Prime Minister of Singapore

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore and the country's most powerful political figure. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament (MP) who, in his or her opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs. In practice, the Prime Minister is usually the leader of the majority party in the legislature.

Prime Minister of
the Republic of Singapore
Incumbent
Lee Hsien Loong
since 12 August 2004
ResidenceSri Temasek
AppointerPresident of the Republic of Singapore
Term length5 years or earlier, renewable.
The Parliament of Singapore must be dissolved every 5 years or earlier by the Prime Minister. The leader of the majority party will become the Prime Minister.
Inaugural holderLee Kuan Yew
Formation3 June 1959
SalaryS$2.2 million per annum
Websitewww.pmo.gov.sg
Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese新加坡共和國總理
Simplified Chinese新加坡共和国总理
Malay name
MalayPerdana Menteri Republik Singapura
Tamil name
Tamilபிரதமர் சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு piratamar Ciṅkappūr kuṭiyaracu
Singapore
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politics and government of
Singapore
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Under the Constitution of Singapore, executive power is vested in the President. However, the Constitution also vests "general direction and control of the government" in the Cabinet. The President is almost always bound to act on the advice of the Cabinet or any minister acting under Cabinet authority. Thus, in practice, most of the actual work of governing is done by the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The office of Prime Minister dates back to 1959 and was appointed at first by the Governor of Singapore then the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (vice-regal head of state), when Singapore achieved self-governance as the State of Singapore within the British Empire. The title of Prime Minister remained unchanged after the merger with the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak and North Borneo, while Singapore was a state in the Federation of Malaysia from 1963 to 1965, and after independence in 1965.

The late Lee Kuan Yew was the first prime minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990. Lee was succeeded by Goh Chok Tong and was conferred the title of Senior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. Goh Chok Tong retired on 12 August 2004 and was succeeded by Lee Kuan Yew's son Lee Hsien Loong. Goh Chok Tong was appointed Senior Minister, and the elder Lee Minister Mentor. Lee and Goh resigned from the Cabinet in 2011 but remained as members of Parliament. The only former living prime minister is Goh Chok Tong who served from 1990 to 2004. [1]

The Prime Minister's annual salary was S$3.07 million before a salary review in 2011.[2] On 21 May 2011, a committee was appointed by the Prime Minister to review the salaries of the Prime Minister as well as the President, political appointment holders, and Members of Parliament.[3] After the recommended wage reductions by the committee were accepted in Parliament, the Prime Minister's salary was reduced by 36% (including the removal of his pension) to S$2.2 million (approximately US$1.7 million at the time).[2]

Nonetheless, the Prime Minister of Singapore remains the highest-paid political leader in the world.[4]

List of prime ministers
№ Portrait Name
(birth and death)
Constituency		 Election Term of office Party
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Lee Kuan Yew
李光耀
லீ குவான் இயூ
(1923–2015)
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, 1955–2015		 1959 1963 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 5 June 1959 28 November 1990 31 years, 178 days People's Action Party
The first Prime Minister of Singapore. He is the longest-serving Prime Minister of Singapore. His tenure led to the expansion of Singapore's economy from a British Crown Colony into a first world country. He introduced the National Service (NS) scheme, with the help of his Defence Minister Goh Keng Swee. He introduced the Stop-At-Two child policy in 1960s, for fearing of over expansion of Singapore population. In the 1980s, he introduced the Graduate Mother Scheme to counter the effects of the previous policy, which received a huge backlash. The policy was withdrawn shortly thereafter. He led the PAP into 8 consecutive election victories. During his tenure, Singapore grew to become the most prosperous nation in South-east Asia.[5]
2 Goh Chok Tong
吴作栋
கோ சொக் தொங்
(b. 1941)
MP for Marine Parade GRC, 1988–2020		 1991 1997 2001 28 November 1990 12 August 2004 13 years, 258 days People's Action Party
The second Prime Minister of Singapore. He introduced several major policies and policy institutions, such as Medisave, Non-constituency Members of Parliament, Government Parliamentary Committees, Group Representation Constituencies, Nominated Members of Parliament, the Vehicle Quota Scheme, the direct election of the President and Singapore 21. During his tenure Singapore experienced several crises, such as the 1997 Asian financial crisis, threats of terrorism including the 2001 Singapore embassies attack plot by Jemaah Islamiyah, the 2001–2003 economic recession, and the 2003 SARS outbreak. He also introduced the Baby Bonus scheme in a bid to increase birth rates. Prior his appointment as PM, he served as Senior Minister of State for Finance, Minister for Trade and Industry, Minister for Health, Minister for Defence and first Deputy Prime Minister.[6]
3 Lee Hsien Loong
李显龙
லீ சியன் லூங்
(b. 1952)
MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, 1991–present		 2006 2011 2015 2020 12 August 2004 Incumbent 16 years, 4 days People's Action Party
The third Prime Minister of Singapore. He introduced the five-day working week for civil servants, with the hope of increasing the birth rate. One of his major accomplishments was to propose the building of 2 Integrated Resorts (IR) in Singapore. Singapore hosted the inaugural summer Youth Olympic Games in 2010. He promoted the abolition of school ranking. In 2013, he presided over the worst haze crisis and worst Dengue epidemic in Singapore. He also presided during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to his appointment as PM, he served as Deputy Prime Minister (1991–2004), Minister of Finance, and as the Minister of Trade and Industry.

Allowance

The Prime Minister receives an annual total salary package (inclusive of 13th month bonus, Annual Variable Component and National Bonus) that is twice the MR4 benchmark, or $2.2m, which represents a reduction of 36% from 2010 levels. As there is no one to decide on the annual performance bonus for the PM, the PM's bonus will be based only on the National Bonus.

Pensions for political appointment holders, including the Prime Minister, have been removed with effect from 21 May 2021.

The Prime Minister is on the Medisave-cum-Subsidised Outpatient (MSO) scheme.

Resources

The Istana is the working office of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is also accorded the use of an official car that is subject to tax. The Prime Minister is protected by the Police Security Command, who also ensure the protection of the President, the other Cabinet Ministers and visiting foreign dignitaries.

Powers

The Prime Minister is chosen by the President and is usually the leader of the majority party in the legislature. Since independence, this has been the Secretary-General of the People's Action Party.

The Prime Minister of Singapore chooses the other members of the Cabinet by advising the President; the President must exercise his or her powers in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, effectively making the Prime Minister the head of the executive branch. The Prime Minister also, in recent times, can nominate the Speaker of Parliament.

The Prime Minister leads the Government in the policy of the day and as the leader of the majority party in Parliament, is responsible for passing legislation through Parliament. The Prime Minister also appoints the Leader of the House, who is responsible for arranging government business and organising the legislative programme in Parliament, usually under the directive of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is responsible for overseeing the overall day-to-day affairs of the Government and executing government policy.

The Prime Minister can issue a Proclamation of Emergency by advising the President to do so; the President is obligated to follow the advice of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister can declare a defence or security measure, which extends to a declaration of war. The Prime Minister, followed by the Minister for Defence, the Permanent Secretary of Defence and the Chief of Defence Force, has executive authority over the armed forces although the nominal position of Commander-in-Chief falls under the President.

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See also

References
  1. Singapore, National Library Board. "Past and present leaders of Singapore | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  2. "White Paper - Salaries for a Capable and Committed Government". Public Service Division. 10 January 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  3. "Committee to review salaries of the President, Prime Minister and Political Appointment Holders" (Press release). Prime Minister's Office. 22 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  4. Mathew, Jerin (28 March 2015). "Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong remains highest paid country leader with $1.7m annual salary". International Business Times. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. "Lee Kuan Yew | prime minister of Singapore". Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  6. "Impressions of the Goh Chok Tong Years in Singapore". NUS Press. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
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