Singapore’s pool of potential leaders could shrink if the personal costs associated with entering public service become too high, warned Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) Tan See Leng during a parliamentary debate on September 10. The discussion centered on the Government’s response to a review of political office-holders’ and Members of Parliament’s salaries.

Tan, who transitioned from the private sector to politics in 2020, emphasized that despite public service being a noble calling, it requires deliberate personal sacrifice. “Even callings require deliberate choices,” he told the House, noting that political roles demand longer hours, heavier responsibilities, and constant scrutiny, leaving little separation between public duty and private life.

Drawing from his own experience as a former group CEO and managing director of IHH Healthcare, Tan highlighted the challenge for young professionals to leave behind established careers to serve the nation full-time. He cited examples such as Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and former Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, both of whom left prominent medical careers in their prime after entering politics in 2001. Their ministerial salaries would not have matched their prior earnings, yet they made the transition for public service.

Tan pointed out that professionals such as entrepreneurs, finance specialists, or mid-career executives managing family responsibilities often face significant personal opportunity costs, including loss of income, time, future career opportunities, and privacy when stepping into politics. “Financial remuneration then becomes one of the many opportunity costs on that list,” he said. He cautioned that if the cumulative personal cost discourages many from entering public office, Singapore as a nation stands to lose valuable talent—not due to lack of willingness to serve but because the price of service becomes too steep.

Having entered politics at 55, after building multiple healthcare companies and securing financial stability, Tan acknowledged his circumstances were unique. This allowed him to prioritize public service over financial considerations. He said no level of ministerial pay could have matched his private-sector income and that if money had been his main concern, he would not have pursued a political career. His motivation was a desire to give back to the country.

Tan expressed hope that future prospective political leaders in the private sector will not face increasingly difficult trade-offs. “The strength of our Government depends not on what we pay those who serve, but on whether we continue to recruit the best people to serve,” he said. He called this an essential investment in Singapore’s future, stressing that decisions to enter public service should be based on willingness and ability rather than the financial burden borne by individuals and their families.