MINISTERS AND EX-MINISTERS (Income tax and pensions)

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Finance (a) whether Ministers pay income tax on their salaries; and (b) how many Ministers and ex-Ministers who are Members of this House are receiving pensions in addition to their salaries/allowances.

Dr Hu Tsu Tau: Mr Speaker, Sir, Ministers, like all other members of the public, are required to pay income tax on their salaries. They are not accorded any special treatment.

Three Ministers and four former Ministers who are Members of this House receive their parliamentary pensions in addition to their salaries and allowances. All pensionable employees in the public sector, whether civil servants or Ministers, receive their pension entitlements when they reach retirement age. Those civil servants or Ministers who are re-employed receive the emoluments of the jobs they hold. This is also the customary practice in the private sector.