That man is still very sharp. look how he refute the
journalist
J: Voters are afraid to vote
MM: How do you know?
J: Over a 100 being interviewed say so
MM: Can you name them?
J: Yes, but why should I
MM : Who are the 100?
J: Er.. those interviewed by the ST
MM: Did you asked all of them?
J: No. but I interviewed about 40 of them
MM: Did the 40 of them says they are afraid?
J : Some say they don't care, so say the result is certain, so say
they are scared...............
MM: So are you all afraid to vote?
J & other j : No...
J: ........without question till dialogues end.
I have watched the 1130 pm telecast..
Here's my opinions.
1) This group of so-called young first time voters are not
articulate at all ( except 2, but still not up to par ). Infact,
I'm surprised that most of them are journalist, and their command
of english is questionable, and they are not steady and not tough
standing enough.
2) At somewhere in the beginning, when MM was asked about public
being afraid to vote ( something to that effect ). MM actually
retorted forcefully to that journalist, where he got his figures,
Did he got their names ?, Did he interview 100 interview by
himself, He then said 120 in all, but he interviewed 40. Then MM
says that his a lawyer, and he more or less is sensitive to this in
nature.
WTF, this to me is this Intimidation (not so different from how the
opposition parties are subjected to). This group of not so young
professional are obviously not lawyers and they are just speaking
out of general view of things AKA.. man-in-the-street talk. And
this the very thing the focus group are trying to get MM to
understand what they are asking further down the programme. In
fact, If this were the case, won't opposition better need to be a
lawyer. ( I'm not questioning the antics of other opposition who
made false and damaging remarks) But this focus group are not the
opposition. In fact, If this group are indeed articulate, MM would
have a hell to a discussion on his hands. because later, the
"getting rid of opposition parties" came up ?
2) When the worst articulate girl asked MM why is the PAP arrogant,
MM replied if it was so.. they won't be having this discussion.
Which is really moot, because obviously this programme was planned
and approved by PAP, for what ever reasons. A programme of such
nature does not pop up from nowhere, nor were it a request by this
focus group. I mean would everyday people simply walk up to MM and
asked " why are you so arrogant". Mind you MM is a very Articulate
personality and is a man of power, No one in his right mind (at
least in Singapore) would want to answer and risked being stuck in
a mud, and then asked himself "what have I got myself into" (see
point two... the lawyer thing).
As someone said earlier, not much was answered. At least not the
really important once and most are not unexpected. BTW, I am really
disappointed with the focus group, at their age in comparisions to
western countries, I worried, I mean they are in a very
professional line - Journalism for god sake. Suddenly, I'm now
certain that we do need more foreign talents. What a
damper...
cheers
