'None was prepared to make the move': PM Wong cites hurdles in attracting private-sector leaders to politics

Attracting experienced private-sector leaders into politics is becoming increasingly difficult amid a range of competing considerations, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in Parliament on Tuesday (Sep 8).

PM Wong said that before the last General Election he had spoken to several CEOs and other senior business leaders whom he believed could contribute to the political team.

"They were earning several times a minister's salary. None said to me directly that pay was the reason they would not join (nor) would I want someone whose decision turned mainly on money," he said.

While PM Wong highlighted that remuneration remains a factor, he said potential candidates would be giving up careers they had spent years building, taking a substantial reduction in income and contesting an election with no certainty of success.

"In the end, none of those I approached was prepared to make the move," PM Wong said.

He also acknowledged that the sacrifices involved in entering politics extend beyond finances.

"Political life places real demands on families...There is scrutiny that spouses and children did not ask for, but nevertheless have to bear with us. No salary adjustment can make up for these things, nor was it ever meant to," he said.

Instead, he said, the purpose of remuneration was to ensure that the financial hurdle was not made unnecessarily high on top of the other sacrifices involved in political service.

Even if these factors are addressed, PM Wong said, attracting capable Singaporeans into politics would not become easier.

"It's about whether future Prime Ministers will continue to have a realistic chance of persuading capable Singaporeans - from the public service, the rivate sector and other walks of life - to step forward and build a first-rate team for Singapore," said PM Wong.

MR4 annual salary benchmark to go up from $1.1m to $1.8m

The Government on Tuesday said they will raise the salary benchmark of entry-level ministers at the MR4 grade to $1.8 million .

The norm annual ministerial wage has remained at $1.1 million since 2011.

PM Wong also said a one-off adjustment of up to nine per cent will be applied to the current wages of political office holders.

Under the updated salary framework, which takes effect on Oct 15, elected Members of Parliaments (MPs) will receive a higher fixed monthly allowance of $18,500, up from $13,750.

The remuneration of the President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker will also be adjusted.

xingying.koh@asiaone.com

总理黄循财周二（9月8日）在国会表示，由于各种相互竞争的因素，吸引经验丰富的私营部门领导人进入政界变得越来越困难。

黄总理表示，在上届大选前，他曾与几位首席执行官和其他高级商业领袖交谈，他认为这些人可以为政治团队做出贡献。

“他们的收入是部长薪水的数倍。没有人直接告诉我，薪酬是他们不加入的原因，我也不希望有人主要以金钱作为决定因素，”他说。

黄总理强调，薪酬仍然是一个考虑因素，但他表示，潜在的候选人将放弃他们多年来建立的职业生涯，收入大幅减少，并且参加一场没有成功保证的选举。

黄循财总理说：“最终，我接触的所有人都不愿意做出这样的改变。”

他还承认，投身政治所带来的牺牲不仅仅体现在经济方面。

“政治生活对家庭提出了很高的要求……配偶和孩子不得不承受一些他们并不想要的审视。任何薪资调整都无法弥补这些，也从来就没打算弥补这些，”他说。

他表示，报酬的目的是确保不会在政治服务所涉及的其他牺牲之外，造成不必要的经济负担过重。

黄循财总理表示，即使这些因素得到解决，吸引有能力的的新加坡人投身政界也不会变得更容易。

黄循财总理表示：“这关乎未来的总理是否还有现实的机会去说服有能力的的新加坡人——来自公共服务部门、私营部门和其他各行各业——挺身而出，为新加坡打造一支一流的团队。”

MR4年度薪资基准将从110万美元上调至180万美元。

政府周二表示，将把 MR4 级初级部长的薪资基准提高到 180 万美元。

自 2011 年以来，部长级官员的年均工资一直保持在 110 万美元。

黄循财总理还表示，将对政治公职人员的现行工资进行一次性调整，调整幅度最高可达9%。

根据将于 10 月 15 日生效的最新薪酬框架，当选国会议员将获得更高的固定月津贴，从 13,750 美元增至 18,500 美元。

总统、议长和副议长的薪酬也将进行调整。

邢莹.koh@asiaone.com