Deep Dive

The recent accident in Tampines which killed two people has raised questions about Singapore's driving culture. Speeding, beating red lights and drink driving are still stubborn issues. Bernard Tay, chairman of the Singapore Road Safety Council  and Julian Kho, general manager at Sgcarmart tell Steven Chia and Crispina Robert what needs to change.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our second part on the issue of falling fertility rates in Singapore, Minister Indranee Rajah gives Steven Chia and Crispina Robert an inside look at why the financial incentives matter and what else might help. Business owner and father of three, Mark Lee, gives his input too.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s total fertility rate has fallen to a historic low of 0.97. Citizens aren’t having enough children to sustain population numbers and all the money spent to encourage procreation doesn’t seem to work. Steven Chia and Crispina Robert talk about what’s causing the decline with Dr Norman Li, psychology professor at the Singapore Management University, and mother of one, Holly Fang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Come Dec 1, all companies in Singapore must have a process in place when their staff ask for formal flexible work arrangements. This has become a major talking point centred around balancing business realities and employee needs. Steven Chia and Crispina Robert cut through the weeds with Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Manpower and Education, Aslam Sardar, CEO of the Institute for Human Resource Professionals and Tan Wan Ting, founder and CEO of digital marketing agency Weave Asia.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this first episode of a brand-new CNA podcast called Deep Dive, hosts Steven Chia and Crispina Robert talk sports. How has the Singapore sporting infrastructure changed since Joseph Schooling won gold in 2016? Former national swimmer Mark Chay and CEO of Sport Singapore Alan Goh are guests. 

Previously called Heart of the Matter, Deep Dive is now hosted by Steven Chia and Crispina Robert.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your favourite news podcast Heart of the Matter returns for a new season with a brand new look and sound. Called Deep Dive and hosted by Steven Chia and Crispina Robert, the podcast continues to give fresh perspectives on the hottest news.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is the latest country to propose legislation around the right for workers to disconnect after office hours. Changing work patterns and 24/7 availability have produced issues like burnout. But would legislation create more problems for companies or could this effect an important shift in Singapore’s work culture? Steven Chia moderates the discussion with Raj Joshua Thomas, a lawyer and nominated member of Parliament, Dr Brandon Koh, an organisational psychologist at the Singapore University of Social Sciences and Dr Jaclyn Lee, chief human resources officer at Certis Group.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feedback on littering offences has increased, and rat-related problems are on the rise. Coffee shop toilets continue to rate poorly. Will plans to increase surveillance and name and shame litterbugs work? How long can Singapore rely on an army of cleaners? Steven Chia speaks to Andrew Khng, chairman of the Public Hygiene Council, Dr Serene Koh, director of The Behavioural Insights Team; and Rosie Ching, Principal Lecturer of Statistics from the Singapore Management University.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lessons in Singapore schools came under public scrutiny recently because of discussions on the Israel-Hamas war. How can contentious issues be discussed in classrooms and what skills do teachers need to navigate children in an increasingly polarised world? Steven Chia explores this with Dr ThavamKanagaratnam, master specialist at the CCE branch of the Education Ministry, Philibert Leow, principal of Jurongville Secondary School and clinical psychologist Dr Annabelle Chow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the first batch of residents who moved into Singapore's newest HDB town have complained of lack of shops, poor internet connection, condensation issues with the centralised cooling system - the first of its kind in a residential estate. Are teething problems to be expected when building a new town or have buyers' expectations changed? Woo Jun Jie from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, and Nicholas Mak, a real estate analyst, discuss with Steven Chia.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was recently announced that casual racism allegations will be investigated as disciplinary breaches in the police force. But are guidelines always so clear cut? Where are the grey areas and how can organisations deal with it? Dr Mathew Mathews, head of the Institute of Policy Studies Social Lab, Aamir Bana, an undergraduate at Yale-NUS College and Jerviel Lim, head of people and culture at Tatsu Works have an honest conversation about how we should deal with casual racism in our society and workplaces.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been a worrying rise in the number of young people arrested for drug abuse, with the youngest just 14 years old, says the Central Narcotics Bureau. Despite Singapore’s zero tolerance on drugs and years of intensive messaging, liberal attitudes among young people appear to be stubbornly sticky, with cannabis the choice of drug. How should anti-drug messaging be tailored better to suit a generation that’s consuming a largely social media diet? Otelli Edwards finds out from Dr Lambert Low, deputy chief of the department of addiction medicine in the Institute of Mental Health, Ravindran Nagalingam, board member at the National Council Against Drug Abuse and Tham Yuen Han, clinical director at WE CARE Community Services.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From significant top-ups to SkillsFuture credits to ITE students getting incentives to upskill, Budget 2024 is a shift in the kind of society the new fourth generation, or 4G, leadership wants to shape. Steven Chia gets views from Terence Ho, associate professor at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Professor Lawrence Loh, director of Centre for Governance and Sustainability, National University of Singapore.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of retrenchments went up in 2023 and workers are facing the brunt of a more volatile business environment. What kind of help do workers need? And what's on their Budget 2024 wishlist? Steven Chia speaks to Cheng Hing-Nan, lead coach at Workforce Singapore, Gerald Tan, projects director at Avodah Solutions and Lai Yong Liang, an urban farmer with Grobrix.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Out of 81 countries, 15-year-olds in Singapore topped the Pisa table in reading, math and science. But how important are these metrics in a world where social and creative skills have become critical and artificial intelligence is taking centre stage?

Steven Chia gets answers from Liew Wei Li, director-general of education at the Ministry of Education, associate professor Jason Tan from the National Institute of Education, and parent of two and lecturer, Ian Tan. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

E-commerce giant Lazada’s retrenchment exercise resulted in criticism of how it was handled, including its lack of consultation with the union. But what role can unions play when companies need to let employees go and what happens when employers don’t fulfill their tripartite obligations? Steven Chia sits down with Patrick Tay, assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress and Sim Gim Guan, executive director of the Singapore National Employers Federation. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Commuters have expressed frustration since the Land Transport Authority announced that EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards cannot be used on buses and trains from June. Why is there a shift to the SimplyGo system? What is the difference in payment types? And what could the authorities do better to communicate the change? Steven Chia gets answers from Sumit Agarwal, professor at the School of Business at the National University of Singapore and Walter Theseira, who heads the urban transportation programme at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patients have reported waiting for days to get a bed at a public hospital. Health experts say the biggest reason is that there are issues transiting to proper care after discharge. Otelli Edwards speaks to public health specialist Dr Jeremy Lim, Duke-NUS Medical School's Dr David Matchar and Jeremy Lee, assistant chief operating officer at the National University Hospital.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the last of our top three episodes from the archives, we look at the scourge of scams in Singapore. With increasing sophistication from the fraudsters, is public education enough? Should banks pay for some of the losses? If so, how can liability be fairly decided? Steven Chia speaks to Jansen Chow, co-head of fraud, asset recovery and investigations practice at Rajah & Tann law firm, Assistant Professor Nydia Remolina, from the Singapore Management University’s Yong Pung How School of Law and Ho Geer How, whose mother lost over S$190,000 to a scam.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second of our top three episodes from the archives, we explore how bad actors operate in money laundering crimes. How do property agents and bank staff separate a legitimate transaction from a shady one? And what makes this type of crime especially tough to crack down on? Steven Chia speaks to Adam Maniam, director of dispute resolution at law firm Drew and Napier, Associate Professor Soh Kee Hean from the Singapore University of Social Sciences and former director of the CPIB, and Fabrizio Fioroni, adviser on anti-money laundering/counter financing of terrorism at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first of our top three episodes from the archives, we ask - why are teenagers as young as 14 interested in extremist religious content? What do online games have to do with this trend and how can family members spot the red flags? Steven Chia speaks to Dr Omer Ali Saifudeen from the Singapore University of Social Sciences, Dr Mohamed Ali, co-chairman and counsellor with the Religious Rehabilitation Group and Nicholas Khoo, co-founder and former chairman of the Singapore Cybersports and Online Gaming Association. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With its lease not renewed, Raffles Town Club is the latest in a line of private clubs whose land is being repurposed by the government for other uses. Aside from land restraints, is there a future for clubs like these in Singapore where generational aspirations are changing? Steven Chia speaks to Desmond Tay, president of the Club Managers' Association (Singapore), Jean Low, CEO of social club 1880 and chief research officer at Mogul.sg, Nicholas Mak.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent CNA investigation showed that it is easy for kids under 18 to go on dating apps and chat with strangers online, making them more vulnerable to sexual predators. Should there be greater legislation to protect children and what can parents do to prevent their children from becoming victims? Steven Chia speaks to Shem Yao, manager of digital wellness at TOUCH Wellness Group, Jiow Hee Jhee, associate professor and programme leader at the Singapore Institute of Technology and Marilyn Low, a parent coach and mother.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From groceries to electricity and water prices, many Singaporeans are feeling the pinch as inflation stays stubbornly high. Is the sandwiched generation hit as hard as those in the lower-income group? And how far can government support go? Otelli Edwards gets answers from Ong EeCheng, senior lecturer at NUS, Ava Gao, a parenting coach and mum, and Loh Yong Cheng, lead of the advisory team at Providend.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a recent CNA Commentary, Dr William Wan from the Singapore Kindness Movement argued for some regulation in dealing with inconsiderate behaviour on public transport which drew some strong reaction from readers. But why do some people behave badly in a public space? What stops others from confronting them and should more be done? Michelle Tay, director of the Singapore Kindness Movement, and Associate Professor Ho Kong Chong, head of Urban Studies at Yale Nus College are this week's guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the Forward SG report, people want more than just material success in life. Has the idea of a good life evolved? What impact will that have on the way the country is governed? Steven Chia gets answers from June Yong, Lead, Insights at Focus on the Family and mother of three, Dr Mathew Mathews, head of IPS social lab and Ho Ching Wee, a 25-year-old software developer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent DBS and Citibank outage in October left many people unable to pay for their transactions and draw money from the ATMs. What goes on when critical banking infrastructure goes black? How are data centres part of this and should we really revert to carrying cash again? Steven Chia gets answers from Dr Patrick Thng, director of the Master's programme for financial technology and analytics at the Singapore Management University and Ashish Kakar, research director for IDC Financial Insights, Asia Pacific.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Young people aged 18 to 29 and the elderly over 70 are two groups who are showing the greatest signs of mental health distress in Singapore. What are the triggers, and what is the journey to seek help like? Steven Chia speaks to 23-year-old university student "Rae", 44-year-old father of teenagers Mak Kean Loong and senior clinical psychologist Chris Wong.

This episode of Heart of the Matter discusses suicide ideation. Listener discretion is advised.

Where to get help:

Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1767

Institute of Mental Health’s Helpline: 6389 2222

Singapore Association for Mental Health Helpline: 1800 283 7019

You can also find a list of international helplines here. If someone you know is at immediate risk, call 24-hour emergency medical services.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nine in 10 Singapore residents exceeded the recommended salt intake and daily calorie intake is also up, according to the latest National Nutrition survey. The findings also show that more people are at risk of obesity and hypertension. Can a food paradise like Singapore deliver delicious food which is less salty? Or are busy lifestyles making it harder for people to eat better? Steven Chia speaks to Dr Kalpana Bhaskaran, president of Singapore Nutrition and Dietetics Association, clinical dietitian at Parkway MediCentre Candy Goh and Terence Koh, a father who lost 35kg in 8 months for his then newborn son.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the last decade, child abuse cases involving neglect and physical or sexual abuse have gone up from around 300 in 2012 to 2,141 in 2021. Several high profile cases before the court involved the death of young children. Steven Chia gets answers on how the system works and why some cases slip through with Soh Ying Si, deputy manager at the Melrose Home, Yogeswari Munisamy, senior principal social worker at the Ministry of Social and Family Development and C Amutha, deputy head of Punggol Family Service Centre.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With premiums on Certificate of Entitlement (COE) soaring to over $140,000 for larger cars, should people simply give up on the idea of owning cars? What about those who need the convenience of having a vehicle to ferry their children and the elderly? What other options do they have? Steven Chia gets answers from Julian Kho, general manager of Sgcarmart, Toh Ting Feng, CEO and founder of GetGo, and Lim Chong Tee, co-founder of a start-up and father of a four-month old baby.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The scourge of scams continues unabated in Singapore with nearly 23,000 people falling victim in the first six months of this year. With increasing sophistication from the fraudsters, is public education enough? Should banks pay for some of the losses? If so, how can liability be fairly decided? Steven Chia speaks to Jansen Chow, co-head of fraud, asset recovery and investigations practice at Rajah & Tann law firm, Assistant Professor Nydia Remolina, from the Singapore Management University’s Yong Pung How School of Law and Ho Geer How, whose mother lost over S$190,000 to a scam.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The preschool sector has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks, after videos of Kinderland teachers allegedly mistreating their young charges went viral. What are the challenges teachers face in classroom management? How are rules and guidelines applied on the ground? Steven Chia puts these questions to Caroline Seng, director of professional development and standards at the Early Childhood Development Agency, Cara Lee, deputy director at the Anglican Preschool Services and Fiona Cher, a mother of two preschool children.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam ended his presidential race with a landslide victory of 70.4 per cent, political analysts expressed their surprise, calling the win "unthinkable" and "remarkable". What do the results say about how the Singaporean voter thinks? And what lessons can political parties draw from Mr Tharman's win as they look ahead to the next General Election? Steven Chia breaks it down with Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, Assistant Professor at the Nanyang Technological University and Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at the Singapore Management University.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since news broke on the billion-dollar money laundering case in Singapore, there have been questions on how bad actors operate. How do property agents and bank staff separate a legitimate transaction from a shady one? And what makes this type of crime especially tough to crack down on? Steven Chia speaks to Adam Maniam, director of dispute resolution at law firm Drew and Napier, Associate Professor Soh Kee Hean from the Singapore University of Social Sciences and former director of the CPIB, and Fabrizio Fioroni, adviser on anti-money laundering/counter financing of terrorism at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New HDB flats will be classified under Standard, Plus or Prime from next year - dropping the decades-long mature and non-mature categorisation. With increased subsidies and tighter restrictions, what will be the impact on the property market? Will home ownership aspirations change with what is affordable? Steven Chia chats with Christine Sun, senior vice president of research and analytics at OrangeTee & Tie, Nicholas Mak, chief research officer at real estate platform MOGUL.sg, and Sarah Lin, a 27-year-old who successfully balloted for her flat after seven tries.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The attrition rate for nurses has stabilised post-COVID but with a fast greying population, the hunt for a solid pipeline of nursing talent continues. Aside from better salaries, can concerns over high home rentals and allowing foreign nurses to bring their families here be addressed? Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, group chief nurse of the National Healthcare Group Yong Keng Kwang and CEO of recruitment agency People360 Services Jordache Keith share their thoughts with Steven Chia.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been described as an “intractable” problem: The transportation of migrant workers to and from their worksites. Why is this issue so complex? How can safety and business realities find common ground? Steven Chia breaks it down with Debbie Fordyce president of migrant rights group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) and Associate Professor Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The annual Primary 1 registration season is back and parents are strategising how to get their children into choice schools. Despite tweaks done to the system, brand name schools are still being oversubscribed. Why are parental attitudes so hard to shift? And can the system meet everyone's needs? Steven Chia speaks to Ong Junda, father and founder of SGschooling.com, Associate Professor Jason Tan from the National Institute of Education and Tan Hui Min, a mother of two.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When global music acts arrive in small Singapore, there's a mad scramble for tickets. Should seats be reserved for residents? Can resellers who charge exorbitant prices be taken to task? How does the ticketing system work? Heart of the Matter podcast host Steven Chia gets answers from Joe Ow, CEO of SISTIC Singapore, economist Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences and Adelyn Aidzil, a Taylor Swift fan.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cancelled contracts, a critical lack of drivers and spiralling costs. Parents, schools and bus companies are now caught in a jam, with questions on how to ferry our primary school children. How will the challenges in the school bus system play out? Steven Chia sits down with Adrian Yeap, CEO of bus company Yeap Transport , Alvina Chin, from MUMs for Life and Darry Lim, spokesman from the Singapore School Transport Association.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It isn’t just the number of road rage incidents that make the news, it is the type of angry encounters that go viral on social media – punching, kicking, climbing on bonnets or ripping out licence plates. What is behind the intensity of feelings when it comes to these road incidents? Otelli Edwards finds out from Pearlene Lim, senior clinical psychologist at Promises Healthcare, and Clarence Lee, driver and cyclist at 05AM Cycling Club.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has announced he intends to run for the presidency which will be held within the next three months. What exactly is the role of the President, why is the bar set so high in Singapore, and what do voters want from candidates in an open election? Steven Chia gets answers from Eugene Tan, associate professor of law at the Singapore Management University, Felix Tan, associate lecturer at the Nanyang Technological University and Nur Ridhuan, a business analyst who will be voting for the first time.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore's adoption rate of cashless payments is one of the highest in Asia. But there are pockets of the population who still struggle to adapt. And there's the ever present threat of scams and payment service breakdowns. What can the government, merchants and the public do? Steven Chia has a chat with Faye Sai, a third-generation hawker, Lawrence Chan, group CEO of NETS and Lim May-Ann, director of the Fair Tech Institute at Access Partnership.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The humiliating 7-0 defeat of the Young Lions to Malaysia at the recent SEA Games has renewed calls for the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to get to the bottom of what ails the sport. Is it the coaching, the lack of talent, or even parents who pick academics over sports? Steven Chia has a no-holds barred conversation with acting president of FAS Bernard Tan, SPRG general manager Edwin Yeo and sports journalist Philip Goh.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent statistics released by the Central Narcotics Bureau show a clear trend - over 60 per cent of those caught with cannabis use are under 30. Some perceptions of cannabis among the young are hard to scrub out - that it's not as harmful as other drugs, celebrities use it, other countries legalise it and it is used for medical reasons. Steven Chia plays moderator as 27-year-old copywriter Kimberley Jeremiah puts the burning questions to Dr Melvyn Zhang, a consultant with the National Addictions Management Service at the Institute of Mental Health and Firdaus Daud, from the National Council Against Drug Abuse.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a bid to curb the cost of cancer treatment, the Singapore government announced an approved drug list where the most cost-effective drugs can be claimed by the national insurance schemes. Yet, the cost of treatment can spiral - in part thanks to rising insurance premiums. Are people paying too much? How has this new drug list shifted things and should you worry if you don't have insurance? Steven Chia speaks to Associate Professor Ravindran Kanesvaran, chairperson of Singapore Cancer Society's Cancer Treatment Fund Committee, Evelyn Goh deputy CEO and chief advisory officer of Providend and Gina Ho, a 43-year-old general manager and cancer survivor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest round of property cooling measures announced on Apr 26, what stood out was the 60 per cent additional buyer's stamp duty (ABSD) for foreigners looking to buy in Singapore. While they form only a small fraction of the entire group of buyers, how big of an impact do they have on the general market? Why are these moves considered pre-emptive  and will it stop foreigners from sinking their roots in Singapore? Steven Chia speaks to Dr Lee Nai Jia, head of real estate intelligence, data and software solutions at PropertyGuru Group and Aric Lim, a real estate consultant at Huttons Asia.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The options confronting parents of special needs children after they complete formal schooling in Singapore can be dismal - leading some to stay home and the burden on caregivers to increase. What are the gaps in the system and what more needs to be done? Steven Chia sits down with Bernard Chew, St Andrew’s Autism Centre CEO, Clement Phua Neo, father of a 47-year-old son with an intellectual disability and Jean Loo, Deputy Director, Advocacy and Community Engagement, Rainbow Center.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To kick off Season 4, Heart of the Matter host Steven Chia gets to the heart of what it takes to be a Singapore citizen. Does being proficient in English matter? If not, what other markers should matter? His guests are Yorlin Ng, chief operating officer of Momentum Works who is applying for citizenship and Dr Gwee Li Sui, poet, graphic artist and literary critic.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caring for patients in the day, meeting global experts at night, racing against time to get a workable vaccine off the ground – NCID executive director Professor Leo Yee-Sin and Duke-NUS Medical School Professor Ooi Eng Eong recall working round-the-clock on the frontlines in the battle against COVID 19. They share the highs and lows of being in the “fog of the war” with CNA's Otelli Edwards.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It started with the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in the US and was followed swiftly by the emergency rescue of beleagued Credit Suisse by UBS.  How does a bank go bust? What drives panic and fear that leads to a bank run and can it happen in Singapore? Steven Chia gets answers from Sumit Agarwal, Low Tuck Kwong Professor at the School of Business at the National University of Singapore and  Thilan Wickramasinghe, Head of Research Singapore & Regional Head of Financials at Maybank Investment Banking Group.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More cases of family violence are being reported in Singapore, but few are because bystanders called the authorities. Why do we complain about party noises but hesitate if we suspect someone is being abused? Who should we call and what should we say? Steven Chia speaks to Marcus Lim, head of TOUCH Family Support, psychiatrist Dr Joseph Leong from Promises Healthcare and Mohamed Fareez, deputy director at AMKFSC Community Services.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In just a decade, the number of malls in Singapore has doubled and they usually have a set list of tenants - an anchor retailer, supermarket, pharmacy and several floors of eateries. Why do our malls look the same and what do we need to do better? Steven Chia speaks to Associate Professor Lynda Wee from Nanyang Business School and Winnie Chan, Founder & CEO at Bynd Artisan which has three retail outlets.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently, two self-radicalised Singaporean youths – aged 15 and 16 – were picked up under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Why are teenagers as young as 14 becoming more interested in extremist religious content? What do online games have to do with this trend and how can family members spot red flags? Steven Chia speaks to Dr Omer Ali Saifudeen from the Singapore University of Social Sciences, Dr Mohamed Ali, co-chairman and counsellor with the Religious Rehabilitation Group and Nicholas Khoo, co-founder and former chairman of the Singapore Cybersports and Online Gaming Association. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anglo Chinese School (Primary) is moving from Barker Road to the upcoming Tengah estate in 2030. Is this move the start of something significant? Will this reduce elitism and social inequality in Singapore and should other so-called "elite" schools follow suit? Steven Chia puts these questions to Ian Tan, an ACS alumni, Dr Teng Siao See from the National Institute of Education who has written about education reforms in Singapore and Clarence Ching, founder of Access Singapore.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did the Valentine's Day Budget give help where help was really needed? Steven Chia asks associate professor Walter Theseira, entrepreneur and mother of two Dawn Cher, and Kurt Wee, president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, for their take on handouts, CPF changes, Baby Bonuses and grants for homeowners and businesses.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2023 will be announced on Tuesday (Feb 14) and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong dangled the prospect of it as his “Valentine’s Day present” to all Singaporeans. So how does the average citizen hope to benefit? In this Heart of the Matter podcast, Steven Chia asks three guests - one from each generation about their wish list. Guests: Benny Koh, 26, June Yong, 42 and William Wan, 76.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Median salary figures show a large gap between those who graduate with degrees and those with polytechnic or ITE diplomas. In an era where skills are prized, why have salaries not kept pace? Is it just perception? Steven Chia speaks to Mark Li, head of client solutions at Randstad Singapore, Christine Kunasekaran, sales operations analyst at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and an ITE graduate, as well as Wong Kai Xian, a Temasek Polytechnic graduate.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s consumption of sugar and salt is above the recommended global limits and it is making us sick. The Government is introducing measures to curb this – from new labels to a drive to use alternatives. But will this take away the joy of all that is delicious about local food? Will these food labels work? Steven Chia speaks to Jaclyn Reutens, dietitian from Aptima Nutrition and Damian D'Silva, Masterchef Singapore Judge and owner of Rempapa. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A resounding yes, say our guests. Its scale, accessibility and sophistication underline some fundamental problems with the current education system. How will it change the way students learn and teachers teach and test? Steven Chia speaks to Toby Walsh, a professor of artificial intelligence and Jonathan Sim who teaches at the National University of Singapore.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Overloaded sockets, cheap batteries and cluttered homes - these are some of the factors driving fires in homes. What's missing in our understanding of fire safety and who should be responsible? Steven Chia speaks to Benedict Koh, president of Fire Safety Managers’ Association Singapore, Yong Teck Meng, director at Habitat for Humanity Singapore and Tang Kok Zuea, lecturer at the NUS College of Design and Engineering.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Young people are embracing a new way of working by making thousands of dollars as content creators on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or OnlyFans. Is this eco-system feeding a new generation who only want to earn quick cash, and eschew the traditional nine-to-five job? Steven Chia gets answers from Joanne Liew, Chief Studios and Content Officer at Gushcloud and Nicholas Lim, from the S R Nathan School of Human Development at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The need to increase social protections for platform workers is clear but things get complicated when it comes to who pays for it and how this will work in a way that is sustainable for all stakeholders. Steven Chia gets answers from Mathew Mathews, Head of IPS Social Lab, Associate Professor Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences, Jason Parke, President of the Digital Platforms Industry Association and Hasteven, a 25-year-old platform rider.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From 2020 to 2022, the number of people caught vaping has more than tripled. The use of e-cigarettes has entrenched itself, not just among the young who are attracted by the lower costs and different flavours, but also by adults who are convinced that this is less harmful compared to cigarettes. What does the research say and why aren’t current enforcement measures working? Steven Chia speaks to Associate Professor Bibhas Chakraborty from Duke-NUS Medical School, Sean Ang, a smoking cessation specialist and “Sarah”, who vapes. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his speech at this year's People's Action Party Central Executive Committee's meeting, PM Lee Hsien Loong said Singaporeans cannot "have it both ways" - voting in more opposition yet keeping the PAP Government in power. Is this a likely reality and how soon could that come to pass? And what does the opposition need to do to win a stronger mandate? Steven Chia gets views from Ja-Ian Chong, Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore, Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University and 24-year-old political science student Jaye Seah. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued a fresh round of regulations to restrict retail investors from investing in what it calls "a highly risky" product. Why is cryptocurrency dangerous to the average investor and how does this sit with Singapore's position as a fintech hub? Steven Chia speaks to Zann Kwan co-founder and CEO of Bitcoin Exchange and Ben Charoenwong,assistant professor at the National University of Singapore Business School.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest 2021 Marriage and Parenthood Survey, half of the singles surveyed said they were not currently dating, and among them, 38 per cent had never dated before. Is technology making things worse? How have expectations changed and why is there a fear of commitment? Steven Chia speaks to Violet Lim, CEO of Lunch Actually and two 22-year-old students, Vanessa Chan and Alan who prefers to be anonymous.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A nationwide health plan aims to fundamentally shift the way we look at healthcare in Singapore. But what burdens will general practitioners have to bear, will costs go up and will people's behaviour change? Steven Chia speaks to Professor Benjamin Ong, former Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Raymond Ong, from Doctor Anywhere and Dr Chua Hshan Cher, medical director at Phoenix Medical Group.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest round of property cooling measures announced in Singapore has raised questions about affordability, and whether an HDB flat is for home ownership or an asset. Host Steven Chia is joined by Chua Beng Huat, Professor of Social Sciences (Urban Studies) at Yale-NUS College,  Walter Theseira, Associate Professor of Economics at the Singapore University of Social Sciences and property agent Jooann Tay.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long wait times, the big difference in cost between private and public services and a lack of trained professionals are some critical issues facing us as we tackle mental health issues. Otelli Edwards speaks to Dr Soo Shuenn Chiang, head of psychiatry at Alexandra Hospital and senior consultant at NUH , Asher Low, executive director at Limitless, a non-profit organisation that works with young people and Chow Yen Lu, founder of Over the Rainbow and a parent who lost his only child to suicide. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big names like Netflix, Paypal and Tesla have either shed jobs or cooled on offers. At home, the conglomerate Sea Limited has run into rough waters with management suspending salaries. What's going on? Has growth at all costs come home to roost and what does this mean for tech jobs in Singapore? Otelli Edwards speaks to Yorlin Ng, chief operating officer of Momentum Works and assistant professor Ng Weiyi at the NUS Business School.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) plans to draw rainmakers globally. How is it different from other visas? Why do we need such talent now and how will they help Singaporean workers? Steven Chia gets answers from Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, co-founder of Carousell, Marcus Tan and Jaya Dass, managing director of Permanent Recruitment in Asia Pacific at Randstad.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When news broke that ORTO leisure park in Yishun will make way for housing, residents expressed sadness and disappointment. They asked: Why are we building so many flats? Why can't we keep spaces that matter to a community? Steven Chia puts these questions to Dr Woo Jun Jie, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies and Dr Liu Thai Ker, former chief planner.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Viral videos of students displaying poor discipline in classrooms or beating up fellow classmates have made the rounds recently. Have things gotten worse? How can teachers be better supported? Steven Chia speaks to Dr Wong Hwei Ming, senior research scientist at the National Institute of Education, Ryan Ong, a 24-year-old university student and founder of The Catalyst Collective and Sarah, an ex-teacher who requested anonymity.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Olympic medalist Joseph Schooling and fellow swimmer Amanda Lim admitted to cannabis use, some said "go easy" on them because it's "just weed". Is Singapore's strict zero-tolerance approach a case of "swimming against the tide" of more liberal attitudes? Finally, does this signal an end to Schooling's sporting career? Steven Chia gets answers from Nicholas Fang, managing director of Black Dot consultancy, Eugene Tan, associate professor of law at Singapore Management University and Dr Omer Ali Saifudeen, senior lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Sciences and former CNB officer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's announcement repealing Section 377A during this year's National Day Rally was widely anticipated. Are matters about to get messier before they get clearer? What could make things worse for all the key stakeholders involved? Steven Chia rakes it over with Gillian Koh, Deputy Director (Research) at the Institute of Policy Studies, Terence Ho, Associate Professor in Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and Associate Professor of Law at the Singapore Management University, Eugene Tan.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workplace accidents have been in the news and the numbers have been climbing. What’s driving this trend? Are companies cutting corners? Or is there a deeper issue with the safety culture? Steven Chia gets answers from Akbar Kader, Managing Director of Nan Guan Construction, Dipa Swaminathan, Founder of charity, ItsRainingRaincoats and Chong Kee Sen, Emeritus President of the Institution of Engineers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Forward Singapore exercise was launched by DPM Lawrence Wong to review and refresh our social compact. As Singapore faces a new, post-pandemic future, what exactly should go into this social compact? What hard truths and tough conversations do we need to have? Steven Chia gets unfiltered views from three generations of Singaporeans: Ambassador at Large Professor Tommy Koh, President of PPIS Hazlina Halim, and 21-year-old university student, Laura Sim.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Millions of dollars change hands every day over online platforms in Singapore. But there's an ugly side to the  thriving e-commerce ecosystem as shown by a couple who allegedly cheated people out of their luxury items to the tune of S$32 million. Why does this happen? What motivates sellers to cheat? And what makes us believe them? Steven Chia gets the ins and outs from a former scammer and insights from clinical psychologist Annabelle Chow and Carousell's policy and escalation manager Jessica Chen.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently a school staff was reprimanded for using discriminatory information against the LGBTQ community during a sexuality education talk. Why is sexuality education critical for a generation that lives online? What should be taught and who should teach it? Steven Chia puts some uncomfortable questions to Associate Professor Jason Tan from the National Institute of Education, educational psychologist Hayley Su, and Junel Seet who started ShySG to provide fact-based information on sexual health for young people.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premium hit a record S$114,001 for the Open Category. In this episode, we pop the hood to explore what's driving demand, whether the system remains relevant and if people should just accept the high cost of cars. Steve Chia speaks to Assistant Professor Terence Fan of the Singapore Management University, Arthur Wong, managing director at ACM Automobiles and Aaron Tan, CEO of start-up Carro, an online car marketplace.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In May, Singapore's core inflation hit a 13-year high and, many of the factors driving rising costs are out of our control. Could things get much worse for the average household with the impending GST hike? Do offsets help? What more can or should the Government do? Host Steven Chia gets some answers from Associate Professor Walter Theseira of the Singapore University of Social Sciences and Selena Ling, head of treasury research and strategy at OCBC Bank.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Workers' Party is facing its toughest political test yet. Will its reputation take greater damage from the Raeesah Khan saga than from other storms it has weathered? Yet, would it be premature to count out Singapore's main opposition party? Lin Suling speaks to Gillian Koh, Deputy Director of Research at the Institute of Policy Studies and Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at the Singapore Management University.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big announcement is expected on Friday (Feb 18) - on when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be raised. It is a lightning rod but only one tool in the Government's revenue kit. What is its value, how will people be impacted, and will offsets like GST vouchers sufficiently aid low-income families? Lin Suling puts these burning questions to Simon Poh, Associate Professor at the NUS Business School, Ajay Kumar Sanganeria, Head of Tax at KPMG Singapore and Terence Ho, Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do younger Singaporeans have stronger and different views from an older generation about race? Yale-NUS student co-host Adriel Yong and Lin Suling talk to Institute of Policy Studies' Mathew Mathews and podcast host Sabrina Shiraz about SAP schools, the Ethnic Integration Policy, workplace discrimination and what a true multiracial Singapore would look like.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The struggles of mental illness among a younger generation has dominated discussions since COVID-19 hit. In this no-holds-barred discussion, guest co-host Jaime Han and CNA's Lin Suling speak to CEO of IMH Dr Daniel Fung and Daryl Soh, President of the Singapore University of Social Sciences' Peer Support Group to unpack stigma, self-harm, social media and the weight of crushing expectations.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Youth-led climate action has mushroomed in Singapore in the last decade and activists are unafraid to make their voices heard. But can they make a real, practical difference in what is their generation's existential crisis? NUS student Ng Chia Wee and CNA's Lin Suling put unpopular opinions to Singapore Youth for Climate Action's Nor Lastrina Hamid and SMU's Winston Chow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you spam resumes or tailor each one? Should you negotiate your salary? Do having contacts help? Even as the economy finds its footing amid the pandemic, the job market remains tough for fresh grads. How can first-time jobseekers increase their chances of landing their dream job? Lin Suling and guest co-host, Nicholas Sim, get tips, tricks, dos and don’ts from regular CNA commentary contributor Adrian Tan and NUS graduate Cheryl Sin. This episode is part of a four-part Heart Of The Matter special covering topics close to the heart of youths.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore has already placed orders for paediatric vaccines, trials are planned for at KK Hospital and the multi-ministry task force will announce its decision soon. Yet, among some parents there seems to be a niggling fear despite clinical trials showing good outcomes for children aged five to 11.
Lin Suling sits down with Dr Lim Yang Chern, Paediatrician at Thomson Paediatric Centre, Ashley St John, Associate Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School, and Cherie Tseng, Chief Operations Officer at a local fintech company and mother of three kids aged four to 11 to find out what the data shows about side effects, if dosing amounts are safe and why parents don’t hesitate in getting themselves vaccinated but seem to wring hands when it comes to younger children.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rise of e-commerce has been nothing short of spectacular on the back of a pandemic. Yet, as the biggest climate conference COP26 takes place in Glasgow, how do staggering online shopping figures sit with a growing consciousness over sustainability, packaging waste and unnecessary consumption? What does a sustainable Singles’ Day look like if not lower sales or fewer advertisements to attract shoppers? Lin Suling finds out from Lazada Group’s Chief Business Officer James Chang and Sharon Ng, Professor and Head of the Marketing Division at NTU Nanyang Business School.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Their numbers are not small and they take us where we want to go and deliver us food and groceries. As more turn to gig work – amidst a pandemic, can platform companies treat them like employees with CPF top ups and insurance? But what impact would that have on bottom lines and will consumers pay higher prices? Lin Suling unpacks the complex topic of compensating flexible work with Managing Director of Grab Singapore Yee Wee Tang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is 2021 the year when employees take back control over work amid predictions of a great resignation wave, not to mention complaints of bad bosses, long working hours and unfair demands? Are our expectations as workers unrealistic? How much responsibility should managers shoulder and what does a good balance look like? Lin Suling checks back with Adrian Tan, strategist at the Institute for Human Resource Professionals, and Leong Chee Tung, co-founder of EngageRocket one year and many work-from-home months later.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the launch of more Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) a turning point for travel and an end to restrictive quarantines? CNA’s Lin Suling speaks to sociologist at the Singapore University of Social Sciences Omer Ali Saifudeen, Expedia Asia-Pacific Head of Communications Lavinia Rajaram and business journalist Raini Hamdi to find out how safe VTLs are amid smaller planes and crowded airports, how long more before travel reverts to pre-COVID levels and what’s behind hesitant public attitudes towards travel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the eye of a storm, Singapore hospitals are fighting off a fresh wave of infections, after being on the frontlines of COVID-19 for 20 months. How have hospitals reorganised themselves to deal with this surge? Can doctors, nurses and other staff go on leave? Have more community facilities, additional beds and the shift towards home recovery helped in easing the load? Lin Suling speaks to Associate Professor Melvin Chua Peng Wei, Deputy Chairman, Division of Medicine and Inpatient Care, Sengkang General Hospital and Dr Stephanie Sutjipto, Senior Resident at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The vast majority of Singapore residents are vaccinated and worldwide, nearly 6 billion shots have been given. Yet, barely nine months later, the first call for booster shots has gone out. But what does the data say? Why are there mixed scientific views? Will this confusion create even more uncertainty and affect eventual uptake? Lin Suling gets Dr Leong Hoe Nam, infectious disease specialist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Dr Hsu Li Yang of NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health to break it down.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore is one of the world's most vaccinated countries but the unvaccinated remain at risk with every infection surge. Is it time to stop persuading people and consider mandates especially for those without legitimate medical reasons? Could a sharper differentiation of measures for the unvaccinated nudge more to get the shot? And what are the drawbacks of making COVID-19 vaccination compulsory? Lin Suling gets answers from David Lye, Director of the Infectious Disease Research and Training Office at NCID, and Ashley St John, Associate Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School’s Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With one of the world’s highest vaccination rates and the ability to quickly test for COVID-19 infections, some questions were raised this week when the Singapore Government said it would not rule out a circuit breaker as it navigates a path towards opening up further. Is it possible to have a clean, clear exit strategy from the pandemic? And how close is Singapore to being able to live normally with an endemic COVID-19? CNA's Lin Suling speaks to Associate Professor Lim Poh Lian, member of the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination, and Professor Ooi Eng Eong of the Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases at Duke-NUS Medical School.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Penalised for breaking COVID-19 rules and refusing to wear a mask, Benjamin Glynn and Paramjeet Kaur claimed rules are not for "living people" with "sovereign rights". Where did such ideas come from? Are they a nuisance fringe group with little traction, or could there be a more serious undercurrent gathering steam slowly? Tan Ern Ser, Associate Professor of Sociology at NUS and Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at SMU unpack this phenomenon with CNA's Lin Suling.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.