part one debate topic one


okay can pass on to me if you have nothing on okay I really disagree with the statement that happiness is expensive pursuit okay, !wah! you say that uh you know you define happiness in term of dollars and cents in monetary terms


and that in this materialistic society we live in today ah we we, you know we want we there's a lot of wants and desires and therefore it's a very expensive pursuit, okay it is it is also perceived that uh if you get something you acquire something


that you desire or you want allowing us to keep up with our neighbours so call ha like you you you talk about the three Cs and all those, it will automatically bring us happiness but then materialistic possessions could provide us happiness I'm not disagreeing on it but I'm saying that


it need not be expensive, it all depends on what you want okay what is your needs what is your desire and how you perceive happiness, so to me like you always hear a things like happiness is having a cup of tea happiness is spending time with family


we heard it so often are these expensive things, or or again I'm saying that I'm not denying the fact that when you acquire certain materialistic thing that you have long for that you always wanted it brings you happiness however, I will think that if you over rely on on on things to make you happy ah eventually you will be very miserable


for example there is no end to the pursuit of things if you are not contented with what you have, I mean I once read a a a a a phrase ah somebody says some a reporter was interviewing a billionaire so the billionaire asked the billionaire, sir how much will it how much will you make before you are happy you see and his reply was just a little more


so happiness is really a inner satisfaction a joy that radiates from the inside out, now spending time with your family a simple meal filled with conversation and laughter brings us happiness, so it don't have to be expensive in terms of dollar and cents as you said okay I I once saw a banner that says uh this is my happy place


and this happy place was just a small little balcony with a few pots of plants, but this person probably enjoys planting so his his happy place it don't have to a big garden or a courtyard, so enjoying the simple things in life make us happy it all depends on what you want and what


is within your reach lah okay because, as I see it too many people are chasing like you say chasing after a dream because they perceived that chasing after the dream, will make you happy okay so but at the end of the day they work so hard every day


you know they're very miserable just to chase after a dream and the end of the day is the dream does the dream really make me you happy, but in term of non monetary term you say ah oh ya money cannot buy happiness indeed it's priceless you know it is so hard it's expensive in the sense that it's priceless you cannot pursue even you got a lot of money you cannot buy good health


but at the same time I also see people who who are terminally ill very sick but there is this joy this happiness, we live because they are contented they're happy with their life they have done a good job they have family around them, so the happiness is not depending on circumstances that's how I feel lah so I don't think happiness is an expensive pursuit


it depends on what you want to pursue and then depends on what is your wants, if you want to keep up with others all the time you'll be always not happy because there will always not enough, so I will says that happiness is really not expensive pursuit I do not agree in term of monetary sense on ya is is is a joy inside you


yeah so that's what I have fiona anything you want to yup


how do you know happy people keep a friend, but I think err if you I if I read somewhere I cannot remember who is


one of the actor who says that oh everybody thinks that !wow! when you have arrived there you have your dream car you're uh you know you're happy but I tell you the truth I'm not happy ah sorry ah I I can't remember a quote, but okay lah I'm not saying that all all rich people are not happy ah the pursuit of it ah uh


the pursuit of happiness don't have to be expensive that is our point right today right it don't have to be expensive right in term of monetary


so uh


so so does it mean that okay you say go expensive restaurant or something so if somebody stay at home and eat just uh you know a a simple meal, it;s not a happy meh I mean is is I think is uh it is within ah, it's don't have to be expensive ah okay lah if if you think in in term of why you says expensive means uh you know arrived there you know uh


oh if cooking eh if cooking, is a joy that's my happiness you know if cooking is a joy and my family enjoy it eh there is happiness so happiness don't have to be expensive right that's how I feel about it yeah


and then uh uh so you you are saying that uh okay you work very hard but when you're working very hard to in order, to gain this happiness that is in the future that you see okay if I have that car I'll be very happy but you are very miserable now you know


is it that so you are working so hard day and night so doesn't only poor people work hard you know even rich


okay so so so today I have a car I have a credit card so does it made me very happy I mean it's uh I I I I don't deny that, having materials thing when you just bought some new items !wah! you are very happy that joy hor everyday you wanna say uh thank but is temporarily but I'm saying that


uh it it it if you are dependent on material possession to make you happy you can never never be it, can never be like oh I'm very happy that's it oh ha that's it you know I'm very happy throughout no no there'll be new things to pursue, so I'm saying that uh yes it's expensive in term of money but it depends on your wants lah what is your need what is your desire


if my wants are simple I just want to have a cup of coffee it makes me happy I just want to go for a walk it makes me happy, so it don't have to be very expensive that's how I feel yeah, yeah it's a mindset


yeah, so you think that err our status makes you happy lah


okay and the status comes with wealth ah, correct and the wealth makes you happy lah okay so yeah yeah uh uh


(mmhmm) but do you think though that the more you have ah the more busy you are for example you got a big house, you will need to uh do a lot of things ah okay ah I suppose if you got a big house you can afford a lot servants to help to


so you're happy right


okay it's too expensive ah so ya it's super expensive and it's even you got money you cannot buy happiness that that that one I agree lah even your money cannot buy you good health kind of thing but


as I have mentioned just now based on you know this pursuit of happiness that happiness is not just uh, you know not is not based on circumstances I felt the happiness is not based on circumstances because then you will be very unhappy, day in and day out because circumstances change but circumstances may still be there you can have a


you kept me happy maybe you are having a I think a positive mindset is important also okay to make you happy, so suppose I if I mentioned said somebody who's terminally ill (ugh) but if have a positive mindset that I have done what I have done


you still can to be happy die a happy person yeah, so we have like okay maybe you want to sum up your part then uh I sum up my part then we close that subject


, , yeah


okay so from, okay I I pick a different view I do not agree that it's expensive in term of money and cents because money and cents money


cannot make a person happy forever kind of thing the pursuit of happiness err is really in an inner being an inner , feeling uh inner calmness ah ha that you have done your part you're positive even despite of circumstances and uh


it's where you what you want lah I think the pursuit of happiness is really what you want what you see in life you know and not and and not comparing yourself with others because, if you compare with others and you want to pursue something because you think that what others have


will make you happy I think you will never be happy because there are always be things so I will say, err be happy within your means lahknow happy won't be expensive within your means I say a walk in the park, costs you nothing a cup of coffee no need to be Starbucks


but it can bring a lot joy look at the plant planting seeing the seeds grows is happiness so, okay so I don't think happiness is expensive if you see from a different point of view not in term of money wise


uh but in a inner peace and in what you aspire to do what is your uh your positive attitude despite of circumstances yeah yeah


, they uh if I sick I've no money I'd be sad lah but then I think well well maybe it's time ah I've do my part my children are grow up I've done my part as a mother, uh I've no money but but uh I think I still had some CPF lah I don't know I don't know yeah it's but if I'm sick uh


doesn't mean that I'm not happy you know because maybe it's time's up ah ha okay I've done my part,


but my happiness will be in the peace with myself hor in the inner peace yeah, yeah yeah, yeah but is also comes with a mindset lah even if you have no money but is your mindset that I've done my part I have a inner peace I'm


it's time for me to face my creator for example okay yeah but I I think if I'm not happy at my deathbed ah probably I haven't been a good mother if I know, children around me ah they so happiness to step that you take one at a time to create ya okay let's yeah


let's


but does this make you happy so if you have all these you will study you go abroad and study does it make you happy there will be a different


different sets of challenge you know there's no end to pursuing things you see ah, yeah anyway we have three minutes left okay so we the sum up lah, I guess I see your point but I I see it from a different perspective it's just our different perspective


in in seeing this so yes err, yeah in in a way a lot of things is your your attitude lah your, your your mindset lah like you say so so correctly is your mindset so it need not have to be expensive but if you see it from mindset of like if you have things you are happy


yeah it yes I can be happy temporarily but how long does it last because there'll be more wants and more needs that I I want see yeah


yes, you want to buy for what yeah


okay if so you are saying that the wants and needs changes with age lah which I agree but okay ya but the does the wants and needs , no matter what age you are brings you true happiness, okay it must it be expensive like I says that it may be ya so so I'm I'm you know I'm much older I don't need branded goods now you know but I'm happy because I'm you know


uh uh I just have to take a walk in the park and I'll happy enjoying the breeze I I I tell you I love drawing so I do some painting makes me very happy, you don't have to be expensive you say ya I agree you wants and needs changes with time mah, with age ah but pursuit


it will be always uh expensive pursuit if it's base on material things only yeah


oh okay for me to wrap it up okay happiness is not expensive it depending on what you want and what you need lah ha if you think that makes you happy, well by all means try you you work very miserably just to attain it but at the end of the day are you happy do you have the peace of mind and heart that really truly brings you happiness


that's what I think happiness is don't need to be expensive is a peace of mind and heart, with your inner self yeah thank you fiona it's a good debate yeah


stop on the phone hor okay


part two debate topic two, okay, okay today the next topic we're debating is diligence is the key to success what is your view well I fully agree that


you have to be diligent before you succeed what does diligent mean it means that involves persistency, and uh you know you it is something that you cannot achieve overnight so you you have to be diligent, and the word diligent according to dictionary ah it that it means like you have to be consistent to be very uh consistent and to follow out and to be very focus


so a working definition as I say uh is to give constant careful steady effort towards a goal of purpose, so in order to succeed you really needs diligent, so uh the now but


diligent is really not working around the clock you know and without rest or that that is not the diligent but to be persistent and efficiently, uh without wasting time knowing what you do as I said focus, okay so success is the attainment of a goal we define success as uh what you want to achieve and you are managed to achieve it


err there are people who believe that some people are successful because they are lucky but okay for example ya you say oh yeah you successful you don't need diligence you are if you are lucky you are successful, I give you example for example I'm a farmer so I've some seeds, okay so I I I say uh I'm very lucky I have this seeds I plant but


can you just pray for that you'll be lucky the plants will grow no no you still have to be diligent you have to water you have to fertilise it so nothing comes from, uh not doing anything and you expect to be successful, okay uh so what what about uh you know


uh investing in some things for example is that oh I'm I'm I'm very uh you know I'm just lucky you know I invest a right made a lot of money therefore I'm successful, but the thing is that uh yeah, if you invest a right time is because you are diligent because you watched the market you got to you know what is happening in the market so invest in right time so like I like ya ya you may be lucky because you know uh


you you invest the right stock but because you are diligent to find out what is the right stock for example okay, so I then you may give me a scenario as a opposition says uh somebody is gifted lah ha so that's why she's got, a lot opportunities therefore she's he the person is success ah no need be diligent


yeah a lot of gifted person born gifted but if you don't do anything wait for opportunity, you will never have success whereas somebody who is not gifted but work very hard you'll be successful, so a diligent person to conclude is someone who's not lazy uh who is focused who is persistent


and all these are the qualities that help you to excel and succeed so I strongly believe that diligence is the key to success ya, fiona over to you


okay, okay


okay , okay, okay


okay okay


okay, so you were saying that uh okay got look lah but you got look no substance also eventually will not be successful what


okay, okay, okay , yeah


okay I see your point okay so so if I may says that you will says like uh okay so, [orh] I already already say like if you have uh look [orh] okay you have the EQ, okay if you have EQ and you have a substance


you are diligent also lah because you you really have worked your way to be you know to to know the the whatever substance it is lah, okay so you have the EQ okay other than the IQ lah ha so you are successful but you're saying that uh


okay even people say who are who are not diligent lah you you kept mentioning this what halfway to success halfway is not success you know I don't see ask them


okay but you remember the the story of the what I said the hare and the tortoise , yeah the ya you may go very fast lah but the end if you're not diligent ah you like !haiya! never mind lah ah you know I already got a head start already


you know okay you will still feel like you know the tortoise will overtake you so what if you are halfway you are born with a silver spoon or golden spoon or whatever spoon , okay at the end of day you don't have the substance ah like the the rabbit ha or the hare ha was like okay ya I just can relax ah


people will overtake you so diligence is really, uh to to have a final success I I will consider success as finally reaching there that kind of thing you know it's not halfway you know halfway is not success to me ya


okay


yeah yeah I agree yeah, dresses in a sense yeah but uh but I think, at least there's a starting but not all of us are born pretty not all all of us are born uh rich ah ha okay but majority of us are on the same level


so honestly level what do we do we go for diligent work hard okay but ya like you say ah, uh it depends on your boss ah so uh that brings me the point you depends on your boss, so somebody told me says uh err


you know in working life you manage your boss you must learn how to manage your, eh to manage your boss is also a diligence you know to to actually, diligently know what your boss's character what your boss like you know this kind of thing isn't that called diligent as I said diligent is being focused you know doesn't mean that oh work hard round the clock kind of thing no


I already said that very clearly like diligent is being focus being persistent so, isn't that the word of diligent knowing what my boss wants ah you know like ya to be given opportunity to be noticed lah hor instead of working round the clock you know with no yeah


so that is also diligence so diligence is very important whether diligence you take it a different way how how you apply diligence as I said diligence is not working round the clock and you know, but diligent in knowing what's around you IQ lah IQ also EQ lah ha like you say it's EQ and diligence all go together yeah


, , in the first place if you don't like my look you won't have employed me there must be something that is good to you know the company ya okay true


okay okay, okay so okay maybe for me to sum up ah on my point of diligence ah as I say diligent doesn't mean, working very hard and working round the clock but diligent it's really having constant careful steady effort you know towards a goal so this steady effort


maybe the steady effort to be noticed okay to be noticed to be given the opportunity okay but you you don't notice never mind I I make sure the bigger boss notice me , you know


true of course


oh yes, okay


so to be successful don't really need to be very diligent lah, but I think both things combined lah okay I agree with you opportunity is very important yes to be successful you be have opportunity but been diligent also very good


let me just give you an example of my uh of uh uh working life that I I went through, a personal example kind of thing err, okay I was working very hard okay then uh because uh you know I report to somebody


okay so I I I spotted some mistakes ah ha in in some of the the the customers uh uh you know things that given , so I I told my boss okay uh ya these are the mistakes maybe we can highlight to the boss to the to the to the customer lah ha


okay and to go to highlight to the customer is another level lah that means to says the the planner needs to highlight you know but I'm like uh I report to my immediate boss and my boss told me something, you are the one who's spotted the mistake, you are the one you should highlight it be proud to write your name he said


I'm only given this opportunity because I was diligent, okay because I was diligent to do my work okay maybe I don't have the EQ is it eh ya ya I would eh no I don't want to, overstep somebody's authority but my boss told me something no


by all means sure you'll be proud of yourself you are the one who spotted these just write down these are the mistakes in the in the script for example, get let get the customer notice it but don't tell to the the others and then let them take the credit kind of thing yes I think


first thing I have the opportunity because my boss okay give me opportunity doesn't take all the credit second thing because I was diligent to do my work, I think it goes hand in hand lah without this being diligent, okay first thing I I I I you know this will never have happened so


yeah like it or not the basic of any success ah is still diligent whether opportunity is given is later on, okay opportunity will be given later on if you are diligent yeah, if you are not diligent the opportunity there's even no opportunity or what minus the fact that you are not good looking you know zero opportunity yeah so at least I got


like twenty uh what twenty percent opportunity so it all starts with diligent yeah, yeah, okay yup


okay, okay


oh okay


so you say diligent is twenty percent to the key to success but I say okay let me rephrase it diligent is a


a jump start to success okay is it call a jump start it's a it's a stepping stone to success, again you have to step this stone then people give you opportunity it doesn't mean is twenty percent minus these twenty percent there's no stepping stone leh


so uh yeah so this, diligence is still very important is still the key the basic lah okay maybe said the very simple word lah diligence is the basic to success, it's not the key but the basic [orh] okay key means that you really open the whole door ha but diligence is the


okay lah ha the stepping stone to you for you to to go and take the key lah ha to to open the door to success whereas yeah although other things comes along the way lah but you have to do your part as a basic yeah


okay yeah okay both lah ha both lah ha, I never said diligence it's not working hard you know as I said diligence is not working hard diligent is focus diligent is persistence


diligence is dare to try okay okay and that's uh it's you know so work work hard work smart and not work hard is nothing to do with diligence to me okay


yeah but I can catch up remember the story of the hare and the and the tortoise I'll catch up because I have something call diligence, oh ya lah I don't take so long lah , uh ya so I focus you see I thought by a certain age I must reach certain things you see and that's my target okay along eh yeah


okay, the key


so diligence doesn't open the door to success lah diligence is err let's see diligence is the basic to open the door lah , yeah how do you phrase it but uh I think is still a basic lah uh


may not the main key lah maybe like a bank ah have to have two keys ah to open a a a a safe deposit box lah diligence is one of the key to, yeah


yeah yeah,


okay


ya lah but okay so the your substance is also very important, and the substance comes with being diligent to know what your substance is whatever role you're employed to do, so it is yeah is is important to also to


have diligence lah so I think to be focused ah although I yeah to a certain extent yes, yeah I do see your point yeah thank you fiona it was a good, okay well I know that's my point of view thank you


eh yeah we have actually finished this topic uh we both have different view but thank you I think it was a good discussion fiona


yup ya


debate topic three, yeah that's right


okay can so you were saying that okay by your word


it looks like you are confusing the two thing democracy equals to demonstration no I don't see democracy is not demonstration , the word democracy often refers to form a government in which people choose their leaders by voting ah this is democratic you see that means you allowed to choose


that is uh uh there's a voice you see a democratic system of government is therefore voted or vested, and empowered by the people to to act on their behalf as a voice in the government, therefore it happens in election or those so in a democratic society you have election and all those where people exercise their rights


this to me is democracy okay so democracy allows ah for, ya you may have a efficient government but democracy allows for checks and balance on the government as they are voted in by the people and, as they're voted in by people therefore they can also be removed by the people if they do not perform


so with without democracy there will be no transparency okay like for example uh, there's no democracy there's no voice being heard people cannot uh you know then there'll be no accountability, and no matter how efficient a government is ah that it will not progress


government will become complacent because no nobody checks on them there's you know people are just you know, trusting that efficiency is is like that when uh people work better when they know eh there is spot check on them now and then, but if they're like okay you know nobody spot checks so there's no check and balance so efficient government


can become complacent as I said complacent will lead to what stagnation that means that there's no progress there's no new things that's happening, you don't uh you know so democracy is very important in the sense that uh you know you uh be besides the


the government being uh elected and you have a efficient government you have to have democracy whereby people are allowed to speak their minds, people allowed to to debate topics and to me that is we have democracy so you're you're mentioning things like


uh you are confusing the fact that democracy equals demonstration okay yeah people , people uh a lot of people you know in the name of democracy, go for protest they they just join you know so there are a lot of different kind of factors that affect uh uh uh you know the so called the fighting for uh democracy


so as I say democracy don't need to be violent, it is just a alternative voice that allows for new insight and no matter how efficient our government is, it is important to have new things to have to change for the world I mean a democracy says in uh


one country okay may be different from a democracy in another country for example, some are more of uh okay if you think of democracy as being vocal being allowed to speak kind of thing, yes uh so would you know so does democracy just stop there uh okay democracy


you're wrong just voting is more than that it's being able to voice out being able voice out doesn't mean that, it must be a demonstration being able to voice out doesn't mean that it must be a protest why must it, uh disrupt a efficient government okay


the government maybe more efficient if, these two things combine so democracy is definitely more important than having a efficient government uh efficient government when it's not checked, can also become corrupted you know ya so I think


uh I totally think that uh you know the view that, efficient government is not more important than democracy democracy is the key to efficient government, ya that's how I see it yeah that's my point of view


okay you mentioned a point that a efficient government long term planning in touch with the grassroot lah who are the grassroot


it's their own people right okay is their so called their own people right so they they just, go along I mean democracy to me is an alternative voice you see, if you have no democracy that means you're efficient government no okay no alternative voice


that is not a democracy then you talk about okay we'll have a place to debate, okay but it's controlled it's controlled you see it's controlled how much can you go beyond that okay, okay but go beyond that perhaps if it's uncontrolled it become a protest like I say a demonstration as uh what we view


what is the fear lah ha that it goes beyond that so a democracy uh is, it's different in different country as I say some are more democratic some are less democratic but it has to be , it has to be more important than being just having efficient government because it needs to progress like you say uh we're different living in different era


okay what are uh happening you have to plan ahead you will see globally is more more than just a, looking within yourself it is global kind of thing what is uh planning ahead uh, in uh in relation to the into global society right now okay COVID uh very so we what what is a


you know how how do we plan ahead we have to be able to have alternate alternative voice, so that is democracy to be able to voice out but how much can we voice out okay how much can people voice out if democracy is not there if you know or


or if democracy is uncontrolled lah ha let's say lah too extreme ah one is like to the you know uncontrolled whereby you know it leads to protest and violence , the the other part is you don't even have to can have the avenue to voice out so having efficient government they will think that everything they do is good yeah but


like you say you must hear from the grassroot but who are the grassroot the grassroot are their own people, if you have a different voice do they listen or not that's another thing that is what I would, feel that democracy is lah to be able to hear and that would is very important because, you hear alternative voice you can improve and it in a long term it will much better okay


yup that's how I see it


well what they feedback is really what, they want to hear lah ha okay you like it or not if I were a grassroot ah I I do have some, some some some grassroot okay I'm not saying may have certain, you know they are they are more affiliated to a certain party lah ha because they are in the grassroot they're affiliated


to that party they support that so they're more supportive, so democracy must be alternative voice so grassroot is grassroot the only way you know so maybe you say uh, Hong-Lim park for example people can go there and debate okay if if they are not from grassroot they can be anyone but


!hey! if you don't have democracy ah in the sense that it's so control at the you know there are, ears and eyes listener only what kind of democracy it is there's no progress because you are not allowing for, for alternative voice ya ya you can debate ah but within that confines you know you never go you never progress


you know because you think you're right you are efficient government you think you're right that's it that's it you know so, which you have eyes and ears listening how much can you say there's no democracy so democracy is very important, because you will never hear the true thing unless you are you know you are really in a democratic society but of course


err efficient government is important you were saying that efficient you still have the efficient government to control it but, beyond just controlling it democracy is important for of to build up this efficient government to be better to be an platform


okay so uh yeah so that's what I mean it it yeah you, you admit it or not grassroot people are, it aren't they affiliated to a certain party before I join a grassroot because I believe in them therefore I you know ya okay


so, so you are saying that grassroot uh government with grassroot and the people who on on the ground, forms the efficient government there's no need for they don't need democracy to to to you know yeah that's


no need at all !hey! but if someday I'm a grassroot I can listen okay, so to I need to debate uh for uh I see as democracy is something when you have to debate you, alternative voice you don't agree but grassroot, ha if you apply as a grassroot you are supposed to pacify the people ah should not no no this is for your own good yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yes


so so how much democracy are there you know if you're in the grassroot you're listening, to what the people feedback and you're supposed to influence the people so that the people the government can go in the way you know, so what kind of democracy so democracy is very important you are are you really hearing a alternative voice


yeah are you really hear alternative voice whereby it is free to debate free to debate no yeah grassroot is just, hearing the voice uh unhappiness and then trying to pacify you know pacify them to keep quiet eh so that yeah you had rather but in the long term


ah you will never be efficient because uh, you know it it is it's what they what what the government wants and that is no democracy so democracy is very important for long term growth yeah


okay but but you you in your first statement you say that !hey! democracy is a disruption to long term planning, ya you said that right is a disruption, so if it's a disruption you view it as no good right disruption means a change of plan right so what if this grassroot listened and then okay this not the popular idea you know


so but you cannot debate then how you are only told to eh, pacify them so that we could run in their efficient way no disruption so that there's no long term plan, so is is that good is that good so democracy is being able to to you know


be able to uh it's not a disruption yeah because you said so clearly there is a disruption of their long-term plan, no it's not a disruption is a alternative voice and alternative voice cannot be just from the grassroots they are their own people who tried to pacify them gives them some sweet and and you know make them go shut their mouth so that they can no


democracy to me is more uh yeah, even a controlled in a debate environment to have freedom of speech freedom of speech I guess that's the word lah , freedom of speech more than just being controlled, okay that what you uh said ha it's being monitored and then you know people you know just you know so there's no progress there's no progress there's stagnation


so I'm saying that uh democracy is uh is not a disruption to efficient government, it is very important to have an alternative voice the alternate voice cannot be the efficient government uh branch of the efficient government or their


affiliation then there's is not democracy to me yeah so you, it's not eh you know so democracy to sum up my point of view democracy is really , not a disruption is how you hear it


it's it is not a disruption to long term planning it may change some long term planning but for the better as I see it yeah


okay thank you , stop


part one debate topic one the topic is happiness is an in sorry happiness is an expensive pursuit today


okay how far do you agree I am the proposition okay err yes I agree, err expensive in terms of dollar and cents yeah okay, err right now I guess in this world it's very materialistic everybody


so I think is more of material pursuit will bring happiness today and it will come with a price tag, okay happiness stands for having a specific object and give that fulfilment of the moment


or being viewed as having having it uh arrived they call it you know uh, the possession of like you know for example uh let's say, everybody will like mentioning the Cs uh you must have condos you must have credit cards you must have cars you know


okay and the the acquisition of the said project is like chasing after a dream come true, so in a non dollar and cents statement we heard of statement like money cannot buy you happiness


therefore it is indeed an expensive pursuit so expensive that money cannot buy that's why it's called, it's is expensive pursuit lah that we go to the statement, you have you can have all the money but you cannot buy health you cannot buy love


which is equal to happiness all these so, what else like, let's let's uh elaborate on health okay let's say if you have all the money still if you don't have health you cannot prolong your life and


that's there's no happiness at all so happiness is really indeed, without money you cannot buy you you really cannot buy happiness it really comes with a price tag so, err I think that's all I have for here till now so


do I still have to continue or can I pass on to the opposition


well mainly I can see that a lot of like, not well-to-do people I won't say poor lah you know the less uh they are not happy at all because it's like everyday like you say they they work work work, I hardly hear those wealthy people say they are not happy


so really


well for me no for me I agree mah because it's like you see, majority you can see the happiness people drive car go shopping eat restaurant whereas the not so well well-to-do people they are always like you know they really going to spend , nine to nine twelve hours working where is happiness so really to happiness is really very expensive in a sense so be it you know


uh maybe some people you were saying something


you don't have to cook what it's like you don't need to lay a hand to cook you are served so it's like happy


uh, (oo)


we work hard we are not even for the future is like day to day from hand to mouth everyday, I do it the poor people don't even see the future in them is like so happiness is to me it's really very expensive nowadays, it's like you must have a car must have credit cards must stay in condo ya so it's like


I I guess is in one's mindset lah because generally is uh an onlooker


I mean majority will think like okay of course let's say uh you wanna stay in three room flat or do you want to stay in orchard road condo you know, so ya it's like definitely people will choose the second choice orchard road why not you know ion is just downstairs that kind of thing yeah who will want to stay in three room


three room flat in woodlands that kind of thing you know if you can afford so I've I said generally you know, it's the in mindset your in inner feeling you know like uh status


yeah it it does also yeah, yes correct, uh yes that's why it's expensive you got no wealth wealth is equal to err, expense expensive adjective yeah


yes correct so it's eh that's why you see you are happy you don't have to do anything all you have all the time in the world okay you just have to work


uh as and when I feel like working I work you know so it's happiness I don't feel like working today I don't feel like yeah you see so, that's why I said happiness is really expensive like there's a price tag to it lah like you they said uh, no money can buy happiness that's too expensive


yeah


err yeah okay so I still


err strongly believe happiness is, very expensive pursuit today because it really come with a price tag with all the uh you know, first of all definitely materialistic things lah you know and it's so expensive uh even like you know health


you need to buy health food that kind of thing to prolong one's life in and all so, I totally agree that happiness is an uh expensive pursuit


okay Puay-Heng P H let me phrase you a question if you are sick and you have no money what will you do,


what happens if you have don't have CPF let's say you you're not working you are just a working mother, your children are growing up and your let's say lah touch wood lah your children are not filial, and you are sick you need money so all these you see you don't have money you're alone


where is happiness, so yours yours is an inner peace it's more or less a mindset lah right so no matter how happiness really comes with a price tag like no money can buy lah yeah


expensive


okay lah how about expensive beyond uh monetary value, okay that's it not not talk about the dollar and cents so it's more like mindset err one's feeling uh, achievement but even though you talk about achievement achievement is like okay let's talk about study


it's all these also need money so it's like to me it's still everything it , of course, eh let's say I


yeah I guess different age stage also you did need different things so it's like now you might you you know when you are young


you you you want to buy more clothing buy more you know luxury goods but you can't afford, whereas when you're old you have all the money but yeah you don't you don't you don't have the health so that's why I said every even though every stage different uh expectation of happiness


it it does really come with a price tag be it, err monetary terms or not you know because maybe you are young you would like to be you know to have lot of like err, maybe a lot friends you know and we go out with friends and these entertainments you need money so it's uh like I said you know


when you're old so uh even when you're old whether I mean age, be it any stage you still need friends lah so when you go out with friends is call call entertainment or these need money so unless you are like you know you are always alone yeah


correct


okay maybe we should just err one last minute, one minute we will just wrap it up anyway ya so to me I, think happiness be it what stage what age it is an expensive pursuit today


thank you yup okay thanks


uh part two debate topic two


okay uh PH till today's topic like I said diligence is the key to success


uh I totally do not agree okay , being diligent sometimes because you know the general phrase work smart you don't work hard okay okay first of all


let's say you are ugly you don't even have the look okay you no matter how hard you work, I don't think that there's one more there you know look, but having a good pretty handsome look fifty percent brings you to


half the success already so far in movies you see in in life you know in real life okay so, then the other twenty thirty percent maybe opportunity okay once you have to look I like you okay maybe you know


so it's like that is another twenty thirty percent of the lifetime okay and maybe you are born rich you're born with a silver spoon okay, you don't yeah if you're born rich okay you're diligent okay okay that bring another fifty percent to to success


okay let's say you are born with a silver spoon you're not diligent okay fine but you are also halfway there to success already so, like I say you can be very diligent let's say uh let's say a subordinate but


in the end your credit it is not recognised all your bosses take the credit so, it doesn't lead you to success unless you have a appreciative boss that's why you have to work, you work towards your boss and not work towards that's why I said work smart you don't have to work hard so I really totally disagree


that being diligent will bring you to success okay that's why they say having EQ is more important than, then you know uh IQ when you have IQ ya you work you work your way but if opportunity not given you don't have the looks no matter how hard you work


you are still way below the halfway mark when people already like you know starting point far away, okay yup err so this okay what did I say


but you're already halfway there what, at least you are halfway halfway the mark already halfway from the starting mark you get what I mean or not born rich having the look yup yeah


you don't have to be on the starting point you are halfway ahead of the starting point so by working hard let's say you're diligent lah let's say, uh that will bring you another twenty to thirty percent so you're already eighty percent, ahead from all those people that doesn't have the looks doesn't born with silver spoon


so


uh what uh sorry correct me uh I mean halfway from the starting point


let's say if everybody do on the same starting line you have the look you have the born with silver spoon you're like uh, halfway from the starting point ahead of other people okay I correct my statement


err okay I mean success is, diligence is a virtue ah is a virtue but I don't I still don't agree that being hardworking I mean, uh like I say if chances not given by your boss


uh your credit will not be recognised okay your boss will take all the credit unless you have a appreciative, boss yeah who see that you're you have the IQ and as well as the EQ chances are given to you you know then it was like you will you will still


have a a chance of uh being successful but most bosses I think they're afraid of you overtaking them


okay so you are saying that working around your boss I guess working around your boss involved human chemistry, uh human chemistry is very unique in the sense that uh, you like the person or you don't like the person is very you know no matter let's say first look you don't like the person only no matter let's say P H you worked with me uh


first look only I don't like you no matter how hard you work I would not give it a chance I would not give you the credit, well, sometimes it's beyond me sometimes it's like that I'm not the only interviewer I'm not the one with the final say you know


sometimes order are being override and you are being given to me that's why I say sometimes opportunity like I said opportunity look all these, really matters more than diligence but diligence itself is is only like twenty ten twenty percent in ya to be to the route to success


but uh P H can I interrupt your mindset of diligent from the start it just like in school days you know in school days when it's like, the uh the teacher always say that you must be hardworking in order to be successful person that kind of thing but when you actually go to real practical world


you will see you will see what teacher told me it's not true, by working hard nobody take note of me first of all because I I'm not good looking I'm not rich, I can't afford to wear flashy uh carry nice bag you know so I do I don't know so it's


I won't be able to you know be successful you nobody take notes of me and my boss don't bother about me, my boss doesn't give me a chance so I still thinks that, by working hard even like you say work to your boss if your boss don't like it no matter how hard you work everyday you buy coffee for me everyday by breakfast for me


sorry lah I don't like your look that's it I will just give you a hard time you're here so that make sure that you go as fast as you can


okay so I shall sum it up you sum it up already you do your summary yeah, okay so to me I still think like you say diligence is only twenty percent and you still have eighty percent


so like I said if you are born rich you are have the good looks, look good suh you know uh you already fifty percent ahead of other people so the other thirty percent is opportunity, okay whether ya so with the good look you born with silver spoon definitely I think most people will just like to cling onto you


okay definitely they will give you the opportunity okay then the other twenty percent if you are hardworking you are you're like hundred percent, sure to succeed so so like I said diligence is only twenty percent of of the whole, whole journey to success so this is basically I think that uh


yup diligence is the key to success I still say no I don't agree, it's only twenty percent yes


so P H I will just advise you and tell you, work work smart don't work hard , yeah it this yeah this race is always generally say come on


, okay if you think that my twenty per uh out of the


diligent makes up only twenty percent which really leave you far behind from those that is uh fifty per cent ahead of you that's why I yeah, yeah by then by then uh by then your age also catch up already


so, to me lah I sum up lah the key to success is not diligence alone ah is like I say it's only twenty percent opportunity good looks


okay ya all these are already fifty percent ahead so this is where I still stand uh diligence is not the is the key to success I do don't I do not agree


which is err which is err twenty percent of the to the keyhole only you know twenty percent to the keyhole, whereas uh yeah so you have to work smart and work smart is not only to to


basically is EQ working around your environment your surrounding your colleague your boss okay yeah which is uh, very very important having the uh EQ and not just IQ alone IQ alone like you say is uh it's just to me is still


very minimal uh aspect to the key of success


okay okay, thank you P H I still do not agree but I


I think


thanks P H


okay, I'm the preposition so I'll, part three debate topic three and the topic is consider the view that efficient government is more important than democracy


uh, yes I totally agree okay what is democracy democracy is despite, it's aspiration I guess it's for very artistic people they want their their world they want to build their own


world their yeah, world they say their ideas their lifestyles but often than not without efficient government, I think it won't work okay uh efficient government which require long time uh long term planning


and it's bet and it is better if there is no uh disruption of this err democracy idea you know like having protests, yup uh for a different voice, okay like the third president of US thomas jefferson once said okay the case the care of human life and happiness


and not their they care for okay the president emphasised the care for human life and happiness is more important, and not to the uh disruption where democracy steps in okay so


the first and important object is to having a good government, what people want most from a government is it should take good care of their needs their lifestyle okay in another words it must be efficient


to provide the people with high standard of living, quality of living okay affordable living, okay, a good government also needs efficient administration


okay for the country and it's long term planning, democracy democracy often disrupt this goal, especially where there is so much democracy, a good example is what happened in Hong-Kong recently I believe you all know


democracy is taken to the extreme government have to actually constantly fight, okay against this, and it all disrupt our livelihood, okay daily livelihood it's all disrupted


uh be it transport be it you know so daily life is definitely disrupted if uh we do not have a efficient government, which is more important than democracy which you just want your ideal world


uh) which is not practical at all in real life so this is what I feel, so can I just pass it to you uh P H what is your view


okay uh I apologise if you mistaken that I say democracy is equal to demonstration, because I'm just quoting the country in Hong-Kong recently uh happened before the COVID nineteen okay tried


tried I mean let's say in this country that we're staying now I don't think, we allowed uh demonstration you look at Hong-Lim park it we we are more or less like you know we we we


the people here cannot I guess cannot behave the same like what the Hong-Kong uh behave ya so basically to me , having an efficient government doesn't mean that we are we are we are just being complacent we're always


they also like I said work in long term plan okay you know the word long term plan they have to be in touch with the grassroot, okay to be you know uh to be in touch in a way that uh, the grassroot what does the people want what does the sound sound out from the people okay their needs uh


and basically from there they will they works towards uh like I said it's a long term uh planning, having a good government doesn't mean that they just sit there they don't be in touch with the grassroot, they don't know what's the people needs their livelihood their you know their wants their improvement in their area


so basically uh I, I want to correct you by saying that uh being having a efficient government is just uh being complacent and just, stagnant and the country don't move like I said it's a ongoing thing having a efficient government it always plan ahead uh times move


they have to move on with times uh different uh era different uh, stages of people you know so I guess, to me efficient government is definitely err, more important than democracy and doesn't mean that you just by going protesting so basically this is my point


P H I don't know why you have the idea that grassroot it's their own government people in fact err grassroot what I mean is err, the citizens is this citizens that would uh to to have the time to join you know


join uh the community to contribute to the community, so that they can they be like ya eye and ear the ear for the government to feedback to them you know, yeah so basically I do not understand why you have the idea that grassroot people are


their own people


well uh it, I still thinks that the grassroot people are the , the the eye and the ear for the government which not necessary their own people they are still you know people that uh oppose uh


the idea sometimes government uh implement some something uh so it's like maybe for example they could just like uh COE prices for example you know, uh they want to increase so before they increase maybe they will hear the grassroot how's uh the they tap and hear and you know


uh find out before they want to implement it whether is it a a good go or not or stopped go kind of thing you see so basically uh I think


correct


it, okay uh, having the efficient government that's how we wanna hear how the the the people


in the country uh wants and want the government to do so to to you you think that it it doesn't err help that much, to the government we it's very very important or else the government has no view no long-term planning uh


how should they uh strategise for the country how should they uh you know, uh make the country a better place uh to live in, to progress from there so to me it's all these, eyes and ear that uh


to me lah they voice out their views feedback to the government what they want it's it's very important that's how err that's how the efficient government starts from there, or else the government has no clue at all they cannot just implement something that they want and uh after that all the people in the country not happy


so to me


okay for me to me I think efficient government uh like I said top it's a head okay so


ya democracy definitely is somehow or rather depends on the country it does, lead to some disruption in life okay let say different countries some country allows protest some country don't allow, so somehow or other it does you know uh affect uh daily daily uh living so


have like I said government is on top somebody need to be sitting on top and give direction, okay and how the government on top this top works definitely it will, they they have eyes and ears laying on them uh on the on the ground to to for them to improve


uh and and plan plan forward to to a better livelihood and care for the the people so basically I I still, believe efficient government is more important than democracy which is very idealistic


thank you


there is no, such thing as bad publicity is it true


alright I would say that , I agree to this point


the best of all I just do it man, I've so much experience on it , we encounter like endless like endless okay now it says that there's no such thing as bad publicity uh the thing is well I would say that


agree to a certain point that , it's really how we we we present ourself and really how we bring a message across so


there's no such thing as bad or or good it's like how you it is what we call the immediate responses that means when you present something it is always being interpreted in different ways you know I can say a statement, even if I have to type a statement say in a WhatsApp form in Facebook in Instagram whatever form of social media platform


okay it's really one sentence is out how you rate it how you rate it and how you interpret it some people will just say it is something as uh uh good something says as bad if you all remember previously there was this


Mediacorp artist , he due to this advertisement right he indirectly angered the crowd because he's been he to present that message within the advertisement


he, he paint himself a darker colour so with that he actually received a very bad outcome out of it but then if you see from another point of view it is actually to


convey what the objective of that the advertisement is about but, unfortunately, the public, see it and overread the content and see it as something bad so there's really no such thing as a bad


publicity it's really how people interpret it so that, would be my point, so Mei would you like to take over


there are seventeen minute


there shouldn't be any bad publicity instead of a bad interpretation would you like to emphasize a little bit more on that


right and , to me right I, agree that there's really no such thing as bad publicity it's really because sometime it's the way we we bring out and carry out a certain topic just like sometime


one word it can be interpreted in a thousand ways you know such as, recently a public figure on a recent event he


it's the way he bring out the message you know about east coast plan plan east coast east coast plan you know so this kind of thing uh, but I think you know uh, I would say I would say that that


it is not in a way a bad publicity but, end up it became like a meme and everyone can use it like in a , it somewhat uh, prompt the creativity out of singaporean and they can make it into t-shirts and they turn it into messages on the curbs and end up it starts to


generate the economics in singapore so I think that it's, rather interesting that's very very interesting because , uh it's like one thing whether is it on on Instagram or whether is it on some media platform some Facebook


pages it has been, it has been , uh, created in a very creative manner and, there is also these uh, public figure he use it on his own show so


and he makes it very very funny which brings humour and laughter but yet not in the point of insulting someone so I think at this point of time as we all know is the point of COVID there's nothing new so with things like these it lightens up the uh


air of the, the of , the public I would say so that is rather heartening to see, and you can see it at the east coast plan plan east coast is in a way in a way uh on the way of planning already lah so


it it it may be a simple sentence but yet out of it right it becomes so impressionable, and it becomes something like a hidden blessing that caused people to want to focus on it more and , it the little movement counts like eh they do see the east coast plan on its way already so I think


yeah to a certain point I think it's quite good so, it may appear to be something that is started off and kicked off as something that is negative but is along the way how you took it and end up it becomes from something that is not so ideal to something that is really good


yup, so ya Mei you have anything to say,


(mmhmm) (ppc), uh I would say that the publicity itself right


it takes a lot of the people's uh impromptu to how you want to responds to it whether is it could be a ad company whether it could be even like a news reporter, you know whether whatever it is whether it's something that goes live or whether is it something that is pre-recorded right


on the spot where he has been recorded or on the spot when, that ad comes out, how you want to present it later like recently there's also a political, figurine instead of typing gallery he make a blooper


and he typed galley, so he, he intelligently, on his own Facebook page he laughed out of it and he lightens the air of the the


the audience the MOP the members of public and everyone start to, enjoy this humour out of it and he turned something that is a blooper and he turned it around to be something that is to his favour so I think that is very done


that is done in a very clever way and, and people becomes like uh liking him even more yeah it was a typo error right at the beginning moreover he is something like a very well known figurine in singapore


from the political point of view, but he because of this typo right, he he he he used it and he highlight it onto the Facebook platform and everybody has a good laugh out of it but he turned it to his own favour so I think that is very


uh that becomes like a quality that he has and he use these some blooper thing and he transform it immediately into something that that people see, is of a good quality out of his character and that becomes something that is to his great favour yeah


we're not supposed to name you know what I'm saying right moderator will go yeah ya ya so we are not supposed to


because him he on his Facebook right he typed, gallery national art, gallery so instead of gallery he typed it as G A L L E Y, so instead of like !hey! you are a


you know well known figure you are well educated how can you type a typo, but the thing is who don't who don't type typo who on eh this, planet earth don't have any typo error lah uh doesn't mean they are well known figures it makes them gods they are not gods okay so


right right


so


okay alright


uh but it does catch the attention of people, right I see well but, sometimes right it is after you okay the effect may turn out bad but it is how you want to use it again I say how you want to use it and bring it


back to your favour again which I'll bring you back to the point of the gallery and the galley then people start to see his sense of humour, okay and he even went to circle his own mistake and then screenshot it and put it back on media and say !oops! I make a blooper and people think it's very funny and I also think it's funny as I eh he acknowledged it so sometime


things may not always turn out to be something that is perfect so in conclusion on this final minute I would like to say things may not turn out always be perfect may not always turn out to be ideal but at the end of the day it's how we want to perceive it but how we want to perceive it right is


different audience will always interpret it in a different way there's no such thing as, a perfect, uh you know a, perfect receiving things you know no matter how good you want to put something up like that you know no matter how perfect you try yourself to be there will always be a group of people who think eh not bad it's pretty good but at the same time there will always be one group of people that


just want to see negativity out of every single thing so it's really our perception really counts as well, you know what I'm saying so I would like to conclude my point is it's all in the matter of opinion that's what I like to say


, alright,


right


consider the argument that the main purpose of television is to educate rather than simply to entertain


okay Mei you start first


falling back to the topic where we talked about you know , television is to educate rather than to uh, entertain, I would actually disagree on that point because what happened is you see a lot of us


typical singaporean, when we come back home, we pretty much just want to relax ourself we just want to let our hair down uh we really just want to in short you say relax


so when that happens right we would just, turn on to whether is it our Netflix or, uh whether is it your channel five your channel eight or whatever that is but to be honest nowadays a lot of people will turn on to their cable channels their Netflix all these and even have to switch on to the


uh Netflix or channel five or channel eight but, I would say current people are falling more on to the uh all the cables so even if you are just talking about Netflix itself how many of us turn on to Netflix right to go there and get educated seriously I don't think so like even if I'm


watching a film uh with my family, I'm not there to, uh go and enter myself into a media platform to get educated over there to see how many philosophies how many values or whatever there is that I can pick up from the Netflix movie itself


but I'm really going there into that platform to just switch it on watch it relax myself and to just you know really uh let my hair down and, to be entertained by the


happiness the joy or whatever the mood the the show or most of the time what the show can bring you you know whether what kind of emotions it can enlighten you with to enjoy out of it so, I seriously disagree to say that you know it's there to educate you but really rather to be there just simply to educate uh I mean to entertain us to make us happy to make us relaxed at the end of


the day especially for working adults like us it's really not to, uh you know overthink things out of it because if you're going to just use it as a educational platform , then uh might as well you can go YouTube or you go to Google you know just google your education thing out of it then it really defeat the purpose of what is it called a leisure


uh it's a leisure entertainment why is it called leisure entertainment in the first place it's to, give you leisure entertainment it's here to entertain you so that's my point


so you agree to my point ah


, except his mom ya , , ya


well I would say that falling back to


I would say falling back to my point at the end of the day right whatever, shows that is on why is it called a show, is to bring you entertainment is to give you leisure is to make you happy is to make you relaxed, out of the whole thing even when you talked about the point


to a certain extent yes it is valid to give them the, realism that , there's no such thing as mummy just like there's no such thing as ghost the zombie wanna jump out and bite at you or will now come and suck your blood all this kind of thing but


set apart from the small percentage of, helping them to see what's real and what's not majority on the point falling back on a show and a movie is still for entertainment purpose whether we want to see it or not it will always be for entertainment purpose it's just like


recently there's many movies going on you know uh you know whether is it uh there's this show called Mulan or whatever that is what is the main purpose of going to watch a movie, it is for you to entertain yourself it's not go there uh let me see how many strokes the Mulan can swipe the sword


but at the end of the day why does people want to watch a show from uh you know the the the, want to watch any TV programmes you know it is a TV programme at the end of, the day is to, you know for you to uh uh really to relax yourself you know even if you're talking about you know watching a tour to somewhere these there and these that it's like really you know put you maybe into a imagination mode lah ah which I'm you know uh around these and that it's not


uh you will not see anybody taking a notebook in front of them point one uh this one I learnt this I learnt this I learnt this, you don't really see normal human beings doing that okay but the thing is


ah don't bluff okay so the thing is at the end of the day right, uh you know even if you're watching things like uh, Doraemon or whether you're watching shows like, uh channel eight shows channel five shows or maybe U channel or whatever that is most of our time we go in is really to entertain yourself have a good laugh


be fun get relaxation out of it especially for working adults like us you know who have a long day you know you fall back in you go in back there you switch on the TV programme it's really for you to relax herself have fun have joy and especially if you watch on


err choose to put on a film that is is a comedy it's really to to make us have a good laugh out of it uh to have fun be crazy and relax as a whole family so again I want to firm up on my point concluding to say that


television programme is simply to entertain people and it is not much of to, educate someone it's really to be there for I would say even if you had to put on to values it's really a time where you entertain you get bonding out of it you you enjoy something together as a family


if you are talking about from family context it's really something that we gel with together and even if you say uh creating topics you know with your own family members to, to talk about something from the show to have a good laugh out of it to have a common topic and really to to you know


uh enhance the family closeness with each other out of it so it's really a lot to do with entertainment and not much with education that's my point


but you will find that whether whatever movie that has been made whatever TV programme that has been made at the end of it it's about entertainment that's why it's called entertainment show why people want to go and watch a movie why people want to switch on to a TV programme it's not


so much for them to uh I'll get educated in point one I'll get educated in point two point three point four or whatever that is at the end of the day it's to really you know just to relax yourself have a good laugh have fun and really to bond together as a family even if you are talking about like you know watching a horror


movie so it's really, not there to , not there to to you know freak you out or all these kind of thing but at the end of the day is to, for entertainment purpose


okay test test could you hear me Mei, a moderator not talking that's why no, can you can you hear me


test one two three, oh sometime it's the uh signal, okay, so moving back to the topic ah I would like to again wrap up to say


that, TV programmes the main objective out of it is for entertainment purpose and not so much about education education may hold a small percentage of it but at the end of the day


television programme, main objective, is for entertainment purpose is not to just educate your point A point B point C it's really to, help you to enjoy help you to have fun, and really to help you to feel good out of the programme


have a good laugh, and things like that, you know just like just now when I talked about the horror movie it's really there you know some parts you you get scared all these, kind of thing you know but at the end of the day after the whole movie you're enjoying it together as a family or whether is it for your own uh entertainment purposes it's really purely for


entertaining mode that's it


do films offer anything more than an escape from reality


I am ready and I am going to start, right, it says that do film offer anything more than


an escape from the reality to a certain point I would say, yes because, a film right sometimes is not just there to, paint a nice picture there oh everyday is nice all things are good you know everything is beautiful and stuff like that


but out of the film you can draw many essence out of it such as you know uh objective towards life such as a value what value can you take out of it such as you know, it sometime even films right it will also reflects on certain realities of your life for example where we talked about uh forrest gump there is a movie called the forrest gump


and his all time favourite uh uh quote, would be life, is like a box of chocolate, when you pick up a different flavour, when you taste a different thing perhaps this chocolate would taste


bitter, there are some points of our life, where we were you know face things that are slightly more bitter and there are some chocolate where you pick it up to eat it is very sweet is very nice there are some segments of our life


(ppc) that's very sweet and nice and there are some chocolates right that gives you a rather a fusion taste, there are some points of our life whereby we have like a mixed feeling you know whereby we will have things like (hmm) okay this thing happened


uh to a certain point of time I feel happy about it there's certain point of, uh from a certain point of view I don't feel great about it so there are some things that happened in our own lives, that you know okay it really gives you a mixed feeling so which falls back onto this movie whereby he said life is like a box of chocolate


you know that you have different outcomes, uh, uh different encounters is just like the different flavours in the box of chocolate that it carries that it comes to you where you have a taste of it when you are going through the the the feels of the taste the process of the taste


what outcomes does it give you on in the motions of uh tasting it, what how you feel out of it so the whole movie itself I think it's really great, you know the whole movie itself is very great


test test test could you hear me now okay, uh, I I hope the wire is not loose or anything


okay test test, alright in short right just now what, my objective that I would like to bring across would be life is like a box of chocolate just like falling back to how the show forrest gump has to say you know when you pick out different kind of chocolates it gives you different flavours it gives you different tastes and give you different take uh different feel of uh like your life


I see, oh how many times I can say it okay so the thing is at the end of the day right


life is also really like a box of chocolate you know like the forest gump you know how you feel how you sound out of it so sometime films right films can, give you a, different thinkers mode it helps you to think through you know like


and help you to uh, have a pause back and reflect back of, different parts of your life it's like eh something about this film it come with sound and speaks about, at this point of time how my phase of my life would be so beside just for an escape out of the reality I think there's really more to it


yup, over to you Mei, oh no I think you didn't get my point my point is not you work for it or you don't work for it my point is you know when you taste different kind of chocolate err some give you bitter tastes


uh could you hear me test test, uh could you hear me hello hello could you hear me, I can hear you I can hear you alright test test test could you hear me


alright picking on your point right, at the end of the day it's not just a uh, the point that I'm trying to bring across yeah, the point that I'm trying, to bring across to you which I think you somewhat misinterpreted right


uh, our life experiences is like a box of chocolate in a sense that when you taste bitter chocolate, some part of your life is bitter when you taste sweet chocolate some segments of your life is sweet and nice when you taste uh chocolates that provides you with a a a a fusion a combination of taste some parts of our life


it's also like that you have mixed feelings so that is my point so it doesn't really gel with where you're going to actually


I I'm not talking because you are talking, because


you're talking


(mmhmm)


okay alright


now falling back to the question do film offer anything more than an an escape from the reality I would say


agree again you know falling back to my original point I agree that, films does offer, many things rather than just an escape from the reality, in a sense that it can carry


values of life such as patch adams uh in the show patch adams right this amazing doctor, he spoke with different patients, and some of the patient they


pretty much give up on their own life and they see things in a more negative, uh from the negative aspect from negative point of view but uh this doctor, he actually use his different ways you know to encourage them even to do silly things such as you know being a doctor he would use the clown nose you know put on to his own nose just to make his patient laugh


and, put a smile on his patient's, uh, uh I mean put a smile on his patient's uh face by his action so I think that's very delightful so it really teaches us so there is a objective that's been drawn out of this film you know that


the that is really , you know that you can be positive you can stay happy you know regardless of the the circumstances stay positive be joyful because you will get over it


uh you'll get over it one day so, it's really beyond just uh films is really beyond just a platform for you to escape from the reality but films does carry values and and sometime help you to realign the objective in your life and so I find that films does carry uh


a powerful impact to it okay it does carry the powerful impact out of it so which is why I agree, that, you know it does offer, uh, it does offer things that's beyond just an escape from the reality


uh I cannot hear you voice off voice off cannot hear you


could you test mic again I'm sorry, yes I can hear you now


but even if you're talking about the uh documentation all these right, say a geographic channel, right, say like the geographic documentary channel you will notice that they will also put in some uh


uh, although some uh, some uh, special effect to entice you but the thing is you know some time even in the life of these little animals or whatever that is right, it shows you the meaning of life


such as recently I watched a short clip it's really a very very short clip about this kind of rodent and this kind of rodent is actually called a grasshopper, mouse it's actually a mouse, alright but, it is beyond just a tiny little mouse this tiny little creature


actually has the capacity, and the ability, to withstand, the poisonous sting of a scorpion as well as the venom of a centipede so when the show comes uh when the short clip comes whereby the grasshopper mouse right he she it it literally prank uh you know practically pranks onto the


it pranks on the the scorpion and the scorpion was like stinging and stinging this little mouse, you know but somehow in the blood system right the little mouse is able to withstand these kind of sting and it will not be affected by the poison but the poison it will it will change you know it will kind of like mutate into something that is very good and to the advantage of the mouse and then there's this next part fast forward


where it actually, pranks and prey literally, a tiny mouse, prey on a centipede okay and it went to like you know chew it's head off and all these kind of thing you know it's like, the the centipede to a point is trying to uh you know put in venom into this mouse but the thing is the mouse have no effect out of it it's really to show us you know so beyond just an escape from the reality you know this documentary show us that you know even the tiniest creatures on


earth, can withstand the difficulties of life, so this thing this little creature right even teaches us a very strong moral value that if a little mouse can do it how about you you as big adults you are able to withstand the stings of life as long as you


pursue to it so it becomes like a value of life, because I am supposed to agree to this topic


there is no such thing as bad publicity is this true


!wah! fourteen leh


am I supposed to do it now


okay nevermind yup, agree to a certain point that you know uh there is no bad publicity uh but it's all I mean agree with elaine that you know it's all different point of view


but I believe that bad publicity would means something like negative images negative news about individuals or you know things that you want to convey so


I mean we we we come across uh sending out messages but it was misinterpreted, so, ya sorry uh yeah like do you need me to go back to what I'm saying earlier


okay so moving forward so what happen is often message are being misinterpreted uh, unless it's a very big major events that you know it comes out in a banner or advertisement on TV that says that you know the


the news presenter might have said something wrong or the names wrongly other than that there shouldn't be any bad publicity rather than misinterpretion misinterpretation


I remember seeing a news that uh there is this topic, one of the news presenter actually said our minister name wrongly, ya so it reflects badly on the person that she's presenting which is the minister


but other than that there shouldn't be any bad publicity except that you know it comes out wrongly so it becomes that uh it becomes a negative image presented


or to a certain extent bad publicity you know message convey wrongly like we have seen a recent news about cotton and sheep, ya so the message across is actually to portray what


uh was planned to do but then , you know it came out negatively that it was missed uh to me I think that it was misinterpreted that you know uh cotton shouldn't come from sheep and then it's a very big hooha in the whole news and stuff like that


so that is in a way is a bad publicity but it creates an image imprint in people


eh, uh like I say lor the bad publicity would mainly comes out when negative when negative images messages are being put across uh when it's being interpreted wrongly


but true and not true leh , very hard to catch what you're trying to convey because the who is who,


true true true true, but I do agree that sometimes there are bad publicity around especially when when the message is not


received across properly especially sometimes if you have events planner example, wrong colour for the events you cannot have a green banner for a new year you cannot have a red banner for Hari


Raya y so I think for with with regards to bad, publicity it must be on that occasion for what purpose, it has to be tacked together properly so that you know when a message received across by the recipient it is


of receptive rather than negative about it, yeah I do receive some I mean I do see some advertisement banners and televisions, uh I know a channel eight six thirty news presenter every day she report news something sure wrong come out one she sure say something wrong one yeah


sometimes when we walk on the road we see something like banners for the estates and stuff like that uh message comes out wrongly sometimes just like during the GE, our main government party they can have their logos opposite it


so it becomes a bad publicity because you know it portrays that, uh different message are being put across


ya you can't explain why your your company logo is being opposite what, you you get what I mean so so that it that becomes a bad publicity


well for me on the bad publicity point of view I would think that negative images and news on the individual or company have to be careful when it's presented especially if they would like to acquire film fame


fame at the shortest time of it may do them good, but, it's definitely not coming out in the right way, ya, okay that's practically leaving my point cup to an to an end


okay so maybe to elaborate further is company sometimes do exploit the bad publicity


to create marketing hypes to launch their new product, uh but bad publicity can also ride on the controversy point like restricting the kind of consumer purchasing on the product


or even you know it may affect their recruitment process so too much negativity nobody wants to work, for the company or the brand so it may be a good or bad thing ah


consider the argument that the main purpose of television is to educate rather than simply to entertain


straight away seventeen minute mark


ah okay so my point of view is main purpose of television is to educate, so what happened is I always believe that television has uh education point of view be it through


documentaries current affairs channel news asia or even or even to, drama movies we can always educate , our next generations on cultures the


quality of the quality of the programmes that is being showed we can actually educate our kids that you know, what are the things that can be done what are the things that cannot be done why is the person being caught you know example like crimes educations programmes


so ya for, television to educate to a certain point of view I do agree because to be honest I allow my kids to watch televisions but I'll be beside them telling them what are the can do's cannot do's


I will only leave them alone if it's current affairs documentaries, so like for example documentaries I'll seriously leave them alone while I do my household chores cooking and then when they have some questions they will come hi mommy why the shark why the big shark eat the small shark


you know then you got to come out and explain what's documentary is showing about and then through that we also learnt because sometimes when we don't know we will go and find out through Googles


or encyclopedias so I believe that television is there to educate don't talk about advertisements, yup, so practically that's my point of view


yes to certain extents , drama Netflix do have some entertainment values but uh we should also educate our children like yesterday example yesterday there's a show on mummies


during the mummies mummies comes out, from the desert it rises from the dead so entertainment value yes maybe but you know education value know


so from there got wait wait so from that point of view I have to start telling my kids look mummy is not real it will not jump out from the dead, you know so we have to educate through the show that you know you can you can watch but it's not true if you like you can find out more but mummy don't rise from the dead there is no mummies in the current per se contexts


, ya so so you know you don't just jump from a balloon down to the desert in actual fact you'll break your bones you'll even die from it so


I always believe that you know we have to educate our kids when watching the television be it a drama, or uh current affairs or documentary there should be a educational level


or a parents by their side to educate them, yeah so falling that to that I mean falling back to my point television should be


, portraying a educational image portraying a correct image that's why I'm always only allowing my kids to watch crime watch, CNA news on current affairs when what other countries is going on that's live


you have to be factual about it and, you know documentaries is to actually practically to gain your knowledge it's also a part of entertainment for documentary you know it's a brainless thing you just have to watch it


unless you have questions


no leh and also learn the value of it leh


me leh me leh you just saw me writing notes you know


but then if for all the producers they have their main topic yes entertainment it could be one of them but they also have to bring out the educational


level of the show to portray what the show is going to what the show is trying to, say and, from the show we can actually educate our kids what are the can do's and cannot do's, where do they have the idea of Mulan it comes from a cultural chinese background book right so it's an educational point of view that is uh pilot five uh


filial piety kind of mode that you know they have this show they tell people about what Mulans do, why she fights for the father and stuff like that, so it's educational point of view but they made it into entertainment point so that more people actually watch the show to understand the value of it


sorry ferline you're breaking up


ah ya ferline it's breaking up, hello, now you're breaking up uh ferline yes moderator no


yes yes yes, no ferline just now for a short while there's a break there's a short little break


it's it's back it's back ya


let me wrap up my point will be that , even though for variety shows with entertainment value there should still be educational part of it you know explaining to the next generation what are the can do's and the cannot do's you don't go around throwing knives when you saw a


dagger show flying around, at home, so I still believe that you know television is there to educate or to help us educate the next generation, rather than yes entertainment point of view they may have a fun of it laugh at it but uh ya


we have to be there to educate the kids what are the can do's and the cannot do's so mainly television is there to actually help point us point out, uh what are the things to look out for what are the things to be explained to the kids and also uh education point of view will be like you know life cycles


through the documentaries' life on the actual ground through current affairs yup


do films offer anything more than an escape from reality


hello calling in, hello I didn't hear ferline at all


I don't hear ya nothing, no I cannot hear her at all from, from about one minute ago


now okay but just now cannot hear at all


okay can, sure sure sure ferline I cannot hear you for the last one minute so can you repeat what you said I can see your mouth moving only


okay I think my internet got problem, I concluded


eh, I have never believed that you know uh life is a box of chocolate we have to work for that chocolate


ya, sorry you are being paused your whole screen is stopped


now okay, hello you're stopping again hello, yes yes yes now, yes yes yes I can hear you


I only say one sentence haven't point yet


no I still have to say that you know uh, if how should I put it, , if any films offer anything more than an escape from reality I would say no because films are all made of reality life reality


hello, okay now I hear you, oh no no no because suddenly I don't hear anything, ya so what


I don't mean that okay so shows are, all made of life reality in our singapore current context, , jack Neo has said before that his show is made of reality


is there a mark, yeah mark has also said that his show is made of reality real life experiences that's how ah boys, to men come about people want to know what's you know life being a army boy is now that's that's from reality


it's never an escape it's not I don't think our directors and staff have always, fresh ideas of what to show every day zombie not possible every day ghost also not possible what


somebody's typing leh so loudly , ya so my point of view is, films are always


uh from and reality show, and if they if you ask if they offer anything more, maybe entertainment value


sharing of experiences to those that haven't been through like ah boys to men, teenagers under eighteen they may not have gone through what army life is so they they see it the view the show they may have an gist idea of what is it about but it's of reality


thank you ah for saying my point


ya yes uh ferline yes I do agree that films have certain meaningful messages, especially when the themes are discussed during the film making process but


it derives from somewhere, they have to derive it has to derive from somewhere cannot everything will be imaginary there must have been some, hello test mic test mic can you hear me


test mic test mic can you hear me hello okay


so back to my point I guess films portray certain meaningful messages especially when uh during the film making process the themes are discussed but


, besides that I believe that imaginary settings is also part of the film, like


so like what what should I like the documentary is based on actual they documented it over the the years so that's a reality


so does it offer anything more than an escape from the reality I would think no because through the making process it take times it take years for them to process the life cycle of, a plant an animal an insect


so does it offer an escape I don't think so because it's still derived from somewhere which is the reality


which is back to my point and thank you for agreeing that films are part of reality as it is to everything else, ya I know I'm disagreeing so films are part of reality lor


part one debate topic one, okay so the first


the first debate is uh medical science has been so successful that people now expect too much of it so I would say that this is true because now people are more reliant, to medical science uh in terms of their healthcare needs so especially coming from the medical field where uh my work solely relies on technology and science uh you know we use like uh swabs and uh we do X rays and for example when we do


wound dressing for a person with uh scars or uh infected wounds, so you can see that wound dressing has actually innovated from the past until now in the past it's more like simple dressing but now you have different types of wound dressings where there's some kind of antiseptic involved in the wound dressing as well so


it has become, wound dressings now hasn't innovated and become better to treat more complicated and complex wound , wounds lah so for example if , , if you rely solely on simple dressing for a very complicated wound let's say for a gangrenous wound or a very heavily in a very highly infected wound it will not have worked


but with a dressing that is with with the proper wound dressing that is done right that can treat the correct dressing , people will not put will not be put at risk for things like further infection or even uh death


so, I would say that medical science does play a part in a person's role because people now expect to, have a, better quality of life uh as opposed to you know poor quality of life where they suffer from


, pain and also from, uh discomfort , so for example like I uh I mentioned earlier also when we do swabs like COVID swabs, now with the ongoing pandemic uh a simple swab would not justify for the pathogen you need uh more more precise swab like the COVID swab tool


to actually check and test whether a person does the person is infected with the virus, or not, so I would say that medical science has progressively improve and it should improve even


better, so it will uh a person can have a better quality of life and also get the proper treatment, yeah oh about oh


so then that is my what my is about uh medical science and how people expecting a lot from it lah, okay, you want to uh you want to oppose switching


(hmm) (hmm) okay


so I also I do agree with you to a certain extent that uh people do rely too heavily on medical science and then they sort of like neglected their life because they think that medical science has improved vastly that it would, actually cure them for all kinds of you know illnesses all kinds of diseases so that is when we need to educate a person so


medical science you know the the innovation part of it is to help prolong life to improve a quality of life not necessarily uh you know like, a cure for everything which is why , I think uh for a person person in the medicine and also as might uh you know like medical science it goes hand in hand rather than we cannot just uh


put medical science are heavily rely on them and then like totally neglect our our individual care needs, so let's say for example you said like you know like for a person with diabetes and and hypertension it also we also have to inform them that it hate it plays they they themselves play a very heavy role in in their you know diseases


they cannot just rely on let's say a hypocount machine they take and then they know what's their sugar level, the it is to help them to better their lives and to give them a better quality, of life yeah


but don't you agree that , you know medication also has shown, like say for a like say a hypertension hypertensive medicine it was a very simple one like enalapril or atenolol but now you have things like uh calcium channel blockers you have thiazides to help them improve


their, their illness, you know I mean like like like that's that's why, I think there there's a progression because there is uh research being done there is trials being done, you know to ultimately at the the end of it we want our patients or we want people with illnesses to have better quality of life so that they are more in control we they give them the we give them the autonomy we give them the responsibility to take care of themselves rather than rely solely on like doctors and nurses


(oo) so you


you you do have a good point about the the, build building a therapeutic alliance between the patient and the medical team lah so that's when I think , you know it's our it's it's the job of the melt uh healthcare professionals to not say influence them but also to again like


educate them and tell them that you know , this medicine you know it it's good we don't have to tell them and go into medical jargons and tell them like there's research being done there's this statistics being done it has shown like from uh trials that it has improve that that you you can get treated from it I think uh also


you know telling them that okay this medicine helps you if you don't if you do not agree with me it's okay we will can see other things that maybe not necessarily medication but you know like non invasive treatments like we can refer them to


you know like like it's as say they have uh uh uh leg pain and then you want to give them a painkiller but they do not want to rely solely on painkillers so we can also tell them that oh physiotherapy which are also from their field they have also other ways to treat pain or to minimise their pain


so again, medical sciences doesn't just, rely solely on on medicine there are other treatments other treatment modalities other non uh pharmacological, treatment that can help them


yeah so so preventive measures of course we do preventive measures is to, to to stop the progression of the illness and to detect early, like diabetes and high blood pressure, also if we do not did without the help of medical sciences it'll be very difficult to detect early as well


uh you know we rely on the hypocount machine has also, changed from years you have like a, more like a a smaller type of needles you know for them to feel less pain so that, they they


you don't feel like a burden to get checked early they don't feel scared they don't they don't feel like like a a they just mostly scared lah they don't feel scared to get treated early, so which is also again why medical sciences has improved


uh to also help in the convenience of people lor uh people, okay ya


so so for me it's uh I do agree with you with uh certain points but however I feel like without the, advancement of medical sciences we will not be at where we are right now for healthcare, yeah yeah so


of course not everything is perfect there are still many many many room for improvements which is, why are you know we try to improve from, something let's say for example now we have a a machine that doesn't really do much we're trying to improve on how we can


uh, make it even more sustainable make it more convenient and, , more more uh approachable for people lor, yeah I mean the the


when someone , the, me when someone invent a machine to help ultimately is the idea is to help a person but whoever seeks that treatment is actually an, individual decision so we cannot say that this person is abusing medical


science it's, up to individuals


part, two debate topic two, okay so I start now


alright so does the modern world place too much reliance on technology , yes, I believe so I mean look around us everywhere we are consumed by technology be it the TV cable internet especially also one of our something that we rely on heavily everyday twenty four seven even when we are asleep uh our mobile phones where we we put our mobile phones beside us so that they can wake us up


the it can because up when we need to get up to go to work or to go for appointments, so the example I give mobile phone is a I think is a perfect example on how modern how we rely too much on modern technology mobile phone is


basically an, literally uh like a second like a half of us like it's part of us we cannot live without it if I leave my phone if I leave my phone at home and I go out I'd be totally handicap I don't know what to do in the outside world because all my information are there so for example a mobile phone right now we have information of our


like uh our whether we are on, whether you are any uh medicine or whether we are, any illnesses and disease we put everything in our phone so that when we collapse someone can look through our phone and they will see what kind of, what are we suffer any heart diseases any any like are we diabetic or is any medicine that


, we are taking right now so that could also literally save our lives uh we use it to call people call you know like that, you need to call the police we use our phones we we need to call our family members our friends our colleagues, uh we we we


we use it for social media consumption so we are you know social beings we are visual people so we need to see what uh others are up to what they are know through the pictures , what they have been, eating what they have been doing what activities that they're doing and, you know we need to