TV host Lisa Wong talks about her interview with Tun Dr Siti Hasmah for ntv7’s Bella Merdeka Special, airing this Sunday
TV personality Lisa Wong, who joined Daphne Iking, Deborah Henry and Elaine Daly as the hosts for ntv7’s magazine show Bella in 2011, is happy she got to interview Tun Dr Siti Hasmah in the show’s special Merdeka edition recently.
Wong, of Chinese and Sri Lankan descent, says the show features prominent Malaysian personalities. She finds out what Merdeka means to Dr Siti.
Tell us about your preparations before the interview.
I was excited at the prospect of interviewing Dr Siti Hasmah, a special report that I was assigned to do for ntv7’s Bella Merdeka Special.
Just like any other interview, I prepped by researching the background of my interviewee. Reading the various articles on her was intriguing, which got me doubly excited about addressing some of the questions I had in mind. My look for the interview was also well planned beforehand, and the work cut out for our styling team.
Is this your first meeting with Dr Siti Hasmah?
As a journalist cum TV presenter, I have seen her at public events but I’ve never had a chance to have a long conversation with her, just the customary salam and acknowledgment.
What was it like speaking to her?
It was a privilege to visit her at her residence and speak with her at length. She has a genuine warmth and ease about her — she would easily break into conversations with our crew, no matter what rank. I didn’t know she had a sense of humour and teased those who barely touched the refreshments laid out for us.
Her values on moderation came up when I asked her about the comment online about the pair of Bata shoes she wore while playing badminton some time ago. She smiled and said: “Those shoes did the job, so I didn’t see why I had to spend more.”
At 88, she’s sharp, keeps a journal, plays the piano and recently got reunited with her love for another instrument, one that’s challenging to master — the violin. She’s also learning a new language, Japanese.
I especially appreciate her honest insight on her role as the wife of the former prime minister who was in power for 22 years and the challenges that came with it, such as raising seven children — a couple of them vocal public figures — and her enduring relationship with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
I found the whole experience humbling because she expounded on values that are timeless, yet which are fading in today’s society — values that carry humanistic legacies for a better world.
What have you learnt from her?
Grace, contentment and that learning never stops. No matter the juncture of life you may be at, never get jaded with the struggles but continue to grow with grace and acceptance. And don’t stop learning and growing as a person because the day you do, you stop being interesting.
What are some of her qualities that women should learn?
I asked her if she sympathised with the struggles of the modern woman and the working mother. She said 'yes' and offered valuable insight. She encourages women to be what we want to be, to find our own voice and independence but at the same time, not to neglect our values — values that are important such as family and the betterment of a collective whole.
Tell us your most memorable Merdeka experience.
Last year when I broadcast live from the Merdeka parade for ntv7 (The Breakfast Show). Watching the coverage on TV was very different from being so close to the celebration.
What does Merdeka mean to you?
Merdeka means to be free, not just from the shackles of colonialism but also free in thought, from judgements, bigoted thinking and discrimination, so we have the comfort, strength and ease to pursue our dreams and live our best lives.
Bella Merdeka Special is a two-hour show scheduled to be aired on Sunday at 8pm over ntv7 (Astro channel 107).
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