Deep Dive

This week, the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premium hit a record S$114,001 for the Open Category. In this episode, we pop the hood to explore what's driving demand, whether the system remains relevant and if people should just accept the high cost of cars. Steve Chia speaks to Assistant Professor Terence Fan of the Singapore Management University, Arthur Wong, managing director at ACM Automobiles and Aaron Tan, CEO of start-up Carro, an online car marketplace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In May, Singapore's core inflation hit a 13-year high and, many of the factors driving rising costs are out of our control. Could things get much worse for the average household with the impending GST hike? Do offsets help? What more can or should the Government do? Host Steven Chia gets some answers from Associate Professor Walter Theseira of the Singapore University of Social Sciences and Selena Ling, head of treasury research and strategy at OCBC Bank. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Workers' Party is facing its toughest political test yet. Will its reputation take greater damage from the Raeesah Khan saga than from other storms it has weathered? Yet, would it be premature to count out Singapore's main opposition party? Lin Suling speaks to Gillian Koh, Deputy Director of Research at the Institute of Policy Studies and Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at the Singapore Management University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big announcement is expected on Friday (Feb 18) - on when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be raised. It is a lightning rod but only one tool in the Government's revenue kit. What is its value, how will people be impacted, and will offsets like GST vouchers sufficiently aid low-income families? Lin Suling puts these burning questions to Simon Poh, Associate Professor at the NUS Business School, Ajay Kumar Sanganeria, Head of Tax at KPMG Singapore and Terence Ho, Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do younger Singaporeans have stronger and different views from an older generation about race? Yale-NUS student co-host Adriel Yong and Lin Suling talk to Institute of Policy Studies' Mathew Mathews and podcast host Sabrina Shiraz about SAP schools, the Ethnic Integration Policy, workplace discrimination and what a true multiracial Singapore would look like. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The struggles of mental illness among a younger generation has dominated discussions since COVID-19 hit. In this no-holds-barred discussion, guest co-host Jaime Han and CNA's Lin Suling speak to CEO of IMH Dr Daniel Fung and Daryl Soh, President of the Singapore University of Social Sciences' Peer Support Group to unpack stigma, self-harm, social media and the weight of crushing expectations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Youth-led climate action has mushroomed in Singapore in the last decade and activists are unafraid to make their voices heard. But can they make a real, practical difference in what is their generation's existential crisis? NUS student Ng Chia Wee and CNA's Lin Suling put unpopular opinions to Singapore Youth for Climate Action's Nor Lastrina Hamid and SMU's Winston Chow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you spam resumes or tailor each one? Should you negotiate your salary? Do having contacts help? Even as the economy finds its footing amid the pandemic, the job market remains tough for fresh grads. How can first-time jobseekers increase their chances of landing their dream job? Lin Suling and guest co-host, Nicholas Sim, get tips, tricks, dos and don’ts from regular CNA commentary contributor Adrian Tan and NUS graduate Cheryl Sin. This episode is part of a four-part Heart Of The Matter special covering topics close to the heart of youths.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore has already placed orders for paediatric vaccines, trials are planned for at KK Hospital and the multi-ministry task force will announce its decision soon. Yet, among some parents there seems to be a niggling fear despite clinical trials showing good outcomes for children aged five to 11.Lin Suling sits down with Dr Lim Yang Chern, Paediatrician at Thomson Paediatric Centre, Ashley St John, Associate Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School, and Cherie Tseng, Chief Operations Officer at a local fintech company and mother of three kids aged four to 11 to find out what the data shows about side effects, if dosing amounts are safe and why parents don’t hesitate in getting themselves vaccinated but seem to wring hands when it comes to younger children.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rise of e-commerce has been nothing short of spectacular on the back of a pandemic. Yet, as the biggest climate conference COP26 takes place in Glasgow, how do staggering online shopping figures sit with a growing consciousness over sustainability, packaging waste and unnecessary consumption? What does a sustainable Singles’ Day look like if not lower sales or fewer advertisements to attract shoppers? Lin Suling finds out from Lazada Group’s Chief Business Officer James Chang and Sharon Ng, Professor and Head of the Marketing Division at NTU Nanyang Business School.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.