Shows / Yah Lah But

Yah Lah But
A thrice weekly podcast on conversations Singaporeans are having but not saying out loud – politics, culture, identity. Haresh Tilani and Terence Chia consider every side, never quite agree, and never play it safe. Honest, informed, always worth arguing about. Subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes.
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Episodes
Yah Lah But#708: U17 Footballer Dropped For Choosing Exams & Jack Neo’s AI LKY Video Deemed “Respectful”
A viral online post by local celeb Norfasarie about her son’s omission from the U17 national team, after prioritising N-level studies over a training camp…
Yah Lah But#707: Platform Workers Press Ng Chee Meng & Safra’s Wild Plan to Go Beyond a Social Club
Platform workers met NTUC chief Ng Chee Meng to raise frustrations over unclear fares, illegal foreign riders, and the future of gig work. At the same time…
Yah Lah But#706 ft. Pritam Singh - Why SG’s Leader of Opposition Won’t Be PM & Dealing with Govt Scrutiny
Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh joins us after GE2025 to talk candidly about the Workers’ Party’s results, the challenges of opposition politics, and his…
Yah Lah But#705 ft. Dr Ang Swee Chai - Risking Her Life in Gaza as a Christian Surgeon for Palestinians
Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ang Swee Chai recounts her arrest & interrogation in Singapore linked to her husband Francis’s escape, her decision to speak publicly…
Yah Lah But#704: Living with HIV - Stigmas, Rejections & Why HIV is No Longer a Death Sentence
Calvin Tan was diagnosed HIV-positive at a time when the illness carried heavy stigma in Singapore. He shares the shock of his diagnosis, the rejection he…
Yah Lah But#703: Breaking Down PM Wong’s National Day Rally & Sengkang Bullies Suspended for Death Threats
PM Wong’s National Day Rally 2025 drew mixed reactions, with analysts noting its measured tone and opposition parties issuing their responses. We also discuss…
Yah Lah But#702 ft. Dr. Christine Yau - The Vision Problem You Can’t Escape & What You Can Do!
Dr Christine Yau – Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist and Director of Neuro-Ophthalmology at the International Eye Cataract Retina Centre – explains why…
Yah Lah But#701: KF Seetoh vs Ong Ye Kung Over Hawker Rules & SBS Transit Apologises for Train Breakdown
KF Seetoh accuses Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre of unfair rules and extra charges for stallholders. Ong Ye Kung responds, disputing the claims and clarifying…
Yah Lah But#700: PM Wong vs Pritam on National Day Message & Wake Up SG Founder to Be Called to the Bar
National Day messages from PM Lawrence Wong and Workers’ Party Chief Pritam Singh highlight differing aspects on nation-building. We unpack their contrasting…
Yah Lah But#699: Trial To Extend Liquor Licenses to 4am & Muslim Passenger Served Pork on SIA
Singapore will trial extended liquor hours till 4AM for nightlife spots in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Upper Circular Road as part of a plan to revitalise the…
Yah Lah But#698 ft. Sandra Riley Tang - Her Viral Video Against HDB & Why She Quit Music After Coldplay
Sandra Riley Tang joins us to talk about her unforgettable performance with Coldplay in Singapore, her departure from The Sam Willows, and her passion for…
Yah Lah But#697: SG60 Food Fair Vendors Slam Poor Sales & Sydney Sweeney’s Jeans Ad Called Out
A viral video over the weekend showed food vendors at the SG60 Bayfront food fair worried about suffering major losses of up to $10,000. But is it their fault…
Yah Lah But#696: Backlash Over Mandarin-Taught Uni Courses in SG & Khairy vs PAP Over Pritam’s Podcast
Singapore’s top universities are introducing Mandarin-taught modules as interest from Chinese students grows, sparking debate about inclusivity, messaging, and…
Yah Lah But#695 ft. Jinx Yeo - Politically Incorrect Jokes, Beating Stage Fright & Surviving as a Comedian
Jinx Yeo opens up about what it’s really like being a stand-up comic in Singapore. He shares how his journey started 14 years ago, the impact of his viral…
Yah Lah But#694: Sinkhole at Tanjong Katong Swallows Car & SMRT Gets Reduced Fine for 2024 Train Disruption
A car fell into a sinkhole along Tanjong Katong Road, prompting a nationwide safety review of sewer works by PUB. Elsewhere, LTA reduced SMRT’s $3 million fine…
Yah Lah But#693: The Controversial Death of Jane Lee & Petition Against Relocation of Geylang East Library
The tragic death of Jane Lee, owner of Sumo Salad, has sparked nationwide debate about Singapore’s Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA). We break down what…
Yah Lah But#692 ft. Prof. Donald Low - The COE Problem, SM Lee vs Jamus Lim & The Rental Crisis in SG
Donald Low, Professor of Practice at the HKUST Institute for Public Policy, is back to unpack the recent debate around COEs involving SM Lee Hsien Loong and…
Yah Lah But#691: Kpod Vapes to be Listed as Illegal Drug & Astronomer CEO Resigns After Coldplay Controversy
Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung announced that MOH is working with MOH to list etomidate as an illegal drug after one-third of vapes seized were found to…
Yah Lah But#690 ft. Sonny Liew - Controversy Through Comics, Being World-Class & Creating Satire on Lee Kuan Yew
What happens when your art pokes too close to the truth? In this episode, Sonny Liew, Eisner-winning cartoonist of The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, joins us…
Yah Lah But#689 ft. Prof. Walid - Why Every SG Politician Should Want to be PM & His New Book on Palestine
Is Singapore ready for more open political discourse - or are we still too scared to "cross the line"? We sit down with Associate Professor Walid Abdullah…
Yah Lah But#688 ft. Fadzri Rashid – Why He Moved to Malaysia, How KL is Better Than SG & Why He Changed His Name
Singapore comedian Fadzri Rashid opens up about moving to Malaysia, why artists feel the need to leave Singapore to grow, and how chasing authenticity is…
Yah Lah But#687: Trump’s Pick for Ambassador to SG Gets Grilled & SG Uni Students Stressed by Finance Clubs
Trump’s nominee for US Ambassador to Singapore, Dr. Anjani Sinha, struggled at his Senate hearing, prompting questions about his credentials, timing, and…
Yah Lah But#686: 6 Golf Courses to Be Closed in SG & Over 160 Anti-Nuisance Offences on Public Transport
Six golf courses across Singapore will not have their leases renewed, with two sites to be converted into a new public course - sparking backlash from country…
Yah Lah But#685: Tan Cheng Bock & Hazel Poa Step Down from PSP & Naked Couple Caught in Sengkang Car Park
Tan Cheng Bock and Hazel Poa have stepped down from the Progress Singapore Party’s top leadership, triggering a “renewal plan” ahead of GE2025. What does this…
Yah Lah But#684: PAP Slams Pritam For Interview on M’sian Podcast & Chan Chun Sing’s Idea for NS Live Firing
PAP called out Pritam Singh for remarks he made on a Malaysian podcast, accusing him of crossing a line by airing political views overseas. WP fired back…
Yah Lah But#683: Cyclists Face Possible Jail Time & Certis Cisco Reverses Sick Leave Policy After Backlash
From July 1, 2025, cyclists in Singapore may face fines or jail time for riding on pedestrian-only paths - but is this fair, especially with minimal…
Yah Lah But#682 ft. Ho Kwon Ping: Hypocrisy of Corporate America, How REITs are Hurting Singapore & the Danger of Mediocrity
Ho Kwon Ping, Founder and Executive Chairman of Banyan Group, and certified “bad-ass grandpa”, returns to YLB for a critical discussion on the challenges…
Yah Lah But#681: Pritam Singh Doesn’t Want to be PM & Thailand Reverses Cannabis Ban
Pritam Singh appeared on Keluar Sekejap, top Malaysian political podcast, and said he doesn’t want to be Prime Minister. We unpack what that means as well as…
Yah Lah But#680: NTUC Income Shareholders Demand Answers at AGM & Israel-Iran Tensions Escalate
Tempers flared at NTUC Income AGM on 24th June, with frustrated shareholders demanding answers about the failed Allianz deal after losing out on a bigger…
Yah Lah But#679: NTU’s Crackdown on Students Using AI & Why Home-Based Food Businesses Are Sparking F&B Drama
NTU penalised 3 students for allegedly misusing AI tools - despite guidelines allowing them with restrictions. Meanwhile, Singapore’s home-based food scene is…
Yah Lah But#678: Backlash for Jeffrey Siow’s COE Comments & Petition for Restaurants to Offer Free Water
Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow defended the COE system, saying it “is not broken” and that defended allocating COEs to private-hire vehicles (PHVs)…
Yah Lah But#677: What People Get Wrong About Architecture & Building an Iconic S’pore Hotel
We talk to Szue Hann, an Architect & Sustainability expert about the process of turning a vision into an actual skyscraper, as well as his experiences working…
Yah Lah But#676: Chee Hong Tat Prioritises Immigrant Integration & New Video Reveals Truth Behind Gan Siow Huang’s Handshake
Minister Chee Hong Tat says integrating new immigrants is now a priority for Chinese community leaders, alongside a new leadership pipeline. Meanwhile, more…
Yah Lah But#675: Shocking Closure of Jetstar Asia Sparks Concerns & Wala Wala Bar At Holland Village to Shut Down
Jetstar Asia will cease operations on July 31, affecting over 500 employees and disrupting flights for thousands of travellers. Retrenchment efforts are…
Yah Lah But#674: Anxious SG Harvard Students Offered Local Uni Spots & the Regent of Johor to Swap Land with S’pore
Over 150 students admitted to Harvard, including Singaporeans, are stuck in limbo after Trump tries to restrict the enrolment of international students…
Yah Lah But#673: Outrage at $52,000 rent for HDB Clinic & Gan Siow Huang’s Handshake Blunder
The winning rental bid for a HDB Clinic in Tampines of $52k/ month sparked outrage and responses from both Minister Ong Ye Kung & Ho Ching, the wife of ex-PM…
Yah Lah But#672: The Truth Behind the Deepest Tunnel in SG & What People Get Wrong About Engineering
We talk to Geoshua Tan, Vice President (Civil & Infrastructure Engineering) at CPG Consultants about what it actually means to build Singapore - from building…
Yah Lah But#671: Outrage at Halimah’s Post on Gaza & Uniqlo Accused of Copying Local Brands
Former President Halimah Yacob’s post on Facebook about the horrors in Gaza triggered response from an online socio-political commentator, which then sparked…
Yah Lah But#670: PM Wong Issues ‘Rules of Prudence’ & Chee Soon Juan’s Hawker Blunder
PM Lawrence Wong’s first “Rules of Prudence” lays out expectations for PAP MPs, but how does it compare to PM Lee’s 2020 version? Plus: Chee Soon Juan is…
Yah Lah But#669: RDU to Form “Shadow Government” & People’s Park Complex Turns Red & White
Opposition party RDU says it wants to move away from being a “check and balance”, and wants to focus on forming a shadow government. But what does that mean in…
Yah Lah But#668: Fake “Piyush Gupta” Post Spirals Into Blackmail & Queue Chaos Halts Food Giveaway
A viral LinkedIn post falsely claimed a chance encounter with ex-DBS CEO Piyush Gupta. Then came blackmail claims and charity name-drops. Plus: a free veggie…
Yah Lah But#667: PM Wong Unveils “Strongest” Cabinet Line-Up & Yale-NUS Dumps 9,000 Books
PM Lawrence Wong’s first Cabinet reshuffle is here—and while it includes new faces, many Singaporeans are asking whether it signals real change or safe…
Yah Lah But#666 ft. Jeremy Tan on His Viral GE2025 Rally, Bitcoin Branding & Joining Other Parties
Jeremy Tan, the independent candidate who contested Mountbatten SMC in GE2025 and earned a historic 36% vote breaks down what it’s really like running solo in…
Yah Lah ButSDP Targets NTUC & SG Sweats Over 25°C Aircon Campaign | #YLB 665
SDP is wasting no time. Just two weeks after GE2025, they launched a petition to reform elections, unveiled a new social co-op to rival NTUC, and introduced a…
Yah Lah ButWhy Mixing Media & Politics is DANGEROUS (ft. Sudhir Vadaketh) | #YLB 664
Sudhir Vadaketh joins us to unpack the GE2025 aftermath, the SDP controversies and and how WP pulled away from the opposition pack. We dive into the media…
Yah Lah But#663 - Ho Ching Defends Ministers in Su Haijin Saga & HDB Residents Revolt over Purple Paint
The Su Haijin dinner saga continues to escalate as Ministers Ong Ye Kung & Chee Hong Tat lawyer up over online accusations, businessman Sam Goi takes ownership…
Yah Lah But#662 ft. Prof. Cherian George - PAP’s Insecurities, SG’s Media Decline & Life After GE2025
Cherian George, Professor of Media & Politics, author, and ex-Straits Times political journalist, joins us to unpack the state of Singapore’s media, politics…
Yah Lah But#661 - Ng Chee Meng’s Response to Controversies & Woman's Matchmaking Refund Drama
Days after GE2025, a dinner photo featuring Ng Chee Meng, Su Haijin (a convicted money launderer), and billionaire Sam Goi surfaced online - raising eyebrows…
Yah Lah But#660 - Dissecting the Surprises, Shocks & Upsets of the GE2025 Results
We deep dive into the final GE2025 results and recap the biggest stories. From PAP’s 65.57% popular vote & PM Lawrence Wong’s intact Cabinet to unexpected…
Yah Lah But#659 - Hot Takes on Every Political Party & Dissecting PM Wong’s Episode
★ Our GE2025 Plans!! ★ Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.yahlahbut.com to find out firsthand where we'll be during each day of the campaigning period…
Yah Lah But#658 - Leaked Messages from WP’s Andre Low & Ex-NTUC Group CEO Endorses Harpreet Singh
★ Our GE2025 Plans!! ★ Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.yahlahbut.com to find out firsthand where we'll be during each day of the campaigning period…
Yah Lah But#657 ft. PM Lawrence Wong - Comparisons with LKY, Opposition Weakening Govt. & Risks of CDC Vouchers
PM Lawrence Wong joins us in-studio to reflect on leadership, trust, and where Singapore goes next. He shares how he’s different from past PMs, addresses the…
Yah Lah But#656 - WP’s Harpreet Slams DPM Gan in Punggol & Ong Ye Kung Tears into SDP’s Manifesto
★ Our GE2025 Plans!! ★ Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.yahlahbut.com to find out firsthand where we'll be during each day of the campaigning period…
Yah Lah But#655 - SM Lee Defends Ng Chee Meng Over NTUC-Allianz Saga & SDP Apologies for Racial Slur
★ Our GE2025 Plans!! ★ Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.yahlahbut.com to find out firsthand where we'll be during each day of the campaigning period…
Yah Lah But#654 - PM Lawrence Wong Slams Identity Politics & SDP Candidate Uses Slur During Rally
★ Our GE2025 Plans!! ★ Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.yahlahbut.com to find out firsthand where we'll be during each day of the campaigning period…
Yah Lah But#653 - The Best & Worst of the GE2025 Party Broadcasts & SDP Claps Back at Ong Ye Kung
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Yah Lah But#652 - Unpacking the GE2025 Rallies & Yah Lah But Mentioned in a Speech Against Chee Soon Juan
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Yah Lah But#651 - Opposition Parties Blast WP’s Pullout & Lawrence Wong Defends Last-Minute Candidate Shifts
★ Our GE2025 Plans!! ★ Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.yahlahbut.com to find out firsthand where we'll be during each day of the campaigning period…
Yah Lah But#650 - Nomination Day Surprises & Our Plan For Covering GE2025 In A Way That’s Never Been Done
★ Our GE2025 Plans!! ★ Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.yahlahbut.com to find out firsthand where we'll be during each day of the campaigning period…
Yah Lah But#649 ft. Chan Chun Sing - Regulating Tuition, GE2025 & The Role of Opposition Parties
★ Our GE2025 Plans!! ★ Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.yahlahbut.com to find out firsthand where we'll be during each day of the campaigning period…