A classic Singaporean reaction

A classic Singaporean reaction to Singaporean streakers:

"Streaking 'fun' can lead to other crimes"
http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_350495.html

I'll post his comments in full (since he hardly said anything and the ST may not archive this to the end of days like the BBC does):

AFTER reading last Thursday's report, "Undergrad streakers expelled from NUS hostel", I would like to remind students that NUS stands for "National University of Singapore", and not "Naked University of Singapore".

I have nothing against drinking and having fun. However, running naked from one hostel to the next is something all schools and universities must prevent. Such "fun" can lead to other crimes.

Ace Kindred Cheong



This guy seems to possess future ministerial qualities ...

First paragraph - trying to impose his "authority" by "reminding" people of a useless piece of fact. Everyone knows NUS does not stand for the "Naked University of Singapore" ... your sarcastic remark does not tell anybody anything useful.

Second paragraph - Mr Cheong does the classic "fear factor" tactic of the ruling party - unsubstantiated paranoia about "other crimes". What other crimes are you alluding to, Mr Cheong? How are they related to streaking? Where do you get your crime statistics from that relates streaking to these "other crimes"?

As usual the Mainstream Media laps this kind of drivel up while rejecting other more thoughtful and interesting letters (you can see some of those on The Online Citizen or Wayang Party - I don't always agree with them, but I find those letters far more thoughtful about the issues we face as Singaporeans).

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=24451.1

CDC bonuses explained

March 16, 2009

CDC bonuses explained
By Jessica Lim

Mr Lim said that reward system motivate people to perform, because if a person does badly, he will not get the same high bonus. -- ST PHOTO: STEPHANIE YEOW
COMMUNITY development councils (CDCs) need the flexibility to pay deserving staff bigger bonuses, People's Association (PA) deputy chairman Lim Boon Heng said on Monday.

Responding to questions about the online buzz generated after some staff at the Northwest CDC were reportedly paid up to eight months' bonus last year, Mr Lim said such payouts 'vary according to performance'.

VIDEO
Minister defends flexibility in rewarding staff
(1:18)
He did not touch on exactly how much the CDC's staff were paid, but said bonuses 'help to motivate people to perform, because if a person does badly, he will not get the same high bonus. So this ensures that the reward system is fair and responsive to the needs of the organisation'.

Mr Lim, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, added: 'In good times and in bad, there are good performers. And I think that particularly in bad times, we need people who give of their best and show example to the rest about what they can do to help the organisation.'

Pointing out that only a select few get high payouts, he said: 'I think we should not begrudge the few people who get very high bonuses.'

Several blog posts and threads dedicated to the issue of Northwest CDC's payouts have sprung up recently.

Many question the justification for such payouts, especially in light of the recession. Others say they are absurd in a time of growing retrenchments.

However, most ignored the fact that the bonuses were paid last year, when the economy was humming along right up till the last quarter.

When contacted, the PA, which decides bonuses and salaries of CDC staff, said its payments are in line with the National Wages Council's guidelines, and that it moved to performance-based pay in order to reward and incentivise staff fairly and responsively.

The PA added that only staff at the lower end of the salary range receive high performance bonuses. Such payments, it said, also help the organisation retain outstanding performers.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=sunkopitiam&msg=24248.1&search=y

Teo Ho Pin: Not “unreasonable” for the two CDC staff to receive eight months of bonus

Teo Ho Pin: Not “unreasonable” for the two CDC staff to receive eight months of bonus

Translated from Sin Ming Daily, 15 March 2009

According to an earlier report by 938live, a writer by the name of johnlaw2012 posted on the Channelnewsasia forum on the first of this month that two employees of Northwest Community Development Council received bonuses of 8 months last year, including the 13th month bonus.

In reponse to queries from radio958, Northwest CDC Mayor Dr Teo Ho Pin clarified that the pay of CDC staff is determined by the People’s Association.

He said: “The economy only start to worsen during the last 3 months of 2008. The performance of the economy during the first 9 months is still not bad. We have to look at the matter from the entire year’s perspective. Hence, it is not unreasonable for CDC staff to receive 8 months of bonuses.”

The People’s Association did not confirm or refute the rumors circulating on the internet. Earlier, PA also said that the salaries and bonuses of its staff are within the guidelines set by the National Wage Council.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=25048.1