Tharman dealt well with HARDtalk bluster

I took pride in how Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam stayed collected and polite throughout his interview at the St Gallen Symposium (“How the Government helps Singaporeans help themselves”; May 19).

He listened intently, framed his responses articulately with maximal effect and timing, and countered with incontrovertible logic that had the audience in stitches and his inquisitor flabbergasted when the latter thought he had Mr Tharman on the ropes.

It was done in a dignified and reasoned fashion, delivered effectively in demolishing the standard bluster and in-your-face crudeness of BBC HARDtalk presenter Stephen Sackur.

Well done, Mr Tharman.