SINGAPORE - The boss of the largest Singapore-listed company by market capitalisation earned slightly more this year as the group's earnings held steady despite a "challenging business environment".

Singtel group chief executive Chua Sock Koong earned a remuneration package of S$6.56 million for the financial year to March 31 (FY2017).

Ms Chua earned about S$6.39 million in the previous year.

Of this year's pay package, S$5.89 million has been paid out, including a base salary of S$1.65 million, Singtel disclosed in its annual report on Wednesday.

Like Ms Chua's pay, Singtel's group net profit was mostly stable from a year ago.

The telco made a net profit of S$3.85 billion in FY2017, holding stable from a net profit of S$3.87 billion the year before.

Although full-year revenue slipped a little, Singtel was "resilient" overall owing to strong core businesses, higher associate earnings and lower tax expenses.

Ms Chua said in the annual report: "Singtel today is markedly different from the traditional telco we were five years ago. We've strengthened our competitiveness, and we're also more diversified and resilient."