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Wed, Sep 30, 2009
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Ris spoke 'perfect English'
by Dawn Tay

MISS Ris Low spoke “perfectly good English” during the Miss Singapore World pageant, and Singaporeans were misled into believing otherwise by online videos, said pageant organiser ERM World Marketing.

It added: “We felt that person who made fun of her on YouTube was malicious.” Before news of her conviction for fraud broke, Miss Low was lambasted for her poor English in a video interview. However, she spoke well in the pageant, said ERM. Her spoken English in the video could be due to “her bipolar disorder”, it explained.

Netizens were split over her resignation. Stomper yodudeman posted: “She paid her debt...I pity her and Singapore’s lack of ability to forgive.” But
tempo4me said: “It would be best for her to step down.”

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readers' comments
OMG, you called her a "Beauty Queen"? Being a fellow Singaporean that lives overseas, I am embarrassed by the low standard set by the Singapore Pegeant. She doesn't come close to being called a beauty.
Posted by 888orchid on Wed, 7 Oct 2009 at 09:26 AM
She hasn't even apologised once for letting down people who have been rooting for her since day one. Plus, after the video circulated, the contest was over and she won, suddenly after all the commotion she has "bipolar"? Perfect english when her standard is already so plainly showed?
Posted by toloveistolie on Fri, 2 Oct 2009 at 21:54 PM
Fine, one can't help if one is down with a psychological condition. But stop using your psychological condition as an excuse for all your mistakes and crimes. It only shows the lack of remorse and respect for the rest of the world.

If you have been dignosed with this condition, Ris and her parents should know better than to act "helpless". There are medications for it. Don't assume that we are all clueless on this matter and you can get all the empathy you want even after commiting mistakes and crimes.

To Ris and her family --> Stop your emotional blackmailing and start living your life proactively. Everyone is responsible for their lives.
Posted by Mentos_cool on Fri, 2 Oct 2009 at 11:15 AM
Bipolar disorder.... not schizophrenia.
Posted by noiar on Thu, 1 Oct 2009 at 11:57 AM
ERM should resign from oranising such events.
Posted by kestrel799 on Thu, 1 Oct 2009 at 11:50 AM
GET ERM! ERM should be held responsible for its reckless & ridiculous statements! What extremely poor management and organisation done on our Miss Singapore World pageant.

I feel Ms Ris low has suffered enough from all this flaking from her own countrymen.
Posted by Richieling on Thu, 1 Oct 2009 at 00:55 AM
What does bipolar disorder have to do with speaking lousy English?! Having this mood disorder doesn't mean that one speaks like an uneducated bimbo. True, bipolar disorder can sometimes cause the patient to speak in unusual ways (such as using alliterations and rhymes), and some of the medication used to treat bipolar may cause the patient to stumble over her words. But both are not the same as speaking English badly - and on multiple occasions to boot.

ERM has done all sufferers of bipolar disorder a grave disservice by its ridiculous statement. If this happened in the US, they should expect a class action lawsuit for misrepresentation or libel. As it is, they'll just 'conveniently' blame all of Ris' (mis)behaviour on bipolar disorder, whether or not it is true.
Posted by sangria24 on Thu, 1 Oct 2009 at 00:10 AM
I had read very interesting but sad stories of very famous American people who suffer from bipolar disorder. One famous young female t.v. star just "retired" at the prime of her success and disappeared from the public. When she was ready to face the world, she finally admitted about her illness which could swing her moods easily and made her very depressed frequently. It was very hard for sufferers like her to handle. But, honestlu, none of them ever committed theft and spoke about not being able to SPEAK WELL.

The organisers pointed her bad diction and grammar to her illness. Bad timing or having her illness popped out for TWO separate interviews as shown on Youtube????? You be the judge.

She finally paid her debt after dragging on because she refused to let go of her crown. Perhaps people would have been kinder .....
Posted by malinablu on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 at 21:19 PM
Blackdragon should be the new organizer of Miss ISngapore. Lets see what he can come up with.

Booms!
Posted by goldfoxsg on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 at 19:10 PM
ERM organisers should all go for a crash course in spoken ENGLISH! Nobody here speaks "perfect" english anymore!!!
However; the England that they claim Ris used was in line with their standards! Therefore, their England is even "BETTER"!
It'll be snowing when S'pore will ever have a Miss World! Being articulate in own "Mother" tongue is better to win!!
Our contestants need to be articulate & knowledgeable!!
Posted by Mahbok on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 at 17:42 PM

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