GE2025: Are video podcasts a new political space to connect with hearts and minds? | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ge2025-are-video-podcasts-a-new-political-space-to-connect-with-hearts-and-minds

GE2025: Are video podcasts a new political space to connect with hearts and minds?

The Usual Place, a podcast by The Straits Times, has hosted politicians including Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah and Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam.ST PHOTOS: KUA CHEE SIONG, NG SOR LUAN

SINGAPORE – "Voucher Wong" and the God of Fortune – these are the nicknames that netizens have taken to calling Prime Minister Lawrence Wong after he announced a slew of goodies in Parliament during his Budget speech.

But what does PM Wong think of these cheeky monikers?

Sitting on an orange couch with mics in front of him, PM Wong laughed it off. "I suppose people will make memes and jokes about the Budget... I'm certainly not the God of Fortune, nor am I 'Voucher Wong'," he said, joking with the hosts of The Hop Pod podcast.

The light-hearted banter continued on issues ranging from the cost of living to housing policy. A YouTube video of the podcast episode has amassed over 45,000 views since it was posted on March 9.

This was at least PM Wong's third time on a video podcast since December, after also appearing on the podcasts The Daily Ketchup and Plan B.

These shows put politicians like PM Wong in an informal setting – sometimes seated with their hosts on a couch, and at other times across a coffee table. The banter is casual, and oftentimes hosts adopt a light-hearted take on issues.

Politicians like PM Wong have been increasingly turning to this casual format as a way to connect with voters beyond the reach of traditional media, said experts.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan and Progress Singapore Party Non-Constituency MP Hazel Poa are just some of the politicians who have appeared on podcasts such as Front Row, Yah Lah But, and Teh Tarik with Walid.

The use of video podcasts by politicians as part of their communications and campaigning strategy is not unique to Singapore – the medium has played an outsized role in shaping political discourse in the US, with popular shows like The Joe Rogan Experience reaching millions of viewers and listeners.

With the next general election on the way, observers say video podcasts here – which can garner as many as hundreds of thousands of views – are shaping up to be a crucial space for politicians keen on capturing the hearts and minds of voters.

The format started gaining popularity during the 2020 General Election, which was held during the pandemic and had no physical rallies. This led politicians to turn to virtual discussions, live shows and podcasts, said Dr Carol Soon, an associate professor in media regulation and digital policy at the National University of Singapore.

Since then, newer podcasts have emerged and Singaporeans have turned to them to make sense of local politics and to get to know political candidates better, said Dr Soon.

Political observers said the video podcast format lends itself to more candid and tongue-in-cheek conversations and feels more unfiltered, which can help make politicians seem more relatable to voters.

For instance, PM Wong in January spoke on The Daily Ketchup podcast about being an introvert in the public eye and what his first day as prime minister was like after he took over in May.

Dr Tracy Loh, a senior lecturer of communication management at Singapore Management University, said: "Podcasts are more off-the-cuff, which allows the politicians' personality to really shine through and could make them seem more relatable if they know how to use the format well."

Political scientist Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, who runs the eponymous podcast Teh Tarik with Walid, said he has hosted around 25 politicians on his podcast show, which includes a mix of current and former politicians from the PAP and the opposition.

The associate professor at Nanyang Technological University said he started his podcast in the wake of the 2020 General Election to address "a thirst for political knowledge" among younger people and older millennials.

The Usual Place, a podcast by The Straits Times, has hosted politicians including Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah and Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam, since its launch in April 2024.

But Hong Kong Baptist University professor of politics, film and cultural studies Kenneth Paul Tan warned that the spontaneous nature of the format opens politicians to the risks of committing faux pas or appearing overly rehearsed and inauthentic.

Politicians with strong communication skills and who can appear comfortable in spontaneous environments stand to gain the most from appearing on podcasts, said Prof Tan, who in January published a research paper on how politicians in Singapore have used podcasts as a communication tool.

His research revealed that many netizens expressed having a more positive impression of a politician after hearing them share their stories and explain their views.

Pointing to Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah, Prof Tan said she brought "clarity and warmth" to her explanations of government policy across various podcast appearances.

Observers also said podcasts may level the playing field for opposition politicians with fewer resources, who can gain exposure and reach a diverse range of audiences by appearing on such shows.

But they cautioned against conflating listenership or viewership with vote share.

Citing the 2023 Presidential Election, Dr Natalie Pang, head of NUS' communications and new media department, said: "President Tharman (Shanmugaratnam) did not have as much traction on social media as the other candidates, who used social media quite well."

Nonetheless, President Tharman went on to win the presidency with a strong vote share of 70.4 per cent.

Dr Pang said this showed that even though social media content can change people's minds about politicians, voting behaviour is shaped by other factors, including political affiliations and the candidates' credentials.

Votes aside, video podcasts may offer an avenue for people with different political views to engage with one another – important at a time of growing political polarisation across the world, say observers.

Dr Pang added that some podcast hosts in Singapore have shown a readiness to disagree with the politicians that appear on their shows, and often voice out what people are thinking or have questions about.

"Quite often, these are points of contention and disagreement. And you then see the politician having a candid exchange about those questions… They (the politicians) actually use the podcast as a platform to engage those points of disagreement."

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https://www.theedgesingapore.com/news/construction/pan-united-corp-completes-concrete-pour-foundation-skywaters-set-be-singapores

Pan-United Corp completes concrete pour for foundation of The Skywaters, set to be Singapore's tallest building

Wed, Mar 12, 2025 • 05:54 PM GMT+08

Pan-United Corporation's subsidiary has completed a mass pour of concrete for casting of the raft foundation at The Skywaters at 8 Shenton Way, a building set to be Singapore's tallest when completed in 2028, according to a release dated March 12. 

The 63-storey mixed-use development tower sits on a site that spans 10,984 square metres (sqm). Pan-United says that the mass pour was executed non-stop for 35 hours with one truckload of concrete delivered to the site every two minutes, along with the project's main contractor China Harbour Engineering Company. 

This was done with its technology arm, AiR Digital, which allowed it to auto-replenish raw materials to ensure that trucks shuttled between plant and project site with no disruption. 

The Skywaters is Singapore's first project to utilise Pan-United's Grade 105 PanU Super High-Strength Concrete which reduces the amount of concrete and reinforcements required for the raft foundation. 

It is also being furnished with PanU CMC+ which is a material that traps industrial waste carbon dioxide in concrete which makes the building a carbon sink. 

Shares in Pan-United closed 1 cent higher or 1.639% down at 62 cents on March 12.

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Junior college admission criteria to change from L1R5 to L1R4 in 2028 - CNA

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/junior-college-jc-admission-l1r5-l1r4-criteria-4980771?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_07032025_cna

Junior college admission criteria to change from L1R5 to L1R4 in 2028

SINGAPORE: From 2028, students seeking admission into junior colleges will be assessed based on five O-Level subjects instead of six, the Education Ministry announced on Thursday (Mar 6). 

Under the current L1R5 criteria, students must attain a score of 20 or better across six O-Level subjects to qualify for a junior college (JC). 

The L1R5 aggregate includes one language subject, one humanities subject, one science or mathematics subject, one additional humanities, science or mathematics subject, and two other best-performing subjects. 

With the implementation of L1R4 from the 2028 admission exercise, students will need to score 16 points or better across five subjects, removing one of their best-scoring subjects from consideration. The requirement to pass a mother tongue language subject (D7 or better) remains unchanged.

For the Millennia Institute (MI), the admission threshold will remain at 20 points under L1R4, but students must include three subjects from both the humanities, and science or mathematics subject groups, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said in a press release. 

Despite the change, the ministry said it expects the proportion and profile of students qualifying for JC to remain largely unchanged. 

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, speaking in parliament on his ministry's plans for the year, said the revised criteria will allow students to take fewer subjects or opt for some at a less demanding level.

This frees up time for students to pursue their interests, strengthen their communication and collaboration skills through co-curricular activities and discover new strengths through school programmes, he added. 

As part of this revision, the maximum bonus points for JC admissions, including MI, will be reduced from four to three, reflecting the reduced subject count under the L1R4 criteria. 

The L1R5 admission criterion was introduced in 1989 to address poor passing rates in the A-Levels among JC students. At the time, requiring three relevant subjects ensured students had a broad and relevant academic foundation to manage the demands of the A-Level curriculum, MOE said.

JC students today are "much better prepared", with A-Level passing rates rising from about 65 per cent in 1990 to about 95 per cent in 2023, the ministry said. 

Additionally, the proportion of O-Level candidates who take eight or more subjects has also grown from about 15 per cent in 1997 to about 30 per cent in 2023. 

MOE said the move to reduce the number of subjects required for JC admission is in line with its efforts to encourage development in students beyond academic achievements. 

Since L1R4 still requires three subjects from both the humanities, and science or mathematics subject groups, students will be sufficiently prepared for the rigour of the JC curriculum, it said. 

Mr Chan reassured that JC admission standards are not being relaxed, citing MOE simulations indicating that a similar proportion of students will continue qualifying for JC. He also stated that the ministry will monitor students' academic outcomes to ensure they benefit from JC education. 

Over the past five years, about 27 per cent of students enrolling in post-secondary institutions have entered JCs or MI, while 43 per cent opted for polytechnics. These proportions have remained stable, MOE said.

In the same period, about 42 per cent of students eligible for JC chose to enrol in polytechnics instead, according to MOE data.

JC admission cut-off points will "adjust accordingly" with the revised criteria, said a ministry spokesperson.

"The fact that you're counting one less subject means you can expect the cut-off points for JC admission generally to decline a little corresponding to the one fewer subject to be counted," the spokesperson said. 

"But we don't expect the cut-off point to be tightened beyond that." 

27:23 Min

From 2028, students seeking admission into junior colleges (JCs) will be assessed based on five O-Level subjects instead of six. This will allow them to take fewer subjects or opt for some at a less demanding level,…see more

JC REJUVENATION PROGRAMME AND CCA SUPPORT

In his speech, Mr Chan also announced that four more schools – Anglo-Chinese JC, Catholic JC, National JC and Victoria JC – will be included in the second phase of the JC rejuvenation programme.

Currently, Anderson Serangoon JC, Jurong Pioneer JC, Temasek JC and Yishun Innova JC are undergoing upgrades in the first phase, which is expected to conclude in January 2028. 

The four JCs included in the second phase are Singapore's next oldest JC campuses, said Mr Chan.

The ministry is working with the JCs on their infrastructure plans, including possibly moving them to new locations, he added. 

The rejuvenated campuses will have enhanced facilities such as configurable spaces and multi-functional workspaces for staff. The first phase is estimated to cost about S$570 million. 

MOE also announced the expansion of strategic partnership co-curricular activities (CCAs) to include hockey from 2026. These partnerships allow students from different schools to come together to participate in the same CCA. 

Nearly 40 per cent of students are in sports CCAs, and most primary schools do not conduct selection trials to better cater to students' interests, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Shawn Huang on Thursday. 

While schools try to provide a good range of CCAs to cater to students' varied interests, a "lack of critical mass" may prevent them from providing more CCAs, he added. 

This year, 105 students are taking part in the athletics programme, 77 in water polo and 35 in canoeing, which is a new addition in 2025.

Source: CNA/hw(cy)

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askST: Should I tell my boss about my mental illness? | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/askst-should-i-tell-my-boss-about-my-mental-illness?utm_source=emarsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekend_MM

askST: Should I tell my boss about my mental illness?

No health without mental health

While the consistency of a work routine can offer a sense of purpose, the pressure of meeting deadlines can further add stress. PHOTO: ST FILE

PUBLISHED Feb 24, 2025, 05:00 AM

SINGAPORE - For those who suffer from depression, anxiety or another mental illness, work may be a double-edged sword.

While the consistency of a work routine can offer a sense of purpose, achievement and camaraderie, the pressure of meeting deadlines or dealing with unsympathetic colleagues can further add stress.

The Straits Times tackles commonly asked questions about navigating mental health issues in the workplace.

Q: Should I tell my company if I have a diagnosed mental health condition? How can I navigate the conversation?

It really is a personal decision.

There are several factors one should take into consideration – such as the nature of the condition, the workplace culture, and the potential of the firm to offer accommodations such as flexible hours, quiet spaces or workload adjustments.

Mr David Blasco, country director at human resources agency Randstad Singapore, acknowledged that while there might be drawbacks such as potential biases and discrimination that can hinder workplace progression and the quality of interactions at work, there can also be benefits in sharing.

It is a good chance to educate colleagues, and most people want to understand how to approach those with mental health challenges, and know what words they should avoid or replace, for example, said Mr Blasco.

"Sharing triggers, management strategies and treatment plans can help your bosses understand how to provide appropriate accommodations," he added.

Ms Alexandra Oh, counselling psychologist at online and face-to-face therapy platform Talk Your Heart Out, said it is important for the employee to feel empowered to make a decision that aligns with his or her well-being and comfort level.

"It might be helpful for the employee to work with a counsellor who can guide him through the process, ensuring he is emotionally and psychologically supported, and knows how to communicate his needs effectively," said Ms Oh.

Q: Can employers ask if I have a mental health condition during a job application?

It is stated in the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices that employers in Singapore should not ask applicants to declare personal information such as their mental health conditions unless it is a job-related requirement.

Mr Blasco said: "For example, employers may ask about long-term medications that cause fatigue if the job duties involve safety-critical tasks like handling weapons or operating heavy machinery. This could lead you to disclose your medication and underlying diagnosis."

Q: Are employee assistance programmes really confidential?

Employee assistance programmes, or EAPs, are employer-sponsored services designed to support the well-being of staff by offering confidential counselling or resources like workshops. These are often run by a third-party service provider.

Ms Melissa Kuan, assistant director of recovery and reintegration at the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH), said EAPs are generally confidential and personal information is not typically shared with employers without the individual's consent.

The exception is if there is a risk of harm to the individual or others. This can include concerns about suicide, violence or abuse.

If unsure, it is always good practice to clarify confidentiality policies with human resources or the EAP provider, said Ms Kuan.

She noted that SAMH itself offers EAPs, and the organisation does provide aggregated insights to companies upon request. Such information includes general mental health trends or overall usage rates, and personal or identifiable details are not disclosed.

"This allows organisations to understand the impact of such support services while ensuring privacy," said Ms Kuan.

Q: I am feeling very burnt-out – how can I start a conversation with my boss or human resources about my situation?

Before the discussion, take some time to think through the changes that could help manage your burnout.

Employers often appreciate employees who come forward with constructive solutions rather than just problems. Consider proposing specific changes that could improve your situation, said Ms Oh, the psychologist.

This could include things such as delegating tasks, prioritising responsibilities or taking occasional mental health days.

One way to approach the conversation is to frame it as a partnership, where the goal is to improve both your well-being and your performance at work.

Ms Oh suggests saying things like "I want to ensure I'm doing my best work, and I think making some adjustments will help me get back to being productive and engaged".

It would also be good to document your experiences.

"If burnout is affecting your performance, it can be helpful to document specific instances, such as times when the workload became unmanageable or you experienced significant stress. This can give you more clarity when explaining your situation," said Ms Oh.

She added that if the burnout is severe, taking time off work or reducing hours may be necessary.

"However, if that's not immediately possible, gradually implementing self-care strategies or negotiating smaller adjustments can be a good first step," said Ms Oh.

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