Have TV debates before election

Clivebenss SG

ALTHOUGH the next general election is not due until early 2012, there are signs that political parties are already gearing up to do battle. Now may be the time to consider and prepare for a television debate as part of the anticipated political contest.

What I have in mind is Britain's unprecedented series of American-style television debates in which leaders of the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democratic parties stood toe to toe in front of a studio audience debating issues of national importance.

By all accounts, the 90-minute sessions were a resounding success and one more will follow before polling day on May 6, by which time Britons will be better informed about the parties' manifestoes, their strengths and weakness, and the calibre of their leaders.

We could do something similar to complement the usual campaigning. To be held under a similar format and with rules agreed by all major contesting parties, each debate could be presided over by a moderator to ensure orderliness.

The proposed TV debate would reach out to a far larger audience and put all the rhetoric of the campaign trail into sharp focus. What the parties stand for, their thoughts on the road ahead for Singapore, and their views on issues such as the cost of living, health-care costs, the ageing population and national assets would all provide the basis for the voters' decision on Polling Day.

Let's first dispatch a team to Britain to study how to organise such an event that could well turn out to be a watershed in our election history.

Lee Seck Kay

BanguIzai SG

good idea man

Clivebenss SG

don't think it will happen.

Junyang700 SG

Good idea but it would not be implemented in Singapore de.

Even if it does, it would not be broadcasted 'live' with heavy censorships involved.

Even if it is "live", the opposition parties dare not say too much, are overly cautious as to what they have to say, as they risk the chance of getting sued.

BanguIzai SG

true

Vote PAP OUT to Save SG SG

don't think that Lee Kuan Yew will approve of real political discussions on state TV.

besides, no one on PAP side can really argue his or her case live.

Clivebenss SG

ALTHOUGH Mr Dennis Tan ('Election debates on TV all style and no substance, so not for us', May 3) may be right in believing that the British election television debates have led to a greater emphasis on style over substance, he has neglected to mention the most important change these debates have created.

The British election debates on television gave the Liberal Democrats an opportunity to shine, and to break the traditional two-party dominance of the British elections.

During an election, it is important that Singaporeans make an informed choice, and that we are exposed as much as possible to the viewpoints of all the involved parties so as to make such a choice.

A televised debate is an excellent chance to place two or more parties side by side for comparison and to see alternative viewpoints in an otherwise almost homogeneous political playing field.

This positive outcome, in my opinion, far outweighs the 'style over substance' argument.

Moreover, Mr Tan's worry is precisely what the cooling-off period is for. After the televised debate, Singaporeans will have one day to carefully weigh their options and vote rationally.

Considering that we have, over the years, consistently voted in a government that has performed well, this should not be a major worry.

Liu Hongwan