Tuesday 22 February 2011

What is a politician worth?

This chart from CNN makes an interesting comparisson between the leaders' salaries in the Asia Pacific region. (Click on the chart to see the larger version).

According to unsubstantiated reports Singapore politicians hold the top thirty places on the world's pay scale for politicians:

1. Elected President SR Nathan – S$3.9 million.
2. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong – S$3.8 million.
3. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew – S$3.5 million.
4. Senior Minister Goh Chok Thong – S$3.5 million.
5. Senior Minister Prof Jayakumar – S$3.2 million.
6. DPM & Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng – S$2.9 million.
7. DPM & Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean – $2.9 million
8. Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo – S$2.8 million.
9. National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan – S$2.7 million.
10. PMO Miniser Lim Boon Heng – S$2.7 million.
11. Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang – S$2.7 million.
12. PMO Minister Lim Swee Say – S$2.6 million.
13. Environment Minister & Muslim Affairs Minister Dr Yaccob Ibrahim – S$2.6 million.
14. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan – S$2.6 million.
15. Finance Minister S Tharman – S$2.6 million.
16. Education Minister & 2nd Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen – S$2.6 million.
17. Community Development Youth and Sports Minister – Dr Vivian Balakrishnan – S$2.5 million.
18. Transport Minister & 2nd Minister for Foreign Affairs Raymond Lim Siang Kiat – S$2.5 million.
19. Law Minister & 2nd Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam – S$2.4 million.
20. Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong – S$2.2 million.
21. PMO Minister Lim Hwee Hwa – S$2.2 million
22. Acting ICA Minister – Lui Tuck Yew – S$2.0 million.
23 to 30 = Senior Ministers of State and Ministers of State – each getting between S$1.8 million to S$1.5 million.

The Singapore government would argue that to get if you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

Looking at some of the 'monkeys' we have had in NZ under the MMP system and the money we have paid in salaries and benefits, the Singaporeans may have a point. 

That said, the above list would seem rather excessive in remuneration in these recessionary times, if proven to be accurate?

All of this has been put into sharper focus with the release of the 2011 budget which the Singapore government hopes will bridge the wealth gap.
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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Singapore politicians are not worth their salary, all the retired PMs are kept on payroll with fancy title and little to do except "forecasting" on the economy and world affairs, which is way off the mark most of the time. Only in Singapore does the PM has his almost 90 year old father serving as his "Mentor Minister" with a salary of 3.5million. The political appointments are so blotted (84 MPs to serve 4 million) is a much sought after career. In any other country, the way the Ministers enrich themselves or as claimed by them to remain uncorrupted would have been declared legalised corruption and milking the nation.

Anonymous said...

which part of the list of salaries for spore ministers do u believe is unsubstantiated? u are aware that you can substantiate the figs yourself, yah?

btw, the figs u quote are base salaries and don't include bonuses.

Roger Smith said...

I have used the term "unsubstantiated" as I do not have access to any official documentation that supports the figures published in the media.