SINGAPORE: Peg the salaries for political
appointments to how much the majority of Singaporeans have
benefitted from the Government's policies.
This was one suggestion raised at a forum organised
by the National Solidarity Party (NSP) Sunday.
NSP member Ong Wee Min, who floated the idea, said
salaries should also be pegged at a "comfortable level" before they
are bench-marked.
The benchmark, he added, should be based on a multiple of the
median salary of Singaporeans.
Mr Ong also said ministerial salaries could be made up of basic and
bonus components.
He suggested that the basic annual salary could be fixed at S$1
million.
In addition, the bonus could be based on a basket of Key
Performance Indicators or KPIs.
Asked about Mr Ong's suggestion to peg salaries at a "comfortable
level", former presidential candidate Tan Jee Say said it could
include factors like lifestyle.
Mr Tan, who shared his views at the forum, also said that the
variable bonus component in the salary should be abolished as he
was concerned that it could introduce biasness in
policymaking.
The NSP will collate the ideas from the forum and issue a party
stand on the matter of political salaries.
The suggestions come as a Government-appointed committee finalises
its review of ministerial salaries and expects to announce its
recommendations by this month.
- CNA/fa