SINGAPORE, Sept. 8 -- Singapore will raise political office holders' salaries by up to 9 per cent from October 15, taking the annual pay for a minister at the lowest MR4 grade to about S$1.2 million (RM3.8 million).

CNA reported that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the changes in Parliament today after the government accepted recommendations from an independent review committee appointed in December last year.

"We will not move immediately to the new salary benchmarks," Wong said, adding that the government would instead make a one-off adjustment of up to 9 per cent for political office holders.

He said the increase "will not automatically apply to everyone" and that adjustments would depend on individual circumstances, includin...