[Increased stakes for the opposition]
I was posed a question in class about liberalisation in Singapore today.

Essentially, the model that was drawn up showed that economy, state and civil society are separate entities. And there is little way of overlap.

One of my classmates then brought up the topic of the recent cabinet appointments and noted that a huge proportion of salaries would be paid for additional staff in PMO.

I offered a different view. I said that come next general elections, the stakes for the opposition would be raised. It would now cost a lot more and a single vote cast against the PAP may very well contribute to a loss of PAP wards with more than a minister. For example, in the last general elections, Aljunied GRC had only one minister. The promotion of Mrs Lim Hwee Hua to a full minister brings the number of minsters in Aljunied GRC to two. Provided that the boundaries of Aljunied GRC remain, then any opposition party who wants to contest Aljunied GRC will then have to pit their skills against two ministers. Will residents of Aljunied GRC want to vote for the opposition then and risk losing two cabinet ministers in the process then?

Careful consideration has to be put in before one hits the ballot box.