Despite repeating that ministerial salaries are transparent, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean declined to put up the actual dollars ministers drawn in the previous year. Speaking in Parliament yesterday (Oct 1), Minister Teo Chee Hean insisted that the dollar figures are found in a 2012 formula but refused to declare the actual amount:
“All the components of a political office-holders’ annual salary are set out clearly in the 2012 White Paper on “Salaries for a Capable and Committed Government”. The salary structure is totally transparent. There are no hidden salary components or perks.”
The millionaire minister stated that the Ministers receive only 3 bonuses in a year: a guaranteed 13th month bonus, on top of a National Bonus, individual Performance Bonus and an Annual Variable Component bonus. Minister Teo Chee Hean said the listed salary on the 2012 formula comprises of the 13th month bonus, 3 month National Bonus, 3 month Performance Bonus and an 1 month Annual Variable Component.
Dictator Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong – whose pay at S$2.2 million a year made him the most affluent politician – had earlier revealed an estimate of the average bonuses the Ministers received, without giving the actual figure. From 2013 to 2017, the Ministers received an average of 10.7 months bonus – consisting of 4.1 month National Bonus, 4.3 month Individual Bonus, 1.3 month Annual Variable Component and 1 month 13th month bonus. No actual figure was given.
Graphic from Parliament
The dictatorship, in 2012, appointed a committee filled with cronies to help determine their bonuses. By setting low performance indicators like having 0.5% in wage growth for workers, the ministers help themselves to lucrative bonuses up to S$100,000 a year.
Minister Teo Chee Hean then wrapped up his speech saying that Singaporeans are being “emotional” about his million dollar salaries:
“It is an emotional one. There are misconceptions sometimes deliberately propagated. It is easily politicised.”