Perm Sec's travelogue 'insensitive and ill-judged'

(From the New Paper, 21 Jan 09)

RAPPED
By Lediati Tan
21 January 2009
The New Paper

Minister says perm sec's travel report lacks sensitivity, 'ill-judged'

INSENSITIVE and ill-judged. That was how the Minister-in-charge of the Civil Service Teo Chee Hean described a senior civil servant's published travelogue on his cooking course and holiday at the famous Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.

Mr Tan Yong Soon, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, paid 21,150 euros ($42,000) for the five-week culinary programme at the cooking school for himself, his wife and their son in November.

The amount does not include air tickets and living expenses in France.

Mr Teo said in Parliament yesterday that while what Mr Tan does during his vacation is his 'private decision', he was 'disappointed with what he wrote in The Straits Times'.

He added: 'The article showed a lack of sensitivity and was ill-judged.

'It struck a discordant note during the current difficult economic circumstances where it is especially important to show solidarity and empathy for Singaporeans who are facing uncertainties and hardship.'

Mr Teo added that Mr Peter Ho, the head of the Singapore Civil Service, had spoken to Mr Tan about the issue and had also written to him to 'put the matter on the record'.

Earlier, in response to a question by Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong, Mr Teo revealed that the total salaries of top civil servants and ministers are expected to fall this year.

Singapore's 2008 GDP growth, estimated at 2.5 per cent in November, was lowered further following the Prime Minister's announcement in his New Year message of a worse-than-expected 2008 GDP growth of 1.5 per cent.

'At these senior levels, a significant proportion of the total annual salary depends on the individual's performance and the performance of the economy,' said Mr Teo.

20% lower

Mr Teo told the House that the total annual salary of an officer at the ministerial grade (MR4) last year was $1.92 million, including the individual performance bonus and all other bonuses.

He said that the total annual salary of an officer in this grade will fall by 20 per cent to $1.54 million this year.

Similarly, the total annual salary for an officer at the SR9 level (entry superscale grade) is expected to fall 12 per cent, from $398,000 in 2008 to $351,000 this year.

The performance bonus paid last year to an MR4 officer ranged from six to 10 months, with an average payout of 8.33 months or $455,000.

Last year, the performance bonus awarded to an SR9 officer ranged from zero to 6.5 months, with an average payout of 4.82 months or $86,000.

The 2009 salaries are projected salaries, added Mr Teo.

'As the salaries are linked to economic performance, the 2009 salaries may be subject to further adjustments, given the volatility of the economy,' said Mr Teo.

Copyright 2009, Singapore Press Holdings Limited