Leong Mun Wai on ministerial salaries: More important question is what kind of political environment inspires more Singaporeans to serve

In a recent Facebook post, Leong Mun Wai, the chief of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), addressed the debate on higher political salaries that has been discussed in Parliament. While acknowledging the PSP's stance on fair compensation for Singapore's leaders, Mr Leong emphasized that the more pressing issue at hand is the kind of political environment that inspires more Singaporeans to serve in government.

During a visit to a hawker centre on Saturday morning (Sep 19), Mr Leong learned that many Singaporeans were concerned about the disparity between the higher pay for political office-holders and the economic uncertainty faced by ordinary citizens. One young couple even questioned the possibility of a conflict of interest, given that Parliament plays a role in approving the salaries of MPs and political office-holders.

Mr Leong clarified that as the highest law-making body, Parliament has the authority to make such decisions.

However, Mr Leong saw this as an opportunity to discuss a related concern - ensuring adequate checks and balances to prevent potential conflicts of interest. He then posed the more important question of what kind of political environment would attract top talent to join politics. According to Mr Leong, if capable Singaporeans are willing to serve for less, they must believe in the cause, have a meaningful opportunity to contribute, and operate in a political environment that encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds to step forward.

Rather than focusing on the exact salary needed to attract political talent, Mr Leong suggested that the focus should be on creating a "fairer and more open" political environment. He argued that the best political talent will be drawn to public service not just by the pay, but by a sense of purpose and the desire to serve Singapore.