Yah Lah But

Two Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) recently stepped down to join political parties, raising eyebrows about the role’s neutrality. Minister Shanmugam addressed the issue, clarifying that the Constitution allows it, and that it’s up to public judgment to assess the move. Meanwhile, Minister Tan See Leng’s comment that undergraduates should focus “exposure, not pay” didn’t go down well online...

He’s an internationally-renowned infectious diseases expert who became an opposition politician with the Singapore Democratic Party. In this candid conversation, Dr Paul Tambyah joins YLB to talk about the public healthcare system, his motivation for staying in opposition politics, and why Singapore’s response to the the global pandemic was surprising in many ways. Walking us through his days of a...

Singapore's Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung delivers a no-holds-barred conversation in this YLB episode - tearing into US-Asia power shifts, Singapore's healthcare time bombs, and his own political war stories after losing Aljunied GRC in 2011. He explains why he believes the Opposition isn't going anywhere, drops truth bombs about how char kway teow could sink his career, and reveals when governm...

She’s the journalist who sparked the NRIC unmasking saga, and she’s back on Yah Lah BUT. Bertha Henson joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about Singapore’s political state of play. From the EBRC Report to the recent NMP resignations, from Edwin Tong’s viral walkabout video to whether opposition “mosquito parties” should just call it quits - Bertha gives her no-holds-barred take on what’s bro...

 The GE2025 season is heating up - barely 2 weeks in and it’s already spicy. A video of Minister Edwin Tong’s walkabout in Marine Parade went viral for seemingly showing an uncle in a wheelchair flipping him off, but was it actually a middle finger? A PAP volunteer also got implicated for looking stand-offish in the video. We dissect the footage and the clarifications from all the parties involved...

Singapore is no longer the happiest country in Asia, according to the latest World Happiness Report. We dropped from 29th to 34th globally, losing our regional crown to Taiwan. What’s behind this decline, and does it match how Singaporeans actually feel? Elsewhere, a standoff between residents in Bukit Batok has sparked debate after a woman complained about her neighbour walking along the corridor...

In this special episode, we sit down with Dr. Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health, to discuss the FutureYOUth Movement - a youth parallel of the Forward Singapore exercise to understand sentiments and aspirations on issues that youth resonate with. From education and AI to civic participation and social challenges, w...

A video of Minister K. Shanmugam verbally clashing with activists at a Meet-the-People Session last week has gone viral, with the activists in question drawing widespread condemnation for their provocative actions. The activists revealed their side of the story over the weekend, and alleged that they were unfairly portrayed by the Minister’s team and mainstream media. Who’s winning this war of wor...

In this special episode, we sit down with Hazel Poa, Non-Constituency MP from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), to discuss her unexpected journey into opposition politics, her views on Singapore’s leadership, and why she believes education reform is key to the country’s future. We cover everything from the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report, to why she thinks the GRC system shou...

Singapore’s Electoral Boundaries Review Committee has released its long-awaited report, remaking constituencies ahead of the imminent GE2025. With more MPs, redrawn boundaries, and reconstituted double-barrel GRCs, are these justified adjustments? Or are online commentators’ accusations of gerrymandering valid? Meanwhile, Lady Gaga has chosen Singapore as her only Asia tour stop - sparking excitem...

Last week in Parliament, Minister of Manpower Dr Tan See Leng chided PSP’s Leong Mun Wai with a viral Cantonese movie quote that is dividing public opinion. Was it a power move, or unnecessary condescension on his part? Meanwhile, Workers' Party MP Jamus Lim is pushing for Thaipusam to be reinstated as a public holiday, arguing that Singapore’s public holiday distribution is unequal. But will the...

We return with our first YLB Live show of 2025! In this episode, we talk about the government tightening rules on Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs), by introducing speed limits and medical certification requirements. Are these necessary safety measures, or will they unfairly penalize legitimate users? Meanwhile, a Singapore PR is offering a $2,000 “bounty” to anyone who introduces her to a suitor, and...

The NRIC unmasking saga is far from over - after a thorough investigation, a 36-page report reveals how a “confluence of shortcomings” led to the NRIC kerfuffle under ACRA’s watch. But while no "deliberate wrongdoing" was found, will there be accountability of the key personnel involved? Meanwhile, the SCDF is set to hire foreigners for emergency medical services, citing manpower shortages amid Si...

A heated GST debate erupted this week as Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh accused the government of “turbocharging inflation” with the timing of the GST hike. Academic Ben Leong pushed back on this “irritating” assertion via a social media post, and Minister Shanmugam even agreed by sharing his post. But who’s actually right? Meanwhile, the great Pickleball noise war rages on in Marine Parade...

The latest Graduate Employment Survey shows that fewer fresh graduates in Singapore are landing full-time jobs within six months of graduation, despite median starting salaries rising by 4%. Are Singapore degrees losing their value, or are AI and global competition changing the game? Meanwhile, a couple’s dream trip to Venice turned into a nightmare when they were seated next to a dead body for 4...

The Montfort Secondary School bullying incident has shocked Singapore, with a viral video showing students attacking a fellow classmate. Despite the school's claim of "appropriate disciplinary actions", the victim’s mother is speaking out, demanding transparency. Are schools doing enough, or is it time for harsher punishments? Meanwhile, a new task force report suggests grants for coffee shop owne...

A Total Defence food resilience exercise took a wrong turn when 20 students fell ill after eating ready-to-eat meals catered by SATS, a major food supplier. With 100,000 meals already distributed, should the program be paused completely? Meanwhile, a Nasi Lemak hawker has publicly questioned the requirement for hawkers to be physically present at their stalls everyday, thus putting the National En...

Budget 2025 is here, and PM Lawrence Wong delivered what many are calling an "election budget" - packed with CDC vouchers, SG60 bonuses, and support for families. While no one will say no to budget goodies, are the deeper issues such as Singapore’s cost of living and fertility woes being addressed? Meanwhile, a Dalmatian flying business class on Singapore Airlines has sparked a conversation on wea...

Pritam Singh, Singapore’s Leader of the Opposition, has been convicted of lying to Parliament’s Committee of Privileges, marking a historic first for a political leader. Even with a $14,000 fine, he still remains eligible to contest GE2025, but what does this mean for the Workers' Party? Meanwhile, a Straits Times feature on Singapore’s incels sparks heated debate among online commenters, who took...

Join us for a heartfelt episode of Yah Lah BUT that starts on the grassy patch of Crawford Heights, then transitions to a scenic ride along the Kallang River on a trishaw, because why not? From diaper disasters to dad jokes, we reflect on Haresh’s first couple of months of fatherhood, and exchange stories of the wild ride of modern parenting. We debate the perks of prime HDB locations (hello, Kall...

Former Transport Minister S Iswaran has been moved to home detention just four months into his 12-month jail term, sparking a wave of online backlash. How does the Home Detention Scheme actually work, and is this standard procedure or VIP treatment? Meanwhile, Coldplay’s new music video, filmed entirely in Singapore, is making waves, featuring everything from Marina Bay Sands to MacPherson HDB blo...

Singapore’s Parliament just passed the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill, marking a major legal shift in how race-related issues are handled. From new restraining orders to stricter controls on foreign influence, we break down the biggest changes. Meanwhile, a new study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) claims that racial relations in Singapore have improved since 2018. Are Singaporeans tr...

Singapore’s F&B industry is in trouble—over 3,000 food and beverage businesses shut down in 2024, the highest number in nearly 20 years. Are skyrocketing rents and changing nightlife habits to blame? We break down why bars and restaurants are struggling to survive. Meanwhile, Singapore is doubling down on its tech dreams with the Punggol Digital District—touted as our very own Silicon Valley....

Donald Trump wastes no time in blaming diversity policies for a deadly air crash, doubling down on claims that hiring standards have fallen. His controversial remarks have sparked outrage—are they grounded in fact or just another political distraction? Meanwhile, in Singapore, a self-styled ‘road vigilante’ has been fined for modifying his car with emergency lights and a stretcher to respond to ac...

On this episode, we chat with Mr. Tan Suee Chieh, former CEO of NTUC Income and NTUC Enterprise. Suee Chieh was a key voice raising concerns about the Income-Allianz deal when it first broke, and we’ve been trying to get him on the show since last October. After some scheduling delays, we finally made it happen in December 2024, and it was a super insightful conversation, where he talked about wha...