This article was published on TODAYonline on 3 July 2020.
By Yeo Jong Han
SINGAPORE — Former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Viswa Sadasivan has revived his sociopolitical programme, called Inconvenient Questions (IQ), providing another platform for the discussion of issues related to the 2020 General Election (GE).
The programme currently features 18- to 20-minute interviews four times weekly and is available on YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn. It is produced by Mr Sadasivan’s company, Strategic Moves, in partnership with the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS).
IQ began in January 2015 with episodes hosted on its own website before ceasing in June 2016 due to a lack of funding.
In an interview with TODAY, Mr Sadasivan, who hosts the programme, said that a number of factors led him to decide to bring back the show.
“The restrictions on rallies and campaigning due to the pandemic mean that voters will go into the election with little knowledge of the parties and their candidates,” said Mr Sadasivan.
He said that this is “not good for democracy”, which is about making “informed decisions”.
The 61-year-old is especially concerned about first-time voters, saying that the lack of campaigning may leave young people with the impression that the “electoral process is a sham”. He believes that such cynicism towards the country’s institutions will threaten social cohesion.
Mr Sadasivan wanted IQ to serve as an alternative platform to complement mainstream media, lending a voice to opposition parties that do not have the advantages the ruling party has.
Still, he stressed that the programme is neutral and that he gives every party, even the ruling People’s Action Party, a chance to participate in it.
Beyond politics, Mr Sadasivan also hopes to use the programme as a means to highlight sociopolitical developments, as well as individuals who have contributed much to the “spirit of Singapore”.
These individuals include former Member of Parliament Inderjit Singh, who appeared as the first guest on the revived show. The episode, which aired on June 17, touched on Mr Singh’s time as a parliamentarian and discussed some of the criticisms toward the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an emailed response to TODAY, Mr Singh said he believed IQ has a place in Singapore as it complements the mainstream media to offer a broader perspective on national discourse.
“Singapore has matured as a nation and more people, especially the younger ones, want more honest discussion of these issues,” he added.
Mr Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Bank, who appeared as a guest on the show on June 26, agreed, adding that IQ promotes “a reasoned exchange of ideas”.
Other guests who have been on the show include activist Alex Au, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy dean Danny Quah, playwright Alfian Sa’at, Progress Singapore Party assistant secretary-general Leong Mun Wai and former NMP Janice Koh.
One guest who is set to appear on the show in the lead-up to Polling Day is Dr Paul Tambyah of the Singapore Democratic Party (July 7).
On July 8, the eve of Cooling-Off Day, IQ will air an episode analysing the hustings.
When asked whether the IQ website would return if he found willing sponsors, Mr Sadasivan was hesitant, stressing that it was important the show keeps its neutrality and that any funding will have to be considered carefully.