‘Bravo, my Prime Minister’
COMMENT
The speed and alacrity of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's reforms has caught many, me included, by surprise.
Like clockwork military precision -- much like those laser guided smart bombs used during the Iraq wars -- he's moved swiftly and decisively to "take out" the most contentious issues expressed by the electorate.
In a series of calculated moves in the last fortnight, the Cabinet has been downsized and its key members reshuffled, three ministers who bore the brunt of many netizens' criticisms are out, he's accepted MM Lee and SM Goh's Cabinet resignations and the "sacred cow" of the ministerial pay is under review.
Bravo, my Prime Minister.
Some would call the speed of changes alarming, almost too quick. I prefer to call the hasty timing of changes astute because he's keeping the momentum generated from the General Elections going.
Let's take stock.
8 May: During post-GE results media conference, PM Lee vows his party will "improve ourselves and serve you better"
14 May: MM Lee, SM Goh announce their resignation from Cabinet
18 May: PM unveils streamlined, "new guard" Cabinet, three Ministers -- Mah Bow Tan, Wong Kan Seng and Raymond Lim -- are left out, accepts MM Lee and SM Goh resignation, takes over chairmanship of Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC)
21 May: PM Lee announces Ministerial Salary Review Committee
22 May: New pay model will be backdated from 21 May
To me, the most encouraging sign that he's keeping his promise to listen to the public is the announcement on Saturday that a committee has been formed to review the basis and level of ministerial salaries.
Chaired by National Kidney Foundation (NKF) chairman Gerard Ee, the committee is tasked to make recommendations "to help ensure honest and competent government".
PM Lee's decision to make the new salaries effective from the day the new government took office on 21 May also suggests, to me, two things.
One, the new salary recommendations by the committee has already been rubberstamped, whatever those recommendations may be. That takes guts. That's called putting your money where your mouth is, literally.
Two, the review is likely to be conducted -- albeit judiciously -- promptly for the longer the review drags on, the more complicated the new salary model is likely to be, defeating the entire point of the exercise.
To top it off, all these changes have taken place in what I feel has been a new "tone" of leadership. Refrains of "we will listen", "we will reach out" and "we will be humble and relook policies from a fresh slate" by various ministers and MPs in recent weeks have been consistent with the overall message that the People's Action Party is willing to change, transform and reform.
Of course, there will be much discussion and speculation on government policies in the next few months.
Will a cut in ministerial salaries quell public outrage over the issue?
What comes next?
Do the radical changes in the Cabinet lineup, along with the latest announcements, bode well for our future?
Time will tell what the next few months, or even weeks, will bring, but I can't wait.
