State media in overdrive damage control mode to rehabilitate Tan Yong Soon
January 22nd, 2009 | 
Author: By Eugene Yeo
The Straits Times/PAP Forum has sunk to a new low with the publication of SIX letters (yes, your eyes are not playing tricks on you – SIX) ALL defending Tan Yong Soon and slamming netizens for being “small minded”. (read them here)
This is IMPOSSIBLE to believe. Straits Times didn’t even bother to put up the customary wayang by including one or two letters criticizing Tan to balance things so as to appear objective and fair.
It creates the impression that the general public is strongly in support of Tan. Is this true ?
According to an online poll we are still conducting here which drew responses from over 2,500 readers, an overwhelming 88% did not agree with or support Tan Yong Soon flaunting his wealth in a national paper, an increase of 15% before Tan was rapped in Parliament by Teo Chee Hean.
Can Straits Times give us a figure of the number of letters they receive in support of Tan and those critical of him ? Perhaps the SIX letters published today were the ONLY letters they had received which are sympathetic towards Tan’s plight.
Tan Yong Soon should count himself pretty lucky that his misdeeds were exposed in Singapore with its compliant media and not in Malaysia, Taiwan or Hong Kong where he will be publicly cruxified and forced to resign, but not before calling a press statement to issue a humiliating apology. Life has been too good and cosy for our over-paid leaders and bureaucrats.
In Hong Kong, protests broke out when Chief Executive Donald Tsang made a simple suggestion during a Legco meeting to increase the pay of their lawmakers and civil servants by 5% which still pales in comparison to our multi-millionaire ministers and MPs.
None of us here know Mr Tan in person and we have NO PERSONAL VENDETTA against him. In fact, we do not object to him spending $45,000 on a cooking course in France either.
The real underlying cause of this widespread anger and disgust from the public lies in the grossly bloated salaries of our ministers, MPs and top civil servants which we have no say in.
A permanent secretary like Mr Tan brings home more than $50,000 a month. Even after the impending 20% pay cut, he will still receive in excess of $40,000. Do we need to pay such ridiculously high salaries to keep our government and civil service efficient and corruption-free ?
A government employee has an IRON RICE BOWL especially during bad times like this, they never have to worry about getting retrenched. Taking a 20% pay cut is too little, they should be getting at least a 90% pay cut to make them understand the plight of the ordinary Singapore workers struggling to keep themselves and families afloat during this economic downturn ! After all, they have earned enough for the past few years to last not only their lifetimes, but till their great-great-great grandchildren’s generation as well ! The money from their pay cuts can go to a Fund for Retrenched workers to tide them over the period of unemployment. Don’t you agree, my readers ?
If Mr Tan felt he was hard done by, he can always write in to the ST/PAP forum to defend himself. Nobody is denying him the right to rebuke. If he is peeved with his superior from ticking him off, he can always RESIGN to protest against the decision and seek greener pastures in the private sector.
Now, we Singaporeans have been told again, again and again by the PAP and its mouthpiece – the state media that we need to PAY THEM TOP OF THE WORLD SALARIES or they will all flock en masse to the private sector where they will be paid more.
Will Mr Tan Yong Soon please verify this eternal PAP “truth” by quitting his job and joining the private sector (NOT any state-linked companies) and see if any company in the world, not only Singapore, can afford to pay him $50,000 a month with a 5-week PAID vacation annually ?
Shame on you, Straits Times editors ! Your dishonesty has transcended all known defined boundaries of human decency ! Stop treating Singaporeans as FOOLS ! Even a prostitute hawking her trade along the streets of Geylang deserves more respect from me than you minions pretending to represent the people’s views in a “national” paper. At least these freelance whores adhere to standard market practices by selling themselves to the highest bidder instead of you who are contented to be screwed by the same political master day in and day out repeatedly like a SLAVE.
Posted in Editorial
very well said.. salute to wayangparty!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I wonder why MP Chong is not under spotlight? Perhaps people pay less attention to what happens in parliament as compared to what is published in newspaper.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It’s so sad that the media always try to blind the public by using tweaked statistics and surveys.
Lucky we have the Internet to validate for ourselves.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I don’t think the Straight-jacket Times concern about editorial integrity. Ranking 141 or 154 so what. It has served its purpose anyway, to make the MIWs looks good.
And I believe it to divert some heat from Greater Mortal C.C back to the TYS.
Good move
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The media is owned by the state…what do you think they should do???? It takes the internet to see through the propaganda…
If a product is advertised long enough on tv and papers, comsumer will start believing a particular brand is better than brand x even though they both do the job equally well ( or worse). This is what is called “branding” in marketing terms..Guess who is doing the marketing in this case?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
PLs do not forget that they are the one who ran that article in the first place. It goes to show what kind of newspaper editors we have, only cut and paste from other publications which they skewed in the name of reporting. Look at the Life edition today(22nd Jan), a couple of miserable pages of TV highlights and advertisements. I am still paying my subscription out of habit and I feel very ripped off getting this kind of substandard newspapers.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I would like to remind the public why our MSM is like such. Everything has a beginning, it all started when our esteemed leader, Mr Lee KY was the opposition member.
Back then, he knew the system, he was against the system.
But now, he used the same system.
His past quote has perfectly described the situation in our current environment.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Heres the very reason i stop buying The Straits Times…
Im not paying for that junk anymore.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
well said… bravo! *salutes to you sir*
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Perhaps ST is trying to make amends for their blunder which led to the big outcry.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
PR overdrive time. predicted this the day Mr Teo apologised. nothing but HYPOCRITES.
let’s throw them all out.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
For all you know, these so called letters to the Forum in support of “Le Cordon Tan” were actually written by “You Know Who”. Those, whose letters condemned the insensitive behaviour of our highly tax dollars paid Mandarin are consigned to the trash bin.
And you can be sure that these YKW earn as much as this trainee cook. Birds of the same feather should not only flock together. It seems they are also sticking together.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It seems to me that the powers that be cannot make up their minds whether to defend or attack, so they decide on two-pronged to cover all bases.
Do they honestly think that the lesser mortals can be chided into feeling “small-minded” in such difficult economic times? I’m only surprised that they didn’t go so far as to say that we should be “grateful” for Tan’s outstanding service to the nation.
Humbugs, I say.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
All these discussion in the cyberspace make me wonder, WHAT THE HELL THE “SO CALLED OPPOSITION PARTIES” are doing in parliment or in media or whereever? There is no need for 100% anti-PAP stance all the time (some efforts by PAP government are commendable, but said efforts escape my mind at this time), albeit, they could voice the “lesser mortals” viewpoint…….
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Straits Times = Straits Times = Propaganda machine close to Joseph Goebbelsof Nazi Germany, Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.
Our esteemed Straits Times editors are promoting facism disguised as democracy.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Please allow me to say a big THANK YOU to celebrity French Chef Tan Yong Soon for all his boasting; and another bigger THANK YOU to Charley You Fook Chong for calling me a tiny good-for-nothing mortal.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Well-spewed vitriol!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
May I ask hur … if we kick out the ruling party now hor, who will take over the vacumn leh?
Think we have to start organising and making appointments now just it case it materialised.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The best article so far,congrats.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hey, what else can you expect from the state media? If it were to be reputable news agencies, I bet the scene would be a lot different.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
To 7. Joe.
Might you have a link to that quote?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
朱门酒肉臭
路有冬死骨
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think you are wrong in the case that that’s the 6 only letters they received.
I think they received none, and those are 6 letters written from imagination from some spin doctors. hahaha.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
As a member of the public, and after speaking to other members of public, I can tell you I DO NOt support Tan Yong Soon and I DO NOT know anyone who supports him.
Taxi drivers and factory workers who used to work with me told me clearly that they DO NOT support Tan Yong Soon. To make their point clearer, they punctuated their comments with some colourful Hokkien phrases.
So the Straits Times published 6 letters defending Tan Yong Soon? Well we can easily point to hundreds of comments on the internet f**king Tan Yong Soon. 6 letters… hah!
Crew
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
A long time ago, I wrote a spoof article about hiring new leaders for Singapore. In light hearted fashion, I pointed out the grossly inflated wages paid to our national leaders and made recommendations to curb the waste.
It may seem like shamelss plugging so the editor may choose not to publish this particular comment, but I thought I would like to share the letter with readers here anyway. Here’s a link: http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=224
It just seem like such a good time to bring up this topic again, what with the recession we are going through and the shameless flaunting of opulence by civil servants. If my recommendations are taken seriously, they would save our Treasury a much needed US$22 million (at least) a year!
Crew
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Eugene, I don’t know u from a bar of soap but I think u r quite hysterical over this issue. Such hysteria doesn’t give confidence that pple like u can be trusted to run our country as badly as even the PAP (in your view) is running it.
I quote: “Tan Yong Soon should count himself pretty lucky that his misdeeds were expose …” I think u are illogical. He is spending his own money u know. So y should it be considered “misdeeds”?
If they are truly “misdeeds”, meaning that his money is ill-gotten and u know that it is ill-gotten, don’t u think that u should be reporting Mr Tan to the CPIB, rather than rant and rave abt it in your website?
Truly, wayang kulit u r!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Dear Auntielucia,
You flatter me. I am merely a “lesser mortal” who is contented being an annonymous arm-chair critic. Neither did I harbor any ambition to be upgraded to a “greater mortal” like Tan Yong Soon and Charles Chong.
Yes, he is spending his own money. But who pays his salary ? It’s you and me. There are many ways you can define “misdeed” and clearly in this context, I am not insinuating any possible breaches of criminal law on his part. Please do not put words into my mouth.
Eugene
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Now one of the articles stated the B H Obama also had such as grand inauguration despite the fact that America is in an extreme economic down turn. Should Americans equally criticise BHO for this lavish show?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Responding to Eugene in 27:
U have gone to town over the phrase “lesser mortals” uttered by MP Chong. Anyone who knows English beyond a basic level would know “lesser mortals” need NOT mean anything detrimental. Simply, a polite phrase to say “we are talking of different categories of pple”.
From yr writing, yr English is far from basic. Yet u insist on taking offence. Weren’t u twisting MP Chong’s words?
So, why shouldn’t Mr Tan take offence with you for describing his holidy in France as “misdeeds”? If he is of a litigous nature, he can n would sue u. But I think from all accounts, Mr Tan is easily brow-beaten.. so he won’t sue.
If u have the guts and the glory on your side, why not go describe what appears to be conspicuous consumption (to u and your coterie) by other leading S’poreans as “misdeeds” and see how they will react.
As for Mr Tan’s pay coming from u and me, I don’t know how much u pay in direct n indirect taxes, so i can’t n won’t speak for u. For myself, I’m not in your league of tax paying, — I’m a lesser mortal in this instance — so I’m not jumping all over the place over Mr Tan’s pay and how he spends it. All I know is that the bulk of direct n indirect taxes in S’pore is paid by the super rich.
If u are so incensed over Mr Tan’s pay, then u must think him not worth that pay. And my dear Eugene the way to ensure that civil servants are paid according to what u think, u must be in charge of the Govt or the civil service..
Go choose your options and xin nian kuai le!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hi auntielucia,
When Charles Chong’s remarks were first published in TODAY, there was a big furore in most internet forums. In fact, I read about it from the CNA forum where in that morning alone, there were at least 20 discussion threads started on the topic.
Are you implying that those netizens who started the threads do not know “basic English” ? I do not think this blog have the clout to influence the perception of so many netizens. If we have been posting rubbish, we will be flamed instead. Go and read the comments posted here in the other post, somebody posted the definition of ‘lesser mortal’. We publish almost all comments posted here unedited.
You have your own interpretation of the phrase and I respect that. There is absolutely no need for you to belittle others just because they don’t see eye to eye with you.
I guess you are going off the tangent here. The definition of “misdeed” according to Longman dictionary is “wrong OR illegal action”. I stand by my words because I feel what Mr Tan Yong Soon had done is wrong and I am referring to his article which was written and published at a wrong time using a wrong style. I welcome Mr Tan to sue me in court for libel and let’s see if he has any legal grounds to stand on.
It appears that you don’t seem to get my point after all. There is nothing wrong in spending one’s own money. I have no issue with Mr Tan taking his family to Paris for a 3-week course, That is his own business. I would like to ask what went through his mind when he was writing his featured article for The Straits Times. If he had been considerate and sensitive enough, he would have predicted the furore which his article would have triggered. Surely he doesn’t need to boast about taking 5-week paid vacation in his article ? How would a worker who had just been retrenched feel ?
Now, if there is really nothing wrong with Mr Tan’s article, why should his superior Peter Ho reprimand him and written to him to have it put on the record ? And why did Teo Chee Hean rap him publicly in Parliament ? Or are you questioning their judgements and wisdom ? Here, we have the government asking Singaporeans to tighten their belts and prepare for a difficult time ahead and we have a civil servant being paid by taxpayers’ monies flaunting his wealth publicly. Does the civil service still have any moral authority left ?
Mr Tan Yong Soon isn’t worth that pay and the same goes to all the senior civil servants, ministers and MPs. There are many Singaporeans who share my view and this is the real root cause of the flak Tan is getting now. He has become a scapegoat for the ruling party to take on all the long suppressed anger which erupted like a volcano.
You have your own opinion and I respect that. I do not insist you are in the wrong and you have to accept my views. This “lesser mortal” is too dumb to be persuaded by you. Perhaps you would like to try your luck with other netizens here ?
Eugene
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The fact that Tan can be away from his ministry for 5 weeks is ample proof that he is redundant!!! Why not promote the fellow who handled the ministry in his absence and sack Tan???
Straits Times aka Shit Times articles about PAP cadre is so predictable……these articles are and always will be not only highly positive…..but make PAP cadre appear like saints or Gods!!
Also, I don’t understand why Shit Times likes to quote Charles “the Higher Mortal” Chong.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
For proof of our “talented” our ministers can be in the private…..just look what happened to Yeo CT, David Lim and Yeo NH….they all faded into obscurity after leaving govt!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“Now, if there is really nothing wrong with Mr Tan’s article, why should his superior Peter Ho reprimand him and written to him to have it put on the record ? And why did Teo Chee Hean rap him publicly in Parliament ? Or are you questioning their judgements and wisdom?”
Yes, I am and have said so..OK? There is no need to fear criticising our ministers and/or head of civil service, if there is ground.
Haha, I see u didn’t respond to my assertion that u r among the super rich in tax payment…well, I guess if u pay in six or seven figures, u have more right than moi to jump up and down over civil service/ministers’ pay.
Lastly, I’m not saying u must accept my view. I’m merely declaring that I disagree with u.
Gd nite. I don’t intend to carry on this subject any more, even if u choose to blast moi further.
One last word: just becos a million netizens take offence at “lesser mortals” (a very common wry and self-deprecating phrase, such as “us lesser mortals”), it doesn’t mean that they are right, u know. They cld just be xiao chi!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Dear Auntielucia , Dear Eugene,
I can fully respect both of your interesting views. How MRXXX spend his hard earned money and his vacation is a private family matter even if he is a civil servant. He like everyone else.. work hard for their money.But he should not broadcast or made public his family private expensive vacation especially during this hard time when the citizens are reminded to tighten their belt for the tough time ahead of us. READ THE PAPERS..A 35 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH TWO BOYS..WITH WIFE WORKING AS HAWKER ASSISTANT..and hard to make end meet..SAD for a young Singapore family.
I reckon he just not sensitive when making public during this time. That why his Boss Teo not happy with his action even if MrXXX did with good intention.
If a person is very rich..I am sure we do not envy them but respect them for their hard work and ability to earn lots of money but so long these $$$ are not made through cheating like our Banks here or if his wife as a Investment Adviser play a part with the Banks to cheats decent people to pay for these expensive vacation although I hope is not a fact.
The Banks lead the way to cheat in a legal manner now follow by example … a well-reputable Realty Company. These bad deed must be exposed to the public to protect decent honest people. As mentioned by Obama..U.S.A in this DIRE situation is because of ” GREED and IRRESPONSBILITY ” ..SOUND sIMILAR HERE.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
BHO party whent into the multi millions when American unemployment rte is rocketing. Yet no one complains like you Singaporeans.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Dear Leanne ,
How do you know there no complains??..do you want me to send you their website similar to Wayang Party?…anyhow he repreent the last hope ..so pray he will deliver lah…Wayang Party website to me is like a “Ronbin Hood” ..exposed the bad deeds ( not only covering political party alone) to protect the decent people of Singapore ..of course give credit when due lah….I wonder if you are in the situation of poor young Singapore family..or you are in a very comfortable situation.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Wah say, I spot 2 commandoes of the pappies internet brigade cheonging to do their “duty, honour and country” for Pappyland!
My goodness, let an ex-conscript in the Lion City who went through 2.5 years of NS + 10 years of annual in-camp training try to reply to the commandoes:
“26 – auntielucia said
January 22, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Eugene, I don’t know u from a bar of soap but I think u r quite hysterical over this issue. Such hysteria doesn’t give confidence that pple like u can be trusted to run our country as badly as even the PAP (in your view) is running it.”
Auntielucia, who gave you the idea that Eugene wants to run our country? Can’t he express his views. If you disagree, by all means engage him on his views.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
28) leanne said
January 22, 2009 at 7:53 pm
“Now one of the articles stated the B H Obama also had such as grand inauguration despite the fact that America is in an extreme economic down turn. Should Americans equally criticise BHO for this lavish show?”
Who cares whether Americans want to criticise Barrack Obama or his administration for spending lavishly on his inauguration. It’s their country and Americans can say whatever they want of their own leaders in their own country. BTW, if you read some of the US news websites, there are people who feel that the amount of $160-170m spent on inauguration is wasteful. Perhaps you should do some homework and google the internet responses in the US for this?
http://www.google.com.sg/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=zED&pwst=1&q=inauguration+waste+of+taxpayers+money&start=0&sa=N
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Leanne
Not sure if you are aware but Singapura spends a pretty penny (or pennies) on our annual National Day Parade using the sweat of conscript National Servicemen and Reservists. So should we be asking our government why the need for lavish National Day parades (mostly funded from your tax dollars) for 2009 given our recession.
Frankly speaking, if it saves more jobs, I don’t mind cancelling NDP 2009 or making it low profile.
Majullah Singapura.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Dear Auntielucia,
I mentioned in an earlier comment that Eugene Yeo is a self-professed healthcare PROFESSIONAL. See http://208.79.203.2/~wayangpa/?page_id=4579
So I call on Eugene Yeo to please declare your salary on your wonderful socio-political blog, and share with us how you are able to speak on behalf of poor Singaporeans (like me) who are losing their jobs.
As I said earlier, I too do not agree with the cooking trip to Paris article, but I don’t care about how the man spends his own earned money. Can Eugene Yeo please declare he has not taken any extravagant vacation himself? Please do not tell us “I am a private citizen. I do not owe anyone to declare my private affairs”. Since he feel that he owns the sole honour of bringing the government to its knees, you are VERY PUBLIC figure now. Public figures are no longer entitled to private lives! So please also show us your credibility, in particular on how you are able to empathise with us poor Singaporeans. I sure hope you are not some DOCTOR earning half a million dollars or more!!! Otherwise, how can you empathise with US???
Oh well, I guess I’m pissed, pissed at losing my job, but more pissed at armchair (online) critics who do nothing. Go do volunteer work, help the auntie/uncle is poor estates or 1-room rentals door to door, donate food (since you are earning decent salary), DO SOMETHING TANGIBLE! Otherwise, you only have narrow selfish political ambitions, but you have no intention to HELP THE PEOPLE!
Please, talk (and blog) is cheap…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
[...] Read the full article: State media in overdrive damage control mode to rehabilitate Tan Yong Soon [...]
Like or Dislike:
0 
0