I look forward to when Singapore has its first woman minister and even prime minister in the future.

Last year, I had the pleasure to have lunch with American publisher Steve Forbes when he was in town to talk about the United States economy as well as the presidential election. I also had the chance to ask him if the US is ready to have a woman president.

There are few women who have been in senior posts in politics such as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright, Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi and the late Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan. I wonder why women are reluctant to enter politics. Am I right that, to them, men are better at politics, or do they prefer to support their man rather than be in the frontline?

Is Singapore ready to have a woman minister or prime minister in the future? I look forward to seeing a woman minister when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong chooses his new Cabinet soon, because I believe women are as capable as men in politics - if not better.

Ace Kindred Cheong Shiang Hoow