Deep Dive

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.