Singapore Confidential

Majulah Presents

A podcast about little known aspects of Singapore’s security, defence, espionage, crime and other juicy stories from our history

Episodes

  1. FEB 13

    The Budget 2026 episode! Cost of Living support, and a stealth wealth tax?

    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

    28 min

  2. FEB 3

    What are GIC & Temasek doing with your money?

    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

    44 min

  3. 12/24/2025

    What will the Workers Party do?

    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

    34 min

  4. 11/28/2025

    What will happen if Amos Yee returns to Singapore?

    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

    29 min

  5. 11/17/2025

    2025’s spiciest Parliament session

    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 Option 19:57 - 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

    35 min

  6. 10/17/2025

    Where do we draw the line with race and religion?

    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

    26 min

  7. 09/30/2025

    Sex, Spies & Secrets - Real Espionage Scandals in Singapore

    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

    41 min

  8. 05/21/2025

    The Making Of A Monster - Andrew Road Triple Murders

    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

    28 min
  9. Singapore's Deadliest Riots

    03/05/2025

    Singapore's Deadliest Riots

    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

    37 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

A podcast about little known aspects of Singapore’s security, defence, espionage, crime and other juicy stories from our history

Information

  • Creator
    Majulah Presents
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Majulah Presents
  • Show Website
    Singapore Confidential

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