Singapore bureaucrat's cooking trip sparks outcry

[Chisiang]

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/090113/3/3upw4.html

 

Tuesday January 13, 3:43 PM

Singapore bureaucrat's cooking trip sparks outcry

 

SINGAPORE, Jan 13 (Reuters) - A Singaporean bureaucrat who wrote about taking his family on an expensive cooking course in France has sparked ire from locals, with some accusing him of extravagance given the city-state is in recession. Tan Yong Soon, a senior official at Singapore's Environment Ministry, learnt to truss chicken and cut vegetables at Le Cordon Bleu cookery school in Paris with his wife and son, and wrote about it in the Straits Times newspaper earlier this month. "Taking five weeks leave from work is not as difficult as one thinks. Most times when you are at the top, you think you are indispensable. But if you are a good leader who has built up a good team, it is possible," Tan wrote in the newspaper. His article raised eyebrows given the five-week course for three at the prestigious French cooking school cost more than S$46,000 ($30,930). Singapore is one of Asia's wealthiest nations but it was the first country in Asia to fall into recession last year. More job cuts are looming. "Anyone who has any sense of empathy for the average working person struggling to survive would not be splashing his story of luxurious holidays in full spread in a national newspaper," said Andrew Loh on a Singaporean discussion website (http://theonlinecitizen.com). Tan could not be reached for comment and he has not said anything publicly about the response to his article. "How long does each of us take to earn even half that amount that Mr. Tan spent on his lessons? And how many of us can afford to be away for five weeks on paid vacation without getting sacked from our jobs?" said Eugene Yeo, senior writer at the political website, The Wayang Party Club of Singapore. (http://wayangparty.com) Some online forum users said Tan could decide what to do with his money, but still felt he was being boastful. "Agreed that what he does with his money and time is his business but to brag about it really makes me boil," said an online post from someone nicknamed Ricksw8437. ($1=1.487 Singapore Dollar) (Reporting by Melanie Lee; Editing by Neil Chatterjee and Dean Yates)

 

 

 

[Genie47]

I'm sorry but Mr Tan spent his own money. Not gahment money. So what he does in his vacation is his own business and not ours.

 

One should question ST for printing the article at times like this. They can choose not to do the story but in the end, they did. I'm sure a lot of the staff there might have known there could be an outcry.

 

But, the story sells and has now generated some reaction. Be it positive or negative, it is still a reaction. A reaction to deflect from other more important issues? I have no idea.

[Chrispie]

i think this tan still acceptable.. if say PM go buy ferrari.. then sure kaopeh liao.

[Genie47]

If he buy Ferrari with his own money, that is his own money. Money he earned. Who knows he saved really hard. But that is the main idea, it is his own money. People kaopeh only confirms they set standards that are too high.

[Furrynadz]

cooking buffet for everyone?

[Gearoil]

I'm sorry but Mr Tan spent his own money. Not gahment money. So what he does in his vacation is his own business and not ours.

 

One should question ST for printing the article at times like this. They can choose not to do the story but in the end, they did. I'm sure a lot of the staff there might have known there could be an outcry.

 

But, the story sells and has now generated some reaction. Be it positive or negative, it is still a reaction. A reaction to deflect from other more important issues? I have no idea.

 

The journalist got sacked and the Editor got warned!

 

Enough or need to sack them all?

 

Then nobody will report and write the news column for you!

 

[Loneranger]

If he buy Ferrari with his own money, that is his own money. Money he earned. Who knows he saved really hard. But that is the main idea, it is his own money. People kaopeh only confirms they set standards that are too high.

 

No, his money comes from his salary paid by the country whom we pay tax to.

[Scoots]

I will have to agree that he is free to spend his money he earned as he deem fit. However, given the current economic gloom, for him to still be able to spend his money that way does show that he is very well (over?) paid.

 

Perhaps his ministry should practice what the government is advocating and look into cost reduction, starting with the upper management as per Temasek? . Or is the Environment Ministry not in need of cost reduction? (ie: too much budget)

Edited January 13, 2009 by Scoots

[Tkseah]

No, his money comes from his salary paid by the country whom we pay tax to.

 

u mean when u get salary the money is not yours to spend the way u like??

 

[Silver_blade]

I think some people are just red-eye. He was spending his own money and why does he need to answer to any one? It's his problem that some cannot earn as much as he do...? If those who complaint also make that kind of money...will many of them deprive themselves and live like those who are making less than $1k/mth?

 

I sometimes agree with those who complaint about out elites and gov...but this one I cannot agree.

 

 

 

[Silver_blade]

I will have to agree that he is free to spend the money he earned as he deem fit. However, given the current economic gloom, for him to still be able to spend his money that way does show that he is very well (over?) paid...

It could just means that he has been prudent over the years. We are seeing some MCFers talking about buying new cars, want to do some modifications to their car, etc.....are they also wrong?

 

I feel the 'problem' is cos some of us just couldn't/will never make that kind of money...therefore finding those who are spending so much money on such thing in a bad times obscene/insensitive). I'm sure many poor (those living on assistance) also think the same about those who are richer than them eg. those who eat at Mac's (can't they cook), those who watch movie in a cinema (can't they watch TV or watch at video rental shops), those who drive (can't they walk or take PT), etc...

Edited January 13, 2009 by Silver_blade

[Mustank]

I'm sorry but Mr Tan spent his own money. Not gahment money. So what he does in his vacation is his own business and not ours.

 

One should question ST for printing the article at times like this. They can choose not to do the story but in the end, they did. I'm sure a lot of the staff there might have known there could be an outcry.

 

But, the story sells and has now generated some reaction. Be it positive or negative, it is still a reaction. A reaction to deflect from other more important issues? I have no idea.

 

i agree. this is his own money. his own life.

 

there is so many things to discuss to improve SG.

 

this is not one of them

[Loneranger]

u mean when u get salary the money is not yours to spend the way u like??

 

No, yours and mine is fine. But when your salary comes from the public, the public

 

has the right to question.

[Tarzan666]

In this article, he does appear very haolian. If he can be off work for 5 weeks, i think the organisation don't need him at all.

 

I think he sure kena hantam privately by gahmen...

[Tkseah]

No, yours and mine is fine. But when your salary comes from the public, the public

 

has the right to question.

 

public have the right to question the amount of salary paid.. but it's not the same as questioning how they spend their salary..

 

 

[Throttle2]

Only sour grapes will feel upset.

 

He earned the money, he spent it any way he wants.

 

(well replied TkSeah)

 

but if he used public funds or charity funds then must kena big big

[Genie47]

No, his money comes from his salary paid by the country whom we pay tax to.

 

 

Different issue.

[Genie47]

I will have to agree that he is free to spend his money he earned as he deem fit. However, given the current economic gloom, for him to still be able to spend his money that way does show that he is very well (over?) paid.

 

Perhaps his ministry should practice what the government is advocating and look into cost reduction, starting with the upper management as per Temasek? . Or is the Environment Ministry not in need of cost reduction? (ie: too much budget)

 

As said, this has been the issue with our Ministar salary. But the article over unhappiness is how he spent his money.

 

Must know how to see them as two separate issues.