With environmental consultant Bertrand Seah, we discuss the progress made in environmental policies since GE2020 and what gaps still exist. We also talk about the state of climate advocacy in Singapore, how environmental issues have impacted politics in other countries, and discuss whether environmental issues will still be an important election issue in Singapore’s next general election.
The feature photos are by Ng Shi Wen (episode) and Kelli McClintock on Unsplash (cover).
Following our earlier conversation with former nominated member of parliament Anthea Ong on the current state of mental health and well-being in Singapore, we invited her back to chat about her stint in parliament. In particular, we discussed a 2022 book she edited, which gathered the perspectives and personal reflections of 20 past and present NMPs.
We previously hosted Anthea on this podcast in 2020 and 2021:
The feature photos are by Ng Shi Wen (episode) and Kelli McClintock on Unsplash (cover).
With PhD student Joel Yew (The University of Texas at Austin), we discuss the record number of vacancies in parliament as well as his research on the parliamentary representation of marginalised communities in Singapore. We also briefly explore the political and electoral aftermath of the government's repeal of Section 377A of the penal code. Joel was previously on this podcast in 2020, sharing about CAPE, or the Community for Advocacy and Political Education.
Resources referenced in the episode:
The feature photos are by Ng Shi Wen (episode) and Kelli McClintock on Unsplash (cover).
Issues of migration, citizenship, multiculturalism, and nationalism have featured prominently in both our politics and elections. Across two episodes with Dr. Rebecca Tan of the National University of Singapore, we take a deep dive into these issues. Fundamentally, she asks, what is fair and what is right? And how do we treat individuals more equitably?
In this second episode, we zoom into five key events in Singapore’s past decade: First, GE2011; second, the 2013 Population White Paper; third, the 2013 Little India Riot; fourth, the focus on the 10-million population figure during and after GE2020; and fifth, COVID-19 and the plight of migrant workers. After analysing these events, Dr. Tan highlights data challenges and how all the issues – cumulatively – could feature in the next general election.
LISTEN TO THE FIRST EPISODE.
The feature photos are by Ng Shi Wen (episode) and Kelli McClintock on Unsplash (cover).
Issues of migration, citizenship, multiculturalism, and nationalism have featured prominently in both our politics and elections. Across two episodes with Dr. Rebecca Tan of the National University of Singapore, we take a deep dive into these issues. Fundamentally, she asks, what is fair and what is right? And how do we treat individuals more equitably?
In this first episode, we learn about her research with “grassroots volunteers” and Integration and Naturalisation Champions, in terms of helping newly naturalised Singaporean citizens integrate into the country. Dr. Tan then explains global migration and political trends, including their theoretical applicability to our local context, especially on the themes of deservedness and belongingness.
LISTEN TO THE SECOND EPISODE.
The feature photos are by Ng Shi Wen (episode) and Kelli McClintock on Unsplash (cover).
The links between mental health and well-being and Singapore’s general elections may not be immediately clear. Yet, in GE2020, during a pandemic election which also placed emphasis on how Singaporeans were doing psychologically, many electoral candidates and political parties campaigned on related platforms. With former nominated member of parliament Anthea Ong, we first asked her to assess the current state of mental health and well-being in Singapore. Then, we discuss how these issues may feature in the next general election, after examining recent parliamentary amendments which were made and passed in the Law Enforcement and Other Matters Bill.
We previously hosted Anthea on this podcast in 2020 and 2021:
The feature photos are by Ng Shi Wen (episode) and Kelli McClintock on Unsplash (cover).
On May 15, 2024, at the Istana, Singapore's fourth prime minister Lawrence Wong took his oath of office and was officially sworn in, taking over from prime minister Lee Hsien Loong. This political transition is significant for a host of different reasons, and so, across two episodes, we take a deeper dive with Dr. Kenneth Paul Tan of Hong Kong Baptist University. We look back, and we look ahead. We look back, across Singapore's first three prime ministers or three generations of leadership. We then look ahead to three potential electoral scenarios for Mr. Wong and his ruling People's Action Party or PAP.
In this second episode, we focus on the next general election. Fundamentally, we ask Dr. Tan, is it the PAP’s election to lose, or the opposition parties’ election to win?
We previously hosted Dr. Tan on this podcast in 2020, in an episode focused primarily on our collective, growing reliance on migrant labour in neo-authoritarian Singapore.
The feature photos are by Ng Shi Wen (episode) and Kelli McClintock on Unsplash (cover).
On May 15, 2024, at the Istana, Singapore's fourth prime minister Lawrence Wong took his oath of office and was officially sworn in, taking over from prime minister Lee Hsien Loong. This political transition is significant for a host of different reasons, and so, across two episodes, we take a deeper dive with Dr. Kenneth Paul Tan of Hong Kong Baptist University. We look back, and we look ahead. We look back, across Singapore's first three prime ministers or three generations of leadership. We then look ahead to three potential electoral scenarios for Mr. Wong and his ruling People's Action Party or PAP.
In this first episode, we ask Dr. Tan: Across Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Chok Tong, and Lee Hsien Loong, how has the ruling PAP consistently approached Singapore’s governance since we became a self-governing state? We then explore those three electoral scenarios for Mr. Wong, in terms of the PAP doing better than they did in GE2020, the party doing about the same, or if they come close to losing or even loses its parliamentary supermajority.
We previously hosted Dr. Tan on this podcast in 2020, in an episode focused primarily on our collective, growing reliance on migrant labour in neo-authoritarian Singapore.
The feature photos are by Ng Shi Wen (episode) and Kelli McClintock on Unsplash (cover).
About four years ago, in the lead up to GE2020 as well as halfway through the pandemic election, author Loke Hoe-Yeong shared about the electoral strategies of Singapore's opposition parties. Now, four years later, we've invited him back. We start with a brief reflection of GE2020 and its aftermath, before turning most of our attention to three of the main opposition parties in Singapore: the Workers' Party, the Progress Singapore Party, and the Singapore Democratic Party. And after a quick primer on the NCMP or non-constituency member of parliament scheme, we briefly discuss what Hoe-Yeong describes as the coalitions of electoral losers.
The feature photos are by Ng Shi Wen (episode) and Kelli McClintock on Unsplash (cover).
How do the economy and economic conditions influence electoral outcomes, both broadly and in Singapore? What can we understand from Singapore's ranking as one of the world's most expensive cities as well as the country's Consumer Price Index, or the CPI? And if the fundamental root cause of Singapore’s low wages can be attributed to widespread cheap sourcing and the influx of foreign workers from very low-wage neighbouring countries, how do we address that problem?
To answer these questions and more, we host Dr. Linda Lim, Professor Emerita of Corporate Strategy and International Business at the University of Michigan. We previously hosted Dr. Lim on this podcast in 2020, in an episode focused on the minimum wage, Singapore’s Progressive Wage Model, and low-wage labour in the country.
Here are the other links referenced in the episode:
The feature photos are by Ng Shi Wen (episode) and Kelli McClintock on Unsplash (cover).
Singapore’s next general election must be held by November 2025, which is still some time away. But whether it is GE2024 or GE2025, with plenty of time and space, we’d like to use the next few months (or the next year) to discuss key election issues with experts and voters. For us, “Before the Ballot” provides that space.
Feedback? Suggestions? Or join us as a guest? Get in touch at jykwan@udel.edu, or DM us on Instagram (@socialservicesg).
With Alfian Sa’at and Ng Kah Gay, we have a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening conversation about the arts and publishing vis-à-vis civic engagement and political participation in Singapore. What does it mean to be challenged with the unfamiliar? How do we provoke more conversation and action through artistic modalities? And how do we make sense of censorship, self-censorship, and pushback, while accounting for the interdependence of individuals, society, and the state?
Alfian is a Singaporean playwright, poet, and writer, and Kah Gay is the editor of Ethos Books, Singapore's leading independent publisher.
This episode is part of the "Civic Engagement and Action" series of the podcast's sixth season (https://socialservice.sg/podcast/). The feature photo is by Gülfer ERGİN on Unsplash.
In this wide-ranging conversation on community and community-based governance with Aaron Maniam, we cover many diverse but related topics. First, we discuss the global state of democratic governance in the context of community-based governance as well as truth and misinformation. We then learn more about his Ph.D. dissertation comparing public sector digital transformation efforts, before a segue into his evaluation of other tools - deliberative polling, panels, and citizen assemblies - to facilitate community-based governance. Finally, Aaron shares his perspectives on web3 platforms and dealing with diversity.
Aaron is a Fellow of Practice and Director of Digital Transformation Education at the University of Oxford. He was also previously on the podcast, exploring citizen foresight work and the influence of language and metaphors on futures thinking.
This episode is part of "The Future of..." series of the podcast's sixth season (https://socialservice.sg/podcast/). The feature photo is by Hannah Sibayan on Unsplash.
Today, we have a broad conversation on PE2023 with veteran journalist Bertha Henson. She reflects on Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s landslide win, shares how she got involved in Mr. George Goh’s campaign, and discusses and evaluates the office of the elected presidency in Singapore. In particular, we highlight two bodies: the Presidential Elections Committee, or the PEC, as well as the Council of Presidential Advisors, or the CPA.
This episode was recorded on September 11, 2023. She was previously on the podcast before and after GE2020. You can also read the publication, “Lights on the Istana: Training the Spotlight on the Presidency”.
Listen to the full mini-series:
Resources for information about presidency:
This episode is part of the "Civic Engagement and Action" series of the podcast's sixth season (https://socialservice.sg/podcast/). The feature photo is by Max Oh on Unsplash.
What are the experiences of Singaporean academics who have spent time abroad, before returning home and working to reintegrate, both as academics, and as Singapore citizens. Together with her collaborators, in the article - "International academic or citizen scholar?: Singaporean returnees in the global city" - lead author Yasmin Ortiga focused on this notion of reintegration as well as the conflicting demands associated with it. Like many others, I enjoyed reading the article, and the conversation I had with her, as you'll hear, was a delight.
Dr. Ortiga is an assistant professor at Singapore Management University.
This episode is part of the “Making Research Sense” series of the podcast’s sixth season (https://socialservice.sg/podcast/). The feature photo is by Rogan Yeoh on Unsplash.
Like the entire PE2023 campaign thus far, the presidential forum offered little beyond scripted platitudes and vague generalities. Be that as it may, Isaac Neo and I sat down after the forum to chat about our general impressions, and how the limits of the forum modality perhaps reflected the limits and ambiguities associated with Singapore's elected presidency.
Listen to the full mini-series:
Resources for information about presidency:
This episode is part of the "Civic Engagement and Action" series of the podcast's sixth season (https://socialservice.sg/podcast/).
Singaporeans go to the polls on September 1, 2023 to elect our new president. We choose from three candidates: former senior minister and deputy prime minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, former chief investment officer of sovereign wealth fund GIC Ng Kok Song, and former CEO of NTUC Income Tan Kin Lian.
An estimated 300,000 to 400,000 Singaporean youth, or about 15 per cent of the electorate, will be voting in the presidential election for the first time. In the lead up to Polling Day, in this mini-series, we speak to three first-time voters - all of whom are students - about their thoughts on the presidential candidates, the institution of the presidency, as well as the issues and considerations they are prioritising.
Today, in the final episode of our three-part mini-series, we have 24-year-old Aamir Bana, a student at Yale-NUS and the National University of Singapore. He is part of CAPE, but speaks in his personal capacity in this episode. This was recorded on August 22, 2023.
Listen to the full mini-series:
Resources for information about presidency:
This episode is part of the "Civic Engagement and Action" series of the podcast's sixth season (https://socialservice.sg/podcast/). The feature photo is by Max Oh on Unsplash.
Singaporeans go to the polls on September 1, 2023 to elect our new president. We choose from three candidates: former senior minister and deputy prime minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, former chief investment officer of sovereign wealth fund GIC Ng Kok Song, and former CEO of NTUC Income Tan Kin Lian.
An estimated 300,000 to 400,000 Singaporean youth, or about 15 per cent of the electorate, will be voting in the presidential election for the first time. In the lead up to Polling Day, in this mini-series, we speak to three first-time voters - all of whom are students - about their thoughts on the presidential candidates, the institution of the presidency, as well as the issues and considerations they are prioritising.
Today, in the second episode, we have 22-year-old Liang Weiting, a final-year student in the Nanyang Technological University. This was recorded on August 22, 2023.
Listen to the full mini-series:
Resources for information about presidency:
This episode is part of the "Civic Engagement and Action" series of the podcast's sixth season (https://socialservice.sg/podcast/). The feature photo is by Max Oh on Unsplash.
We're trying something new today, and it's something we've wanted to do for some time. Together with a new co-host, Estella Ho, we've picked a book of interest to discuss and explore. For this episode, the book we've chosen is titled "Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It" by US journalist and scholar Richard V. Reeves. Estella and I first explain why and how we chose the book, share what we liked and didn't enjoy, and draw some Singaporean connections and personal reflections.
Resources referenced in the episode:
Singapore’s members of parliament receive an allowance to engage legislative assistants to help them with their parliamentary questions and speeches. Different members adopt different strategies and use the allowance differently. Some have larger teams who split the allowance, and in other instances volunteers may also be involved. Across two episodes, we learn more about the roles, responsibilities, and motivations of legislative assistants, the process behind drafting and re-drafting parliamentary questions and speeches, as well as how parliamentarians and their teams integrate feedback from walkabouts.
Today, in this first part, we hear from Louis Ng Kok Kwang, a member of the governing People's Action Party. He was previously on this podcast, highlighting his advocacy for social work and social workers in parliament.
This episode is part of the "Civic Engagement and Action" series of the podcast's sixth season (https://socialservice.sg/podcast/). The feature photo is by VENUS MAJOR on Unsplash.
