The programme was a disaster.
Debra Soon was a sub-disaster in her lack of decorum and presence in the programme. The first 5 minutes of the format was very much akin to a programme of WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONARE. (Okay, may $20million-aire) where after speaking 2 minutes on why they want to be president. Standing apart and then wallking to the triangular table to face Tommy Koh, Janadas, Deborah. Bloody hell, it looked as though these three were the HR Department of some big-time corporation conducting concurrent interviews of applicants.
The three were rude - they did not stand up to welcome the 4 candidates. It is basic courtesy to stand up and welcome our (studio) guests!Tommy Koh had a smiling demeanour, although sometimes fake. Janadas looked severe, especially when he was reading statements made by LKY on the EP and managed to cow TKL but certainly not TJS. Being the son of an ex-president does not call for such arrogance! One of these men will be HIS president.
To maintain the "game show effect", the 4 gentlemen were duly cut off when they exceeded the allocated time for each sub-session by CEO Debra. Debra, for goodness sake, this is not a fooking secondary school debate. It is a very bad reflection on a state organ and its staff not to exercise due respect to the candidates and to the occasion. One would have expected to have at least the State Crest and a National flag in the backdrop. If I become president, "it is very clear" that the heads of the Heads of Mediacorp will roll, "after the people have been consulted" after "thinking and reviewing trhe situation", although some "do not agree".
TKL surprisingly gave one or two strong points off the cuff but generally was unable to answer the questions directly. He was too focused on getting his message across without listening to the questions. The blinking rate of his eyes was higher than usual possibly due to nervousness. As usual, his favourite word "people" was splattered throughout. He (again, as in the TOC event) used his selling points quite shamelessly throughout, at times totally out of context of the question asked. Least articulate.
TCB scored very well in terms of the quality of his responses, his tonality, his demeanour. Did not agree with some of his comments but he certainly came across as the wisest of the lot - steadfast, logical in his response and answered the questions without waffling and ahemming. He was the best listener for the evening. Beginning to look more presidential.
TJS came a very close second in the straight-forward manner responses he gave. He has no baggage and hence able to rubbish the past. His favourite hobby horse (the casinos) was again featured. He was focused,and lobbed subtle grenades at his opponents and appeared the liveliest and most articulate of the whole lot. Which was probably why he lobbed in a grenade about age. Unable to pronounce "people" as well as TKL.
TT's performance was totally predictable with his newly acquired stock hand-movements, smile/smirk, and his trade-mark phrase of "it is very clear" appearing at least 5 or 6 times in the couple of minutes he spoke. Strategically, he keeps pushing his experience of international finance and why we need a steady pair of hands. Like his ex-colleagues in the party during 2011 GE, his reading of the ground is totally off, with his ad nauseum comments on the coming storm, which is stratospheric where the ground is concerned or rather unconcerned with.
The highlight of the (yawn, nothing new) "programme" was the Tommy Koh's question on what each candidate would say to visiting heads of state. TT was the lone ranger who said that he would say the same things to the four heads of state - yes, about the financial storm, again. TCB gave the best well balanced response, followed again by TJS. TKL would, as expected, say what the people (and the Foreign Minister) will say.
While the one hour spent watching was not exactly wasted, it was not particularly actually worth watching at the same time. Too many cliches, nothing really new from the candidates' mouths. And the lack of professionalism in a purportedly regional TV station came through.
Debra Soon was a sub-disaster in her lack of decorum and presence in the programme. The first 5 minutes of the format was very much akin to a programme of WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONARE. (Okay, may $20million-aire) where after speaking 2 minutes on why they want to be president. Standing apart and then wallking to the triangular table to face Tommy Koh, Janadas, Deborah. Bloody hell, it looked as though these three were the HR Department of some big-time corporation conducting concurrent interviews of applicants.
The three were rude - they did not stand up to welcome the 4 candidates. It is basic courtesy to stand up and welcome our (studio) guests!Tommy Koh had a smiling demeanour, although sometimes fake. Janadas looked severe, especially when he was reading statements made by LKY on the EP and managed to cow TKL but certainly not TJS. Being the son of an ex-president does not call for such arrogance! One of these men will be HIS president.
To maintain the "game show effect", the 4 gentlemen were duly cut off when they exceeded the allocated time for each sub-session by CEO Debra. Debra, for goodness sake, this is not a fooking secondary school debate. It is a very bad reflection on a state organ and its staff not to exercise due respect to the candidates and to the occasion. One would have expected to have at least the State Crest and a National flag in the backdrop. If I become president, "it is very clear" that the heads of the Heads of Mediacorp will roll, "after the people have been consulted" after "thinking and reviewing trhe situation", although some "do not agree".
TKL surprisingly gave one or two strong points off the cuff but generally was unable to answer the questions directly. He was too focused on getting his message across without listening to the questions. The blinking rate of his eyes was higher than usual possibly due to nervousness. As usual, his favourite word "people" was splattered throughout. He (again, as in the TOC event) used his selling points quite shamelessly throughout, at times totally out of context of the question asked. Least articulate.
TCB scored very well in terms of the quality of his responses, his tonality, his demeanour. Did not agree with some of his comments but he certainly came across as the wisest of the lot - steadfast, logical in his response and answered the questions without waffling and ahemming. He was the best listener for the evening. Beginning to look more presidential.
TJS came a very close second in the straight-forward manner responses he gave. He has no baggage and hence able to rubbish the past. His favourite hobby horse (the casinos) was again featured. He was focused,and lobbed subtle grenades at his opponents and appeared the liveliest and most articulate of the whole lot. Which was probably why he lobbed in a grenade about age. Unable to pronounce "people" as well as TKL.
TT's performance was totally predictable with his newly acquired stock hand-movements, smile/smirk, and his trade-mark phrase of "it is very clear" appearing at least 5 or 6 times in the couple of minutes he spoke. Strategically, he keeps pushing his experience of international finance and why we need a steady pair of hands. Like his ex-colleagues in the party during 2011 GE, his reading of the ground is totally off, with his ad nauseum comments on the coming storm, which is stratospheric where the ground is concerned or rather unconcerned with.
The highlight of the (yawn, nothing new) "programme" was the Tommy Koh's question on what each candidate would say to visiting heads of state. TT was the lone ranger who said that he would say the same things to the four heads of state - yes, about the financial storm, again. TCB gave the best well balanced response, followed again by TJS. TKL would, as expected, say what the people (and the Foreign Minister) will say.
While the one hour spent watching was not exactly wasted, it was not particularly actually worth watching at the same time. Too many cliches, nothing really new from the candidates' mouths. And the lack of professionalism in a purportedly regional TV station came through.
