{"id":83328,"date":"2026-09-09T00:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T16:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=83328"},"modified":"2026-09-09T00:27:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T16:27:02","slug":"pm-wong-wants-more-private-sector-leaders-like-tan-see-leng-in-cabinet-amid-succession-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=83328","title":{"rendered":"PM Wong wants more private-sector leaders like Tan See Leng in Cabinet amid succession challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Dr Tan was group CEO and managing director of IHH Healthcare, and also founded Healthway Medical Group<\/p>\n

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[SINGAPORE] The Republic needs more people with substantial private-sector experience in Cabinet, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said, pointing to Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) Tan See Leng as an example of the different perspectives such leaders can contribute.<\/p>\n

Dr Tan entered politics in 2020 after a long career in the private sector, said PM Wong in a ministerial statement on Tuesday (Sep 8) on the government\u2019s response to a review of political salaries.<\/a><\/p>\n

Before entering politics when he was 55, Dr Tan was group CEO and managing director of IHH Healthcare, where he led the group as its revenue doubled from RM6 billion to RM12 billion (US$1.5 billion to US$3 billion).<\/p>\n

Earlier in his career, he founded Healthway Medical Group and served as its CEO from 1993 to 2002.<\/p>\n

Referencing a motion by the opposition Workers\u2019 Party in August on the future of Singapore\u2019s economy, PM Wong said Dr Tan\u2019s private-sector experience allowed him to speak with authority about the challenges entrepreneurs face, and what more can be done to support them.<\/p>\n

PM Wong said Dr Tan drew on years of experience running businesses and dealing with its challenges first-hand, which gave his speech \u201ca conviction that would have been difficult for others in the team to replicate\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo he brings a different perspective and has made a real contribution to the team,\u201d said PM Wong. \u201cI would like to bring in more people like him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ideally, he said they should come while they are in their 40s, so they have the runway to learn, grow and take on larger responsibilities over time.<\/p>\n

Citing examples of potential candidates, PM Wong pointed to CEOs of major listed Singapore companies in sectors such as banking, telecommunications, aviation and engineering, as well as people on track for such leadership roles.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAt those levels, remuneration can run into several million dollars a year \u2013 well above even the revised MR4 benchmark,\u201d he said, referring to the salary for starting-grade <\/strong>ministers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not trying to match what they earn. We never will. But when we approach people of that calibre, we cannot pretend that the opportunity cost does not exist,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

PM Wong said he had approached several CEOs and senior business leaders before last year\u2019s General Election who he thought could make a real contribution.<\/p>\n

Though none of them told the prime minister directly that remuneration was the reason they would not join, he noted that they were \u201cearning several times a minister\u2019s salary\u201d.<\/p>\n

PM Wong added that while he would not want someone whose decision \u201cturned mainly on money\u201d, he said it does not mean remuneration is irrelevant.<\/p>\n

Looking at it from their perspective, he said such private-sector leaders would have spent years building successful careers.<\/p>\n

Entering politics would mean walking away from that, taking a substantial reduction in income and contesting an election \u201cwith no certainty of success\u201d, before starting again in a completely different environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the end, none of those I approached was prepared to make the move. But I have not given up. I am still looking and I hope to persuade a few to join us the next election,\u201d PM Wong said.<\/p>\n

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