Ministers and MPs are not immortals. They, too, have families and friends. They, too, need their space. And they have to live up to an exacting order that changes with time and with people ("Do we expect too much of our ministers and MPs?"; May 16, and "High expectations of MPs not unreasonable" by Mr Paul Chan Poh Hoi; June 6).

Social media has not helped much. Politicians are now in the spotlight 24/7, and one slip could mean the end of their political careers.

It is good to identify potential people to be groomed to lead the country, and maybe even stretch them a little to test them out.

But there is a limit to how much one can take.

Trying to live up to expectations from all sides may prove too much to bear. What about their families? I am sure they pay a hefty price for their loved ones entering politics.

The unsympathetic may say ministers are paid so much, so what is a little loss of privacy?

But we all know that after a point, money becomes a poor motivator. What about after they leave the scene? Will the hard work take its toll on them in their twilight years?

Can they make restitution to their loved ones for all the missed birthdays and family outings?

Political affiliations aside, we are first and foremost human beings. There is a basic decency in treating another person right, never mind his station in life. And that includes ministers and MPs.

Lee Teck Chuan