Peanuts! Get your peanuts!!!!

Just out of curiosity, how many Singapore households have an annual income above S$50,000 or $100,000. A ballpark figure would suffice. To say that a S$600,000 per annum income is peanuts given that the person who has been paid this amount brings in to an organization hundreds of millions of dollars is not incorrect. However, to say it in defence of the CEO of a charitable organization whose sole income is through the donations of 2 out of 3 citizens of this country is laughable and only a person who is narrow minded and lacks any feelings of responsiblity towards the donors would say it.

That said, Mrs Goh Cheok Tong, wife of former Singapore Prime Minister Goh Cheok Tong mentioned that in comparison to the hundreds of millions of dollars that he (Mr Durai, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation) has brought in to the foundation through donations, his annual pay package of between $500,000 and $600,000 is peanuts.

In light of what she has said, it seems to me that if a person earning $600,000 is peanuts to her, what is someone earning $25,000 or even $50,000 annually? Trash? If to the wife of our former Prime Minister now Senior Minister, and former leader of the governing political party of Singapore, $600,000 is peanuts, I for one, certainly do not hope that for the rest of the majority of our population that earns under $100,000 per year, are not considered monkeys. Afterall, as the old saying (and I believe most people are familiar with it) goes, "Pay peanuts get monkeys".

If I were her press secretary, I'd resign just about now. The amount of damage control he/she has to do would definitely warrant a drastic pay raise (so that he/she doesn't behave like a monkey). The political ramifications towards that statement will be severe. I'd question our government this.

"Are Singaporeans so affluent that a prominent person who is linked to the government can claim that an annual income of $600,000 is "peanuts"? The complacency and insult that comes with that statement to all of us is simply too harsh to put into words. How can ANYONE let alone the wife of our Senior Minister say such a thing?"

If you're saying that in defence of a person who is known to have openly lied under oath in the court of law, you're making a mockery out of our legal and judicial system and obviously stating the fact that there are people "above the law" in this country.

I believe that an investigation into the misleading and misuse of publicly obtained funds through donations and charity events is in order and that Mr Durai has committed perjury in the highest order. Should I say more or would further floodgates of litigation be opened? Am I considered defaming anyone with this post? I do not have any intention of doing so and it should not be taken as such. However, the public nature of this case, along with the comments that have been made provides me with the conclusion that publicly donated funds have been misused and like most of the other Singaporeans who have donated before to the NKF, would like to see how every single cent is spent in order to decide to contribute in future.