Ryanair CEO says S'pore's practice of paying public sector leaders higher wages 'very interesting'

The CEO of Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair, Michael O'Leary, said that Singapore's "practice" of paying high salaries to public sector leaders is "very interesting".

The airline boss had spoken about how senior politicians should earn more than one million pounds (S$1.7 million) per year in order to address what he described as a "fundamental problem with the talent in politics", according to Financial Times (FT).

"Need to reward our politicians much better"

O'Leary, known for taking shots at politicians, is expected to receive 100 million pounds (S$172 million) under a long-term pay package.

He suggested that politicians need to be rewarded "much better".

"But that's political suicide to say so," he added.

O'Leary said: "If you're Prime Minister or a cabinet minister you should be paid one million pounds (S$1.7 million) a year."

O'Leary had previously criticised western politicians, from the likes of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to former United Kingdom (UK) PM Boris Johnson, FT reported.

He had also labelled many current UK politicians as "plonkers", adding that former UK PM and Member of Parliament Rishi Sunak was "probably reasonably competent but the good Lord himself couldn't have come down and managed the Tories".

Would run a country like how he runs Ryanair

When asked about how he would run a country, O'Leary said he would "run it like Ryanair", according to FT.

"I'd cut the sh*t out of it... I'd cut the sh*t out of benefits. Go and get a job. Now, are there people who absolutely can't work? Yes, but I'd cut their benefits too."

For the carrier, O'Leary's cost-cutting tendencies have proven effective in driving Ryanair's growth so far.

Over his three decades at the helm, Ryanair has grown into Europe's largest airline and one of its most profitable.

Additionally, the airline has also indirectly profited from O'Leary issuing provocative, headline-grabbing remarks on a wide range of issues.

"I get away with a huge amount, not because I want to be confrontational or abusive to those people, but because it generates so much free publicity. I spend nothing on advertising."

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