In Your Opinion

The Straits Times
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Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

  1. 17h ago

    The surprising reason Singaporeans complain but don’t correct bad public behaviour

    While strict laws enforce behaviour, building a gracious society requires mutual trust rather than constant rules. Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Singapore seems to be introducing more laws to police everyday behaviour - from tray returns to using mobile phones while driving. But can legislation really make people more gracious, or does it simply expose a deeper trust deficit in society? And when should citizens confront bad behaviour themselves instead of reporting it to the authorities? Opinion Editor Lin Suling speaks with sociologist Dr Tan Ern Ser, Adjunct Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, about whether Singapore is becoming a nation that relies too heavily on rules, complaints and punishment — and what it would take to build a genuinely high-trust, "We First" society. Highlights (click/tap above):  3:35 Why does seemingly ordinary, considerate behaviour disappear once people get behind the wheel? 5:40 Does criminalising phone use while driving mean public education has failed? 12:25 Have we outsourced everyday conflict resolution to the state instead of correcting bad behaviour ourselves? 13:55 Is Singapore's complaint culture undermining trust and creating online vigilantism? 16:46 When is reporting someone the right thing to do? When should it be the last resort? 19:52 Thirty years after the Singapore Kindness Movement, have we become kinder or simply better at enforcing rules? 21:28 How can Singapore encourage people to speak up against antisocial behaviour without leaving them to stand alone? 23:11 Can Singapore realistically become a 'We First' society? What would a genuinely high-trust society look like? Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Follow Lin Suling on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/hiLQ Host: Lin Suling (linsuling@sph.com.sg)  Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Danson Cheong and Lynda Hong Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7  Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  Watch The Mother Load on YouTube: https://str.sg/HnaV --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The surprising reason Singaporeans complain but don’t correct bad public behaviour

  2. Jul 14

    Singapore footpath wars: Why reclaiming car space could solve the PMD and PMA problem

    While more car lanes induce congestion, reclaiming road space for micro-mobility would make for a highly efficient transport. Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. New rules for Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs) kicked in on June 1, slashing speeds to 6 km/h and requiring medical certificates to crack down on able-bodied riders. But as pedestrians, e-bikes, and gig workers continue to squeeze onto narrow pavements, are we fighting over the wrong patch of concrete as Singapore embarks on a car-lite journey? In this episode of In Your Opinion, assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong sits down with associate professor Yap Fook Fah from Transport Research Centre@NTU. They discuss why it is unsafe for micro-mobility devices to travel on Singapore’s roads, and his argument for allocating more space to transport modes that take up less room but have the capacity to ferry more people. Yap also discusses why regulations alone won't fix our active mobility woes, the illusion of induced demand for cars, and how aggressively reclaiming car lanes might be the ultimate, sweat-free solution to Singapore’s last-mile commute and congested feeder buses. Highlights (click/tap above):  6:27 The mobility gap: why able-bodied commuters are using PMAs  14:07 Cars take up more space but ferry fewer people 16:30 Why fewer cars would not slow the economy  17:57 How allocating more space for cars would induce traffic congestion  26:22 How integrating micro-mobility transport could save hundreds of millions of dollars in commute time 29:42 The weather isn’t hot for the first and last mile commute 34:19 Shifting the mindsets to view roads as public space instead of car space Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Follow Lynda Hong on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/Gm2v Host: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg)  Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Danson Cheong and Lynda Hong Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Singapore footpath wars: Why reclaiming car space could solve the PMD and PMA problem

  3. Jul 7

    Can the Lions deliver? SG football’s future, World Cup ambitions & career pathways

    Can the Lions unleash the roar in World Cup 2034? Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. With the World Cup frenzy gripping nations, the performances of Asian powerhouses and small-population underdogs have sparked a familiar question: What will it take for Singapore to get there? For the first time in a long time, the conversation around Singapore football feels less about what we lack, and more about what we might yet achieve. Following a historic qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Finals, the Lions have given a football-crazed nation a renewed sense of optimism. But is this a genuine turning point, or are expectations running ahead of reality? In this episode, deputy opinion editor Mubin Saadat sits down with Lions’ head coach Gavin Lee. They kick off by extracting lessons from the global stage, analysing how countries with tiny populations are making World Cup history, and what that means for Singapore’s Goal 2034 ambitions.  They also discuss Gavin’s rapid career rise, balancing brand-new fatherhood with national expectations, and his immediate priorities for the upcoming ASEAN Championship. Finally, Gavin dismantles the ultimate Singaporean dilemma, proving exactly why our youth do not have to choose between academic success and a career in professional sports. Highlights (click/tap above): 00:19 World Cup 2026: What Singapore can learn from South Korea & Brazil vs Japan   10:38 Coach Gavin Lee on fatherhood & national team duties 17:44 Should parents let their children pick football as a career in Singapore?  19:45 With DSA, is football still a social leveller in Singapore? 26:18 Gavin’s immediate priorities for Asean Championship on 24 Jul 2026  30:44 The goal for Singapore to qualify for 2034 World Cup  32:07 At 35, has Gavin reached the peak of his coaching career?  33:58 Do local football coaches need overseas exposure? Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Host: Mubin Saadat (mubin@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Eden Soh & Natasha Liew Executive producers: Danson Cheong and Lynda Hong Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Can the Lions deliver? SG football’s future, World Cup ambitions & career pathways

  4. Jun 30

    Singapore's lonely seniors: Why the super-aged feel isolated even when living with family

    Seniors are increasingly feeling lonely. Learn why preventing elderly loneliness starts in your 20s.  Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. The shift from open kampungs to closed-door HDB flats has left many Singaporean seniors socially isolated—often feeling invisible even while living with their own families. This chronic loneliness takes a severe toll on psychological well-being, acting as a major risk factor for cognitive decline and conditions like dementia. How can our seniors age with dignity, connection, and purpose? In this episode, assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong speaks with Karen Wee, executive director of Lions Befrienders. The social service agency leverages both high-touch human interventions and innovative technology, like Gen AI, to rebuild the kampung spirit in its transformative, relationship-centred approach to eldercare. Crucially, Karen emphasises that preparing for a healthy old age cannot wait until retirement; it must begin decades earlier through the social habits and personal passions we develop in our 20s and 30s. This requires a societal shift away from purely economic achievements, toward teaching the younger generation how to form deep human relationships that will give them purpose long after they leave the workforce. Highlights (click/tap above): 13:00 Scams are one reason why seniors refuse to open their doors 18:14 Why social loneliness develops from a young age 21:48 How seniors are benefiting from talking to Gen AI 42:04 Why pursuit of personal passions improves ageing 45:58 How social isolation progresses and worsens over time Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Follow Lynda Hong on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/Gm2v Host: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg)  Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Danson Cheong and Lynda Hong Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Singapore's lonely seniors: Why the super-aged feel isolated even when living with family

  5. Jun 23

    A focus on one-child couples is an easier baby booster than large families 

    Targeting one-child couples for a second child is lower-hanging fruit than pushing for a third under the Large Families Scheme, says a researcher.  Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Stopping at one or two children is such a norm in Singapore that a 'large family' now means having three or more children.  This definition comes after the government launched the large families scheme in 2025, in a bid to encourage Singaporeans to expand their households.  In its first year alone, the scheme has already stepped in to help about 5,000 Singaporean children. Each of them received up to $16,000 in additional grants to ease the financial load of multi-child parenting.   But can money alone shift a couple’s mindsets to having more children?  Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies Kalpana Vignehsa joins assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong to discuss the modern realities, anxieties, and choices of raising children in Singapore. Highlights (click/tap above):  7:27 Why focus on one-child family instead of two-child families under Large Families Scheme 25:48 BTO Co-Living: Building a Child-Raising Community with 12 Families 28:16 $300,000? $500,000? The value of child-raising to society  36:04 Why a family with 3 kids is usually on a single income 50:14 Youth prioritising education, NS and BTO, leaving no room for marriage, let alone babies Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Follow Lynda Hong on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/Gm2v Host: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg)  Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Danson Cheong and Lynda Hong Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    A focus on one-child couples is an easier baby booster than large families 

  6. Jun 16

    Deepfakes, $50 intimate photos amid OSC launch

    Singapore's new Online Safety Commission (OSC) rolls out to combat cyberbullying, deepfakes, and online harms. But will this law protect victims, or will trolls simply hide in darker corners? Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.Imagine discovering that your face and voice have been hijacked, manipulated into a deepfake, and broadcast across the internet. It is a chilling violation of privacy, and it proves a terrifying point: no one is immune to online harms. As digital abuse, cyberbullying, and image-based violence become increasingly normalised, the rules of engagement are also shifting. Enter the Online Safety Commission (OSC) that Singapore is officially rolling out in June 2026. This new regulatory watchdog is designed to force tech giants to take down harmful content and give victims some respite from the harassment and bullying. But will this new law actually have the teeth to protect us? Or will trolls quickly invent new ways to circumvent it? In this episode of In Your Opinion, assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong sits down with legal expert and founder of SG Her Empowerment (SHE) Stefanie Yuen Thio. Yuen Thio shares her personal ordeal as a deepfake victim and uncovers the severe realities of digital abuse facing youths in Singapore today – including the alarming normalisation of teenagers selling intimate photos for $50. Highlights (click/tap above):  3:14 Her personal experience surviving a deepfake attack 7:43 How "trusted flaggers" like SHE get harmful content taken down faster than standard reporting  9:57 What the new Online Safety Commission (OSC) actually means for victims of cyberbullying  24:36 The disturbing reality of youths commodifying their bodies and selling intimate photos for $50  27:22 Beyond the law: The urgent need for age assurance technology and bystander intervention Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Follow Lynda Hong on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/Gm2v Host: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg)  Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Danson Cheong and Lynda Hong Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Deepfakes, $50 intimate photos amid OSC launch

  7. Jun 9

    P1 registration: How did the parent volunteer scheme become an arms race?

    The scheme was meant to build closer ties between parents and schools. Has it achieved its intended purpose, or outlived its usefulness?  Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Would you volunteer your time and effort to get your child into a primary school of your choice? For many parents, it’s a no-brainer - even if it involves a huge commitment.  Parent volunteering was introduced as part of the P1 registration system as a way to encourage parents to be more involved in their child’s education and build closer ties between parents and the school. Schools also benefitted from the extra help in their programmes and events.  In 1998, it was announced that parent volunteers would have to complete at least 40 hours of service to the school to register their child in an earlier phase of P1 registration.  But the scheme’s immense popularity among parents has caused it to become increasingly competitive. Some parents ballot to have a chance to volunteer. Others prepare detailed curriculums or send CVs to schools. Some schools no longer accept parent volunteers.  It’s raised questions: Given that volunteering requires time, effort and skills, does the scheme really only benefit parents who have resources?  And isn’t volunteering meant to be something done out of a genuine desire to do good, rather than expecting something in return?  How did the parent volunteer scheme turn into an arms race? Has it outlived its usefulness? Is it time to scrap the scheme entirely?  In this episode of In Your Opinion, Assistant Opinion Editor Lianne Chia speaks with Associate Professor Jason Tan from the National Institute of Education to understand the original intentions of the scheme, what happened along the way - and why choosing a child’s primary school has become such a high-stakes, high anxiety exercise.  Highlights (click/tap above):   4:20 Has the parent volunteer scheme achieved its initial purpose?  5:59 Does the scheme turn volunteering into a transaction?  9:33 How did the P1 volunteering scheme become an arms race?  16:22 Can we really blame parents?  23:59 Is there a way we can return the scheme to its original intention?  27:32 Should we scrap the volunteering scheme - or double down on it?   Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Host: Lianne Chia (liannechia@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim  Executive producers: Danson Cheong & Lynda Hong  Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    P1 registration: How did the parent volunteer scheme become an arms race?

  8. Jun 2

    ‘The more you know, the more wonderful it becomes’: Brian Cox on science and awe

    In an age where information is readily available and where we're fed an unending stream of content, have we lost our sense of wonder? Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. We live in a time where technology has made information more readily available than ever. Curiosity has been the main driver of human discovery since the beginning of time but when faced with a barrage of information, have we stopped wanting to know more?  In this episode of In Your Opinion, senior columnist Rohit Brijnath speaks with celebrated physicist, educator and rock star Brian Cox. Currently on a world tour with his live show, Emergence, he takes us on a journey across the cosmos, civilisation and human curiosity all while attempting to answer the question: how do we find wonder? Emergence will be in Singapore on June 10.  Highlights (click/tap above):   4:46 Should people be more curious?  8:51 Keeping a sense of wonder through life 10:36 Are there aliens out there?  15:38 There are things I don't actually know 19:55 Kepler, Galileo and Einstein around a table 29:13 Two weeks in space is ideal 32:46 Why world leaders should go to space 36:11 Are there mysteries that should remain?  38:29 What to look for in the night sky 41:31 Can you see planets in Singapore? 42:06 Is an uncurious person a failure? 47:21 Brian Cox's top musical highlight 55:06 The AI revolution and social change Books Brian Cox recommended: The Six-Cornered Snowflake by Johannes Kepler  The Invention of Science: A New History of the Scientific Revolution by David Wootton  The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle In The Dark  Read Rohit’s columns: https://str.sg/wFu2 Host: Rohit Brijnath (rohitb@sph.com.sg)  Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim and Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Elizabeth Law and Danson Cheong  Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    ‘The more you know, the more wonderful it becomes’: Brian Cox on science and awe
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About

Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Information

  • Creator
    The Straits Times
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    92
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Straits Times
  • Show Website
    In Your Opinion

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