Lee Kuan Yew likes to trumpet the fact that Singapore has a reputation as one of the cleanest government/bureaucracy in the world. He attributes this to (amongst others) the high salaries paid.

In today’s local paper, it was reported that the CEO of our local council was paid a total package of $292,000 last year. This included a basic salary of $224,000. In comparison:

• Steve Bracks, the Premier of Victoria, was paid $235,000
• John Howard, Prime Minister, gets $309,000

You know, I dont think if you paid those clowns running places like the MPK (Klang local council) a higher salary, they’d be less inclined to corrupt practices. Higher salary can no longer work as a deterrent in Malaysia because it has become ingrained. The top guy in MPK would thank you for the $292,000 per annum salary and proceed with his corrupt way anyway. Pay Khir Toyo $235,000 per annum and you’d still …