What makes these two tick?

KBW stressed, looses his Karma powers... His wavering in the means testing issue is showing... Will he resign soon?

But who wouldn't with an unsolved $2.03B p.a. 'economic albatross' around the govt's neck; LHL's parliament's moral weaknesses, Ng EH's policy of weak subsidising the strong, the continually increasing rich poor divide, the pressure of such prejudices will surely make any dignified Health Minister jump to his grave!

May his Karma be strong.

• "In Mr Khaw's case, his spirituality is often cited as a key to his success."
  
• "last November, Mr Khaw dropped hints of retiring as he recalled how entering politics was never his wish. He had said this might be his last term in the Health Ministry, a "very meaningful portfolio" from which he would like to retire from politics. ..."
  
  
  What makes these two tick?
  Weekend • October 20, 2007
  Christie Lohchristie@mediacorp.com.sg
  EVEN in a centralised, collegiate and behind-the-scenes style of leadership like Singapore's, a few individuals do stand out.
  They may not be seen as possessing the giant stature of past ministers such as Dr Goh Keng Swee and Mr S Rajaratnam — yet. But the qualities of an agent of change, helping to shape a nation's future, are already surfacing in a couple of today's ministers.
  One does it with his Zen-like nature; the other, with his business-like mien.
  Beyond these qualities, what is it that makes ministers Khaw Boon Wan and Tharman Shanmugaratnam tick?
  The two career civil servants were among the so-called "Super Seven" to have risen rapidly within the ranks — joining the Cabinet in August 2003, just two years after making their political debut in the 2001 general elections.
  Since then, the two names have become synonymous with the national agendas for health and education.
  Mr Khaw, 54, is a man fighting to keep medical costs low. Hence the online posting of charges by private and public hospitals to make it easier for patients to compare prices and choose the kind of treatment that best suits their pockets.
  Then, there's the ongoing reform of the 3Ms (Medisave, MediShield, Medifund) — aimed at ensuring that Singaporeans will have sufficient enforced savings for medical contingencies — an issue which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong once said Mr Khaw "lives and sleeps with every day".
  In education, Mr Shanmugaratnam, 49, has tackled areas that have long troubled parents and their children. Among the lauded efforts to make education less rote and less based on academic results are the scrapping of the 29-year-old system of primary school streaming and the introduction of more fun ways to learn the Chinese language.
  In short, what the two men set in motion concerns everyone from the cradle to the grave.
  "It is the importance of the ministry that defines the importance of the man," said political scientist Ho Khai Leong from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
  While health and education are big issues in any country, they have become major preoccupations in Singapore, where concerns over affordable health care for the elderly have grown in tandem with the ever-growing number of senior citizens; and where education is seen as the key to keeping Singapore a step ahead of competitors who are catching up faster than ever.
  But while the portfolios in themselves are high profile, the leaders put in charge have also certainly excelled in their jobs, observers said.
  "They answered the call," Assoc Prof Ho said of Mr Khaw and Mr Shanmugaratnam, who became Senior Ministers of State immediately after the 2001 elections. "They are meticulous, knowing the details of the issues."
  Such understanding is seen as closely linked to two things: The individual's mental agility and his pre-politics experience in policy-making.
  During Mr Khaw's 23 years as a civil servant, he spent 14 years in the Ministry of Health (MOH). There, he had conceived the idea of Medisave in 1983 when he was an administrative service officer working for then-Health Minister Goh Chok Tong, said a former colleague.
  After that, the high-flier went on from 1985 to 1992 to head three hospitals: National University Hospital, Kandang Kerbau Hospital (now known as KK Women's and Children's Hospital) and Singapore General Hospital.
  While the engineer-trained Colombo Plan scholar had never expected such a healthcare-centred career, the experience has certainly revealed his flexibility and given him the "intimate knowledge" necessary for him to "make things happen" as Health Minister, said an industry insider.
  The experience probably also played a big part in imparting the necessary confidence to act firmly as minister.
  Looking at his track record in MOH, it wouldn't be too much of an exaggeration to say that Mr Khaw had impressed Mr Goh enough to be invited to join the 2001 campaigning team of Singapore's second Prime Minister.
  For Mr Shanmugaratnam, his career at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) provided him with a similar opportunity to prove his mettle to another future Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong.
  The MAS was where Mr Shanmugaratnam, a London School of Economics graduate, spent nearly his entire professional life, working as an economist. It was only from 1995 to 1997 that he hopped over to the Education Ministry as its Deputy Secretary (Policy).
  So, although he had not spent much time in education circles, Mr Shanmugaratnam was, like Mr Khaw, an old hand at crafting big plans for the nation.
  The chance to shine before one of the country's top men came in 1997 when Mr Shanmugaratnam returned to MAS at a higher position than before: Deputy managing director. It was from then that he had ample opportunities to work with and impress Mr Lee, who was Deputy Prime Minister at the time and concurrently appointed head of MAS in 1998.
  Mr Shanmugaratnam was later promoted to managing director and then invited to join the People's Action Party.
  Prof Ho believes Mr Shanmugaratnam's "professorial" quality is one reason why he has been an effective Education Minister — he is able to break down complex issues and policies such that the public understands him. It is a trait that Mr Khaw shares, Prof Ho said.
  Another of Mr Shanmugaratnam's strong points is the "ability to empathise with the anxieties, concerns and aspirations of the people", noted Mr Viswa Sadasivan, chief executive of public relations firm Strategic Moves.
  Such empathy may have something to do with the fact that this is one minister who knows what it is like to be on the wrong side of the law.
  In 1992, Mr Shanmugaratnam, an MAS economist at the time, came under intense public scrutiny when he was charged for breaching the Official Secrets Act. Because he had brought a confidential report — containing an advance estimate of Singapore's quarterly economic growth — into a meeting with journalists who went on to publish the figure ahead of its official release, the courts fined him $1,500 in 1994.
  "All these experiences have made him a well-rounded person," said Mr Viswa.
  In Mr Khaw's case, his spirituality is often cited as a key to his success.
  Several commentators have said before that the Buddhist never appears ruffled. He is always calm and, like Senior Minister Goh, is able to connect with people on a grassroots level.
  Mr Viswa puts it down to the Zen belief that people on the ground should be treated with fairness and dignity, thus lending Mr Khaw a certain "moral courage" to act.
  Perhaps, Mr Khaw's readiness to act — in terms of pushing for far-reaching changes in Singapore's health landscape — may also be related to his desire to retire from politics sooner, rather than later.
  In a Today interview last November, Mr Khaw dropped hints of retiring as he recalled how entering politics was never his wish.
  He had said this might be his last term in the Health Ministry, a "very meaningful portfolio" from which he would like to retire from politics.
  And for a minister, what can be more meaningful than to put in place reforms that would benefit the whole nation long after he is gone?
  No matter when he makes his exit, there is little doubt that Mr Khaw has left his mark in the ministry. Ditto for Mr Shanmugaratnam.
  But for all their outstanding performances, one thing should not be forgotten: That no minister, or his ministry, is an island.
  As Prime Minister Lee once said, his Cabinet is "a collegiate team", where ministers jointly work on issues, such as dengue or labour, which touch their portfolios.
  At the same time, those who oversee ministries that deal with more sensitive information, such as Home Affairs and Defence, may be less in the public eye, but they too are making big contributions behind the scenes, said political commentator Zulkifli Baharudin.
  The businessman and former Nominated Member of Parliament added : "The Singapore system emphasises less on personality."
  Except that of the Prime Minister.
  Said Assoc Prof Ho: "PM is the first among equals. He's the one making policy and the rest are overshadowed by his presence." Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved http://www.todayonline.com/articles/217671.asp