POLITICAL APPOINTMENT HOLDERS AND CIVIL SERVANTS

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POLITICAL APPOINTMENT HOLDERS AND CIVIL SERVANTS:

(Average total annual remuneration for 2008): 4.

Mr Siew Kum Hong asked the Prime Minister (a) what was the average total annual remuneration for the year of 2008 (inclusive of all bonuses) for political appointment holders and civil servants whose remuneration is pegged to (i) MR4 benchmark and (ii) SR9 benchmark; and (b) what was the average amount of performance bonus paid to each of these groups, in terms of the number of months of salary and also in terms of the absolute monetary figure.

The Minister for Defence (Mr Teo Chee Hean) (for the Prime Minister): Mr Speaker, Sir, the norm total annual remuneration for the year 2008 for political appointment holders and civil servants whose remuneration is pegged to the MR4 benchmark was $1.92 million.

This figure includes the individual performance bonus and all other bonuses for a typical officer. The norm total remuneration for those pegged to the SR9 benchmark was $398,000.

At these senior levels, a significant proportion of the total annual salary

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depends on the individual's performance and the performance of the economy. For an officer in the MR4 grade, the individual performance bonus quantum can range from zero to 14 months. A performance bonus of nine months was used to compute the 2008 norm salary package (of $1.92 million) for a typical officer on MR4. So nine months was the norm used to compute the salary for the benchmark comparison purposes. However, the actual amount awarded would vary with the officer's performance. In 2008, the actual performance bonus paid out for this grade ranged from six to 10 months, with an average payout of 8.33 months or $455,000.

For SR9, the individual performance bonus quantum can range from zero to 8.5 months, with 4.5 months used for computing the 2008 norm salary for a typical officer. In 2008, the actual performance bonus ranged from zero to 6.5 months, with an average payout of 4.82 months or $86,000.

The above figures are 2008 salaries. This year, we will see a drop in total annual salaries. In November 2008, the Government announced that salaries for political, judicial and statutory appointment holders and Administrative Officers will see a drop of up to 19% in 2009. Total annual salaries at the MR4 grade will fall by 18% to $1.57 million and salaries at the SR9 level will fall by 12% to $353,000.

With MTI's latest GDP growth estimate at 1.5% for last year, salaries for 2009 will see a further drop. The MR4 salary for 2009 will now be $1.54 million, a drop of 20% compared to 2008. Salaries at SR9 will now be $351,000, a drop of 12% compared to 2008. The 2009 salaries are, of course, projected salaries. As the salaries are linked to economic performance, the 2009 salaries may be subject to further adjustments, given the volatility of the economy.

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Mr Siew Kum Hong (Nominated Member): As the Minister has pointed out, the salaries for 2009 will fall. However, these numbers remain unimaginably high to ordinary Singaporeans. Yet, a senior civil servant recently contributed an article in the Straits Times describing his family's five-week holiday in Paris which would have cost more than the 2007 average per capita GDP in Singapore ($53,000). It was the civil servant's own money, he has the prerogative to spend it as he sees fit. But in these times, writing about it in the national newspaper was unnecessarily provocative and unimaginably insensitive.

So my question is whether the Public Service has guidelines in place to ensure that senior civil servants conduct themselves appropriately and sensitively, and were they followed in this case?

Mr Teo Chee Hean: Mr Speaker, Sir, what the civil servant in question, Mr Tan, does during his vacation leave is his private decision. However, I was disappointed with what he wrote in the Straits Times . The article showed a lack of sensitivity and was ill-judged. It struck a discordant note during the current difficult economic circumstances when it is especially important to show solidarity and empathy for Singaporeans who are facing uncertainties and hardship.

The Head of Civil Service has spoken to Mr Tan about this to make these points and asked Mr Tan to take note of the feedback and learn from this episode. The Head of Civil Service has followed up to write to Mr Tan to put the matter on the record.