“This salary revision will help keep our country in good hands for years to come”: Lee Hsien Loong
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has backed Prime Minister (PM) Lawrence Wong’s decision to accept recommendations to raise political salaries.
In a Facebook post on 8 Sept, Mr Lee said political salaries are important in ensuring that Singapore has “good political leadership and good government”.
Source: Lee Hsien Loong on Facebook
He acknowledged that the issue is a difficult one for Singaporeans.
However, he argued that relying on idealism and passion alone would not be enough to sustain Singapore’s political leadership over generations.
Lee says political service involves significant sacrifices
Mr Lee said Singapore needs capable people, often at the prime of their careers, to leave their existing paths and take on political leadership.
They would also face uncertainty, intense public scrutiny, and less time with their families.
Source: Lee Hsien Loong on Facebook
“If in addition this commitment requires too heavy or unreasonable a financial sacrifice, many individuals capable of making major contributions to Singapore will decline to take this path,” he said.
He added that this could cause the recruitment pool to shrink and the standard of political leadership to deteriorate over time.
Mr Lee maintains that passion remains crucial, adding that someone who enters politics for career reasons would be making “the wrong decision” for themselves and the country.
“But passion alone cannot sustain a system over generations. We also have to be practical,” he said.
Political salary benchmark to rise from S$1.1 million to S$1.8 million
The Government announced on 8 Sept that the annual benchmark salary for ministers at the entry-level grade will rise from S$1.1 million to S$1.8 million.
The benchmark remains based on the median income of the top 1,000 Singaporean citizen earners, with a 40% discount to reflect the ethos of public service.
MPs’ monthly allowances will rise from S$13,750 to S$18,500 from 15 Oct.
Source: gov.sg Committee report
The Government said the increase accounts for inflation since the current allowance was set.
NCMP allowances will also rise from 15% to 30% of an MP’s annual allowance, bringing them to about S$5,550 a month.
Mr Lee noted that the Government is not changing the salary formula, which he said was settled in 2012.
“We have held back from updating the calculation since then, and we should not defer this any further,” he said.
Lee says cost of mediocre leadership would be higher
Mr Lee argued that maintaining a strong political leadership team was particularly important amid a “troubled and turbulent world”.
“The cost to the country of mediocre leadership would be vastly greater than the cost of paying political leaders properly,” he said.
He described the salary adjustment as a “necessary strategic move” to help Singapore continue attracting a strong leadership team.
Source: Lee Hsien Loong on Facebook
The changes will also widen salary ranges for political appointment holders, generally to between 75% and 125% of their reference salaries.
This will allow salaries to vary based on factors including experience, responsibilities and performance.
“We will never choose someone for political leadership based on remuneration”: PM Wong
PM Wong has said he will donate the full increase in his salary arising from the adjustment for the next five years, assuming he remains Prime Minister.
He stressed that this was his personal decision and that he did not expect other political officeholders to do the same.
In his own Facebook post on 8 Sept, Mr Wong said the Government would continue to choose political leaders based on “character and competence” and their willingness to serve.
“We will never choose someone for political leadership based on remuneration,” he wrote.
Source: Lawrence Wong on Facebook
However, he acknowledged that remuneration still matters because political service involves “real sacrifice”.
“No salary adjustment can make up for these sacrifices, nor is it meant to,” he said.
“But neither should we make the financial hurdle unnecessarily high and make it harder for good people to serve.”
Mr Lee urged Singaporeans to support the latest salary adjustment.
“This salary revision will help keep our country in good hands for years to come,” he said.
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.
Featured image adapted from Lee Hsien Loong on Facebook and MDDI Singapore on YouTube.
