CNA Special

A celebrity-backed campaign to free Bua Noi from her zoo in Bangkok has drawn global attention but the path forward is far from clear. In this final episode, CNA Correspondent Jack Board examines a difficult question: will freeing a long-captive gorilla offer her a better life, or will it expose her to new risks to her survival?

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In this episode, CNA Correspondent Jack Board traces the global wildlife trafficking networks that move endangered animals across borders, often with little oversight. From Central Africa to enclosures in Asia and the Middle East, he examines the high profits and enduring demand driving the trade.

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High above Bangkok, Thailand, a gorilla has spent nearly 40 years enclosed in zoo on roof of a shopping mall. Once a popular attraction, Bua Noi now lives a life peppered by the occasional tourist visit. CNA Correspondent Jack Board explores a decades-long battle over whether the primate should be left in her concrete home or set free back to the wild.

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Singapore’s split from Malaysia is often told as a political story of a short-lived union. But in the background was another, quieter partnership - between Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and his wife, Kwa Geok Choo. What role did the famously private Mdm Kwa play? In this special standalone episode, we hear her for the first time in her own words, through recently released oral history tapes.

Credit: From the oral history interview of Kwa Geok Choo (Accession No 000118, Track No 32), oral history interview of Devan Nair (Accession Number 000049, Track 25) and oral history of Lee Kuan Yew (Accession Number 000080, Track 82), Oral History Centre, National Archives of Singapore.

The Albatross File: Singapore’s Independence Declassified is a permanent exhibition at Level 10 of the National Library Building. Admission is free but visitors have to make a booking at https://thealbatrossfile.nlb.gov.sg/

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Singapore’s sudden independence on Aug 9,1965 shocked the nation - but Dr Goh Keng Swee’s “Albatross File” shows the split had been taking shape for months. Newly released oral history interviews with key figures, including Singapore’s first Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, give an intimate look on what unfolded behind the scenes.

Producers Peh Yuxin and Clarisse Goh speak with the Ministry of Digital Development and Information Senior Adviser Janadas Devan to trace the political pressures and turning points that led to separation - all to tackle the big question: Was Singapore pushed out, or did it choose to leave?

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When Singapore joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, hopes were high. But a secret file kept by then-Finance Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee, code-named the “Albatross”, reveals a far more fragile union.

CNA producers Peh Yuxin and Clarisse Goh sit down with Janadas Devan, senior adviser at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information to unpack the historical reasons, political tensions, clashing economic visions, and rising racial politics that pulled the merger apart. 

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It was the call that all parents dread – news that his 17-year-old son took his life. Five years on, “Sean” still grapples with the reasons why. The reality is that one in three young people in Singapore experience significant mental health challenges. What’s driving these numbers? Crispina Robert goes in search of answers and speaks to people living through their own darkness and professionals on the frontlines.  

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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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.  

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When Sneha left the hospital after her suicide attempt, she returned to a reality she loathed. But that proved to be a critical turning point and set her on the road to recovery. With the national infrastructure ramping up to help young people cope with their mental health challenges, other deeper shifts in their personal lives deserve attention too. But who holds the key to tackling these? In part two, Crispina Robert investigates the crucial ingredients to combat this mental health scourge. 

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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Xander traces Chia’s final moments before his arrest, uncovering the ridiculous amounts he was betting. As Chia’s debts grow and cheques bounce, the consequences catch up. Was he ever in control? 

Directed by Ken Minehan
Written by Juliana Seah
Produced by Savitha Arumugam and Toh Shermin
Sound Design: Gryd
Executive Producers: Audrey Anthoney and Jeevan Nathan
Commissioning Editor: Shamala Rajendran

This podcast series is produced by Protagonist by M for CNA.

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Xander finds out more about the women in Chia’s life: true love or part of his scheme? As his fraud and bets escalate, he’s trapped in a cycle of deception. How much longer can he play this game? 

Directed by Ken Minehan
Written by Juliana Seah
Produced by Savitha Arumugam and Toh Shermin
Sound Design: Gryd
Executive Producers: Audrey Anthoney and Jeevan Nathan
Commissioning Editor: Shamala Rajendran

This podcast series is produced by Protagonist by M for CNA.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.