S'pore still least corrupt in Asia

S'pore still least corrupt in Asia
By Kor Kian Beng Sep 24, 2008

"In this year's index, Singapore scores 9.2, behind joint-leaders Denmark, Sweden and New Zealand, all of which obtained a 9.3 score. At the other end are Somalia (1.0), Iraq and Myanmar (1.3) and Haiti (1.4).

Asian economies which placed significantly are Hong Kong (12th), Japan (18th), Taiwan (39th), South Korea (40th) and Malaysia (47th)"

and I dug out this piece of old news

PM, ministers to get pay rise of between 14% and 33%
By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia Posted: 09 April 2007 1805 hrs

"SINGAPORE : The annual salaries of the Prime Minister, ministers and top civil servants will be increased by between 14 percent and 33 percent, with the average pay rise of 25 percent...

The SR9 grade which is the entry level into the Superscale grades of civil servants is benchmarked against the salary of the 15th person, aged 32 years, from 6 professions, namely bankers, lawyers, engineers, accountants, employees of MNCs and local manufacturers. This benchmark which dipped in 2004 - 2005, but has since risen, currently stands at $361,000.

The second benchmark, the MR4 grade or Staff Grade I, which is the grade at which senior Permanent Secretaries and entry-level ministers are paid, is defined as two-thirds of the median salary among the top 8 earners in banking, law, engineering and accountancy, as well as employees of MNCs and local manufacturers. This benchmark is currently $2.2 million.

Mr Teo said salaries at the MR4 level have stayed at $1.2 million, the same level as in 2001 which means salaries are now at 55% of the benchmark...."

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hmm...

no matter how bad the economy is doing, the ministers' pay will be pegged to percentage of "highest tier of earners"