Singapore’s Cabinet vs Malaysia’s Cabinet

Got this from felixker’s blog:

PM Lee Hsien Loong
Cambridge University – First Class Honours (1974)
Harvard University – Masters (1980)

PM Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi
University of Malaya – Bachelor of Arts Honours (1964)

SM Goh Chok Tong
University of Singapore – First Class Honours (1964)
Williams College , USA – Masters (1967)

Deputy PM Dato’ Sri Najib Razak
University of Nottingham – Bachelor of Arts Honours (1974)

MM Lee Kuan Yew
Cambridge University – First Class Honours (1949)

Minister of Foregn Affairs Syed Hamid Albar
(can someone tell me his univeristy? )- Bachelor of Arts [ UITM ]

Minister for Law Prof. S Jayakumar
University of Singapore – Bachelor of Law Honours (1963)
Yale Univerity – Masters (1966)

Ministry of Works- Dato’ Seri Samy Vellu
(Education Unknown) [ Form 6, Anderson School ]

Minister for Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng
University of Singapore – Bachelor of Arts & Business Admin (1977)
London Business School – Masters (1979)

Ministry of International Trade & Industry Rafidah binti Aziz
Universiti Malaya – Bachelor of Arts Honours

Minister for Foreign Affairs BG George Yeo
Cambridge University – Double First Class Honours (1976)
Harvard Business School – MBA w/ Distinction (1985)

Minister of Agriculture Muhyiddin Yassin
(Education Unknown) [ Polytechnic Ungku Omar ]

Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang
Cambridge University – First Class Honours w/ Distinction (1976)
Harvard University – Masters (1986)

Ministry of Domestic Trade Shafie Apdal
(Education Unknown) [ Form 5, Failed English ]

Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean
University of Manchester – First Class Honours (1976)
Imperial College, London – Masters w/ Distinction (1977)

Minister of Education Hishammuddin Hussein
(Education Unknown) [ Bachelor of Arts, Social Science ]

Minister for Education Tharman Shanmugaratnam
London School of Economics – Bachelor of Arts
Cambridge University – Masters
Harvard University – Masters

Minister of Home Affairs Radzi bin Sheikh Ahmad
(Education Unknown) [ Kolej Islam Malaysia , Diploma

The way I see it… I think Singapore’s Cabinet can safely claim to have the highest mean level of academic qualification worldwide, not just compared to Malaysia. I am saying this based on the stringent recruitment criteria imposed by our ruling party into their rank and file. Many of us will call this “elitist”, but is this system necessarily a bad thing?

What do you think?

Technorati Tags: Lee Hsien Loong, Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi, Goh Chok Tong, Dato’ Sri Najib Razak, Lee Kuan Yew, Syed Hamid Albar, S Jayakumar, Dato’ Seri Samy Vellu, Wong Kan Seng, Rafidah binti Aziz, BG George Yeo, Muhyiddin Yassin, Lim Hng Kiang, Shafie Apdal, Teo Chee Hean, Hishammuddin Hussein, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Radzi bin Sheikh Ahmad, Malaysia cabinet, singapore cabinet, malaysian ministers, singapore ministers, malaysia government, singapore government

alvinology

Alvin is a marketer by day and blogger by night. He is a 100% geek who spends too much time surfing the web.

View Comments

  • I think that it goes to show that it's possible to have a somewhat functioning, stable country, without paying through the nose for it.

  • Today MM Lee just said that the current cabinet in Singapore is the best that we can get...

  • While I abhor the incompetence Malaysian ministers exhibit, I do feel compelled to point out that some of the education backgrounds of Malaysian ministers you listed are false; that the University of Malaya was once a wreath worn with honour (e.g. your beloved Ngiam Tong Dow); that the cream of the Malay crop do not enter politics; and that the PAP (unlike UMNO, and other political parties in the free world) goes around begging corporate figureheads/top talent to join their ranks in the same manner as does the Communist Party of China.

    This comparison is as meaningless as it is patently stupid.

Recent Posts

OH! Open House Returns with OH! Moonstone Artwalk: Exploring Change and Continuity in the City

OH! Open House is back with the 12th edition of its flagship artwalk, OH! Moonstone:…

10 hours ago

RISIS and Daughters Of Tomorrow Celebrate Christmas Through Heartfelt Gift Exchange

This festive season, RISIS spread joy and gratitude with a meaningful Christmas celebration in collaboration…

12 hours ago

OPPO Celebrates Global Winners of the 2025 Photography Awards, Showcasing “Super Every Moment”

OPPO has revealed the global winners of the 2025 OPPO Photography Awards, its annual international…

1 day ago

In-Demand Employment Sectors: SIM Equips Singapore’s Workforce for the Future Economy

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 December 2025 - Singapore's job market is undergoing…

1 day ago

Audi Singapore Gears Up for 2026 with F1 Debut, House of Progress Anniversary, and Expanded Model Line-Up

Audi Singapore is set to accelerate into 2026 with a series of milestone moments, combining…

1 day ago