SINGAPORE, Sept 8 — Singapore will raise the monthly allowance for Members of Parliament from S$13,750 to S$18,500 (RM43,929 to RM59,104) on October 15, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in parliament today.

CNA reported that Wong told the House the government does not treat the allowance as symbolic “token”.

“It is a substantial allowance, because MPs carry substantial responsibilities in parliament and in their constituencies,” Wong said. 

He said the allowance has helped both the People’s Action Party and the Workers’ Party attract strong candidates with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Wong said, “We may disagree strongly across the aisle, but the quality of debate is high, and Singapore is better for it.”

Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing said the increase accounts for inflation and ensures MPs are adequately supported in their work on the ground.

Chan and Wong were responding to a 2026 independent committee review of political salaries, which recommended several changes to how ministerial pay is set.

Chan said the government will study delinking allowances for community‑related roles, such as MPs and mayors, from political salary benchmarks.

He said the committee, led by Dr Gerard Ee, noted that considerations for these roles differ from those for full‑time political appointment holders.

“It has recommended that the government study establishing a basis for sizing the payments in a way that is delinked from the MR4 benchmark, but that remains adequate for these roles to carry out their duties faithfully and effectively,” Chan said.

He said the government will conduct the study while accepting the committee’s recommendation to raise MP allowances to S$18,500 in the meantime.

Chan said the committee’s 2012 finding that the MP allowance was appropriate remains valid and that updating the amount for inflation is consistent with that position.

Allowances for Non‑Constituency MPs will rise from 15 per cent of an MP’s annual allowance to 30 per cent, resulting in a monthly allowance of S$5,550.

Chan said the change reflects the full voting rights conferred on NCMPs since 2017 and aligns their pay more closely with their parliamentary responsibilities.

He said the revised NCMP allowances will also take effect on October 15.

For Nominated MPs, the existing peg of 15 per cent will be retained.

Chan said the government accepts the committee’s recommendation to retain current benefits provisions, which uphold a clean wage with no hidden perks, no pensions and clear transparency.

He said medical benefits will continue under the Medisave‑cum‑Subsidised Outpatient scheme used across the civil service and public sector.

CNA reported that Parliament will debate the government’s response to the committee’s recommendations on Thursday.