End day, money is always a motivation, whether you like it or not. Ask a friend to do something stupid in public, it will eventually come down to the price tag.
I concede I don't have the solution to our ministers' high salaries. Main reasons offered to justify their pay include stemming corruption, which I don't agree with because this way you are merely legitimising the corruption. Others include compensation for luring high profile individuals into civil service, which I also don't agree with because public service should not be solely for monetary gain. It is public service, not a career anymore. Besides, looking at George Yeo, his stint proved useful in getting a job post-civil service. The private sector will pay you well if you decide to go back and if you have done a good job in civil service anyway.
In fact, I find I agree more with the reasons against the high pay. They include the possibility of most ministers finding it challenging to do or implement anything that may go against the grain, thereby jeopardising their well paid jobs. Like a company that pays its staff well, personnel may tend towards deference to keep their jobs. Few will be courageous enough to rock the boat. Not having high pay will truly weed out types who see civil service as a stepping stone to improving one's life (monetarily), as I feel those who have made it somewhat and are financially comfortable from their own efforts prior will be more earnest in wanting to 'give back' and 'serve'.
In any case, I doubt much can be done about the pay. This pay cut may be a one-off, and even if it will be done in phases, it may take a while for some semblance of parity to be restored. In any case it will be very subjective to define parity also because, as I read somewhere that though other world leaders may be paid much lower, they have a lot more perks and benefits, of which again I'm not sure if our ministers are also similarly entitled to.
How about pegging salaries to vote sentiment? Haha.
Ie, if last GE overall vote for was 55%, and then next GE overall vote is 65% then increase in salary by 65/55 lah, which is approx 18% increment. Not bad what right?