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News Beat
🎙️ Plan B Media — Where conversations that matter come alive.
Join us on the Plan B Podcast as we break down the week’s biggest news, ask the hard questions, and spark real talk that goes beyond headlines.
Follow our conversations on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and Telegram (@planb.sg) , or dive deeper at www.planb.sg
.
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@planbmediasg
Join us on the Plan B Podcast as we break down the week’s biggest news, ask the hard questions, and spark real talk that goes beyond headlines.
Follow our conversations on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and Telegram (@planb.sg) , or dive deeper at www.planb.sg
.
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@planbmediasg
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 10, 2025 • 34min
#779 NTUC calling for a strike?
Think NTUC is just a supermarket? Think again. It’s also a trade union - and we got the Secretary-General himself, Ng Chee Meng, to answer some tough questions. Like how he nearly ‘bang table’ by calling for a strike. Plus, are young workers really just fragile “strawberries,” or are they setting the bar for fair workplaces?(01:05) Background of unions in Singapore(04:55) Is NTUC’s ties to PAP a conflict of interest?(09:00) The impact of rising foreign workforce on job security(11:15) Are young workers too quick to complain about work?(17:50) How SkillsFuture can help shape careers(23:20) Does the pressure to upskill trap us in a never-ending rat race?(28:20) NTUC almost calling for a strike?(32:30) Why winning without war is the best strategy

Apr 3, 2025 • 31min
#777 The ex-VP of Law Society got called out...by the Law Minister
fter local YouTube channel Wah!Banana's Lev Panfilov was convicted of rape, another controversy quickly followed when the ex-VP of Law Society Chia Boon Teck was publicly called out by the Law Minister for his commentary on the case. He asked if she was "awake throughout the marathon" and described her as "not exactly a babe in the woods", widely seen as victim-blaming. We speak with Rebecca, someone who was subject to that kind of thinking herself, and find out how she reacted when she read those comments plastered across national news.(02:25) Background of the controversy by Chia Boon Teck, former Vice-President of the Law Society of Singapore(06:45) Rebecca’s personal experiences and thoughts on Chia’s comments(13:35) The normalization of victim-blaming sentiments(18:30) Parents’ responses if this happened to their child(20:10) Should more resources be put to help sexual assault victims?(30:20) Share with us your thoughts!

Apr 3, 2025 • 21min
#778 Send pro-Palestine activists to Gaza? What could possibly go wrong?
Ex-NMP Calvin Cheng likes to comment about Singaporean affairs online, but this week his controversial post offering to buy airplane tickets to send pro-Palestine activists to Gaza crossed the line for many people. But that's not all - the post was liked by the accounts of Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How. Both have tried explaining it away, but the mess keeps getting worse with police reports and defamation lawsuits filed left right and centre. The power of a Facebook post.(0:35) Who exactly is Calvin Cheng?!(05:00) Controversy erupts as 2 PAP ministers caught “liking” the post(09:45) How Cheng’s post became Islamophobic(12:15) Is a boycott coming for an event allegedly hosted by Cheng?(15:45) Jufrie Mahmood’s police report

Mar 27, 2025 • 1h 9min
#776 Every school a good school?
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing has a new philosophy: the "best" school depends on the individual child. But is this practical or just wishful thinking when Singapore is such a competitive place? We also talk about social media vigilantism and viral videos spotlighting high- profile bully cases - are we part of the problem?(01:10) Welcome Minister of Education Chan Chun Sing!(03:55) Why expelling students won't solve the school bullying problem(21:00) Should children be caught in the stress and hustle of the rat race?(35:20) 'Elite' vs 'everyday' students(45:25) The importance of upskilling and having experiences beyond classrooms(1:00:15) How Singapore can navigate a more fragmented world

Mar 20, 2025 • 18min
#775 Take the L, apologize, and move on!
2 sisters got the entire community talking when they were caught on video confronting Minister Shanmugam at his Meet-the-People session (MPS). They wanted to talk about POFMA, but ended up showing the middle finger after being told to wait. The viral image turned the entire saga into a discussion about their manners, but the question remains: where can someone go to address concerns like theirs?(01:00) Background of the 2 sisters who took on Shanmugam in a heated debate(04:25) Split opinions from civil society(08:00) Was the incident staged?(11:35) Finding the right space for activism(15:30) Critiquing the sisters’ clarification letter

Mar 20, 2025 • 35min
#774 Are lawyers toxic? A mental health report seems to say yes
It's common knowledge that lawyers work in high-pressure environments, but has it come to a breaking point? We sit down with Shafiq Aziz from the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) to talk about toxic work cultures, ever more stringent industry standards, and what may be a mental health crisis in the industry. But it's not all doom and gloom, as Shafiq explains - there are increasing efforts to make a change, but will it be enough?(01:43) Say hello to Shafiq Aziz from the Singapore Academy of Law!(04:05) The harsh realities of starting a career in law(08:33) In-house vs private practice(11:00) Are Singaporeans increasingly mentally exhausted?(18:30) Will bosses step up to create healthier work environments?(24:35) The state of law schools and the legal industry today(32:00) Why the legal industry’s future looks bright

Mar 20, 2025 • 38min
#773 Jieun Wrigley, the Functional Nutritionist with a practical approach to health
We know nutritionists but what about functional nutritionists? Jieun Wrigley joins us to reveal what sets them apart, debunk diet myths, and tackle hot topics like supplements, inflammation, and the age-old question: Is MSG really bad for you?(02:25) Say hello to Jieun, a Functional Nutritionist!(06:20) How would Jieun respond to those nutritional theories?(10:00) Dzar’s diet is revealed(18:45) Jieun’s view on supplements(21:30) Is Singapore’s food unhealthy?(28:40) More about inflammation in our bodies(34:45) Jieun’s view on MSG(37:30) Follow Jieun on socials!

Mar 13, 2025 • 56min
#772 Did racial harmony almost cost millions of RM?
Era FM is one of Malaysia's biggest radio stations, so what happens when their DJs come under fire for mocking Hinduism? Back home in Singapore, electoral boundaries are up - and many have raised eyebrows. What's going on?(00:30) GE2025’s Electoral map is out!(08:15) Is Roti John from Malaysia?(14:45) Era FM’s DJs’ mocking the Hindu religion(27:20) More on Singapore’s religious harmony laws (37:30) Case of Sarah Yasmine and her alleged relationship with Singaporean actor Aliff Aziz(49:40) Remember Singapore’s tabloid scene?

Mar 6, 2025 • 31min
#771 Trump and Zelensky go head-to-head
This week, we’re back to talking about ChatGPT - who’s actually paying for it when Deepseek is free? Plus, the Trump-Zelensky showdown everyone’s buzzing about and why JD Vance’s NATO speech is shaking up global politics. And… could our year-end retreat take us to China? Tune in to find out!(00:55) Paying for ChatGPT?!(04:45) Trump and Zelensky’s showdown in the White House(13:35) JD Vance’s NATO speech(21:55) Growing crisis of modern slavery?(26:15) Rahman’s theory on online propaganda, specifically in China

Mar 6, 2025 • 41min
#770 Sani Ismail, new PSP face, and champion for transnational marriages?
As GE2025 nears, many new faces have been spotted at party walkabouts across the country. Sani Ismail is one of them, being spotted in Chua Chu Kang GRC with PSP and being featured on their Facebook pages. Why did he choose to join opposition politics? And why is the issue of transnational marriage important to him?(01:45) Introducing Mr Sani Ismail, the new face seen on PSP walkabouts(08:40) Why politics?(11:20) How Mr Sani stays connected to Singapore despite studying abroad(18:25) Reasons why Ismail joins PSP(21:45) The growing presence of foreigners in Singapore(31:10) Ismail’s thoughts on PSP’s future


