78% of poll respondents disagree with the high pay of political office holders

MS Polls: 78% of poll respondents disagree with the salary and allowances of political officeholders

Singapore’s political leaders are set to receive higher salaries from 15 Oct, but a recent poll suggests many respondents are not convinced the increase is justified.

Out of 1,125 respondents on Answers.sg who answered the question “Do you agree with the high pay of political officeholders?”, 78% selected either “Disagree” or “Strongly disagree”.

The latter made up the majority, with 63% strongly disagreeing with the high pay.

Another 15% disagreed, while 4% remained neutral.

Only 18% supported the high pay, with 12% strongly agreeing and 6% agreeing.

The poll comes shortly after Prime Minister (PM) Lawrence Wong announced that political officeholders would receive a one-off salary adjustment of up to 9%.

An MR4, or entry-level, minister currently earning a S$1.1 million reference salary could receive about S$1.2 million after the full adjustment.

Netizens question whether ministers are overpaid

The Government has defended the changes as necessary to ensure financial considerations do not become an unnecessary barrier for capable people considering political service.

PM Wong said Singapore needs to continue attracting people from both the public and private sectors into politics.

However, some netizens questioned whether political leaders should receive such substantial remuneration in the first place.

One commenter said political officeholders were “overpaid”, but suggested that performance-based allowances or bonuses could instead make up part of their compensation.

Others echoed this sentiment, questioning whether salary increases should be tied more closely to performance.

One netizen said increases should be based on “Merit and Performance” rather than being given across the board.

They added that performance standards should be raised, with consequences when those standards are not met.

Another similarly argued that Singapore should pay its leaders fairly to attract capable people.

However, they said that remuneration did not necessarily have to be the highest.

“Not the highest but somewhat comparable,” the commenter wrote.

Some feel high pay is justified

Not everyone was against the high salaries.

Some commenters pointed out that political leaders carry significant responsibilities and should be compensated accordingly.

“Why begrudge those that earn big salaries if they deserve it, especially for the responsibilities they carry?” one commenter asked.

Another argued that paying political leaders well could help Singapore attract talent.

“Probably raising the package to attract top talents to join, else jialat liao [sic].”

Addressing concerns in Parliament on Thursday (10 Sept), Mr Wong said that  higher salaries were not intended to entice people into politics.

Instead, he said remuneration should prevent financial considerations from becoming an unnecessary barrier for those who already have the motivation to serve.

“Competitive salaries do not create the motivation to serve,” he said.

“But they can make it possible for someone who already has that motivation in the first place to step forward.”

The PM also shared that ahead of the last General Election, he approached several senior permanent secretaries and private-sector CEOs about joining politics.

None agreed to make the move.

He said some private-sector CEOs earn “several million dollars a year”, making the opportunity cost of entering politics significant.

‘To serve or to be served?’

The debate over political salaries also prompted discussions around what public service should ultimately represent.

One summed up their view in six words: “To serve or to be served?” — implying that they questioned whether the high salaries for political officeholders are really for the greater good of society.

One commenter recalled their experience as a National Service commander, saying they were taught to ensure their men received their welfare before enjoying their own benefits.

They questioned whether political leaders should similarly consider the financial circumstances of ordinary Singaporeans when determining their own renumeration.

Another commenter took a more pragmatic view, jokingly asking what would happen if political leaders “refuse to work without the high pay”.

Government says ministers face different demands

During Thursday’s parliamentary debate, Mr Wong also pushed back against the perception that civil servants automatically receive a pay increase when entering politics.

He said some civil servants could actually take a pay cut when moving into political office.

The PM also shared his own experience of leaving the Civil Service to enter politics in 2011.

Having served for just under 15 years, he said he only realised after resigning that he had missed the 15-year qualifying period for retaining his pension.

“I was just short. I lost my pension,” he said.

He said political service also involved a different level of responsibility, including making difficult decisions, setting strategic direction and ultimately taking responsibility for outcomes.

Singapore expects its ministers to be “effective politicians, effective executives, and effective leaders”, he said.

Mr Wong warned that failing to attract enough capable people into political leadership could eventually affect Singapore for 15 to 25 years.

Salary benchmark rises from S$1.1M to S$1.8M

Under the revised framework, the MR4 reference annual salary will rise from S$1.1 million to S$1.8 million.

However, ministers will not immediately receive the full revised benchmark.

Existing political officeholders will receive a one-off adjustment of up to 9%, with subsequent adjustments based on individual performance and responsibilities.

Mr Wong expects most ministers who remain at MR4 to reach the lower end of the new salary range, around S$1.35 million, by the end of the current term.

The Government says the benchmark is based on the median annual income of Singapore’s top 1,000 earners, with a 40% discount to reflect the sacrifices involved in political service.

The framework had not been updated for 15 years.

Alongside ministerial salaries, MPs will also receive higher allowances from 15 Oct, with their monthly allowance increasing from S$13,750 to S$18,500.

Meanwhile, Mr Wong said he would donate his salary increase for the next five years, assuming he remains Prime Minister, to suitable good causes.

A debate that goes beyond the numbers

The poll results show that among the 1,125 respondents who participated, a sizeable majority remain unconvinced by the high pay given to political officeholders.

Yet the comments also reveal that the issue is not simply about whether ministers should earn more.

Some respondents questioned whether high salaries undermine the idea of public service.

Meanwhile, others argued that Singapore must remain competitive enough to attract capable leaders.

For the Government, the central question is whether financial sacrifice could discourage qualified people from entering politics.

For critics, the question is whether political leaders should be rewarded at such a high level — and whether remuneration should be more directly tied to performance.

With the revised salary framework taking effect next month, the debate over how much Singapore should pay its political leaders is unlikely to end with the latest salary adjustment.