Ministerial salaries have always been one of Singapore’s most politically sensitive issues. The latest review has revived arguments over talent, sacrifice, corruption, public accountability and whether political pay should be benchmarked against the private sector at all.

Let’s Talk, Singapore speaks with Bhavan Jaipragas, Senior Columnist, The Straits Times about why the issue strikes such a nerve, whether high pay protects Singapore from political elitism and corruption, and whether public trust ultimately matters more than any salary formula.