Tan See Leng says he would never have entered politics if money had been primary consideration

On why he eventually left that career behind, Dr Tan said there was no single defining moment. 

“It was a gradual but a growing inner realisation that whatever experience I had accumulated over those years in the private sector could perhaps be put to good use in a different way – not to change just a few lives at a time, or to build an organisation, but to give back to my country and my people.

“So when the opportunity came to serve, I stepped forward.”

Political office was more demanding, with longer hours, heavier responsibilities, and decisions subject to scrutiny, as well as little separation between public duty and private life, he said. 

But Dr Tan said he viewed public service as a special, but tough calling.

He added that the government was “unlike any organisation” he had ever worked in, with multi-faceted issues and difficult trade-offs having to be made. 

“For me, the learning curve was not just steep, it was humbling … It still is today,” Dr Tan said. 

“Even after decades of experience in leadership, I find myself having to learn something new every single day – learning how the government really works, how policies intersect; learning to listen better, balancing competing interests; and learning the good intentions alone are never enough.”

Dr Tan said he sometimes asks himself whether he had made the right choice in entering politics. 

“Have I given up too much; am I really doing good to justify my choice of public service?

“The reality is that political service demands significantly more from those who choose to serve.”