Singapore prime minister to give away full pay increase to charity over the next 5 years
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said he will donate his full salary increase to charity over the next five years, acknowledging public scrutiny over the pay hike.
Wong announced the move during his speech on Sept. 8, saying he would make the move if he continues to serve as prime minister.
"I have decided that, for the next five years—assuming I remain PM—I will donate the full increase in my salary arising from this adjustment. The Government will continue to pay me the salary provided for under the framework, which is how our system works. I will then donate the increase to suitable good causes,” Wong said in Parliament on Sept. 8.
Wong said the decision was a personal one and explained why he was taking the changes forward.
"This is my own decision. I do not expect other officeholders to do the same. As a general rule, I do not believe in making a public show of charitable giving. But although the salary framework is a Cabinet decision, as Prime Minister, I carry ultimate responsibility for it," he said.
"So I want to be clear about how I will personally handle the increase, and why I am taking these changes forward—because I believe they are in Singapore’s interests," he continued.
The Prime Minister’s salary will increase from S$2.2 million (about P109 million) to S$3.6 million (about P178 million) per year, which means he will donate the extra S$1.4 million (about P69 million) each year.
His salary will be twice the salary of a starting-level minister, whose salary will increase from S$1.1 million (about P54 million) to S$1.8 million (about P89 million).
Wong said that there had been no changes to political salaries for 15 years, while salaries in other sectors had increased during that time.
He explained that ministers are placed across four grades, MR1 to MR4, with each grade having a range of salary points. He said 10 of the 16 ministers are currently at MR4, while the rest are at higher grades reflecting their seniority and responsibilities.
Wong acknowledges that political salaries remain a difficult and sensitive issue, given that they are significantly higher than what most Singaporeans earn.
"Political salaries are a difficult and emotive issue. The sums involved are more than what most citizens earn. So I understand why Singaporeans scrutinise them closely, and why many feel strongly about the matter. It is certainly not an issue Ministers themselves find easy to discuss," he said.
He added that the move is about ensuring Singapore continues to have the quality of political leadership needed to serve the country well.
"We run an open system and believe in being transparent about ministerial salaries. We cannot avoid this issue simply because it is politically difficult. And this is not just a matter of pay. It is ultimately about whether Singapore will continue to have the quality of political leadership we need to take our country forward and to serve Singaporeans well in the years ahead," he added.
Wong’s decision follows former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s move in 2007 to donate his salary increases over five years to charity.
