Megan Khung would have turned 10 a few weeks ago, if she were still alive today.

Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place every Thursday as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

Instead, five years after her death, the findings by a review panel detailed how, within a year, there were several lapses at various agencies that could have helped her.

The panel’s report came after the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said in April it would conduct a review of Megan’s case.

The girl died in 2020 after suffering physical and emotional abuse by her mother Foo Li Ping and her mother’s then-boyfriend Wong Shi Xiang.

The report’s timeline detailed what happened from the time staff members at Megan’s pre-school found bruises on her body to when the couple were arrested for murder, highlighting gaps in communication among agencies, lags in escalating the matter and a lack of follow-ups.

These agencies include Child Protective Service and the police.

In this episode of The Usual Place, I will discuss what the panel’s findings and recommendations tell us about accountability in the system, the complexities of navigating child abuse cases, and how we can do better to protect the most vulnerable among us.

I speak with ST’s senior social affairs correspondent Theresa Tan and director of clinical services at social service agency Pave Integrated Services Soh Siew Fong.

Highlights (click/tap above):

4:26 When abuse is dealing with life and death

8:12 Did the many helping hands framework fail?

10:00 When child protection is more than just hiring social workers

10:47 Supervising case workers

17:40 Why do social workers hesitate to make police reports?

30:06 How to attract new case workers

33:42 When physical punishment becomes abuse

41:35 Keeping children safe goes beyond case work

Read Natasha Ann Zachariah’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai and Chen Junyi

Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis

Editorial producer: Lynda Hong

Pave Integrated Services: https://str.sg/fgUd

National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH): https://str.sg/JPwNL

Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

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Hear from home-grown singer Regina Song, one of the most streamed Singapore artistes in the past year.

Synopsis: Synopsis (headphones recommended): The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.

In this special episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Regina Song, one of the most streamed Singapore artistes in the past year.

The 21-year-old first encountered fame when her 2024 song, The Cutest Pair, went viral on TikTok.

A song from her debut album Fangirl, it has since garnered 54 million streams on Spotify alone.

But as she discusses in the podcast interview, the singer wants to be more than just a one-hit wonder. She has been working on new songs and performed two of her newest tunes, Before I Leave and Midsummer Mansion, live on the podcast.

In the interview, Song talks about her relationship with social media and how it plays a huge role in how she operates as an artiste.

She also discusses the challenges of being a full-time music musician in Singapore, including the lack of a structured system for rising artistes.

This episode was recorded and filmed in front of a live audience of some 90 ST readers on October 7 at Esplanade Annexe Studio, as part of the ST Podcast Live! Sessions celebrating 180 years of The Straits Times in 2025.

Highlights (click/tap above):

10:23 How an old laptop and piano lessons set her on the path to music

17:30 On how The Cutest Pair made her one of the most streamed Singaporean artistes

23:13 The pros and cons of social media for a singer

28:46 Revealing personal details in confessional lyrics

33:03 The lack of a structured system for rising artistes in Singapore

38:04 A desire to headline bigger festivals and help other musicians pursue their dreams

Watch the full performance and podcast on YouTube: https://str.sg/JdzuV

Listen to Regina Song’s live performance of Before I Leave & Midsummer Mansion here: https://str.sg/MbDc

Discover home-grown artiste Regina Song at:

YouTube: https://str.sg/ieaZ

Spotify: https://str.sg/o2WPs

Instagram: https://str.sg/9PLo

Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

Host: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected])

Produced by: ST Podcast Team & ST Outreach & Engagement Team

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Discover previous artistes' live performances featured on Music Lab Podcast:

Channel: https://str.sg/7m92

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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#musiclab

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Hear from home-grown singer Regina Song, one of the most streamed Singapore artistes in the past year.

Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio.

Listen to Regina Song talk about her musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/fsHh

Discover home-grown artiste Regina Song at:

YouTube: https://str.sg/ieaZ

Spotify: https://str.sg/o2WPs

Instagram: https://str.sg/htdW

Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

Host: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected])

Produced by: ST Podcast Team & ST Outreach & Engagement Team

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Discover previous artistes' live performances featured on Music Lab Podcast:

Channel: https://str.sg/7m92

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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A grand bargain will be hard to strike at the upcoming US-China presidential summit, says a top trade expert.

Synopsis: Every third Friday of the month, The Straits Times gets its US Bureau Chief to analyse the hottest political and trending talking points.

In this episode, former US trade negotiator Wendy Cutler - who was recently a panellist at SPH Media’s Oct 9 Asia Future Summit - speaks with US Bureau Chief Bhagyashree Garekar to unpack what can be expected from President Donald Trump’s Asia trip.

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:09 On the expected Trump-Xi meeting

6:11 What China wants out of the meeting

7:39 Wendy Cutler’s gut feel on the summit outcome

12:00 Did Singapore get the ‘best deal’ out of Trump?

14:10 Seoul may get a deal, not New Delhi

17:19 ‘We're gonna be living in a tariff world for the next 3.5 years’

23:34 Is the sun setting on Apec?

Read Bhagyashree Garekar’s articles: https://str.sg/whNo 

Bhagyashree Garekar’s LinkedIn: https://str.sg/gD6E 

Sign up for ST’s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/sfpz

Host: Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected]) 

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Lynda Hong

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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Many people switch from smoking to vaping for different reasons.

Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place every Thursday as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

For Mr Muhammad Dandiar Rosli, he saw vaping as a cheaper alternative to smoking, so he decided to give it a try.

But it nearly cost him his life. Just a month after he started vaping in 2020, he ended up in hospital after feeling breathless and coughing up thick, yellow phlegm.

He thought he had contracted Covid-19, but a bronchoscopy revealed that he had pulmonary alveolar proteinosis – a rare lung disease where the air sacs are clogged with protein and fatty material, making breathing difficult.

That marked the start of a long recovery that included two hospital stays and four procedures to “wash out” his lungs. What he underwent is called a lung lavage, where sterile saline is used to wash away the abnormal build-up of protein from the lungs. 

Five years on, the memory of the treatment – and the hefty medical bill – still affects him today. Mr Dandiar, a private-hire driver, drops by The Usual Place podcast to talk about undergoing the lung lavage procedures and the difficulty of quitting vaping.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:08 The failed attempt to save money by vaping 

9:08 “It was too painful, I had to shutdown,” Dandiar on being hospitalised with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. 

10:29 The process of lung washing

16:07 Restarting to vape after his first hospitalisation

25:54 Why quitting is so difficult

Read Natasha Ann Zachariah’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai and Chen Junyi

Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis

Editorial producer: Lynda Hong

Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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Fresh off tabling Budget 2026, Malaysia is set to host world’s superpowers during the Asean Summit in KL starting Oct 26.

For our October episode, ST’s Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh and host Zurairi A.R. are joined by Tony Pua, an ex-member of Parliament from DAP, and previously a political secretary for former finance minister Lim Guan Eng.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim just tabled his latest budget for 2026, and will now have to juggle domestic and international impressions over the visit of US President Donald Trump during the Asean Summit starting Oct 26.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:57 Was the RM470b allocation in Budget 2026 a creative fiscal feat?

5:09 How successful has Anwar been in pushing for financial reforms?

8:39 Is the allocation for Sabah and Sarawak a political move ahead of the state election?

11:18 Can Malaysia afford to have Trump miss the Asean Summit?

13:31 Will Malaysia have to one day choose between the US and China?

15:37 Why Malaysians’ anger on the Palestinian cause is real 

19:38 How to celebrate an F1 win without alcoholic champagne

Read more:

Demystifying Budget 2026 tabled by PM Anwar https://str.sg/mpP6

Is Budget 2026 a political strategy for Sabah state polls? https://str.sg/wJ76g

Malaysians are unhappy with Trump’s visit to KL https://str.sg/DBc3

Petronas CEO under fire for champagne celebration at Singapore GP https://str.sg/7HoB 

Read Zurairi A.R.’s articles: https://str.sg/DCfr 

Read Shannon Teoh's articles: https://str.sg/wzyK 

Sign up for ST’s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/sfpz

Hosts: Zurairi A.R. ([email protected])  

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  

Feedback to: [email protected] 

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg 

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa 

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX 

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Hear from home-grown rapper Abangsapau, one of the Singapore hip-hop scene’s most promising young rappers.

Synopsis (headphones recommended): The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.

In this special episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts one of the Singapore hip-hop scene’s most promising young rappers, Abangsapau.

Known for his trademark sarong, he made his debut in 2019, and in the following year, performed at the 2020 National Day Parade (NDP). He is currently signed to Def Jam Recordings South East Asia, the regional wing of the iconic American hip-hop music label.

The 26-year-old has just put out his self-titled debut album, a 14-track release filled with brutally honest recollections of the experiences that shaped him into the person that he is today.

The rapper, who also performed at the 2025 NDP, did not have an easy childhood and had to deal with issues such as a broken family, substance abuse and bullying.

But as he discusses in the podcast, it is important for him to be as authentic as he can with his music, as it helps him connect with, and empower his audience.

This episode was recorded and filmed in front of a live audience of some 90 ST readers on October 7 at Esplanade Annexe Studio, as part of the ST Podcast Live! Sessions celebrating 180 years of The Straits Times in 2025.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:46 How he got the name Abangsapau, and what it means

5:36 How talking back to his teachers led to him winning public speaking competitions

7:33 On his difficult childhood, experiences with substance abuse, family issues and witnessing his mother's struggle with depression 

15:53 Sharing his experiences through his music led to a fan overcoming suicidal ideations

18:26 He wrote over 300 love songs when he was still juggling his former day job at a hospital

24:00 Performing with his mother at the 2020 NDP 

27:18 His hope for a future where Singaporeans are proud of their local artists and support the local music scene

Watch the full performance and podcast on YouTube: https://str.sg/uiSd

Listen to Abangsapau’s live performance of wow. and selamat, sayang here: https://str.sg/fwvW

Discover home-grown artiste Abangsapau at:

YouTube: https://str.sg/oGhpp

Spotify: https://str.sg/KwtC

Instagram: https://str.sg/DSEN

Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

Host: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected])

Produced by: ST Podcast Team & ST Outreach & Engagement Team

Edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Discover previous artistes' live performances featured on Music Lab Podcast:

Channel: https://str.sg/7m92

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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Hear home-grown rapper Abangsapau's intimate live take of wow. and selamat, sayang, two songs from his latest debut album, Abangsapau.

Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio.

Watch the full performance and podcast on YouTube: https://str.sg/uiSd

Listen to Abangsapau talk about his musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/sNxa

Discover home-grown artiste Abangsapau at:

YouTube: https://str.sg/oGhpp

Spotify: https://str.sg/KwtC

Instagram: https://str.sg/DSEN

Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

Host: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected])

Produced by: ST Podcast Team & ST Outreach & Engagement Team

Edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Discover previous artistes' live performances featured on Music Lab Podcast:

Channel: https://str.sg/7m92

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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A greener, climate-friendly future is an opportunity to do well financially and not just to do good.

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

What is it like to be on the frontline of climate finance and investing? To many, it might seem a pretty challenging time, with some nations and big oil and gas firms doubling down on fossil fuels. And the world is distracted with wars and upended trade flows. 

But to Ms Kyung-Ah Park, Chief Sustainability Officer for Singapore investment firm Temasek, there’s plenty to be hopeful about. Investors are increasingly looking at the opportunities in South-east Asia, a huge market of 700 million people with growing energy needs. 

Sure, there are headwinds, she tells Green Pulse hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty, with AI soaking up a lot of investment cash, plus geopolitics and policy uncertainty buffeting investors. But the direction is clear. As a long-term investor, the clean energy and transition agendas are a “must do”, she says. It’s just good business and a lot of investors are staying the course. 

And the trick is to make green investments appealing, with different layers of risk and reward that attract investors with differing appetites, a bit like a sandwich. 

Have a listen to our latest episode and let us know your thoughts!

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

2:11 You were just at New York Climate Week and the UN General Assembly. Are you feeling more hopeful about global climate investment?

7:20 What is the appetite for climate investments in SE Asia?

10:35 And what are some of the investment risks? What are some of the key obstacles for the region?

19:25 How do you de-risk some of these investments to make them more appealing, more appetising?

28:45 There’s been a heavy reliance on Western capital – but are things changing? Is this Asia’s time to rise?

31:19 What would success look like at the COP30 UN climate talks? Is the US$1.3 trillion finance goal achievable?

Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W

Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2

Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/jcvy

Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu

Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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#greenpulse

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Platform work can expand employment options and opportunities, but only with careful regulation.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

Digital platform work has become a fixture of Singapore society, with a contingent of almost 70,000 plying their trade, mostly in ride-hailing or food delivery.

In a special episode of Headstart On Record, co-host Tay Hong Yi moderates a fireside chat with four panellists across the platform work ecosystem at the Global Dialogue on Digital Platform Work on Sept 29.

Hear their views on the challenges that come with this new format of work, the prospects that come with expanding it to a wider range of jobs, and what needs to be done to make it meaningful for young talent.

The panellists were:

Ms Yeo Wan Ling, assistant secretary-general at the National Trades Union Congress

Mr Hao Shuo, chief executive officer, Singapore National Employers Federation

Mr Lim Yew Heng, group managing director for public affairs, transformation and post-merger integration at Grab

Mr Elvin Tan, Asia-Pacific head of operations at human resources services firm Persol

Highlights (click/tap above):

4:01 How NTUC develops support for platform workers despite limited data

8:38 Is it a good idea to expand platform work to other jobs?

9:56 Should we be worried about platform work eroding Singapore’s skill base?

12:04 Are employers ready to recognise platform work as work experience?

18:26 The toughest balancing acts Grab makes

Read what went down during the dialogue: https://str.sg/gTPf 

Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz

Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy

Host: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: [email protected]

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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Do note: All analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast are for your general information only. You should not rely on them in making any decision. Please consult a fully qualified financial adviser or professional expert for independent advice and verification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, SPH Media shall not be liable for any loss arising from the use of or reliance on any analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast. SPH Media accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever that may result or arise from the products, services or information of any third parties.

---

#headstart

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