Civil List
Ministry of FinanceSpeakers
Summary
This motion concerns the adjustment of the Civil List for the maintenance of the President’s office for FY2025 as moved by Second Minister Indranee Rajah. Second Minister Indranee Rajah stated that while the President's salary remains unchanged, increases in Class 2, 3, and 4 expenditures are required to address rising operating costs. The adjustments account for higher manpower expenses, the re-categorization of seconded public officers to Class 4, and increased costs for IT security and events during Istana restoration. These variations aim to better reflect the nature of expenditures and ensure the President’s office has sufficient budget to operate and hire necessary staff. Parliament resolved to approve the variations to the Schedule of the Civil List and Gratuity Act 1970 as no members spoke on the motion.
Transcript
Mr Speaker: Second Minister for Finance.
12.46 pm
The Second Minister for Finance (Ms Indranee Rajah): Mr Speaker, I move that this Parliament, pursuant to section 7 of the Civil List and Gratuity Act 1970, resolves that the Schedule to that Act be varied by deleting the figures “$6,696,700”, “$3,342,200” and “$550,000” in the second column and substituting for them the figures “$7,318,000”, “$4,542,000” and “$1,288,000” respectively.
The Constitution requires the legislature to provide a Civil List for the maintenance of the President and his office. It ensures that the President has sufficient budget to operate his office and hire his staff. The Civil List was last adjusted in FY2022 and has remained unchanged since. However, operating costs have risen. It is thus necessary to move this Motion to adjust the Civil List. To be clear, no change is proposed for Class 1 expenditures, that is to say, no change is proposed in this Motion to the President's salary and allowance. The proposed changes are in Class 2, Class 3 and Class 4 of the Civil List to enable the President's office to continue to meet its expenditure needs. The variations also arise as we have re-categorised some expenditures to better reflect the nature of those expenditures. The changes will take effect from FY2025.
For Class 2 expenditures, which provide for the salaries of the President's personal staff, it is proposed to increase the sum from $6,696,700 to $7,318,000. The proposed adjustment is to cater for the increases in expenditure in manpower. The increase is partially offset as it is proposed to categorise expenditure for manpower for public officers seconded to the President's office under Class 4 instead of Class 2. This is because these public officers who are seconded to the President's office are not part of the President's personal staff.
For Class 3 expenditures, which provide for the expenses of the household, it is proposed to increase the sum from $3,342,200 to $4,542,000. This is to cater for the higher cost of maintaining and securing IT systems as well as organising official events at the Istana, while the main building of the Istana undergoes major restoration works.
For Class 4 expenditures, it is proposed to increase the sum from $550,000 to $1,288,000. As explained earlier, this arises because expenditure on manpower for public officers seconded to the President's office will now be categorised under Class 4. Sir, I move the Motion.
Mr Speaker: The question is as moved by the Minister. I assume no one wishes to speak on this?
Question put, and agreed to.
Resolved,
That this Parliament, pursuant to section 7 of the Civil List and Gratuity Act 1970, resolves that the Schedule to that Act be varied by deleting the figures “$6,696,700”, “$3,342,200” and “$550,000” in the second column and substituting for them the figures “$7,318,000”, “$4,542,000” and “$1,288,000” respectively.