CNA: A Political Forum on Singapore's Future Pt1/4- 02Apr2011

I'd also edited one clip solely on Dr Vincent debate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zycsQ2tHH_c
cos i find the whole show was quite painful to show~

SINGAPORE - For the first time in more than two decades, the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) and four Opposition parties have engaged in a lively pre-General Election television forum.

Organised by Channel NewsAsia (CNA), the one-hour programme in English entitled A Political Forum on Singapore's Future - to be broadcast unedited on Saturday and again on Sunday and Monday - saw the five political parties discuss a variety of immediate and long-term challenges facing Singapore.

The PAP was represented at the forum, which was recorded yesterday, by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Josephine Teo; the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) by its assistant secretary-general Mohamed Nazem Suki; the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) by assistant treasurer Vincent Wijeysingha; the Singapore People's Party (SPP) by second vice-chairwoman Lina Chiam; and the Workers' Party (WP) by assistant webmaster Gerald Giam.

The forum saw the participants squaring off on issues such as the Republic's economic growth, educating the next generation, as well as Singapore's social and healthcare needs. Apart from allotted time for them to state their party's position and plans on these issues, there were also free-flowing segments during which the politicians locked horns on the rising cost of living and the influx of foreign workers - issues that are widely expected to be hot-button topics during the coming General Election.

Half the time of the forum was allotted to the Opposition and half to the ruling party.

The SDP had initially baulked at the forum's format and the condition that participants had to be either an elected Member of Parliament, or a member of the party's central executive committee, who was eligible to contest the General Election.

But after the recording at MediaCorp's Andrew Road studios, the opposition party's representative, Dr Wijeysingha, praised the forum, describing it as "effective".

"It's a good format ... you have some structure but within that structure you allow people to debate, to talk, to reflect off each other. It's an effective forum. We need more of this," the SDP representative told Today. "It was interesting, we managed to get some views out, there was a good debate between ourselves and the PAP MP and it was good to have a Minister on as well," Dr Wijeysingha added.

Other opposition participants also gave the forum the thumbs up.

"I think it's a good opportunity for us to address voters directly. I hope this will give voters a better idea of what the WP is about, the kinds of candidates we have, our objective to build up a rational, responsible and respectable party," said WP's Mr Giam.

Echoing his view, SPP's Mrs Chiam said: "This is the first time I have taken part in this sort of forum ... and I think it was an honour to be speaking in front of the Minister ... I think it is a great experience for me. Initially I was a bit nervous."

Speaking to Today, Mr Tharman, who is also the PAP's treasurer, said the forum "went very well".

Said Mr Tharman: "It's a good idea to have this exchange well before the election so that people get to know what the different parties represent and whether they've got real policies or rhetoric."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Singapore
• GE2011
• General
• Election
• GE
• 2011
• tv
• debate
• moderator
• CNA
• 政治
• 论坛
• 新加坡的未来

[motsu84]

A very interesting debate. I think this broadcast could prove to be a turning point for the fate of SDP.

[MajorYT]

I like this Vincent guy. PAP must have been struck by his eloquence and confidence.

[Porkincarnate]

Opposition fail. Their standards are still far from thenpap

[stn0404]

i watched this video many times and i now know why SPP lost. Lina Chima is totally unprepared for this forum and she really a bad speaker. It's better for her to give up. But good to see SDP and WP getting better after each election.

[chou040195]

@coldsilver Well, its true that there are benefits to a coalition government, but there is also its cons. Just look at Thailand as an example. If a political uprising of Thailand's magnititude were to happen to Singapore,we with no resources whatsoever cept for manpower, is doomed. Also in US, coalition government have resulted in government shutdowns, which would be disastrous for a small nation like us, it might work for big nations like US, but not SG, who cant afford any political meltdown.

[JLJS]

@chou040195 Obviously SM Goh is much better, but I feel perharps they should set a age limit on being a MP or Minister. They might not have energy to serve the country anymore like Chiam See Tong.

With a country so small like us, a PM is more than enough. If he fails we still got 2 DPM. MM and SM's pay also not cheap too. The day when they trusted Lee Hsien Loong to the PM job, MM and SM should retire.

That said, I won't take credits off them. They were solid and proven leaders.

[chou040195]

@JLJS Hm i agree with you about Nicole Seah, she a very good candidate, she comes across as really sincere and concerned. But i have to disagree with you on her team winning Marine Parade GRC; compared to SM Goh, do you think she would come across as a better candidate? Also, Dont forget its a GRC, not a SMC, you have to look at the whole team. I know there's a big hoo ha over TPL as a candidate, but i think i'd rather count on her over a warehouse assistant to serve.

[Solitude075]

@JLJS Don't worry lah if PAP tries to ban internet because you criticize PAP then singapore will end up like protester in thailand. ;p

[JLJS]

@Solitude075

Low Thia Kiang is already in the government. Nicole Seah is the stand out opposition. Hopefully she can beat the odds and somehow win SM Goh.

Best New Opposition Member: Nicole Seah (NSP - Marine Parade GRC)

Worst New Opposition Member: Lim Zi Rui (Reform Party - Ang Mo Kio GRC)

Best New PAP Member: Tan Chuan Jin (Marine Parade - GRC)

Worst New PAP Member: Chan Chun Sing (Tanjong Pagar - GRC)

Well, it's just my opinion, hopefully PAP don't track me down! =]

[Solitude075]

@JLJS You forgot LTK and nicole seah.

[tanchongkee]

Vincent Wijeysingha actually gets what Josephine said and could rebut her on a fundamental point. He could also rebut the problem of using median income as a gauge in language that everyone can understand. Unfortunately the other three opposition reps are stuck in their prepared script.

[zachng]

josephine's rhetoric is old and crappy. seriously. bring something new to the table.