
Plan B
Join us every Friday as we recap the week in news in hard conversations. Follow us on facebook, instagram, twitter and telegram. Read us on www.planb.sg
Latest episodes

Apr 17, 2025 • 39min
#784 Let the battle for GE2025 begin
East coast plan. People fainting. Pritam’s mic drop. Previous election rallies have given us memes, drama, and moments we’ll never forget — and GE2025 looks set to deliver more. But beyond the hype, what really matters to you this time? Is it your kids’ future? Bread-and-butter issues? Or deeper systemic change? Plus, we’re having a watch party in our studio, so register before it’s full!(00.30) Thank you for 30K!(01:50) Parliament is finally dissolved(05:45) Will you attend a rally?(10:20) Looking forward to more politicians coming out(20:20) How to convince the swing voters(30:15) The atmosphere of rallies(38:30) Register for our GE2025 watch party!https://tinyurl.com/PlanBGEWatchParty2025

Apr 17, 2025 • 41min
#783 Losing $700,000 to scams?!
What would you do if someone claiming to be from the police ordered you to transfer $100,000 to stay silent? In a moment of fear, you might just do it. Or maybe you’ve been tempted by a too-good-to-be-true investment scheme promising quick money. Scams like these are on the rise in Singapore but what’s actually being done to stop them? We take your concerns straight to the source: Minister of State Sun Xueling.(02:25) Say hello to Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Ministry of Home Affairs!(14:20) Common types of scams(20:25) Can I file a police report on behalf of someone I suspect is being scammed?(27:35) A possibility to prevent yourself from getting scammed?(33:00) The surge in fake concert tickets and how to protect yourself from scams

Apr 15, 2025 • 53min
#782 Ariffin Iskandar Sha Ali Akbar, founder of Wake Up Singapore
From viral headlines to public controversy, Wake Up Singapore has become one of the most prominent alternative media voices in the country - fearless in tackling taboo and under-reported issues. We sit down with founder Ariffin to unpack how it all began, whether Palestine-related posts are really being shadowbanned, and what the future holds for the platform.(01:40) Say hi to Wake Up Singapore!(04:40) How Wake Up Singapore was born(12:30) The motivation to keep going(16:10) Is social media silencing posts about Palestine?(26:10) Where does Wake Up Singapore sees itself?(34:40) Risk of echo chambers in GE2025(42:50) The future of Wake Up Singapore

Apr 13, 2025 • 59min
#781 Is the Singapore workforce going extinct?
10 years ago, 6 Singaporeans supported one elderly person. By 2024, that number has dropped to just 3.2 - and if foreign workers are kept out of the workforce, it could fall to 2 by 2030. That’s the stark warning from Manpower Minister Tan See Leng as he addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing Singapore’s workforce. From fears of AI replacing jobs to frustrations over low pay, no topic is off-limits in this heated episode.(01:25) Say hello to Manpower Minister Tan See Leng(07:30) Policies that were important yet unpopular(14:20) Dr Tan’s solutions to job security(20:40) The Ministry of Manpower’s response to common workforce problems in Singapore(32:45) Why can’t Singapore be self-reliant?(45:00) The case of levies and foreign workers in Singapore(54:30) Is UAE’s employment approach an answer to our problems?

Apr 11, 2025 • 26min
#780 What’s NTUC’s role in expanding CPF for gig workers?
With more people turning to gig work and freelancing, are unions truly stepping up for them? And with CPF contributions now in play, are they feeling the squeeze? We also dive into how NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng's military background influences his approach to union work - strategizing beyond traditional boundaries to protect workers' interests.(02:20) Platform workers’ discontent with CPF contributions(09:50) How NTUC handles cases of workplace bullying(12:00) Mr Ng’s journey from military leader to Labour Chief of NTUC(19:35) How do platform workers and freelancers respond to unions?(25:25) Why Mr Ng is optimistic about the future of unions in Singapore

Apr 10, 2025 • 34min
#779 NTUC calling for a strike?
Think NTUC is just a supermarket? Think again. It’s also a trade union - and we got the Secretary-General himself, Ng Chee Meng, to answer some tough questions. Like how he nearly ‘bang table’ by calling for a strike. Plus, are young workers really just fragile “strawberries,” or are they setting the bar for fair workplaces?(01:05) Background of unions in Singapore(04:55) Is NTUC’s ties to PAP a conflict of interest?(09:00) The impact of rising foreign workforce on job security(11:15) Are young workers too quick to complain about work?(17:50) How SkillsFuture can help shape careers(23:20) Does the pressure to upskill trap us in a never-ending rat race?(28:20) NTUC almost calling for a strike?(32:30) Why winning without war is the best strategy

Apr 3, 2025 • 21min
#778 Send pro-Palestine activists to Gaza? What could possibly go wrong?
Ex-NMP Calvin Cheng likes to comment about Singaporean affairs online, but this week his controversial post offering to buy airplane tickets to send pro-Palestine activists to Gaza crossed the line for many people. But that's not all - the post was liked by the accounts of Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How. Both have tried explaining it away, but the mess keeps getting worse with police reports and defamation lawsuits filed left right and centre. The power of a Facebook post.(0:35) Who exactly is Calvin Cheng?!(05:00) Controversy erupts as 2 PAP ministers caught “liking” the post(09:45) How Cheng’s post became Islamophobic(12:15) Is a boycott coming for an event allegedly hosted by Cheng?(15:45) Jufrie Mahmood’s police report

Apr 3, 2025 • 31min
#777 The ex-VP of Law Society got called out...by the Law Minister
fter local YouTube channel Wah!Banana's Lev Panfilov was convicted of rape, another controversy quickly followed when the ex-VP of Law Society Chia Boon Teck was publicly called out by the Law Minister for his commentary on the case. He asked if she was "awake throughout the marathon" and described her as "not exactly a babe in the woods", widely seen as victim-blaming. We speak with Rebecca, someone who was subject to that kind of thinking herself, and find out how she reacted when she read those comments plastered across national news.(02:25) Background of the controversy by Chia Boon Teck, former Vice-President of the Law Society of Singapore(06:45) Rebecca’s personal experiences and thoughts on Chia’s comments(13:35) The normalization of victim-blaming sentiments(18:30) Parents’ responses if this happened to their child(20:10) Should more resources be put to help sexual assault victims?(30:20) Share with us your thoughts!

Mar 27, 2025 • 1h 9min
#776 Every school a good school?
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing has a new philosophy: the "best" school depends on the individual child. But is this practical or just wishful thinking when Singapore is such a competitive place? We also talk about social media vigilantism and viral videos spotlighting high- profile bully cases - are we part of the problem?(01:10) Welcome Minister of Education Chan Chun Sing!(03:55) Why expelling students won't solve the school bullying problem(21:00) Should children be caught in the stress and hustle of the rat race?(35:20) 'Elite' vs 'everyday' students(45:25) The importance of upskilling and having experiences beyond classrooms(1:00:15) How Singapore can navigate a more fragmented world

Mar 20, 2025 • 18min
#775 Take the L, apologize, and move on!
2 sisters got the entire community talking when they were caught on video confronting Minister Shanmugam at his Meet-the-People session (MPS). They wanted to talk about POFMA, but ended up showing the middle finger after being told to wait. The viral image turned the entire saga into a discussion about their manners, but the question remains: where can someone go to address concerns like theirs?(01:00) Background of the 2 sisters who took on Shanmugam in a heated debate(04:25) Split opinions from civil society(08:00) Was the incident staged?(11:35) Finding the right space for activism(15:30) Critiquing the sisters’ clarification letter