PART of the blame for the fiasco that this year's Miss Singapore World has turned out to be can be laid at the door of pageant organiser ERM World Marketing.

As I watched the saga unravel, I can't help but think that it really botched this one up.

For someone who has been in this industry for so long, ERM should have known how to handle the entire affair better.

The newly-crowned and now, dethroned, queen, Ms Ris Low, is merely 19 – starry-eyed at winning the title and at the prospect of an even brighter future.

When criticisms were lobbed at her quickly and furiously over her poor diction, instead of hiding in a corner and sobbing her heart out, she publicly admitted that her English was not perfect and was taking steps to improve.

You have to give the girl credit for that, for some of the comments were pretty nasty.

ERM's comments?

"This is a beauty contest where beauty is most important. This is not a test of oratorical speech or a debating contest," said its events director Tracy Lee to The Sunday Times Lifestyle when asked about the public debate over Miss Low's bad diction.

Then as more skeletons in the closet started to be uncovered, such as Miss Low's conviction for credit card fraud, ERM hunkered down and could hardly be reached for comments.

When any one managed to get through, the comments were generally belligerent.

On Monday, they issued a press release:

"We will are now gathering information findings (sic) and investigating this issue.

We are also seeking legal advise (sic) from our legal advisors.

Once we have all the pertinent facts and documents, then we will make a decision about Miss Low which will be later in the week.”

At this moment we have no comments on the issue as we do not have full details.

Kindly do not call us or disturb for answers.

We will entertain you once we have a decision made."

Such was the way ERM chose to handle the affair while Miss Low had been granting interviews, giving her side of the story.

Whether you believe her or not, she is, at least, open and candid.

Now she is no longer queen.

Questions still remain over who will replace her.

ERM would only say in Tuesday's media statement that they will "interview" someone new. That in itself is rather strange since contest rules say the runner-up should be next in line.

Again when contacted, ERM declined to explain.

All it would say was: "We don't owe you an explanation."

Perhaps Singaporeans have not been paying much attention to the pageant in years except to criticise it or the contestants.

Still, is this the way a company that is sending girls to represent Singapore internationally should be speaking or behaving?

Read more:
Ris Low gives up crown
'Give Ris a break'
Who will represent S'pore?