Sir,

Re: Suggested career path for Madam Ho Ching

May we offer our commiseration on the news that your wife, Madam Ho Ching, will be joining the ranks of the unemployed this October. Indeed, the increase in the numbers of the unemployed in Singapore is lamentable, especially from the financial and investment sectors.

We note that there has been immediate talk about her joining politics, with an accelerated path to a ministerial position. Word has it that her immense talent and competence has to be put to good use for the sake of Singapore, and where better than in government?

However, there are risks with this future career path, and we hope to draw your attention to them. To be a minister, one has first to contest in parliamentary elections. She will become a lightning rod for protest votes. Many Singaporeans will cast a vote against her simply because she is a member of your family. It's their way of registering unhappiness and forcing an embarrassment on you and the People's Action Party, without triggering the (unthinkable) fall of a government that has become so essential to our nation's survival. The risk of this kind of irrational, freaky voter behaviour is perhaps too great to recommend this course of action.

In addition, her joining the cabinet raises exactly the same tricky question that was raised when she first took up the CEO position at Temasek Holdings. It is very awkward that a wife should report directly to her husband. At Temasek, the problem was solved by interposing Mr Dhanabalan and the Board of Directors between her and yourself, the then Minister of Finance, but in the cabinet, this neat solution will not be available.

May we therefore suggest a far superior idea for Madam Ho's career path: She should be the next President of Singapore.

The next Presidential elections are due in August 2011. By then, Mr Nathan will be 87 years old and can be persuaded not to stand for reelection. It would be timely for Madam Ho to step in as a candidate.

With her as President, future requests by the government for unlocking the reserves will not take the inordinately long time of two weeks to get presidential approval. It can be sorted out with just a bedroom chat.

Her nomination would also quash complaints by members of parliament about non-transparency over President Nathan's approval of the government's decision to unlock the reserves. Madam Ho, after all, has a stellar record of transparency and accountability, having initiated the public release of Temasek Holding's Annual Report. Her reputation in this area is unblemished.

What about voter unhappiness and protest votes? Fortunately, the Presidential Elections Committee vets candidates standing for presidential elections. Going by the example of the last two presidential elections in 1999 and 2005, which were walkovers, potential opponents can be disqualified by this Committee.

By upholding the same rigorous standards of prequalification in election after election, she may well remain president for another 30 years.

This in turn offers Singapore a huge benefit. In the unlikely event that there is ever a freak general election result and an opposition party is entitled to form a future government, Madam Ho as President can act as a conscientious advisor to ensure that the new government performs as expected. If not, you will of course recall how awkward the late President Ong made life for your predecessor.

Your Finance Minister noted in Parliament this past week that "This is a system that relies on trust in the individuals who are in charge". As a member of the family, you can certainly trust her more than you can trust any civil servant or retired PAP politician whom you may nominate to be head of state.

For your consideration,

Yours sincerely,