SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said he will consider disclosing more information on the distribution of salaries and performance bonuses among ministers beyond what is already shared, given the interest in this topic.
But he also cautioned against turning ministerial assessment into a “public popularity contest”, where individuals get compared and ranked annually.
“That is not going to be productive, and that is not how I want the Cabinet to operate,” he said in his speech as Parliament debated increases to political salaries for about four hours on Sept 10.
“I do not want ministers working in silos, focusing narrowly on their own issues or building up their own profiles,” he added, noting that even the most capable minister “cannot succeed alone”.
PM Wong said he wants ministers to look beyond their portfolios and work as a team to solve problems together.
Some of the most important decisions may take years to bear fruit, or might be difficult and unpopular today but necessary for Singapore’s longer-term interests, he noted.
“If the ministers are judged mainly by what is visible and popular now, we risk encouraging the wrong behaviour. And that would not produce a better government,” he said.
During the debate, WP chief Pritam Singh sought answers for the actual total remuneration received by ministers at the entry-level MR4 grade, including the maximum bonus allowed under the salary framework.
Replying, PM Wong reiterated that he intends to look at how to provide more information to the public on ministerial pay, “given the interest in where the salary bands are, where ministers lie in terms of the salary ranges, and how the variable payouts will be”.
He said he would not be able to reveal the grades of specific ministers or what their performance bonuses were.
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