SINGAPORE: Singaporeans expressed mixed reactions on Wednesday over hefty pay raises for political leaders, with some saying the demands of governing justified the bump while others questioned their scale and called for transparency.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the salary increases in parliament on Tuesday, the first for ministers in 15 years. Wong’s own benchmark paycheck is set to rise 64 percent to Sg$3.6 million ($2.8 million) a year.
Singapore’s deputy prime minister and cabinet members also received substantial raises to what are already the world’s highest ministerial salaries.
Ministers’ pay has long been politically sensitive in the city-state, especially amid cost-of-living concerns and a 2025 median gross monthly income of Sg$5,775 for fully employed residents, according to government figures.
May Goh, 69, a retiree from the semiconductor industry, said the ministers deserve the increases.
“I think their responsibilities are very high. They are doing a good job so far compared to other countries,” she told AFP.
A 32-year-old cybersecurity employee at the business district, who gave her name only as “Ms Ho”, said she “honestly” thought the increases were fair.
“They are basically the CEOs of the political world,” she told AFP.
Others were more guarded.
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