Yah Lah BUT...

#648 ft. Dr Tan See Leng - Foreign Talent, Economic Anxieties & Speaking Cantonese in Parliament

Apr 21, 2025

Dr. Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, shares his journey from the business sector to politics during the COVID-19 pandemic. He discusses Singapore's economic anxieties, addressing the role of foreign workers amidst public concerns. Dr. Tan reflects on the importance of effective communication in Parliament, even when speaking Cantonese, and tackles topics like healthcare funding complexities and the need for long-term strategies. His insights offer a blend of optimism and practical solutions for navigating Singapore's future.

01:35:25

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Episode guests

Tan See Leng

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Dr. Tan See Leng discusses her transition from a successful business career to politics, highlighting the unique perspective it brings to governance.

The impact of COVID-19 on decision-making prioritizes rapid responses and collaboration between various sectors to safeguard public health and safety.

Dr. Tan emphasizes the importance of optimism in leadership, believing it fosters positive dialogue and encourages innovative solutions to societal challenges.

Deep dives

Daily Podcast for GE 2025

A daily podcast series will be launched to cover all aspects of the upcoming General Election 2025 (GE 2025). The podcast aims to provide listeners with insights, updates, and essential information on the electoral process. This daily series will capture the energy on the ground, especially as the hosts plan to visit all 33 Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and Single Member Constituencies (SMCs). This approach seeks to engage the audience more actively by inviting them to meet the hosts and participate in discussions.

Intro

2min

From Business to Politics: A Journey of Service

22min

Navigating Public Sentiment in Politics

22min

Navigating Workforce Challenges in Singapore

28min

Navigating Healthcare Funding Complexities

13min

Unexpected Insights: From Football to Medical Science

6min

Inspired Resilience: Harnessing the Spirit of Rocky

3min

★ Our GE2025 Plans!! ★
Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.yahlahbut.com to find out firsthand where we'll be during each day of the campaigning period. It's gonna be epic!

Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng joins YLB to talk about Singapore’s economic anxieties, the role of foreign workers, and how his business background shapes his policies. From his COVID-era baptism of fire to recent controversies on speaking Cantonese in Parliament and the internship exposure vs pay debate, Dr. Tan answers everything—including audience backlash. He also reflects on optimism, ambition, and what makes Singapore’s small but mighty brand work. This episode was recorded on 14 Apr 2025.

(00:00) Our GE2025 Plans
(00:50) Intro
(02:44) Transition to Politics
(07:28) COVID-19 Response
(13:48) Challenges in Government Transition
(25:17) Handling Public Feedback
(27:19) Addressing Recent Criticism
(35:35) Cantonese in Parliament
(43:10) Fear of Foreign Workers
(54:22) Singaporean Talent Abroad
(01:03:14) Long-term Strategies
(01:07:42) Safeguards for Foreign Media
(01:08:05) Internship Remark Taken Out of Context
(01:10:11) The Value of Skills and Internships
(01:14:42) Healthcare Costs and Funding Models
(01:17:04) State-Funded vs Private Healthcare
(01:19:50) Sustainable Healthcare and Savings
(01:26:50) One Shiok Thing