Singapore Confidential

It’s May Day… but what are we really celebrating?Across the world, strikes, protests and demonstrations tend to mark Labour Day. And the contentious relationship between workers and companies. In Singapore, things look very different. But does that mean workers here are weaker or better protected?In this special May Day episode of Singapore Confidential, hosts Marcus Lim and Benjamin Chiang explore the history and evolution of trade unions, from violent strikes in the 19th century to Singapore’s uniquely collaborative model today.Why did Singapore move away from confrontational labour movements? What role does NTUC actually play in protecting workers? And in a time of rising automation, AI and retrenchments, what does “job security” even mean anymore?Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:30) It’s May Day: What are we celebrating?(04:36) The beginning of trade unions(12:32) Can we strike in Singapore?(15:58) The alternative: Industrial arbitration court(16:48) Historic strikes in Singapore(26:39) Break(27:00) What can NTUC do for workers?(28:38) Drivers are endangered(31:27) NTUC Fairprice Explained(38:31) The future of trade unions🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents   🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent

Singapore has never experienced a successful terrorist attack. But does that make us safe… or a prized target?In this episode of Singapore Confidential, hosts Marcus Lim and Benjamin Chiang are joined by terrorism Research Analyst Kenneth Yeo to discuss the real threats facing Singapore today.From a foiled rocket plot targeting Marina Bay Sands to online radicalisation through gaming platforms, the trio explore how terrorism is evolving with digitalisation.Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:25) First guest on the show: Kenneth Yeo!(01:21) What is terrorism, really? (07:41) The “Great Replacement” theory explained(10:32) Threats against Singapore & President Halimah(12:48) The Batam rocket plot(15:49) Why Singapore is a “prized target”(17:55) Could a Mumbai-style attack happen here?(21:43) Christchurch & Sri Lanka: the cycle of violence(22:55) The Bondi attack & lessons for Singapore(25:58) Why strict gun laws matter(31:01) Break(32:29) How are people radicalised?(34:57) Why youths are more vulnerable(36:58) Gaming, Roblox & online radicalisation🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents   🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent

How long until Singapore runs out of energy? With the Strait of Hormuz closed and the Middle East conflict ongoing, can our fuel reserves keep going? And is it time for us to think about the “N” word- NUCLEAR?Alternative sources like solar, hydrogen and geothermal energy are still limited, leaving us with a question many people don’t want to ask.Could nuclear energy eventually power Singapore? If so, where would we build a nuclear power plant?Hosts Marcus Lim and Benjamin Chiang discuss Singapore’s long-term energy future, and why work-from-home sounds good politically but does little to reduce energy use.Talk about what else powers our news headlines, Amos Yee has officially returned to Singapore. We debunk the conspiracy theories around his bail and how his future lies entirely in his own hands now. Finally, when the US Department of War mixed real battlefield footage with clips from the video game Call of Duty, it's a reminder of how easily reality can blur online. We discuss why information resilience matters and what to do when you’re not sure what you’re seeing is real.Chapters:(00:00) Intro(02:35) Singapore’s biggest concern amidst the oil crisis(04:46) Can Singapore run out of electricity?(07:12) Why Singapore doesn’t subsidise petrol(10:54) Top tier political communication around the Iran war & oil crisis(12:55) Break(13:11) Can we rely more on solar power?(17:35) Nuclear power plant on Jurong Island?(28:48) Rant of the week: Progress Singapore Party’s work-from-home suggestion is performative politics(30:35) Amos Yee is back & seems more mellow(33:51) Conspiracy theories surrounding Amos Yee being granted bail(36:27) Rant of the week: Information resilience will arm us against AI and misinformation🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents    🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent

With a baby crisis on hand and the lowest Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in Singapore history, the Government is desperately trying to solve this existential issue. But are we already too late?In this episode of Singapore Confidential, hosts Marcus Lim and Benjamin Chiang look at why despite decades of baby bonuses, subsidies and parental support, Singapore’s fertility rate continues to fall. Could a radical rethink of what a 'family' means help reverse the trend? Could recognising blended families, allowing gay marriage, or enabling surrogacy be possible paths forward? Or would a focus on spirituality be the key? There is, after all, one developed country that has managed to sustain a healthy birth rate with that foundation. The conversation also dives into highlights from this year’s Committee of Supply Debate, where parliamentarians scrutinised how the Government plans to allocate the national budget.From building more 5-room flats, to removing the PSLE, the duo share their top 5 favourite announcements and proposals. And of course, we also have to mention the 5 proposals we found puzzling such as playing Pickleball in multi-storey carparks, and asking childcare teachers to work longer hours.  Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:20) Historical low TFR(06:33) Our working hours are not the reason we’re not having babies(13:17) Radical ideas to increase our TFR(14:35) Spirituality the answer to our baby crisis prayers?(17:30) The least worst trade-off?(18:36) Break(18:50) Our 5 thumbs-up this COS debate(27:29) Our 5 boos(32:27) Rant of the week: Brats everywhere(34:34) “Your ego is writing checks your body can't cash” - Not the case for Singapore!🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents   🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent

Budget season is upon us! PM Lawrence Wong has set aside a whopping $155 billion to help Singaporeans navigate a more volatile future. Can the national push on artificial intelligence finally put an end to that uncle who sends you obviously AI-generated articles? What does it say about the Singapore way of governance that we actually have a $15.1 billion surplus compared to other countries drowning in debt? Also…did anyone catch the point about increased spending on defense and diplomacy? Has the world become more dangerous and threatening? Hosts Marcus Lim and Benjamin Chiang discuss whether the tobacco tax is fair to smokers, how the reduced PARF rebates is actually a stealth wealth tax,, and what Budget 2026 means for Singaporeans. Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:47) Is it bad that we expect CDC vouchers now?(02:46) To smoke or not to smoke? Tobacco tax not fair to smokers?(06:20) Reduced PARF rebate: a sneaky way of taxing the rich?(14:18) Spending more on defense and diplomacy(18:37) AI: Professional is the new substandard(22:00) Are you AI-ready Singapore?(25:15) Achieving a $15.1 billion surplus… in this economy?!🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents   🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent

GIC and Temasek seem to constantly be in the news. Without fail, the political football that is our SWFs keep attracting questions in Parliament. Are GIC and Temasek losing money? Are they making enough money? And potentially in the future, are they making too much money?So what is the truth? From Sony music catalogues to fine dining restaurants in the Middle East, Marcus and Ben dive into the ventures the GIC and Temasek are investing in and look at whether they’ve been profitable in the past 20 years.And speaking of things that have been kept under wraps, they give their take on the scandal that has all eyes on one of Singapore’s property agencies….Chapters:(00:00) Intro(01:54) What’s the difference between GIC & Temasek?(07:42) The “perfect political football” for parliamentary criticism(09:48) The secrets of Sovereign Wealth Fund operations(16:37) Real profits revealed: How much have GIC & Temasek made?(19:18) They’re being blamed for leaving the ball at 11pm!(21:27) Break(21:52) Risky Business: What happens when an investment fails?(26:05) GIC is investing in Sony & Salt Bae?(29:21) Sovereign Wealth Funds as national defence!(35:15) The Property sex scandal🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents   🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent

Phone bans, job losses, and a party facing a reckoning, this isn’t the jolliest of episodes. We take a hard look at the latest jobs report, and find out… in the words of Italian football legend Gennaro Gattuso… things are “sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe sh*t”. Ben looks Down Under to warn us about Australia’s extreme social media blanket ban, as MOE prepares to ban smartphones in school. Also, why social media is hurting us all!From the 155-page judgement and appeal of Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh’s conviction, to the 64-page Ministry of Manpower labour report, Marcus shares the TLDR about the debates that are closing 2025. Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:53) Contempt of court?!(01:44) The big bully: PAP punishes its own people(02:30) History lesson: Ministers who embezzle, and union chiefs who run away(06:02) tldr 155-page judgement and appeal of Pritam Singh’s conviction(09:53) WP’s reckoning: They have faced hard choices before.(15:15) Break(15:30) Smartphone ban in schools: Can our teens cope without screens?(17:54) Australia’s blanket ban doesn’t work(19:24) Singpass to verify social platforms for kids?(27:35) Labour market report: middling retrenchment rates (29:46) The Government’s solution (30:50) Singapore’s “administrative heroes” vs business heroes🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents   🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent

From the Ariana Grande “gatecrasher” and Singapore's jail-and-deportation response, to the potential return of Amos Yee, Marcus and Ben look into the security lapses and strange characters that have hogged the headlines.And what about the backlash to PM Lawrence Wong’s otherwise measured remarks at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum? A coordinated push to pressure the PM?Viral antics, political pressure, and the characters we somehow can’t escape, all in this episode of Singapore Confidential.Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:35) The ‘Wicked’ Gatecrasher: Justice Served or Slap on the Wrist?(06:26)Does Singapore’s Safety lead to unprepared security?(07:46) Amos Yee: Making Pedophilia a “Cause”?!(14:55) If Amos Yee Comes Home… What Happens Next?(20:06) Break(20:24) Is PM Lawrence Wong the Target of a Coordinated Campaign? (22:36) How Countries Move On From Wounds of the Past.(24:09) Trying to push us away from rational responses, and towards extremes. 🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents   🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent

Parliament got spicy.From Eileen Chong’s viral quote, to Kenneth Tiong’s ‘stupid question’ moment, and Pritam Singh’s debate about the word ‘gatecrash’, Parliament can hardly be called boring. Add to that the long-drawn out saga of 38 Oxley Road. With Jamus Lim’s revelation of a Lee family member donating to the Workers’ Party, warning signs are flashing and the duo discuss the UK’s infamous Cash for Questions scandal.Finally, the duo reflect on what the tragic Megan Khung case exposes about data gaps, red tape, and a worrying level of societal apathy.Do we hold our leaders, and ourselves, to high enough standards?Chapters:00:00 - What does ‘Gatecrash’ mean to Pritam Singh?07:12 - Eileen Chong’s Viral Quote: Are We Being Unfair?10:56 - Kenneth Tiong’s “Stupid Question”: First World Parliament?18:35 - 38 Oxley Road: Why Gazetting Might Be the ONLY Option19:57 - A Lee Family Member Donated to WP?! 28:40 - Megan Khung’s Tragic Case: How the System (and Society) Failed Her🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents   🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent

A preacher's list of demands, a foreign political party's endorsements, and a Polish blogger's article. All of them at the center of a recent Parliament debate on identity politics and foreign interference.How do these discussions expose the thin boundary between representation and division, and what lessons does history warn us about when fault lines are weaponised?From Minister Shanmugam’s statement to Pritam Singh’s response, and a provocative claim by Kenneth Tiong on Critical Spectator’s Michael Petraeus, this episode reveals what these exchanges say about the future of Singapore politics, and the risks that come when identity becomes political currency.🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents   🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent

From Cold War Moscow to modern-day LinkedIn, Singapore has found itself entangled in the hidden world of espionage. In this gripping episode of Singapore Confidential, Marcus and Benjamin uncover three astonishing Singapore spy cases involving Russia, China, and the United States.A cipher officer seduced by a KGB agent, a researcher-turned-spy, and a CIA sting gone wrong. These aren’t movie plots, they happened right here.Our hosts also explore how Singapore defends itself today, from blackmail and honey traps to foreign influence. It’s a tale of betrayal, manipulation, and quiet resilience in the shadow of global espionage.🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents 🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent

One of Singapore’s most shocking and brutal crimes happened along Andrew Road. Three people were murdered in cold blood, and two others barely escaped with their lives.What started as a robbery ended in a spree of violence that stunned the nation—and revealed the dark descent of a young man failed by family, society, and himself.In this gripping episode of Singapore Confidential, hosts Marcus and Benjamin unravel the true story of the Andrew Road triple murders. From stolen rifles to last-minute escapes, this is a haunting tale of betrayal, guilt, and the price we pay when broken people fall through the cracks.🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents 🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent

Singapore's deadliest riots saw over 500 dead, and some 300 homes destroyed. And yet, most Singaporeans have never even heard of it.Singapore, 1854. What should have been a small dispute erupted into days of bloodshed, turning the streets into a war zone. Rival Hokkien and Teochew factions clashed in a deadly street battle, homes burned, and the British—overconfident and unprepared—lost control of their own colony.But was this really just a gang war… or was something far more sinister happening behind the scenes?In this explosive first episode of Singapore Confidential, hosts Marcus and Benjamin uncover the untold truth behind one of Singapore’s most violent and forgotten riots.🔎 Follow us for exclusive updates: 🔴 YouTube: @majulahpresents🟢 Spotify: @majulahpresents 🟣 Apple Podcast: @majulahpresents 🎥 TikTok: @majulahpresents 📷 Instagram: @majulahpresent