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Commentary

Why ministerial pay will never be a settled question in Singapore

Higher salaries can widen the talent pool, but only performance in office can keep justifying them.

As much as the heat in the Sept 10 debate will likely centre on formulae, benchmarks and bonus structures, the issue of ministerial salaries remains what it has been from the start in 1994: a political question requiring political persuasion, says the writer.

America’s Gen Z helped elect Trump. Now some are rethinking their choice

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Hong Kong’s first chief executive Tung Chee Hwa dies, aged 89 

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Air traffic control issue disrupts flights at major UK airports

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Journalists missing in Indonesia after volcano mission

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MJ The Michael Jackson Musical to be staged in Singapore in August 2027

Why not a Dragon Ball theme park in Japan?

ST Live: Tung Chee Hwa, sanctions against Israel and missing journalists in Indonesia

Latest headlines

minutes ago

Why not a Dragon Ball theme park in Japan?

minutes ago

China, Russia stress strategic ties with North Korea in anniversary messages to Kim

minutes ago

Japan’s Nagoya to receive disaster relief after heavy rain; leaks reported at Asian Games venues

minutes ago

Ukraine allies see war going into 2027 after Russia’s Putin met US envoys

minutes ago

Family of slain 14-year-old girl sues pop vocalist D4vd over her death, reports say
Trending

Singapore Parliament

Lawrence Wong

Airports

US politics

Volcanoes

Shorts
Political salary review: Here’s what to know

1:47

Supermarket worker dives to save child from oncoming traffic in Mexico

0:20

WP’s Fadli questions if mosque officials aware of man in sexual abuse case

2:34

Jeffrey Siow, Kenneth Tiong spar on SIA's Air India investment

3:31

New committee to examine safeguards in religious institutions: Zaqy Mohamad

1:38

Air India's losses do not automatically become SIA's liabilities: Jeffrey Siow

2:44

Key highlights from the 2026 ministerial salary review in under 3 minutes

2:31

How much will Singapore’s recent political salary adjustment cost in total?

2:59

Targets on 3 socioeconomic indicators that inform National Bonus to be updated

2:31

Singapore

Ministerial pay to rise by up to 9% in first adjustment since 2011

PM Wong said ministerial salaries had fallen further behind private sector and civil service salaries in the last 15 years.

Salaries for political officeholders were last updated in 2012, with the changes backdated to 2011 when the new term of government started.

PM Wong to donate full pay increase for next 5 years to charity

Income Insurance axes sale of platform to Embed after firm allegedly failed to make CPF payments

Singapore students rank top in reading, second in maths and science in OECD study

Asia
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Hong Kong’s first chief executive Tung Chee Hwa dies, aged 89 

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Australia unveils landmark Bill to let social media users opt out of algorithms

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UMNO now backs contender to Negeri Sembilan throne in twist to royal saga

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Jakarta airports reopen after Anak Krakatau ash disruption

Opinion

Why ministerial pay will never be a settled question in Singapore

Bhavan Jaipragas

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Quality of leadership makes a decisive difference for Singapore

Lawrence Wong

Why a foldable iPhone is Apple’s most anticipated device launch

Thomas Allard

Are research careers in Singapore still attractive to top-tier talent?

Wen Yonggang

Visual stories

Anak Krakatau eruption: Where flights are being disrupted

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Mapping the 5.0-magnitude quake in China

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Nepal flood: What we know so far

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El Nino’s wrath: Brace yourself for impact

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Chrome, craft, character: Inside Singapore’s world of classic cars

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Rumbling trucks, busy border crossing: How China feeds Vietnam’s factory boom

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Mapping the 7.7-magnitude quake in Indonesia

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Mapping the Colombia quake

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‘I study them, then strike’: This ex-soldier now wages war on pests

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Singapore sketched: An illustrated tour of the sunny island

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Podcasts
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Headstart On Record Podcast

Investors are buying into the US market in droves: here’s what you need to know to not get burned
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Health Check Podcast

How old are you biologically, and what are you doing about it?
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Asian Insider Podcast

Leaving Taiwan after four years: What I learned 
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The Usual Place Podcast

Watch: Will HDB prices rise with new income ceilings and removal of wait-out period?
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Headstart
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Headstart On Record Podcast

Investors are buying into the US market in droves: here’s what you need to know to not get burned

The US market is exciting, but it can also be dangerous for young investors.

The self-made intern: Why Gen Zs are self-sourcing internships in the US

Me & My Money

From selling second-hand clothes to starting a lingerie brand with his equally entrepreneurial wife

Earn ‘stockback’ instead of cashback? Trust Bank, Tiger Brokers woo S’pore users with this card perk

Video: Which 3 types of insurance should Gen Zs prioritise?

Need help caring for grandma? Undergrads create the Ahma app to help caregivers

NUS computer science students (from left) Andrew Soon, Aishwarya Goyal, Abhishek Paranjape and Hazel Low designed the Ahma app to support caregivers.
NUS computer science students (from left) Andrew Soon, Aishwarya Goyal, Abhishek Paranjape and Hazel Low designed the Ahma app to support caregivers.

Young & Savvy

Beyond doom spending: 6 ways to enjoy life now without shortchanging your future self

Travelling while one is young helps build character and confidence in handling life’s challenges, says the writer.
Travelling while one is young helps build character and confidence in handling life’s challenges, says the writer.

Fewer marriages, fussier couples: The wedding business in S'pore is getting tougher

Former bridal salon enclave Tanjong Pagar is now left with a few studios and many more Korean eateries.
Former bridal salon enclave Tanjong Pagar is now left with a few studios and many more Korean eateries.
Most popular

1

Man who raped daughter turns himself in after spotting her at police station

2

Man wrongly transfers $6,650 to ex-wife; ‘highly unreasonable’ conduct costs her over $7,000

3

Government open to using chemical castration to tackle sex crimes if proven effective: Shanmugam

4

Doctor accused of molesting woman at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital charged in court

5

HK star Aaron Kwok’s daughters attend prestigious IB school; fees cost over $61k a year

6

Man jailed for instigating son to understate luxury watch firm’s income, evading over $350k in taxes

7

Singaporean driver who ran over cyclist in Perth pleads guilty to manslaughter

8

Tourist complaints in South Korea hit record high in just seven months

9

Japanese woman goes viral for giving birth to seventh child amid country’s low birth rate

10

PM Wong to donate full pay increase for next 5 years to charity

Branded content
Rock climbing, canopy gliders and forest camping: The ultimate friends' weekend, right here in S'pore
mandai wildlife reserve rainforest wild adventure exploria
mandai wildlife reserve rainforest wild adventure exploria
No more 'I'm bored': Arts activities the kids will love for a fun family day out
arts activities for children
arts activities for children
13 years, one employer: How she changed jobs without having to quit
yuslina abdul aziz, who has built her 13-year career with the ministry of home affairs through the civilian generalist track
yuslina abdul aziz, who has built her 13-year career with the ministry of home affairs through the civilian generalist track
Ghosting, 'intern-maxxing' and career anxiety: The job-hunting realities young S'poreans face
career anxiety discussion singaporean youth and employers
career anxiety discussion singaporean youth and employers
Age-related hearing loss: Why you shouldn't wait to take action
An audiologist from 20dB Hearing discusses a patient’s hearing concerns and needs before recommending a personalised hearing solution. 
An audiologist from 20dB Hearing discusses a patient’s hearing concerns and needs before recommending a personalised hearing solution. 
From employees to seniors: How this company helps Singapore age well
nestle singapore employees at market with love
nestle singapore employees at market with love

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.