Lee Hsien Loong freezes salary for 5 years

[xkrim3]

April 11, 2007, 5.27 pm (Singapore time)

PM freezes salary for 5 years


SINGAPORE - Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday he will freeze his salary for five years and will 'donate' the increase that boosted his annual income to $3.1 million (US$2 million).
His decision comes amid a furore over the hike in the city-state.
'I will hold my own salary at its present level for five years,' Mr Lee said in parliament.
Mr Lee's salary was $2.5 million last year.
'The government will pay me my full pay because that is how the system must work but for five years I will donate the increase in my salary from this and subsequent revisions,' he said.
The premier's salary increase was among pay rises for civil servants announced on Monday.
Mr Lee told parliament he wanted 'to make quite clear why I am doing this and to give me the moral standing to defend this policy to Singaporeans'.
The increase has been among the most passionately debated issues in recent years, and many Singaporeans -- usually reserved -- were untypically blunt in their reactions.
Salary increases were also given to other cabinet ministers and civil servants. -- AFP


Help me understand his decision:

1. Why does he need moral standing? Is the pay hike somehow immoral?

2. Would the pay hike be more acceptable to Singaporeans now that LSL is donating his for five years?

[rodders]

Farking A!! If they're so good and above board and not corrupted, why
didn't they do all these (GST hike included) before the elections last year?
Besides by saying that he'll donate his pay increment for 5 years, he's
avoiding the issue altogether ie. why the need for the pay rise when they're
already beng paid so much and the justification in pegging their salaries to
the top 8 income earners and GDP growth in sillypore! Talk about the widening income gap
between the rich and poor and the use of the GST to close the gap. Looks like they're more interested in closing their
own income gap. In saying that he'll donate his money to charity, he's now
hoping to side track these issues and in the process make himself look so
nobel. What the??????

[kenntona]

I'd think it is a pacifier to all the furore. Job A's increment to be donated to charities. How about Job B's, and C's, and D's........ ? You'd realised only one remuneration is in question?

[Mav]

Don't forget the pension!!!!!

[terencehu18]

dun make any diff in the present situation,maybe he is hopeing that since he does that the issue will be soon be forgotten in 5 years time,by then everyone used to it and no one will bring up the topic already.just like the shares thing and so on, give u some money first then later u suffer for life.still say need to increase gst and all that, maybe to compensate their pay rise.we always grumble grumble then as time go by everone will forget the issues altogether just like nothin happened like that. just my humble views.

[xkrim3]

i wonder if his ministers would feel obliged to make similar moves. interesting. let`s see how this unfolds

[Ahbengdriver]

Little as compared to the NKF thing, nevertheless I think they are feeling that whatever little heat. Go to the petitiononline.com and read some of the comments against the pay hike. I almost LMFAO, especially post #1432 by Durai.
Say NO to Pay Hike for Singapore Ministers - Signatures

I agree. Why must donate the increment to show? Why not just forget about the increment. Why not get all those who will be getting the increment also donate as well. Why just one person. In consistent leh

BTW read that George Bushman earns USD 400,000 as US president. If I was GB, I will send my CV over to Spore

[rodders]

After blowing 4 billion in Thailand, what's another few hundred million?

[Mockngbrd]

sibeh wayang

[TripleM]

i voted yes..
sending my cv soon to gahment.