http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,203020,00.html?
No 'claims' system for MPs here
Overpaid, overclaimed and over there. British MPs suffered a public backlash when their ridiculous expense claims recently came to light. Could this happen in Singapore? HO LIAN-YI talks to our MPs
May 25, 2009
WHEN the hidden perks that British MPs enjoyed at the public's expense came to light, there was outrage.
The public fury was so loud that it forced the resignation of the Speaker of the British Parliament, Mr Michael Martin. He became the first Speaker to be forced out in more than 300 years. Can this happen in Singapore?
Unlikely, say MPs, simply because there is no 'claims system' for MPs.
Instead, MPs get an annual allowance of $190,000. This includes any bonuses they might receive that year.
The allowance is meant for them to meet their expenses as they look after their constituencies.
Said MP Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC): 'It's a clean wage system, and that's it. What we get covers everything. Every expense that you incur comes from your allowance or your own account.'
There are no car or handphone allowances. Even meals in Parliament are paid for by MPs themselves.
Want a driver? Sure. Pay for him yourself. Singapore MPs are only entitled to a legislative assistant and a secretarial assistant on the Government payroll.
People Action Party MPs also give part of their allowance to the party, which MPs say provides support services for their work.
Said Mr Lau Ping Sum, executive director at PAP headquarters: 'The PAP MPs contribute to the Party on average $1,800 or about 13 per cent of the monthly MP allowance.
'Ministers contribute more.'
Nominated MPs get a much smaller sum. NMP Dr Thio Li-Ann said their allowance is less than $2,000 a month.
'It's a modest allowance. To me, it's more honorary than anything else,' she said.
For her, it's more about national service.
Non-constituency MP Sylvia Lim said her honorarium is about $1,900 a month.
Her party, the Workers' Party, does not require compulsory monthly contributions from its MPs, she said.
In the UK system, MPs get an annual salary of £pounds;64,766 (about $150,000).
Though this is lower than what local MPs get, the potential amount they can receive through claims is much higher. (See other report.)
British MPs also receive the 'additional costs allowance' for second homes in London worth up to £pounds;24,000, plus a whole host of other benefits.
But lax enforcement led to what UK newspaper The Telegraph called 'an imaginative and varied series of abuses which leave the taxpayer footing the bill for a large part of some MPs' living expenses'.
The claims range from the fraudulent - a British MP allegedly claimed £pounds;11,000 for a non-existent mortgage ('an administrative error', he called it) - to the comical - £pounds;10 for horse manure.
In contrast, Singapore MPs cannot make claims.
Madam Ho Geok Choo, an MP for West Coast GRC, said the British system of claims is typical of the 'paternalistic approach' that Europeans have, even in their companies, which Singapore has moved away from.
Citing her own experience working in human resources, she said expatriates in European or European-managed companies claim for everything.
'Even the toilet paper,' she said.
Singapore MPs also don't have any compensation should they lose an election or fail to be renominated by the party, said Madam Ho. This is unlike British MPs who can expect a payout of between half to their full annual salary.
Comfortable wage
Mr Charles Chong, an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said: 'In many other countries, they think it's politically incorrect to pay themselves high salaries, because it will make people unhappy.'
But they achieve the same through perks and allowances.
Make no mistake though, MPs here aren't griping about the pay. As Mr Chong put it, it is a comfortable wage.
Like many of her parliamentary colleagues, Jalan Besar GRC MP Denise Phua donates generously.
She has sunk her own money into the new Pathlight School and Eden School, two autism-focused institutions that she supervises, and to poor students.
She also extends help to needy residents when she has a strong hunch he or she really needs help on the spot.
Ms Phua also pays for the meals of volunteers who help her at her meet-the-people sessions. Sometimes there are 30 to 40 of them, many of whom come straight from work without a meal.
She also buys food and drinks like Milo for residents waiting for their letters to be written by the volunteers.
She's not alone in giving out such treats to her grassroots leaders and needy residents.
Mr Hri Kumar, an MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, also forks out money for events like National Day Dinners for the less fortunate in his constituency.
For 10 tables, it can cost about $2,500.
Do they use other sources of funding, such as the Residents' Committee accounts?
Said Mr Hri Kumar: 'I don't tap on branch accounts; I tap my own accounts. Each branch is not that rich anyway.'
Then there are life-and-death costs - meaning the large number of weddings and wakes that MPs have to attend.
MP Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) said there are usually several a month. He doesn't give out of a sense of obligation, but out of friendship.
'You give what you feel comfortable with,' he said.
From own pocket
Senior Parliamentary Secretary Teo Ser Luck, an MP in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said he once bid around $10,000 at a charity art auction for a painting of Punggol Village by a local artist.
The reason? Many of those at a day care centre for the elderly (Silver Circle @ Punggol South) in his constituency were resettled from that village, and he thought it would resonate with them.
He also believes in recognising his grassroots leaders at his own expense.
For a three-day/four-night retreat to Chiangmai last year, he subsidised each of the 24 grassroots leaders by $100. He even paid for one older volunteer's trip in full.
The man was Mr Chia Boh Chai, 66, a volunteer for more than 40 years, who helps make desserts at meet-the-people sessions.
Said Mr Teo: 'I think it's necessary. I think he deserves it.'
Mr Teo even offered Mr Chia, who zooms around on a motorcycle doing errands, a new bike, but Mr Chia declined.
'I didn't want because I already had one,' said Mr Chia.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT BRITISH MPS CAN CLAIM
$148,400
British MP's annual salary:
$50,800
Maximum claim for incidental expenses:
$23,800
Maximum claim for Communications allowance:
These amounts are some of the expenses that can be claimed by British MPs. Information taken from factsheet found on British Parliament website.
No 'claims' system for MPs here
Overpaid, overclaimed and over there. British MPs suffered a public backlash when their ridiculous expense claims recently came to light. Could this happen in Singapore? HO LIAN-YI talks to our MPs
May 25, 2009
WHEN the hidden perks that British MPs enjoyed at the public's expense came to light, there was outrage.
The public fury was so loud that it forced the resignation of the Speaker of the British Parliament, Mr Michael Martin. He became the first Speaker to be forced out in more than 300 years. Can this happen in Singapore?
Unlikely, say MPs, simply because there is no 'claims system' for MPs.
Instead, MPs get an annual allowance of $190,000. This includes any bonuses they might receive that year.
The allowance is meant for them to meet their expenses as they look after their constituencies.
Said MP Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC): 'It's a clean wage system, and that's it. What we get covers everything. Every expense that you incur comes from your allowance or your own account.'
There are no car or handphone allowances. Even meals in Parliament are paid for by MPs themselves.
Want a driver? Sure. Pay for him yourself. Singapore MPs are only entitled to a legislative assistant and a secretarial assistant on the Government payroll.
People Action Party MPs also give part of their allowance to the party, which MPs say provides support services for their work.
Said Mr Lau Ping Sum, executive director at PAP headquarters: 'The PAP MPs contribute to the Party on average $1,800 or about 13 per cent of the monthly MP allowance.
'Ministers contribute more.'
Nominated MPs get a much smaller sum. NMP Dr Thio Li-Ann said their allowance is less than $2,000 a month.
'It's a modest allowance. To me, it's more honorary than anything else,' she said.
For her, it's more about national service.
Non-constituency MP Sylvia Lim said her honorarium is about $1,900 a month.
Her party, the Workers' Party, does not require compulsory monthly contributions from its MPs, she said.
In the UK system, MPs get an annual salary of £pounds;64,766 (about $150,000).
Though this is lower than what local MPs get, the potential amount they can receive through claims is much higher. (See other report.)
British MPs also receive the 'additional costs allowance' for second homes in London worth up to £pounds;24,000, plus a whole host of other benefits.
But lax enforcement led to what UK newspaper The Telegraph called 'an imaginative and varied series of abuses which leave the taxpayer footing the bill for a large part of some MPs' living expenses'.
The claims range from the fraudulent - a British MP allegedly claimed £pounds;11,000 for a non-existent mortgage ('an administrative error', he called it) - to the comical - £pounds;10 for horse manure.
In contrast, Singapore MPs cannot make claims.
Madam Ho Geok Choo, an MP for West Coast GRC, said the British system of claims is typical of the 'paternalistic approach' that Europeans have, even in their companies, which Singapore has moved away from.
Citing her own experience working in human resources, she said expatriates in European or European-managed companies claim for everything.
'Even the toilet paper,' she said.
Singapore MPs also don't have any compensation should they lose an election or fail to be renominated by the party, said Madam Ho. This is unlike British MPs who can expect a payout of between half to their full annual salary.
Comfortable wage
Mr Charles Chong, an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said: 'In many other countries, they think it's politically incorrect to pay themselves high salaries, because it will make people unhappy.'
But they achieve the same through perks and allowances.
Make no mistake though, MPs here aren't griping about the pay. As Mr Chong put it, it is a comfortable wage.
Like many of her parliamentary colleagues, Jalan Besar GRC MP Denise Phua donates generously.
She has sunk her own money into the new Pathlight School and Eden School, two autism-focused institutions that she supervises, and to poor students.
She also extends help to needy residents when she has a strong hunch he or she really needs help on the spot.
Ms Phua also pays for the meals of volunteers who help her at her meet-the-people sessions. Sometimes there are 30 to 40 of them, many of whom come straight from work without a meal.
She also buys food and drinks like Milo for residents waiting for their letters to be written by the volunteers.
She's not alone in giving out such treats to her grassroots leaders and needy residents.
Mr Hri Kumar, an MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, also forks out money for events like National Day Dinners for the less fortunate in his constituency.
For 10 tables, it can cost about $2,500.
Do they use other sources of funding, such as the Residents' Committee accounts?
Said Mr Hri Kumar: 'I don't tap on branch accounts; I tap my own accounts. Each branch is not that rich anyway.'
Then there are life-and-death costs - meaning the large number of weddings and wakes that MPs have to attend.
MP Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) said there are usually several a month. He doesn't give out of a sense of obligation, but out of friendship.
'You give what you feel comfortable with,' he said.
From own pocket
Senior Parliamentary Secretary Teo Ser Luck, an MP in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said he once bid around $10,000 at a charity art auction for a painting of Punggol Village by a local artist.
The reason? Many of those at a day care centre for the elderly (Silver Circle @ Punggol South) in his constituency were resettled from that village, and he thought it would resonate with them.
He also believes in recognising his grassroots leaders at his own expense.
For a three-day/four-night retreat to Chiangmai last year, he subsidised each of the 24 grassroots leaders by $100. He even paid for one older volunteer's trip in full.
The man was Mr Chia Boh Chai, 66, a volunteer for more than 40 years, who helps make desserts at meet-the-people sessions.
Said Mr Teo: 'I think it's necessary. I think he deserves it.'
Mr Teo even offered Mr Chia, who zooms around on a motorcycle doing errands, a new bike, but Mr Chia declined.
'I didn't want because I already had one,' said Mr Chia.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT BRITISH MPS CAN CLAIM
$148,400
British MP's annual salary:
$50,800
Maximum claim for incidental expenses:
$23,800
Maximum claim for Communications allowance:
These amounts are some of the expenses that can be claimed by British MPs. Information taken from factsheet found on British Parliament website.
