Talkback

With haze affecting visibility on Singapore’s roads, how should motorists adjust? Daniel Martin spoke to Clifford Chow, Founder of automotive news channel Asphalt Singapore, and Desmond Chan, Growth and Revenue Strategy Manager at Sgcarmart, about staying visible and safe on the roads, reducing exposure to haze, and looking after cars and motorcycles when air quality worsens.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Part 2 of our discussion on easing the move from Primary 6 to Secondary 1, we ask whether competition for the same popular schools is adding to the pressure. Daniel Martin spoke with Howard Yu, Founder and Principal of 1Academy and a former MOE primary school teacher, about school choice, affiliations and what could make the transition less stressful.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Second Minister for Education David Neo says MOE will study public feedback on the primary-to-secondary school transition, where young students face the most acute pressure. Daniel Martin speaks to Assistant Professor Cheung Hoi Shan from NIE’s Psychology and Child & Human Development Department about what else could make the transition smoother, beyond changes to the PSLE and DSA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bus and rail fares will rise by 7 per cent overall from 26 December. Daniel Martin spoke with Professor Raymond Ong, Transport Analyst and Deputy Head of Research in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at NUS, about what’s driving the increase and what commuters should expect in return for paying more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s air quality has fluctuated between moderate and unhealthy levels in recent days. Daniel Martin spoke to Assistant Professor Yu-jie Dong from NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information about whether we should adjust our daily routines as conditions change, and what influences our decision to take precautions – or carry on as usual.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new Institute of Policy Studies study finds parents are placing more emphasis on character, wellbeing and learning from failure, even as education stress and tuition spending rise. Daniel Martin spoke to Dr Mathew Mathews, Head of the Institute of Policy Studies Social Lab and Principal Research Fellow at NUS, about whether parents’ views on education have really changed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could someone be secretly recording you through their glasses, without you even realising it? Here in Singapore, police are investigating after a video showed a man wearing smart glasses while allegedly following female students near Marymount MRT station. It comes as concerns grow over camera-enabled smart glasses, which can look much like ordinary eyewear. Daniel Martin discusses further with Alfred Siew, Editor, TechGoondu.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doxxing is emerging as a major online safety concern here. Figures released on Tuesday (22 September) show it was the most common online harm handled by Singapore’s new Online Safety Commission, accounting for 44 per cent of the harms reported. So how worried are you, and would you know what to do? Daniel Martin discusses further with Benjamin Ang, Senior Fellow and Head of the Centre of Excellence for National Security, as well as Head of Digital Impact Research, RSIS.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Wednesday (23 September), new regulations governing commuter conduct on buses will kick in - with fines of up to 500 dollars for things like playing loud audio, putting your feet on seats, littering, and eating or drinking. So, where do you draw the line when it comes to behaviour on board? Daniel Martin discusses further with Dr Leong Chan-Hoong, Head of Social Cohesion Research Programme, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU, and former member of the Community Advisory Panel on Neighbourhood Noise. He also led the 2020 Study of Social Norms in the Neighbourhood, which looked at everyday behaviours including how we conduct ourselves on public transport.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner, and if you’re buying mooncakes this year, what are you looking out for? Taste and price perhaps, but what about how much you buy, or the packaging it comes in? Daniel Martin discusses further with KC Cheang, Executive Director, Singapore Environment Council.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Driverless ride-hailing services are coming to Singapore, but are commuters ready to hand over the wheel to AI? U.S-based autonomous driving company Waymo is launching in the Lion City. How might Waymo’s 2028 arrival impact taxi drivers and private-hire drivers here? Daniel Martin discusses with Associate Professor Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) School of Business.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would your child learn better with fewer classmates and more individual attention? What’s the sweet spot — 10, 20, 30 students, or even one-to-one? And, would you be willing to pay more for a smaller enrichment class? Daniel Martin discusses further with Grace Tan, Founder and Principal, Learning Journey Education Centre.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid global AI leaders calling for a slowdown, what would that mean for an AI firm like Plaud, which is doubling down on Singapore, and could it risk the brakes being placed on growth here? Daniel Martin finds out from Megumi Yoshinaga, Head of APAC Marketing, Plaud.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not once, but twice, people were reportedly caught on camera entering a Woodlands HDB flat while it was being renovated. They were seen walking around the unit and taking photos, without the homeowners’ permission. Daniel Martin discusses further with Mark Tan, Co-Founder, Explore Living.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore's 15-year-olds are among the top performers of the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which measures how well students of that age solve real-world problems. But, while Singapore ranks high at PISA 2025, does it reflect the common sense needed in an AI age? Daniel Martin discusses further with Assistant Professor Alwyn LEE, Learning Sciences & Assessment Department, National Institute of Education, NTU.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mother is suing her son’s preschool for negligence, after he was injured during playtime. She claims teachers failed to properly supervise the children. How have you handled your child’s mishaps in childcare or daycare? Daniel Martin discusses further with Nurul Huda Mohamad Rashid, founder and host of The Mum Collective SG, a podcast about motherhood and parenting. She’s also a mother of a 2-year-old boy and 4-year-old girl.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore-based electric motorcycle firms are finding demand in markets like Indonesia, with plans to expand further across South-East Asia. But here at home, electric motorcycles still make up just 0.2 per cent of motorcycles on our roads. So what’s holding riders back? Daniel Martin discusses with Rex Tan, President of the Singapore Motor Cycle Trade Association.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Household appliance retailer Asia Excel recently sued a customer for defamation over a negative Shopee review, but the court dismissed the claim, finding the gist of the review was true. Daniel Martin spoke to Noelle Teoh, Associate Lawyer at GJC Law, about where the line lies between an honest negative review and defamation, and what consumers should keep in mind before posting online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore is planning age checks and stronger social media safeguards for young users, including possible daily time limits. Daniel Martin speaks to Associate Professor Jiow Hee Jhee from the Singapore Institute of Technology, and a member of the Media Literacy Council, about why parents also have an important role to play and how the habits they model at home can shape their children’s relationship with social media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Singaporeans can now qualify for BTO flats following the higher income ceiling, with some analysts expecting a modest rise of up to 10 per cent in applications this November. But could that reshape demand well beyond November? And if demand keeps climbing, what could it mean for prices and affordability? Daniel Martin speaks with Professor Lee Kwan Ok, Deputy Head at the Department of Real Estate at NUS Business School.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following sellers on Shopee and TikTok calling out misleading AI-generated ads, we look at the audio quality behind these videos. From flat or exaggerated inflections to generic delivery and a lack of emotion, what makes these AI-generated voices sound the way they do? Daniel Martin speaks with Kenn Delbridge, Sound Designer at SPLiCE Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a series of housing changes at the National Day Rally, including higher income ceilings for subsidised HDB flats. And from February 2027, first-timer families will get an extra ballot chance for each Singaporean child aged 18 and below. Can these changes encourage Singaporeans to have more children? Daniel Martin speaks with Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of Transport.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s overall physical crime situation remained stable in the first half of 2026, with cases dipping 0.4% year on year. But several specific offences increased. Daniel Martin speaks with Associate Professor Dr Razwana Begum, a criminologist and Head of the Masters of Global Security and Strategy Programme at the School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences, Singapore University of Social Sciences.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you get hurt in public, who's responsible? This comes as NParks faces two separate negligence lawsuits involving people injured in public spaces – one involving a woman who says she was attacked by a wild boar, and another involving two people who allegedly tripped over a temporary cable cover. Daniel Martin spoke to Tris Xavier, Associate Director at Yuen Law LLC, about where responsibility lies when accidents happen in public.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HelloRide has been warned after proposing price discussions with fellow bike-sharing operator Anywheel. Daniel Martin speaks to Professor Sharon Ng, Professor of Marketing at NTU, about how much power consumers really have to push back with their wallets, especially when there are few alternatives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore's first private assisted-living development has opened, with fees starting at around S$8,000 a month. Daniel Martin discusses with geriatrician Dr Carol Tan from The Good Life Medical Centre what options exist for seniors who need more support than living independently, but don't require nursing-home care and whether Singapore has an affordable middle ground.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two platform delivery riders died in road accidents in the whole of last year. This year, four have already died in just the first half. Daniel Martin discusses with Professor Sumit Agarwal from NUS Business School whether rider training is enough, or if delivery timings, incentives, workloads and customer expectations also need to change.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Tuesday (11 August), around 120 people were evacuated from Junction 8 mall, after a fire broke out at its Yakiniku Like outlet. A table grill and exhaust ducting were reportedly involved. But, incidents like these aren’t just limited to barbeque restaurants – we’ve heard of fires at hotpot and mookata joints too. Daniel Martin discusses further with Kelvyn Ong, Managing Director, King Fire Group – fire protection specialist based in Singapore. He’s a Certified Fire Safety Manager.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Wednesday (12 August), we heard news that the existing stretch of Orchard Road between Buyong Road and Handy Road could be transformed into a pedestrianised activity promenade. Now, this is just 500 meters we’re talking about here… How about pedestrianising the whole of Orchard Road, like Holland Village? Daniel Martin discusses further with Dr Lea Bou Sleiman, Assistant Professor, NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy – who specialises in the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of pedestrianisation policies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two cases of Singaporeans abroad sparked fears for their safety – one was uncontactable but safe, the other was kidnapped and held for ransom. So when a loved one suddenly goes silent overseas, how do you know what’s really happened, and what should you do next? Daniel Martin discusses further with Ivan Tan, private investigator and NUS-certified cybersecurity expert with Asia Top Investigation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if all you needed to get through the MRT gantry was your face? A closed trial of facial recognition technology is now underway at Punggol Coast MRT station. Daniel Martin discusses further with Dr Terence Sim, Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at NUS’ School of Computing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An LTA enforcement operation on Monday (3 August) to check compliance with new active mobility rules saw over 20 users stopped for checks, with even a modified PMD able to go at speeds of nearly 100km/h seized. With strict rules in place and so much public education available on why you shouldn’t own a modified PMD, why then are some people still holding on to these illegal devices? Daniel Martin discusses further with Bobby Lai, Head of Business Development, Mobot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blind boxes have expanded far beyond designer toys. From toys to food and everyday brands, it seems everyone’s getting in on the action. Has the trend peaked? Daniel Martin discusses further with Dr Guan Chong, Associate Professor in Marketing at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and Director of SUSS Academy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should young employees be working from the office instead of home? The question comes, after Law Minister Edwin Tong said being in the office helps young employees learn from colleagues, ask questions more easily and build workplace relationships at the closing dialogue of the ASEANext Forum on 30th July. Daniel Martin discusses further with Jaya Dass, Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Randstad Enterprise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neighbour disagreements are common, but unresolved tensions can sometimes escalate. Following the recent fatal neighbour dispute in Lengkok Bahru, the tragedy has raised questions about why long-standing neighbour conflicts can spiral out of control, and why they shouldn't be allowed to. Daniel Martin spoke with Lela Kaur, a master mediator with more than 30 years of experience, about the warning signs of escalating disputes and why early intervention is key.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following reports that a Singapore pet cremation firm allegedly disposed of a deceased pet dog's body in a rubbish bin instead of cremating it, concerns have been raised about standards and accountability in the pet aftercare industry. Daniel Martin spoke with Yang Loo, co-founder of The Green Mortician, a pet aquamation service, about the protocols behind pet cremation and aftercare, and why they matter to grieving pet owners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From changes to the COE system to expanding car-sharing and active mobility, LTA’s second phase of focus groups for the Land Transport Master Plan refresh explored a range of ideas on car ownership and transport alternatives. Daniel Martin speaks with automotive industry veteran and consultant Say Kwee Neng. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Edmund Tan Shi Hui, a 28-year-old Singaporean man, pleaded guilty to six counts of statutory rape against three 13-year-old girls, with another 10 charges taken into consideration. He’s offered each of them between $100 - $500 for engaging in sexual acts with him. One of the young adolescent victims also advertised/offered sexual services on Telegram, while two others met the offender through Omegle. The sad (and heartbreaking truth) is some minors are using such platforms to “earn” money…has the OnlyFans generation normalised Sex-for-Pay? Daniel Martin discusses with Ooi Sze Jin, Psychologist and Founder of a psychology clinic, A Kind Place.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Singapore's private rental market stabilises, more landlords are turning to multi-tenant leasing to maximise rental returns. Daniel Martin speaks with Desmond Sim, Group CEO of Realion, the Group behind OrangeTee & ETC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14 people have been arrested over an alleged phantom worker scheme, with investigators looking into fraudulent CPF contributions and inflated foreign worker quotas. On this edition of TalkBack, Daniel Martin asks the question: Who’s hiring ‘phantom workers’ and would you accept CPF payments for free? He's joined by Singapore employment lawyer Jennifer Chih from Nair, Jen and Tan LLC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least 20 furniture stores in the Tan Boon Liat Building have expressed interest in moving collectively to a new location if the S$950 million en bloc deal goes through. Daniel Martin speaks with Esmaeil Molazadeh, Honorary Secretary of the Singapore Furniture Association. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore has unveiled a new lineup of cabinet ministers and political officeholders. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has called the changes ‘balanced’ – blending a new generation of leaders, anchored by an experienced core team. Daniel Martin speaks with Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at the Singapore Management University, and former Nominated Member of Parliament.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Packed trains, irregular bus waiting times, inconsiderate commuters and carriages that feel too warm. They’re among the top concerns highlighted in the latest Public Transport Council survey. Daniel Martin speaks with Professor Raymond Ong, transport analyst and Deputy Head of Research in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the National University of Singapore. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weaknesses in HDB's eligibility checks for season parking, involving nearly S$25 million in improperly approved applications, and lapses in contract management under the Ministry of Health were among the issues flagged in a recent report published by the Auditor-General's Office. Daniel Martin speaks with Dr Reuben Ng, Behavioural and Data Scientist at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 63-year-old employee won more than $26,000 at the Employment Claims Tribunals, after challenging the way his retirement and re-employment were handled. Do you know your rights when your company says retire? Daniel Martin finds out more from Samuel Yuen, Managing Director of Yuen Law.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Young seniors in Singapore will soon be eligible for Community Care Apartments from the age of 55, as the Government lowers the minimum age from 65 to make housing and care options more accessible and affordable. When it’s time to right-size your home, would you choose a two-room Flexi or a Community Care Apartment? Daniel Martin speaks with Vairavan Shanmugam, Data Insights Specialist, Ohmyhome. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Circle Line is now one complete loop, with the opening of Keppel, Cantonment and Prince Edward Road stations. So, with the circle closed, how will our orange line change your journey? Daniel Martin discusses further with Matthew Ng, Deputy President, SGTrains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the fifth episode of the '#TalkBack: World Cup Watch 2026' series, Daniel Martin speaks with Sanket Bothra, Regional Strategy and Investment Manager, Total Energies (Team France) and Aaron Low, Author and Co-Founder of the Nutgraf (Team England). They discuss how the respective teams they support have fared so far, among other newsworthy moments.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legal alcohol limit for drink-driving in Singapore could be slashed by more than half under a Bill introduced in Parliament today (7 July), as part of wider changes to tighten the country’s road traffic laws and strengthen enforcement. Daniel Martin speaks with Kevin Liew, Head of Crime Practice of GJC Law. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jurong Lake District is set to get up to 1,200 new private homes, along with new office and retail space. But what are the benefits and the trade-offs when more private housing comes to your neighbourhood? Daniel Martin speaks with Nicholas Mak, Chief Research Officer of Mogul.sg.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.