BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Responding to criticism of a 60 percent increase in ministers' salaries from Singaporeans, the country's prime minister on Wednesday said he would donate his S$600,000 (395,800 U.S. dollar) pay raise for each of the next five years.

    Lee Hsien Loong, who is set to earn S$3.1 million (2.1 million dollars) this year following this week's pay rise told parliament he did not expect other ministers to donate their pay increases.

    The government's decision to dramatically increase salaries for ministers and top civil servants -- already among the highest-paid in the world -- has brought criticism from ordinary Singaporeans, many of whom consider the move tactless given the widening rich-poor gap in the city-state.

    "For five years, whatever the increase in salary above the present level, I will donate," said Lee, who earned S$2.5 million (1.65 million dollars) previously, in parliament on Wednesday.

    Lee said this would give him the moral standing to defend the move to raise ministers' salaries.

    The salaries of Singapore ministers were raised by about 60 percent to an average of S$1.9 million (1.26 million dollars) on Monday, just short of the S$2.2 million that the government had initially proposed.

    The government said the move was necessary to attract and retain top talent. ($1=1.516 Singapore Dollar)

    (Agencies)