( 1st Speaker from the Opposition TKC )
1987 was the FIRST time I'd attended the PPM Finals in Pusat Islam KL. Today...or rather Yesterday, I attended the 2014 Finals held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
How things have changed.
The most significant change observed is that the format now is totally different.
Other details - Some comparison:
(1) TIME of DEBATE
2014 - Morning, 9AM start time.
1987 - Evening, 8.30PM.
(2) VIP ATTENDANCE
2014 - Domestic Trade Minister, a "Junior" Minister
1987 - Education Minister, "Senior" Minister in cabinet.
(3) MEDIA TELECAST
2014 - Live telecast on "EDUWEB".
1987 - Delayed telecast on RTM
(4) PRIZES
2014 - Prize Money for Finalists. Champion@RM7,500 / Runners-Up@RM5,000
1987 - None
(5) JUDGES
2014 - Mainly from English programmes i.e. 4 out of 5. 1 from Corporate Sector.
1987 - Mixed. English programmes, Journalists and Government.
Note:
Received the following comments from an ex-ASEAN Secretariat Senior personnel and currently the Deputy at one of the Schools or Institute in a Public University.
Salam Amirul,
Well, it all depends on whether the debate was just for academic purpose or for reality. And, I don't think even the judges really knew and understood about ASEAN. I have met with senior profs on international and strategic studies who think that ASEAN is modelled after EU, which is not correct. I know for certain that many people think that anything to do with Southeast Asian countries is to do with ASEAN, and anything to do with a country's or a national problem or issue is an ASEAN problem, which a wrong perception.
ASEAN is just an association where its cooperation activities are confined only to specific political-security, economic and socio-cultural sectors.
Best rgds. Wslm
(6) SPONSORS
2014 - Bank Rakyat as Corporate sponsors.
1987 - NO Corporate Sector involvement
(7) REHEARSALS
2014 -
1987 -
(TBC)
