MS VERONIQUE A. DAWSON: 'I am an average Singaporean living in an HDB flat. My husband is the sole breadwinner. Travel is not a necessity for my family; it's a luxury. It never crossed my mind that Mr Tan Yong Soon was bragging about his holiday in France. Instead, I saw a man who had the courage to take extended leave from work and trust his subordinates. Also, I saw a family who were close, who did not just want a luxury holiday but to take something away from their trip. In this instance, knowledge about cooking fine cuisine. To Mr Tan, $45,000 may seem affordable. To others, it is a year's salary. Having said that, it is not uncommon to read profiles of top professionals peppered with questions such as where they live and the brand of car they drive. Do the answers to such questions constitute bragging as well? There will always be those who can afford more than others. Jealousy is not the mark of a mature society. Success is for the taking. It is up to us to work hard and achieve it.'
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Has anyone thought if the article was written by a celebrity or ST reporter, would it even mentioned by a minister during Parliament session?
I've read the article (well written), it just like any travel articles that ST publishes. If I've the time and money, I would go to Paris to learn cooking too.
I'm sure ministers do go to expensive holidays or buy expensive items. Is he trying to be politically correct to "tick-off" the Permanent Secretary. This is hypocrisy.
Just because the economy is not doing well, lives still have to go on. There are always rich, poor and middle-class people in a capitalist society.
Posted by: microaaa at Thu Jan 22 14:48:46 SGT 2009
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Jan 22, 2009
Perm sec's French holiday: He should be lauded for creativity, resolve and effort
I READ with disbelief that Mr Tan Yong Soon, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, had been censured by his bosses ('Perm sec's article showed lack of sensitivity', Tuesday) for writing in The Straits Times about his cooking holiday at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris ('Cooking up the holiday spirit', Jan 3).
His 'discordance' was his alleged insensitivity to the financial hardships people are undergoing currently. But I assess the whole episode differently.
A struggling young chef attending the Cordon Bleu school on borrowed money or a scholarship would be lauded for his initiative, determination and hard work. The top civil servant was thinking out of the box and trying to broaden his life experience. The creativity, resolve and effort - qualities that deserve respect and admiration - of both individuals are the same. Why do people see red (or perhaps green) when a permanent secretary does something creative? That baffles me.
Whether times are good or bad, people need rest and recreation to remain healthy and alert. Mr Tan chose to spend his recreation time and money on a course outside his profession. It is not as if he had spent $45,000 on a luxury cruise to nowhere, or a skiing or overseas golf trip. Even if he had done that, what would be wrong? If he went on a good and invigorating holiday and came back refreshed and recharged to serve his ministry, that can only benefit the Government and the public. Better still, when he writes and publishes the story of his holiday, people like me, who cannot afford to travel, can marvel at a world outside our own.
For the course, Mr Tan got to travel to Paris, immerse himself in French culture and learn French cuisine. This must have been value for money. To me, he was prudent, thoughtful, creative and wise. I note also that he had inspired his family to join him in the course, underscoring his strong family values.
Contrary to his detractors, I think Mr Tan demonstrated by example how a sensible civil servant and his family might spend a meaningful holiday together.
Rachel Lim (Ms)
[These are the more rational (to me anyway) positions taken by forum page writers and comments. There are others which are outright "green" and "sour" in tone. ]
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Has anyone thought if the article was written by a celebrity or ST reporter, would it even mentioned by a minister during Parliament session?
I've read the article (well written), it just like any travel articles that ST publishes. If I've the time and money, I would go to Paris to learn cooking too.
I'm sure ministers do go to expensive holidays or buy expensive items. Is he trying to be politically correct to "tick-off" the Permanent Secretary. This is hypocrisy.
Just because the economy is not doing well, lives still have to go on. There are always rich, poor and middle-class people in a capitalist society.
Posted by: microaaa at Thu Jan 22 14:48:46 SGT 2009
-------------------
Jan 22, 2009
Perm sec's French holiday: He should be lauded for creativity, resolve and effort
I READ with disbelief that Mr Tan Yong Soon, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, had been censured by his bosses ('Perm sec's article showed lack of sensitivity', Tuesday) for writing in The Straits Times about his cooking holiday at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris ('Cooking up the holiday spirit', Jan 3).
His 'discordance' was his alleged insensitivity to the financial hardships people are undergoing currently. But I assess the whole episode differently.
A struggling young chef attending the Cordon Bleu school on borrowed money or a scholarship would be lauded for his initiative, determination and hard work. The top civil servant was thinking out of the box and trying to broaden his life experience. The creativity, resolve and effort - qualities that deserve respect and admiration - of both individuals are the same. Why do people see red (or perhaps green) when a permanent secretary does something creative? That baffles me.
Whether times are good or bad, people need rest and recreation to remain healthy and alert. Mr Tan chose to spend his recreation time and money on a course outside his profession. It is not as if he had spent $45,000 on a luxury cruise to nowhere, or a skiing or overseas golf trip. Even if he had done that, what would be wrong? If he went on a good and invigorating holiday and came back refreshed and recharged to serve his ministry, that can only benefit the Government and the public. Better still, when he writes and publishes the story of his holiday, people like me, who cannot afford to travel, can marvel at a world outside our own.
For the course, Mr Tan got to travel to Paris, immerse himself in French culture and learn French cuisine. This must have been value for money. To me, he was prudent, thoughtful, creative and wise. I note also that he had inspired his family to join him in the course, underscoring his strong family values.
Contrary to his detractors, I think Mr Tan demonstrated by example how a sensible civil servant and his family might spend a meaningful holiday together.
Rachel Lim (Ms)
[These are the more rational (to me anyway) positions taken by forum page writers and comments. There are others which are outright "green" and "sour" in tone. ]
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