I note that Parliament on Thursday approved the allocation of an additional $1.25 million to the Civil List, which specifies the salaries of the President, his personal staff, and expenditure.
The amount set aside for the President's salary is $4,267,500, up from $3,376,800. The entertainment allowance remains unchanged at $73,000. The amount for staff salaries increases by $471,600 to $4,532,400.
Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said these increases were to cater for an additional staff officer to support the work of the Council of Presidential Advisers, a Butler Manager to meet the increased demand for butler services at the Istana, and to meet higher variable payments on account of strong economic growth.
My Comment: Is there really a need to pay such a high salary plus a team of entourage to a President whose role is largely ceremonial. Come on, Singapore is a small country, this is utter extravagance! Barrak Obama, the executive President of the United States, a person of immense talent and gift for oration is paid probably in the range of 1/10 of our President.
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