Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

As more Singaporeans approach retirement age, some are finding ways to stay in the workforce without committing to another full-time role.

Fractional work offers one such option, allowing experienced professionals to take on part-time or project-based roles while continuing to contribute their expertise.

At 65, Vipin Jain chose to continue working fractionally after 15 years as a regional sales director at the same multinational.

The move came with a pay cut, but offered him greater flexibility than a conventional full-time role.

On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Vipin Jain, Strategic Business Advisor at Stellent Networks, about his decision to pursue fractional work and whether it offers a viable alternative to traditional retirement.

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Singapore’s MRT network has hit a record high in reliability, with trains travelling an average of 3.38 million train-kilometres between failures in the 12 months ending September.

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Terence Fan, Assistant Professor of Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship at Singapore Management University, about what the latest figures reveal about MRT reliability, whether commuters are seeing real improvements in their daily journeys, and how much confidence we should place in these numbers after years of major disruptions.

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Changi Airport has been named the World’s Best Airport for a record 14th time, but one tourist’s complaint about its carpeted floors has sparked a debate online.

While she says the carpets make it difficult to manoeuvre luggage, Singaporeans have been quick to defend the airport’s design, which helps reduce noise and create a calmer environment.

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada discuss why the complaint struck a nerve, whether Singaporeans are too protective of things we’re proud of, and what really makes or breaks the airport experience.

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Singapore’s central bank is keeping monetary policy unchanged, even as it warns that inflation could remain elevated well into 2027 amid persistent energy price pressures linked to the Iran war.

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Sheana Yue, Senior Economist for Macro Forecasting at Oxford Economics, to find out why the Monetary Authority of Singapore is holding its current stance, how much a stronger Singdollar can do to cushion rising import costs, and when consumers might see some relief.

With Singapore’s economy growing 5.4% year on year in the third quarter, largely driven by technology-related sectors, they also examine why strong economic growth may not translate into relief for households, and what lies ahead for inflation and the cost of living.

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In a world of instant gratification, some young people are finding fulfilment in hobbies that demand time, patience and skill. From mechanical watchmaking to other traditional crafts, could a generation raised on speed be learning to slow down?

On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Tristan Ho, founder of Singaporean watch label LOTH, about his journey into horology while working full-time as a biomedical research assistant.

We explore what draws younger people to traditional crafts, whether these pursuits offer an alternative to the pressure for instant results, and what it takes to turn a slow-burning passion into a business.

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Would you be allowed to work from Bali, Bangkok or even Singapore if your company says you can work from home?

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada discuss whether employees should be allowed to work remotely from another country, as long as they get the job done.

The conversation takes a turn with the case of an Australian currency trader who was fired after allegedly working from Singapore without his employer’s approval, despite being told he could not relocate there. He later won an unfair-dismissal case, although the commission found there were valid grounds for his dismissal and awarded him no compensation.

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From November 2027, all full-time preschool teachers in Singapore will be guaranteed at least two hours of non-teaching time each week, giving them dedicated time to plan lessons, prepare resources, document children’s development and engage with parents.

The move comes as workload remains the top factor affecting preschool educators’ well-being, according to an ECDA survey released in August.

But with some centres already stretched for manpower, how will the new requirement work on the ground? And will two hours a week be enough to ease teachers’ workload and improve the quality of care for children?

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Su Fen Cheong, Founder and CEO of Preschool Market and Associate Faculty at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, to find out more. 

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Have you ever experienced a lift breakdown in your HDB block?

Both lifts at Block 516 Bedok North Avenue 2 broke down on October 4, leaving residents to climb multiple flights of stairs for hours.

One lift had already been out of service for more than a week before the second lift failed, raising concerns about the impact on elderly residents and those with mobility issues.

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada discuss the incident and how residents cope when lifts break down.

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Singapore plans to roll out a new national system in 2027 to block access to websites linked to phishing and malware, as part of its refreshed cybersecurity strategy.

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr. Weihan Goh, Associate Professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology, about how the Protective Domain Name Service will work and whether it can offer meaningful protection against cyber threats.

With malware-infected computer systems detected in Singapore more than doubling from about 117,000 in 2024 to over 284,000 in 2025, they also examine how AI is changing the cyber threat landscape and whether this new approach can help Singapore get ahead of increasingly sophisticated attacks. 

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Stocks, crypto and digital investments might be what you associate with Gen Z, but two young Singaporeans are making a case for something more traditional: gold and silver.

On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Big Bullion co-founders Charmaine Chua and Ian Chan about building a precious metals business in their mid-20s, from starting out online to opening a physical store at Golden Mile Tower.

They also discuss the growing interest in gold and silver among younger Singaporeans, why these traditional assets are catching their attention, and what this reveals about how Gen Z approaches investing and financial security.

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