake. Please share this article to fence sitters and also your thoughts below.

⚠️ Take this with a pinch of salt. The post raises valid concerns about high rents affecting businesses and the need for diverse perspectives in government. However, it exaggerates the salaries of mayors, claiming they earn S$4 million annually, while the actual figure is around S$660,000. Additionally, while the post criticizes a lack of diversity in government, it may not fully recognize ongoing efforts to address this issue. The post reflects a critical stance on Singapore's political and economic situation, urging for change and more inclusive governance.

• https://smartwealth.sg/salaries-singapore-president-ministers-mps/
• https://sgtuff.org.sg/the-impact-of-high-rents-on-retail-landlords-and-tenants-in-singapore/
• https://www.aware.org.sg/2025/01/aware-budget-2025/