Ministerial pay review committee: No flaming please
The committee set up to review ministerial salaries has called for the public to provide objective feedback and ideas, but to also refrain from flaming.
Acknowledging that Singaporeans are very interested in the matter, committee chairman Gerard Ee said that his committee would like to hear everyone's opinion and would "consider every one of them for their suitability and appropriateness".
His eight-member committee has been online to seek feedback, citing social media sites and political websites such as Temasek Review as places where they have looked at.
The online platform has seen the government being flamed for their policies during the General Election, to which Mr Ee said: "We would appreciate it if contributors not flame, even though we fully understand the need to vent."
While he understands that the Internet is a place where everyone is free to voice their own opinions, he added: "We want people to give objective feedback, rather than frivolous comments."
The committee, set up on 21 May, met up for the first time on Saturday to discuss the possible recommendations for ministerial pay.
Comprising people from the private sector, labour movement and social sector, the committee was formed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after a wave of discontent over high ministerial salaries were raised during the recent General Election.
It will be responsible for reviewing the salaries of the President, Prime Minister, political appointment holders and Members of Parliament, whose salaries are pegged at two-thirds the median incomes at the top eight earners in six professions including banking and law.
Pegging ministerial pay to top private sector performers, introduced in 1994 by then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew to retain top talent in the civil service, has been a controversial move, with many calling for it to be changed or removed.
Besides seeking views from the public, Mr Ee has also sought input from MPs and a team of civil servants.
Intending to "start on a clean slate and consider all angles", Mr Ee said that considerations for ministerial pay must answer two questions.
"What fair compensation would accord due recognition for the contributions of our political office-holders? And then, what discount would signify the value and ethos of political service?"
Mr Ee, whose committee will be seeking HR expert advice, said, "We will look at it from the HR perspective, in terms of appropriate salary for the individual grade, job size, scale and impact of the work."
He also promised to look at the "entire package" which includes bonuses, pensions and benefits.
In his statement, he listed out a few suggestions that the committee has compiled so far:
· Compare with salaries of leaders of developed nations
· Look at indicators such as median salaries, Gini coefficient, GDP growth as a basis
· Use private sector best practices but factor in the calling for public service
· Peg salaries at a level that will attract the best talents to serve
· Peg salary to the job size
· Pay more only after the person has proven himself
· Keep the formula simple and easy to understand
· A combination or permutation of the above
Some of the suggestions were previously featured on a Yahoo! Answers forum where readers gave alternative ways on how ministerial salaries should be calculated.
According to figures released by the Public Service Division, the annual salary of an entry-grade minister was S$1.57 million while the Prime Minister's salary was S$3.04 million in 2009.
While there are no deadlines set for the recommendations, Mr Ee has asked for feedback and suggestions to be sent by 20 June via e-mail or normal mail.
The public can email suggestions to reviewcommittee2011@gmail.com or write to Mr Ee at PO Box 539, Singapore 910504.
