+34
Global Briefing: Lawrence Wong says higher salaries are needed to attract capable people into politics and maintain standards of government
Lawrence Wong says higher salaries are needed to attract capable people into politics and maintain standards of governmentSingapore’s prime minister, already the world’s most highly paid head of government, is getting a pay rise worth almost €1 million a year.
He says it’s the price of good government. When Singapore’s prime minister Lawrence Wong told parliament on Tuesday that his government was accepting the recommendations of an independent panel on ministers’ pay, he acknowledged the increases involved were more than many Singaporeans earn in a year. But he said even with a civil service that is the envy of the world, institutions don’t run themselves and good government depended on good leadership.
“Companies understand this very well. That is why boards spend so much time on succession planning. They know that people at the top determine the quality of decisions, the calibre of their team, and ultimately what the organisation can achieve,” he said.
A wickedly inventive political ad is airing in Texas as midterm elections loom The changes announced on Tuesday will increase Wong’s salary from S$2.2 million to S$3.6 million with other ministers, political office holders and members of parliament also getting big pay hikes. Wong said he would donate his increase to good causes, although he made clear that he did not want to set a precedent that would put pressure on his successors to follow suit.
Lee Kuan Yew, the architect of Singapore’s economic and governmental model since it became independent in 1965, believed high salaries were necessary to bring the best talent into government. Champions of high pay for politicians point to the fact that Singapore is one of the world’s most successful economies and one of the least corrupt.
A system introduced in 1994 and revised in 2007 benchmarks ministerial salaries against the median income of the top 1,000 earners in the country who are Singapore citizens, with a 40 per cent discount to reflect the public service ethos. Ministers can earn a bonus worth up to six months of salary based on four national indicators: the unemployment rate; real income growth for the lowest 5 per cent of Singaporean earners; real income growth for the median Singapore citizen, and GDP growth.
Only MPs can serve as ministers but the ruling People’s Action Party routinely recruits business leaders and senior officials to run as candidates for election with a view to appointing them to government. Wong told parliament on Tuesday that the most important quality in any minister is character and that if someone did not have the integrity, values and commitment to serve, it did not matter how capable they were.
“But character alone is not enough. Ministers also need competence – the judgment, ability and leadership to do the job well. And this is where remuneration becomes relevant. It does not determine who is capable.
But it does affect whether enough capable people are prepared to step forward and take on the responsibility,” he said. Wong said politicians in other countries shied away from the issue of politicians’ pay because of the public backlash but often allowed ministers and MPs to make extra money outside politics. Others saw former ministers earn large fortunes after leaving politics by leveraging their contacts in government as well as their experience and judgment.
“I meet many people around the world who study governments and public policy. Again and again, they point to Singapore as a model of effective government, and an inspiration for others. We have sustained these standards for so long that they can start to feel normal to Singaporeans. But they are not normal elsewhere – and they are certainly not guaranteed here either,” he said.
“We did not build this record of good government because Singaporeans are inherently better than others, or because good government somehow comes naturally to us. We achieved it through deliberate choices made over many decades about how our political system should be designed and how it should work. One of those choices was to deal with political remuneration openly.
” Please let me know what you think and send your comments, thoughts or suggestions for topics you would like to see covered to‘The city covered it up’: New York grapples with 9/11’s toxic air legacyClamping in Dublin city centre to be largely replaced by towing and finesIceland summons US ambassador after Trump posts map showing island under American flag
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
DECI Expands to Chicago with New Office, Adding 250 Jobs and Strengthening Global PresenceIrish engineering group DECI is opening its first U.S. office in Chicago, creating 250 new positions as part of a broader international expansion. The move will enhance the firm's ability to deliver commissioning, testing and project‑management services across life sciences, energy and data‑centre projects in North America.
Read more »
Ireland's Teenagers See Sharp Drop in Reading and Math Skills, Matching Global TrendThe latest Pisa rankings reveal a significant decline in reading and math proficiency among Irish teenagers over the past decade, with scores falling to 500 and 480 respectively. This trend is part of a broader global downturn, where average reading scores across OECD countries have dropped by 28 points, indicating a crisis in literacy and cognitive skills exacerbated by digital distractions.
Read more »
Health Insurance Premium Surges Prompt Concerns Over Market Tipping PointPrivate health insurers have been gradually increasing premiums while enrolment numbers fall, signalling a potential turning point for the Irish market and raising alarms among analysts. Recent data shows a slight drop in insured individuals, yet many policyholders face 7‑15% price hikes in the coming year, with some reaching 20%.
Read more »
Ireland's Growing Role in Global Golf: Walker Cup, Irish Open Pro‑Am, and Future Hosting ProspectsIreland is stepping up its prominence in international golf with the Walker Cup's recent success at Lahinch, a growing roster of Irish courses on the USGA's future calendar, and a high‑profile pro‑am featuring top Irish athletes. The country's unique blend of historic courses and sporting culture is making it a prime destination for major championships, while its players and fans look forward to upcoming events such as the Amgen Irish Open and the Canadian Open.
Read more »