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Let's
not get mad, let's get busy
29
Mar 07
Dear
fellow Singaporeans,
The
Internet has been seething with anger over the latest round of
salary increase for our ministers. I don’t need to go into
the figures for you already know them.
Not
only have the ministers lavished on themselves quite obscene
salaries but they have also, through their remarks, shown
complete and utter contempt for the feelings of Singaporeans.
Which prime minister would say that he and his colleagues should
not be expected to make 'unnecessary financial sacrifices' when
even a minister is paid more than the president of the United
States?
What's
more, this comes on the heel of a GST hike amidst data showing
that lower-income earners continue to see their wages shrink. And
then the Prime Minister tells us that it does this in order to
help the poor.
Enough
of blogging. Enough of posting your frustrations online. Enough
of complains. We’ve been doing that ever since the scheme
of pegging ministerial pay to the most lucrative professional
salaries started in the mid-1990s.
We
need to stop talking and start exercising our rights – no,
our solemn duty – to speak up for our nation. We need to
let the PAP know that it cannot treat us like doormats.
I
know many of you are still fearful. But you must act in spite of
your fears. When you do, you'll discover the power of your
courage you never thought you had. When enough of us overcome
that fear, the PAP will listen.
Let
not our fear freeze us into inaction. And let it not be remarked
that, like Nero, we fiddled while Rome burned.
What
can you do? For starters, go down to Orchard Road at Ngee Ann
City Shopping Centre this Saturday, 31 March, starting from 12
noon to about 3 pm where my colleagues and I will be selling the
book The Power of Courage. Come by to say hello and leave
us your contact. If you have children, bring them along. My kids
will be there.
We
will need your assistance in the planning of a series of
activities leading up to May Day in a month’s time. Here’s
your opportunity to do something constructive and to really stand
up for Singapore.
Remember
my fellow Singaporeans, we are citizens, not slaves! Citizens
have rights and we need to exercise those rights. I leave you
with this thought: Aeroplanes are safer on the ground, but that
was not what aeroplanes are made for.
See
you on Saturday!
Chee
Soon Juan
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