The city state’s wage system stands out as it does not have any other perks in kind during office, and no pensions or other benefits after the term ends, Ho said in a post on Facebook published on Wednesday.
Ho was responding to an article by local blog site Seedly, which compared Lee’s pay to that of US President Donald Trump, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and others.
“In most, if not all, other countries, they would have many other perks during term of office, like butlers and hairdressers, free flights on national airlines, even family holidays, etc; and quite a number like the USA would include perks after end of term of office,” she wrote.
Lee’s annual salary is S$2.2 million (US$1.6 million), including bonuses, according to the government’s website.
His pay was such fodder for speculation that the government dedicated a webpage on the subject last September, which said Lee does not get a performance bonus.
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The city state has previously said that million-dollar ministerial earnings prevented corruption and helped attract and retain talent.
It cut the salaries after voter unhappiness over a widening income gap weakened support for the ruling party in the 2011 elections and said last year that its ministers will not be getting a raise any time soon.
Ho, who is also chief executive of Singapore’s state investment firm Temasek Holdings – which has itself come under the public spotlight on its own executive compensation – said those in public and social services need to have skills and commitment, on top of other qualities.
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Having “these qualities of excellence, we must not take advantage of them to underpay, or require them to wear hairsuits for a show of sainthood”, she wrote.
In July, the prime minister’s estranged brother, Lee Hsien Yang, posted a message on Facebook a day after Temasek released its annual results, questioning why Ho’s pay was not included.“Why is it such a big secret?” he posted, as he shared an article by Singapore news site The Independent speculating that Ho earned about S$300,000 a day.
He urged Temasek to release the figures in the name of transparency, even though the firm is not required to publish its CEO’s earnings under the Singapore Companies Act.
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