Viswa Sadasivan
Encyclopedia
Viswaroopan Sadasivan (born 1959 in Singapore
) is a Nominated Member of Parliament
(NMP) in the Parliament of Singapore
.
, before going on to do a degree in political science
at the National University of Singapore
. After graduating, he worked for the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation
(SBC, later renamed MediaCorp
), where he was the presenter and producer of a number of current affairs television
programmes including Feedback, Talking Point and Today in Parliament, before becoming the Senior Controller of the Current Affairs Division. He received an SBC scholarship to study at Harvard University
's John F. Kennedy School of Government
, where he completed a Master of Public Administration
degree. He subsequently worked as Senior Manager for Corporate Planning and Business Development at Singapore Press Holdings
, before joining the Canadian
television company UTV International as its Chief Executive Officer
(CEO).
In 1997, Viswa co-founded the Right Angle Group (subsequently renamed Strategic Moves Pte Ltd), a television production, communications training and strategic consultancy organisation based in Singapore. He is currently the organisation's CEO. He received a 'Spirit of Enterprise Award' in 2003 in recognition of his entrepreneurial achievements.
Viswa has been extensively involved in public service. He has served as the Chairman of the Political Development Feedback Group of Singapore's Feedback Unit, and as Vice-President and Secretary of the Singapore Indian Development Association
(SINDA) Executive Committee. He has also served on the Media Development Authority
's Board, the Singapore 21 Committee, Economic Review Committee, Remaking Singapore Committee, and the National Youth Achievement Award Council.
in July 2009. The following month, he used his maiden speech in Parliament to table a motion calling for the House to reaffirm its commitment to the principles enshrined in the Singapore National Pledge
(which refers to Singaporeans as "one united people, regardless of race, language or religion"), and questioned whether the government was sending out mixed signals by emphasising racial categorisations, for example by promoting ethnic-based self-help groups. His speech attracted considerable media attention and drew responses from a number of Members of Parliament from Singapore's governing People's Action Party
(PAP), including Minister Mentor
, Lee Kuan Yew
. Lee stated that he wanted to "bring the House back to earth" on the issue of racial equality in Singapore, and rebut Viswa's "false and flawed" arguments. He stated that the National Pledge was an not an "ideology" but an "aspiration", which may take "decades, if not centuries" to be realised. It was the first time since 2007 that Lee had chosen to speak during a debate in Parliament.
In the end, Viwsa's motion was adopted by the House with two amendments – one from Lee highlighting the principles of the Pledge as aspirations, and one from PAP MP Zainudin Nordin
noting Singapore's progress towards nation building.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
) is a Nominated Member of Parliament
Nominated Member of Parliament
A Nominated Member of Parliament is a Member of the Parliament of Singapore who is appointed instead of being elected into office by the people, and who does not belong to any political party or represent any constituency. There are currently nine NMPs in Parliament...
(NMP) in the Parliament of Singapore
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
.
Biography
Viswa had his secondary school education at Raffles InstitutionRaffles Institution
Raffles Institution , founded in 1823, is the oldest centre for pre-tertiary learning in Singapore. It is an independent school in Singapore providing secondary and pre-university education. RI consists of a boys-only secondary section , and a coeducational pre-university section...
, before going on to do a degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
. After graduating, he worked for the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation
Singapore Broadcasting Corporation
Singapore Broadcasting Corporation was a partially privatised mass market media conglomeration, which dominated the entire television and most of the radio broadcasting industry in Singapore during its existence...
(SBC, later renamed MediaCorp
MediaCorp
Media Corporation of Singapore, better known as MediaCorp, is a group of commercial media companies in Singapore, with business interests in television and radio broadcasting, interactive media, and, to a lesser extent, print publishing and film-making....
), where he was the presenter and producer of a number of current affairs television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
programmes including Feedback, Talking Point and Today in Parliament, before becoming the Senior Controller of the Current Affairs Division. He received an SBC scholarship to study at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
, where he completed a Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
degree. He subsequently worked as Senior Manager for Corporate Planning and Business Development at Singapore Press Holdings
Singapore Press Holdings
Singapore Press Holdings Limited is a media organisation in Singapore with businesses in print, Internet and new media, television and radio, outdoor media, and property. SPH has over 4,000 employees, including a team of approximately 1,000 journalists, including correspondents operating around...
, before joining the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television company UTV International as its Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
(CEO).
In 1997, Viswa co-founded the Right Angle Group (subsequently renamed Strategic Moves Pte Ltd), a television production, communications training and strategic consultancy organisation based in Singapore. He is currently the organisation's CEO. He received a 'Spirit of Enterprise Award' in 2003 in recognition of his entrepreneurial achievements.
Viswa has been extensively involved in public service. He has served as the Chairman of the Political Development Feedback Group of Singapore's Feedback Unit, and as Vice-President and Secretary of the Singapore Indian Development Association
Singapore Indian Development Association
The Singapore Indian Development Association ; is self-help group , that was established in August 1991 to address the pressing educational and socio-economic issues facing the Indian community in Singapore. The group's mission is to build a strong and vibrant Indian Singaporean Community. The...
(SINDA) Executive Committee. He has also served on the Media Development Authority
Media Development Authority
The Media Development Authority is a statutory board of the Singapore Government, under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts .-History:...
's Board, the Singapore 21 Committee, Economic Review Committee, Remaking Singapore Committee, and the National Youth Achievement Award Council.
Political career
Viswa was appointed as a Nominated Member of ParliamentNominated Member of Parliament
A Nominated Member of Parliament is a Member of the Parliament of Singapore who is appointed instead of being elected into office by the people, and who does not belong to any political party or represent any constituency. There are currently nine NMPs in Parliament...
in July 2009. The following month, he used his maiden speech in Parliament to table a motion calling for the House to reaffirm its commitment to the principles enshrined in the Singapore National Pledge
Singapore National Pledge
The Singapore National Pledge is an oath of allegiance to Singapore. It is commonly recited by Singaporeans in unison at public events, especially in schools, in the Singapore Armed Forces and during the National Day Parade.-Origin:...
(which refers to Singaporeans as "one united people, regardless of race, language or religion"), and questioned whether the government was sending out mixed signals by emphasising racial categorisations, for example by promoting ethnic-based self-help groups. His speech attracted considerable media attention and drew responses from a number of Members of Parliament from Singapore's governing People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
(PAP), including Minister Mentor
Minister Mentor
Minister Mentor is a Singapore cabinet position created in 2004 as part of a leadership transition.The newly appointed Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong , announced Lee Kuan Yew's new title together with the naming of his Cabinet on August 12, 2004...
, Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
. Lee stated that he wanted to "bring the House back to earth" on the issue of racial equality in Singapore, and rebut Viswa's "false and flawed" arguments. He stated that the National Pledge was an not an "ideology" but an "aspiration", which may take "decades, if not centuries" to be realised. It was the first time since 2007 that Lee had chosen to speak during a debate in Parliament.
In the end, Viwsa's motion was adopted by the House with two amendments – one from Lee highlighting the principles of the Pledge as aspirations, and one from PAP MP Zainudin Nordin
Zainudin Bin Nordin
Zainudin Nordin is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party, he is a currently a Member of Parliament representing the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency ....
noting Singapore's progress towards nation building.