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Deep Dive - Why MRT disruptions feel extra frustrating and what can a new task force do?

Deep Dive

In just the last few months, Singapore has seen at least 15 disruptions to the rail network. At the same time, rail reliability according to a key measure is at its lowest point since 2020. Is it time for the authorities to rethink the way they measure our network's reliability and find new connectivity solutions when the when train services are down? In this week’s Deep Dive, Steven Chia speaks with transport economist Walter Theseira and Tin Pei Ling, chair of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, on what needs to be done to get our trains back on track.

Steven Chia

Steven Chia

Otelli Edwards

Otelli Edwards

Resume Pause 32 min
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Deep Dive - Will going underground and climate change cause more sinkholes?

When footage of a woman and her car plunging into a sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road went viral, it raised questions on whether Singapore is susceptible to more sinkholes. With underground construction expanding and climate change reshaping our environment, what are engineers doing to keep our ground stable? Otelli Edwards speaks to David Ng at the Institution of Engineers Singapore and Dr Stephen Chua from the Earth Observatory of Singapore at NTU.

Resume Pause 19 mins
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Deep Dive - Silent expectations and fatal outcomes: The suicide risk men face

Singapore reported 314 suicides in 2024, with the sharpest increase among adults aged 30 to 39. Nearly two-thirds were men. What pressures do these groups face? And what are the warning signs? Otelli Edwards and Steven Chia speak with Dr Jared Ng, a psychiatrist and the former chief of emergency and crisis care at the Institute of Mental Health, and Eugene Chong, counselling psychologist at Seeding Minds. WHERE TO SEEK HELP   If you or someone you know is struggling and needs support, please consider reaching out to one of the helplines below.    Youthline: +65 6436 6612 (call), 8533 9460 (text) and over email at hello [at] youthline.sg (hello[at]youthline[dot]sg). Youthline provides free mental health support to youth via phone, email or a live chat service. It runs from 9am to midnight daily. Calls outside of operating hours are redirected to Samaritans of Singapore or the Singapore Civil Defence Force for emergency medical services.   Samaritans of Singapore: 1767 (call), 9151 1767 (WhatsApp text) and over email at pat [at] sos.org.sg (pat[at]sos[dot]org[dot]sg). Samaritans of Singapore provides round-the-clock confidential emotional support for individuals in crisis, thinking about or affected by suicide. The call and text-based services are operational 24 hours a day, every day of the week.   National Mindline: 1771 (call), 6669 1771 (WhatsApp) and through online webchat on the http://mindline.sg/fsmh website. This is a round-the-clock confidential national-level helpline. Beyond immediate counselling, those who require more support can be directed to the appropriate care and resources.  

Resume Pause 21 mins
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Deep Dive - More elderly Singaporeans are living alone – should we be concerned?

The number of elderly Singaporeans living alone has doubled in the past decade. With Singapore on the cusp of becoming a “super-aged” society, the numbers will only climb further. While support systems exist, are they enough when an elderly person needs urgent medical help or even just someone to talk to? Steven Chia speaks with Karen Wee, executive director of Lions Befrienders, and Dr Reuben Ng from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. 

Resume Pause 26 mins
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Deep Dive - Certis sick leave policy raises tough questions on employer-employee trust

Certis came under scrutiny recently for a controversial policy requiring officers on medical leave to share their “live” location if they were not at home. While the company has since rolled back the mandate, the debate over workplace sick leave policies continues. How far should companies go to prevent abuse of the system and where does trust fit in? Steven Chia speaks with Hao Shuo, CEO of the Singapore National Employers Federation, and Alvin Goh, CEO of Singapore Human Resources Institute.

Resume Pause 20 mins
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Deep Dive - Students using AI: Cheating or smarter learning?

The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) recently accused three students of academic fraud, saying that they used generative AI tools in their assignments. What are the limitations around AI use, when does it cross the line and is it time to rethink the way assignments are designed and assessed? Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards speak with Associate Professor Ben Leong, director of the AI Centre for Educational Technologies at NUS, and Jeremy Soo, co-founder of Nex AI.

Resume Pause 29 mins
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