'What is Shan’s Ikigai?': ESM Goh at Shanmugam’s book launch

"The publication of the book is neither an indication nor the decider of a political career as such", said Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, during his question and answer session at the launch of his book, "Policy, Fairness and Compassion" on Feb. 6, 2026.

The book encompasses speeches, interviews, and articles spanning over 30 years, from 1988, when Shanmugam was elected as the youngest Member of Parliament, to 2008 and beyond.

He was responding in a fireside chat to a question posed by journalist Claressa Monteiro, who coyly asked, "Is it an indication of something?" alluding to the possibility of retirement.

When Shanmugam replied, she prompted him again, "Are you thinking about maybe not working so hard?"

"I will retire in accordance with the way generations of ministers have retired."

Shanmugam shared that he launched the book as a data point for future historians and to raise money for charity.

'Contributions as a minister immense'

Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Goh Chok Tong attended the event as the guest-of-honour and gave the opening speech.

In a rare public speech since stepping down from active politics, ESM Goh said that when Shanmugam asked him to launch his book, his instinctual response was to "ask someone else".

"After a moment’s pause, I said that I would do it. I felt that his book would have much to offer on governance and public policy."

ESM Goh spoke about his first meeting with Shanmugam when he was still a young lawyer in Allen and Gledhill, who defended him in a defamation lawsuit.

ESM Goh outlined Shanmugam's journey from the youngest People's Action Party (PAP) candidate at the age of just 29 to his tenure as a backbencher and eventually minister.

"His speeches as a backbencher were impactful and his contributions as a minister immense."

Shanmugam's 'Ikigai'

Shanmugam's stand "showed clearly his view on justice and compassion", said ESM Goh.

"Do not judge Shan by his stern demeanour. As the Minister for Home Affairs and a former Minister for Law, Shan must take a no-nonsense approach to maintain law and order in Singapore."

ESM Goh noted that the late Lee Kuan Yew had always advised, “To govern, you must be feared”; however, he said that Shanmugam would add, "but govern justly and with compassion".

According to ESM Goh, these values were reflected across the book and in short concerned Shanmugam's Ikigai.

Ikigai is a Japanese philosophical concept that translates to "a reason for being".

ESM Goh said that Shanmugam sees "public life as a worthwhile cause" and that "he did not agonise over the significant financial sacrifice he had to make".

“On my last day on earth – what would I have wanted to have done with my life? Spend all my time making more money? Or also spend some time doing some good work for the community and others and perhaps some good for the country?”

'Not easy to find another Shanmugam'

ESM Goh also noted that "it is increasingly harder to persuade good, capable people nearing or at the top of their careers or professions to devote themselves to political service".

"It will not be easy to find another Shanmugam who is willing to forego tens of millions of dollars over a 20-year period as minister. And the Cabinet needs more than one Shanmugam."

ESM Goh said that many First-World democracies have "become dysfunctional" and for democracy to work in Singapore, election after election, "there must be highly capable and well-motivated candidates for the people to choose from in the first place".

In the opening remarks, Janadas Devan, Deputy Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office of Singapore and former Chief of Government Communications, also noted that in the first 60 years of independence, Singapore had just three ministers of law, including Shanmugam.

Janadas quipped that Singapore's three prime ministers thought the role of law minister was so crucial, they "trusted only three men to do (the job)".

Politicians and businesspeople in attendance at the event included former senior ministers Teo Chee Hean and S Jayakumar, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Ministers Edwin Tong and Tan See Leng, DBS's chief executive officer (CEO) Tan Su Shan and Temasek Trust chair Ho Ching.

Top photo from Mothership