Given their respective expertise, can they make it in the political arena? Their views are often sought after. Imo, they cannot be less prolific than what we have today.
Surely, they are miles ahead of Swee Say, Hng Kiang, Kim Yong, Chun Sing. Chuan-Jin etc.
Your views please. Children need not contribute here.
From your question, I would assume that the Academics you're referring to are the Scholars of Singapore.
Based on my assumption, if these Scholars were presidential scholars, or LKY scholars, etc... more or less their careers in PAP are defined.
So, on the other hand, if what you meant was just people who studies to Doctorates with the Phd and all, and these Academics want to enter politics.
From the case of Scholars deployed by Singapore Governments, they have a career paths being groomed for their succession.
From the case of tom dick and harry, you and me, go to study Doctorates, and become a Doctor Somebody, and want to enter politics, I think it would truly depend on that person's qualities. If he/she have a passion for serving the people, and is generally well liked by the people, sure why not.
But if if the Doctor Somebody do not have that sort of passion for serving the people, and is generally NOT well liked by the people, why not focus on researching something in the research centers, and get a bigger ROI on the Doctorate?
Seriously, I think to be a good politician, a Normal Degree from a local university would suffice, at least have some form of credibility that this person is educated. Masters or Doctorates are not really required. Next, the person should be a people person, able to interact, and help the people, listen to the people... and is able to help most of the people, most of the time.
So, my thought and view is that Academics may be Good Politicians provided they have the heart, passion, to serve the people, and HEART, PASSION, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE even without a Doctorate, even without a Masters, even without a Degree would be enough.