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SINGAPORE - A senior Singaporean civil servant has been reprimanded for publicising his family's vacation at a top French cooking school when his country is suffering from a recession, a minister said Monday.
"It struck a discordant note during the current difficult economic circumstances when it is especially important to show solidarity and empathy for Singaporeans who are facing uncertainties and hardship," Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said in parliament.
The civil servant, Tan Yong Soon, wrote early this month in a local newspaper about his family's experience learning to cook at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.
He said he attended with his wife and son. Tan, permanent secretary at the ministry of environment and water resources, showed "a lack of sensitivity" and poor judgement, the minister said.
The online community did not pull any punches describing Mr Tan Yong Soon's article on his family vacation as insensitive. Some even labelled him arrogant.
Mr Tan is believed to have spent at least S$45,000 on his holiday in Paris where his family attended a cooking course.
One blogger said: "This is a top civil servant that has clearly lost touch with the realities in Singapore," referring to the current recession.
But some Singaporeans Channel NewsAsia spoke to were more sympathetic.
Said one man: "It depends on the individual. Some may be jealous because he's got his own money he can do whatever he wants."
"I don't see any reason why we should criticise what he's doing because if that is how he wants to spend his money and how he wants to treat his life, that's how it is," said a lady.
Another man said: "It's his prerogative but I think the timing is wrong."
However one lady added: "I think that the S$45,000 that the whole family used to travel could be put to better use at this time."
The head of the civil service has already spoken to Tan about the matter, the minister added.
"What the civil servant in question, Mr Tan, does during his vacation leave, this is (a) private decision," said Teo, who is also minister in charge of the civil service.
"However, I was disappointed with what he wrote in The Straits Times."
In a statement, Head of the Civil Service Peter Ho said: "He and his colleagues and I feel very bad about this episode because it stands in contrast to the values and ethos of the service and if left unaddressed can undermine the confidence and trust essential for us to do a good job."
Mr Tan has so far not replied to queries from Channel NewsAsia.
According to the newspaper, a basic cuisine course at Le Cordon Bleu costs S$15,500. - AFP/CNA/vm
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