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    Peg ministerial salaries to bottom 20th percentile of incomes: SDP

    By Faris Mokhtar | Yahoo! Newsroom – Fri, Dec 2, 2011

    Ministerial salaries should be pegged to the pay of Singaporeans earning at the bottom 20 percentile instead of the private sector, suggested the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) on Wednesday.

    This, the party pointed out, will ensure that the living standards of the low-income rise together with the rest of the population.

    Speaking at a media conference where the party unveiled its proposal on ministerial salary, SDP member James Gomez explained the formula comprises of pegging a Member of Parliament's (MP) salary to that of a low-wage earner, who currently earns $1,400 monthly according to official statistics.

    Currently, ministerial pay is benchmarked to two-thirds of the median income of the top eight earners in six professions: banking, accountancy, engineering, law, managing local manufacturing companies and multinational corporations.

    The party recommends an MP's salary be 10 times the amount a low-wage earner gets, which adds up to $14,000 per month, while ministers should be paid three times more than an MP. The prime minister will then receive four times more than a minister.

    This means that the prime minister could earn around $56,000 a month, with an annual income of $672,000, while cabinet ministers will receive about $42,000. In a Straits Times report last year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was said to be earning more than $3 million annually following revisions of the salary benchmark in 2007.

    Under SDP's proposal, the president's salary will be 4 ½ times that of an MP’s, coming up to $63,000 monthly and $756,000 annually.

    Gomez said that one of the guiding principles behind SDP's proposal is to put more emphasis on public service.

    “Yes, we welcome people to serve the nation and take part in politics and so on. But we want to attract people who are not motivated by monetary gains,” he said, adding that the salaries should not be tied to the private sector.

    Although the proposed annual salary will see the prime minister take an 80 per cent pay cut, he will remain among the world's highest paid, said Gomez.

    The base amount of $1,400 was obtained from a report by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) published in October this year, which showed also that real income for low-wage earners had stagnated from 2001 to 2010.

    While a recent survey by the Institute of Policy Studies showed that 55 per cent of respondents felt the president should not earn more than the prime minister, SDP's proposal continues to see the president drawing a higher salary than the prime minister.

    SDP's secretary general Chee Soon Juan said the calculations were based on “protocol”, considering that the president still carries out official duties and is the head of state.

    Among its other key recommendations, SDP also suggested having an independent salary commission that is non-partisan and without government representatives.

    This commission, which can comprise of those in civil society, lawyers or academics, should produce an annual report detailing the components which made up the salaries of government leaders.

    The party also proposed that bonuses received should not be pegged to GDP growth saying that the methodology is flawed and figures can be artificially manipulated by raising the number of foreign workers.

    “And even if your GDP growth goes up, it doesn’t mean the person is actually performing, because there could be other global trends and so on which could be pushing those numbers,” said Gomez.

    Another recommendation is to provide allowances for ministers and allow then to make claims for expenses incurred while performing official duties. Such claims should be published by the salary commission and governed by a schedule similar to civil service regulations, SDP added.

    To ensure a corruption-free political system, SDP further called for the Corrupt Practices Investigation Board (CPIB) to be moved out of the Prime Minister’s Office and answerable directly to Parliament as an independent agency. Its annual reports should also be available for public scrutiny.

    SDP plans to forward the proposal to Gerard Ee, who heads the committee reviewing the ministerial salaries. The committee's findings will be announced by end of this year.

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    597 comments

    • The Unwanted
      The Unwanted  •  5 months ago
      Gerard Ee took so long to do simple calculation that is why SDP step in and help him out.maybe i hope WP,NSP,RP,SPP can also help out this guy.
      • Sawadi Thai
        Sawadi Thai 5 months ago
        How long do we wait for satay ? Because the satay seller always very slow to BBQ it, with charcoal somemore and a small fan in his hand. So SDP suggest use electric method faster/productive. However he is still a satay seller.
      • A Yahoo! User 5 months ago
        Give him a break lah, he failed his Maths
      • John
        John 5 months ago
        Gerard Ee is one of them for sure.. I bet he's struggling to find excuses for them.. that's why taking so long.. By the way, he's driving a brand new white Lexus RX SUV. Do you think he gives a hoot to the average Singaporeans?
    • whenthetimecomes
      whenthetimecomes  •  5 months ago
      Gerard Ee and his committee is too slow, just follow what first world leaders are paid and remove pension scheme.
      • Sawadi Thai
        Sawadi Thai 5 months ago
        Support
      • mutucurry
        mutucurry 5 months ago
        Whenthetimecomes - when they remove the pension scheme in the first world, they go out into to streets to protest. Maybe Gerard Ee go not want a street protest.
      • Joel
        Joel 5 months ago
        When comes to income reduction, pappies are extremely slow in execution.

        When comes to collecting revenue from the citizens, super lighting speed in execution.

        Meritocracy is a double standard here..
    • steve w
      steve w  •  5 months ago
      SDP WE SUPPORT YOU!! GOT BALLS TO TELL THE TRUTH AND SPEAK FOR THE PEOPLE OF SINGAPORE!!
      • mutucurry
        mutucurry 5 months ago
        Steve W. One needs very small balls to say things on the nets.
      • steve w
        steve w 5 months ago
        Then you have smaller balls cuz you're only replying to what I said
      • steve w
        steve w 5 months ago
        Wait a min then why are you even here?
    • Tommyz
      Tommyz  •  5 months ago
      PAP got no shame we have one of the highest income gap in the world and yet they want millions and pension ? Old and poor people got nothing ! no shame !
      • mutucurry
        mutucurry 5 months ago
        Tommyz - also very greedy
    • Joe
      Joe  •  5 months ago
      why do the ministers of a tiny country need to have a high salary? and why do we need so many ministers by the way?
      • Not Aladdin
        Not Aladdin 5 months ago
        less corruption if they are paid high
      • law65lee
        law65lee 5 months ago
        @ Joe - Singapore is small no doubt but its population is enormous (about 6 millions as of now) and also very important to note is that we do not have any natural resources like the mid-eastern countries filled up with oil reserves or our northern neighbours endowed with tin, rubber, palm etc. Therefore if we mis-manage our country, all the population will suffer. Its a case where you can only succeed and failure in the minds of those who rule here, is not in their vocabulary. That's why ministers are paid handsomely to take care of a very small, tiny country. 2nd question - why so many ministers. If one appointed minister has to take care of minimum 3 portfolios, then his attention will be dividded and diverted and simply said he will be unforcussed in his work to give the best of his ability. If this happens, possibly, as citizens/permanent citizens/FTs etc will not be able to have a high standard of living and our qualifty of life will be affected. Simply said when you are paid peanuts, you get the services of a monkey.
      • whenthetimecomes
        whenthetimecomes 5 months ago
        @Law65Lee
        PAP has made too many holes in the ship and needs to plug them to make sure it doesnt sink, naturally PAP will buy these plugs and pay a premium. Their philosphy - WE ARE IN IT TOGETHER. We are heading to disaster as passengers paying our dues. Time to get a co-captain to make things right.
    • CSM Fan
      CSM Fan  •  5 months ago
      Cant wait for the ministarial salary review to be out! End of this year? 30 more days! I CANT WAIT!!! :D
    • Cindy
      Cindy  •  5 months ago
      PAP will say ouch ouch ouch...I hope these bunch of hypocrite will leave politics and replace with people who have the passion to serve the nation. Not only serve for MONEY!
    • Euroman
      Euroman  •  5 months ago
      @ Since Here Lee,

      The Government should serve the people with their hearts and souls as FIRST PRIORITY and money and salary to them SHOULD be secondary to them.

      That is where and when they can win the hearts of the voters when they SHOW LOVE AND CARE for the people meaning for all singaporeans as "PRIME SALARY" and not always thinking about monetary benefits. Always thinking of ways to increase their own salary so that they have millions of dollars in their big fat pocket!

      LOVE AND CARE FOR THE PEOPLE FIRST! ACTIONS SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS!
      DO NOT WAYANG!! AND NO MORE LIES, LIES AND LIES TO FOOL ALL SINGAPOREANS!!
    • Siaogaporean
      Siaogaporean  •  5 months ago
      I believe more than 80% or even more singaporeans think our ministers or even PAP should not be where they are now or for that matter drawing such ridiculous salaries... BUT why aren't they out of the parliament? Its all because of their selfish attitude. The rich wants stability in politics to carryon their money making businesses. The middle classes is afraid of their property or assets will drop. Afraid of losing what they have accumulated thus far. Which only left the poor whom has nothing to lose...
    • KM
      KM  •  5 months ago
      1. Our ministers pay is the highest in the world among all the 1st world countries.
      2. In addition to their salary , when they reach pension age they get Pension + Minister Salary.
      3. Just base on pension payment alone , a minister will get at least $20K per month in addition to his minister salary.

      Does this sound right ?
    • James James
      James James  •  5 months ago
      I should clap my hands too,those PAP out there are damn arrogant withn their salaries,just because they are PAP,they should get 0 salary & do free work for everyone since our most respected dear LHL tell the Singaporeans to do free community works to the society.
    • V. Raman
      V. Raman  •  5 months ago
      SDP's recommendation on minsisterial salaries is logical and makes sense. I hope this will get into the heads of PM and all the elected representatives. I sincerely hope that the Workers Party MPs support this recommendation in Parliament to prove their sincerity that they have come into politics to serve people and not to make business out of politics. It is for sure that the PAP is not going to accept this becos they have come into politics for money and power. So the only best solution would be to hold a referendum on the SDP,s recommendation and the recommendation by the ministerial review committee and let the people of Singapore decide. This must be done if the PAP sincerely believes in the power of people and if they believe that the support of people of Singapore is important to them and if they respect the people of Singapore. If they do not do this, then it is beyond doubt that they are not bothered about the people but only interested in money and fame. That they will continue to exploit the people as long as they can to attain their twin objectives of money and fame.
    • James James
      James James  •  5 months ago
      I should sulate SDP because only those low income people have diffulties in the living cost,so those ministers should experienced the same,why not?After alll,some poor still vote for PAP.
    • sangnila utama
      sangnila utama  •  5 months ago
      is every minister able to garner top salary in other profession besides being a political office? very easy solution - recently Raymond lim and lim hwee hwa has gotten apparent private sector position, publish how much they earn andtake reference from there. (btw their private sector jobs are also GLCs)
    • sangnila utama
      sangnila utama  •  5 months ago
      i tot our former PM LKY says that their cabinet ministers if go private sector , they will be hired by Goldman Sachs etc. but how come MBT, WKS, Raymond Lim, Lim Hwee Hwa all join Govt Linked Companies(GLCs)? this is called private sector pay? how come none of them joined google, goldman sachs, facebook, Apple?
    • Viju
      Viju  •  5 months ago
      prime minister salary should be $200k per year while president should be $200-250k; while MPs should be paid to according pro-rated; i agree with james gomez that people work in public sector should serve its citizens and not for monetary gains; people who serve the country should serve its people first then self thats y we called public servant; SDP keep it up; sometimes ur party confrontation teaches the pay and pay party to do right thing in the interest of people but unfortunately not everyone of us appreciate ur confrontation; ur confrontation is a medicine for pay and pay
    • Viju
      Viju  •  5 months ago
      SDP im really pleased with ur policies; i hope ur policies will make good vision for our country; i trust in u more than the sickening pay and pay party; i voted for ur party in last election and will continue to do so as long as u deserve the credit for speaking up for the people especially those disadvantage; our opposition supporters are grateful to the opposition parties for fighting the rights of our citizen be it pay and pay supporters or opposition one; please keep on scrutinze the pay and pay for their deliberate mistakes; thank you once again
    • kin
      kin  •  5 months ago
      Just saw my PUB bill shoot up to 80+ compare to normal 60+.. What does that means?
      Poorer will become poorer... richer become more richer. Nobody will reverse this fact.
      Nomatter how Pay & pay stilll will remain this policy till maybe "hammer" take over? MAYBE?? =)
    • ho
      ho  •  5 months ago
      white rambuTan hiding like a tortise
    • No Thank to PAP
      No Thank to PAP  •  5 months ago
      "To ensure a corruption-free political system, SDP further called for the Corrupt Practices Investigation Board (CPIB) to be moved out of the Prime Minister’s Office and answerable directly to Parliament as an independent agency." WELL SAID, SDP!
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