#875: Does The World Get China Wrong?

A vehicle that is supposed to have been scrapped or exported, but is still being driven on Singapore roads. How does this happen, and what are the risks? The recent fatal Tampines accident has brought renewed attention to the dangers of deregistered vehicles, especially when they are driven without valid insurance.In this episode, Darren, Dzar and Rahman speak to Adam (not his real name), a former offender who served time for vehicle-related offences and once drove a deregistered motorcycle for two years. After the Tampines accident, he felt compelled to come forward and share his experience, hoping others would think twice before doing the same. Together, they unpack how these vehicles slip through the cracks, the consequences for other road users and whether more can be done to prevent such practices.

An accident or illness can leave you unable to make important decisions for yourself, sometimes without warning. If that happens, who would you trust to make decisions on your behalf? A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets you appoint someone you trust to act for you if you lose mental capacity, helping to protect your interests when you can no longer speak for yourself.Hafiz Noorahman, a member of the Islamic Legacy Planning Workgroup, joins Darren and Rahman to unpack why having an LPA matters, how to choose the right person, and why it’s worth putting things in place sooner rather than later. From navigating family expectations to the risks of leaving it too late, what can you do today to give yourself and your loved ones greater peace of mind?Ready to take the first step? Find out more about making an LPA at go.gov.sg/PlanMyLPA.

The haze is back, and so is the familiar frustration over why, after all these years, so little seems to have changed. But as Singapore sends notices to companies under its transboundary haze laws, Indonesia’s apparent change of position over accepting help to fight the fires has added another layer of tension.In this episode, Darren and Rahman unpack what’s behind this year’s prolonged haze, from slash-and-burn practices and corporate accountability to the limits of Singapore’s reach beyond its borders. With some Indonesian voices also calling on Singapore and Malaysia to take a hard look at companies headquartered in their countries, who’s really responsible — and how do we hold the right people accountable without putting our relationship with a neighbour at risk?

“Man up.” “Suck it up.” “Toughen up.” For many men, these are words they’ve heard growing up: messages that can make it harder to talk openly about emotions and vulnerability. But Danny Loong, co-founder of Timbre and MenToo, an initiative encouraging conversations around men’s mental health, wants to challenge that mindset. To him, vulnerability isn’t a weakness or something to be ashamed of - it takes courage. He also believes the expectations placed on men can add to the pressures they face. So, what does it really mean to “be a man”? Hear Danny’s take on toxic masculinity, vulnerability and why he believes society could learn to be more forgiving.International Men’s DaySaturday 14 November10am to 1pmMurdoch University SingaporeFor more information of MenToo, go to www.amicus.asia for more information.

Retirement planning is easy to put off. There’s always something more urgent: house, kids, ageing parents, business, bills. Before you know it, “later” keeps getting pushed further away.Darren, Dzar and Rahman unpack the realities of planning for retirement, from “I’ll think about it when I earn more” to “I don’t have spare cash.” They also put CPF’s Retirement Payout Planner to the test and explore what small steps they can take today.You don’t need to have everything figured out. Start with where you are, explore your options and decide what comes next.Find out more at cpf.gov.sg/EasierWithCPFPlanBAnd if this conversation got you thinking, CPF’s Ready for Life Festival is happening across three weekends:📍 16–18 Oct — Compass One📍 30 Oct–1 Nov — Suntec City📍 20–22 Nov — Northpoint City#EasierWithCPF

“Every school is a good school.” We’ve heard it countless times but is every school really the same? According to NTU’s Asst Prof Luke Lu, whose new book explores the experiences of elite students in Singapore, every school may be good, but they are certainly different. And those differences can shape more than just grades, from the people we meet and the way we speak, to how others see us. With more foreign students entering Singapore’s elite schools and questions around national identity growing, what does this mean for the future of Singapore’s “elite”?

As China’s influence on the world stage grows, is China still misunderstood, even by fellow Asian countries like Singapore? Who better to unpack this than Yuanpu Huang, aka Yuan, the man behind Yuan Unpacks China, a platform that aims to help the world better understand China, from its people and culture to its politics and place in the world. And with Singapore caught between an increasingly assertive China and its longstanding ties with the US, how does China see us, and where does it see this relationship going?

He served in the US Marines, became a CIA case officer, and later ran for the US House of Representatives. Now, Adam Dunigan joins us to unpack the geopolitical tensions reshaping the world, from China’s rise as a global power to the growing rivalry between major nations. While Dunigan says a full-scale World War 3 may not be here yet, he argues that proxy wars are already being fought, and that recognising this is not fearmongering, as some have claimed. So how close are we to a wider global conflict, especially as we’re in the Trump era, where the rules-based order no longer seems to be adhered to?

At a time when companies are freezing hiring and wage growth remains a concern, news that ministers are getting a pay increase is bound to raise eyebrows. But is it necessarily unjustified? It’s the first adjustment in 15 years, and Singapore has long been transparent about how political salaries are determined. PM Lawrence Wong has also raised concerns about getting more Singaporeans, including those from the private sector, to enter politics. So while the pay hike may be hard to swallow, perhaps the bigger question is: do we get what we pay for, especially if higher salaries can indeed attract more capable people into government?

What exactly makes someone Singaporean? It’s a question that has resurfaced in recent years, but came sharply into focus after news broke of Singaporeans missing in the Nepal-Tibet floods. While many expressed concern, some were quick to question whether the victims were “really Singaporean”, particularly those with Indian-sounding names. Against a backdrop of several viral incidents and online debates surrounding CECA and the Indian community in Singapore, the hostility has raised questions about how nationality itself becomes something people feel entitled to question. So, what can actually be done? We might have a solution, but it could be controversial.