Talkback

On Tuesday (11 August), around 120 people were evacuated from Junction 8 mall, after a fire broke out at its Yakiniku Like outlet. A table grill and exhaust ducting were reportedly involved. But, incidents like these aren’t just limited to barbeque restaurants – we’ve heard of fires at hotpot and mookata joints too. Daniel Martin discusses further with Kelvyn Ong, Managing D...

On Wednesday (12 August), we heard news that the existing stretch of Orchard Road between Buyong Road and Handy Road could be transformed into a pedestrianised activity promenade. Now, this is just 500 meters we’re talking about here… How about pedestrianising the whole of Orchard Road, like Holland Village? Daniel Martin discusses further with Dr Lea Bou Sleiman, Assistant Profe...

Two cases of Singaporeans abroad sparked fears for their safety – one was uncontactable but safe, the other was kidnapped and held for ransom. So when a loved one suddenly goes silent overseas, how do you know what’s really happened, and what should you do next? Daniel Martin discusses further with Ivan Tan, private investigator and NUS-certified cybersecurity expert with Asia Top Inve...

What if all you needed to get through the MRT gantry was your face? A closed trial of facial recognition technology is now underway at Punggol Coast MRT station. Daniel Martin discusses further with Dr Terence Sim, Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at NUS’ School of Computing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An LTA enforcement operation on Monday (3 August) to check compliance with new active mobility rules saw over 20 users stopped for checks, with even a modified PMD able to go at speeds of nearly 100km/h seized. With strict rules in place and so much public education available on why you shouldn’t own a modified PMD, why then are some people still holding on to these illegal devices? Daniel M...

Blind boxes have expanded far beyond designer toys. From toys to food and everyday brands, it seems everyone’s getting in on the action. Has the trend peaked? Daniel Martin discusses further with Dr Guan Chong, Associate Professor in Marketing at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and Director of SUSS Academy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should young employees be working from the office instead of home? The question comes, after Law Minister Edwin Tong said being in the office helps young employees learn from colleagues, ask questions more easily and build workplace relationships at the closing dialogue of the ASEANext Forum on 30th July. Daniel Martin discusses further with Jaya Dass, Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Randstad...

Neighbour disagreements are common, but unresolved tensions can sometimes escalate. Following the recent fatal neighbour dispute in Lengkok Bahru, the tragedy has raised questions about why long-standing neighbour conflicts can spiral out of control, and why they shouldn't be allowed to. Daniel Martin spoke with Lela Kaur, a master mediator with more than 30 years of experience, about the warning...

Following reports that a Singapore pet cremation firm allegedly disposed of a deceased pet dog's body in a rubbish bin instead of cremating it, concerns have been raised about standards and accountability in the pet aftercare industry. Daniel Martin spoke with Yang Loo, co-founder of The Green Mortician, a pet aquamation service, about the protocols behind pet cremation and aftercare, and why they...

From changes to the COE system to expanding car-sharing and active mobility, LTA’s second phase of focus groups for the Land Transport Master Plan refresh explored a range of ideas on car ownership and transport alternatives. Daniel Martin speaks with automotive industry veteran and consultant Say Kwee Neng.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Edmund Tan Shi Hui, a 28-year-old Singaporean man, pleaded guilty to six counts of statutory rape against three 13-year-old girls, with another 10 charges taken into consideration. He’s offered each of them between $100 - $500 for engaging in sexual acts with him. One of the young adolescent victims also advertised/offered sexual services on Telegram, while two others met the offender throug...

As Singapore's private rental market stabilises, more landlords are turning to multi-tenant leasing to maximise rental returns. Daniel Martin speaks with Desmond Sim, Group CEO of Realion, the Group behind OrangeTee & ETC.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14 people have been arrested over an alleged phantom worker scheme, with investigators looking into fraudulent CPF contributions and inflated foreign worker quotas. On this edition of TalkBack, Daniel Martin asks the question: Who’s hiring ‘phantom workers’ and would you accept CPF payments for free?  He's joined by Singapore employment lawyer Jennifer Chih from Nair, Jen an...

At least 20 furniture stores in the Tan Boon Liat Building have expressed interest in moving collectively to a new location if the S$950 million en bloc deal goes through. Daniel Martin speaks with Esmaeil Molazadeh, Honorary Secretary of the Singapore Furniture Association.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore has unveiled a new lineup of cabinet ministers and political officeholders. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has called the changes ‘balanced’ – blending a new generation of leaders, anchored by an experienced core team. Daniel Martin speaks with Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at the Singapore Management University, and former Nominated Member of Parliament. See omn...

Packed trains, irregular bus waiting times, inconsiderate commuters and carriages that feel too warm. They’re among the top concerns highlighted in the latest Public Transport Council survey. Daniel Martin speaks with Professor Raymond Ong, transport analyst and Deputy Head of Research in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the National University of Singapore.  See...

Weaknesses in HDB's eligibility checks for season parking, involving nearly S$25 million in improperly approved applications, and lapses in contract management under the Ministry of Health were among the issues flagged in a recent report published by the Auditor-General's Office. Daniel Martin speaks with Dr Reuben Ng, Behavioural and Data Scientist at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Nat...

A 63-year-old employee won more than $26,000 at the Employment Claims Tribunals, after challenging the way his retirement and re-employment were handled. Do you know your rights when your company says retire? Daniel Martin finds out more from Samuel Yuen, Managing Director of Yuen Law. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Young seniors in Singapore will soon be eligible for Community Care Apartments from the age of 55, as the Government lowers the minimum age from 65 to make housing and care options more accessible and affordable. When it’s time to right-size your home, would you choose a two-room Flexi or a Community Care Apartment? Daniel Martin speaks with Vairavan Shanmugam, Data Insights Specialist, Ohmy...

The Circle Line is now one complete loop, with the opening of Keppel, Cantonment and Prince Edward Road stations. So, with the circle closed, how will our orange line change your journey? Daniel Martin discusses further with Matthew Ng, Deputy President, SGTrains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the fifth episode of the '#TalkBack: World Cup Watch 2026' series, Daniel Martin speaks with Sanket Bothra, Regional Strategy and Investment Manager, Total Energies (Team France) and Aaron Low, Author and Co-Founder of the Nutgraf (Team England). They discuss how the respective teams they support have fared so far, among other newsworthy moments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

The legal alcohol limit for drink-driving in Singapore could be slashed by more than half under a Bill introduced in Parliament today (7 July), as part of wider changes to tighten the country’s road traffic laws and strengthen enforcement. Daniel Martin speaks with Kevin Liew, Head of Crime Practice of GJC Law.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jurong Lake District is set to get up to 1,200 new private homes, along with new office and retail space. But what are the benefits and the trade-offs when more private housing comes to your neighbourhood? Daniel Martin speaks with Nicholas Mak, Chief Research Officer of Mogul.sg. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the fourth episode of the '#TalkBack: World Cup Watch 2026' series, Daniel Martin speaks with Malminderjit Singh, Founder and Managing Director, Terra Corporate Affairs (Team Netherlands) and Associate Professor Victor Kwan, Deputy Director, SUSS Academy (Team England). They discuss how the respective teams they support have fared so far, among other newsworthy moments. See omnys...

Two employee payment cases recently making our headlines – one involving unpaid overtime, the other due to late CPF payment. Timely then, to pose this question on TalkBack: Are you being overworked and underpaid? Daniel Martin discusses further with Naomi See, Director at Nair, Jen and Tan LLC – with a specialty in employment law. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...