The Usual Place

A recent report card of our behaviour on the road has shown that we’ve become worse motorists.

Traffic deaths have hit a 10-year high, the number of people injured in accidents has risen from 2024, and speeding violations jumped by 25.9% in a year.

These figures were detailed in the annual road traffic statistics for 2025 by the Traffic Police, which were reported on Feb 26.

We have smart cars, tons of traffic cameras and strict laws to regulate good behaviour on the road, but why have the statistics become worse? Are we just bad road users or are there other factors involved?

In this episode of The Usual Place, I speak with

• Ms Bozy Lu, a lawyer and partner at Han & Lu Law Chambers LLP, specialising in road accident claims and community law, and
• Mr Jason Lim, chairman of the Riding Safety Association of Singapore, a motorcyclist interest group. He also co-owns Roads.sg, a platform that, at its heart, advocates for road safety.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:16 Why are our roads like that?

5:16 Our devices are making us distracted

7:06 “Please make this guy famous.”

10:39 Do drivers see speed limits as a suggestion?

13:43 “My passenger is chasing me like there’s no tomorrow.”

18:54 Why skills and decision-making key to bikers’ safety

26:46 Firmer legal action needed against jaywalkers?

32:15 What kind of driver or pedestrian are we on the road?

36:48 Are we an entitled bunch on the road?

38:42 Think of another person’s point of view: Bozy

43:57 What needs to change to fix our road culture?

46:00 Why road safety is everyone’s problem

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi

Executive producer: Danson Cheong 

Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law

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]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

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

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

---

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

--

#tup #tuptr

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will the recent changes to the preferential additional registration fee (PARF) rebate and the current COE prices turn away car buyers?

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in his Budget speech on Feb 12 that the PARF rebate will be lowered by 45 percentage points.

The maximum rebate a car owner can expect to receive will be halved from $60,000 to $30,000.

If you're looking to buy a car, should you go for a new car, a second-hand ICE vehicle, or just give up that dream altogether?

In this episode of The Usual Place, ST’s senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe and veteran automotive consultant Say Kwee Neng share their thoughts.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:21 What is the significance of the PARF? 

4:21 Is the PARF rebate reduction a “stick” to get buyers to choose EVs? 

8:56 A stealthy wealth tax? 

14:53 The implications of older EVs on the road

19:11 The iPhone vs older EVs comparison 

24:11 What’s happens to the used car market now?

27:06 Most cost-efficient option now

30:36 Are your dreams of owning a car over?

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi

Executive producer: Danson Cheong 

Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law

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

---

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

--

#tup #tuptr #stwi

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conversation over the key announcement from Budget 2026 continues.

On Feb 12, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled a record $154.7 billion Budget, how the Government is doubling down on its AI push. For Singaporeans worried about the cost of living, there was household relief in the form of payouts and CDC vouchers.

In this episode of the podcast, Second Minister for Finance Indranee Rajah discusses the reason for the big AI push and how the Government planning to deal with the downsides of AI like job losses and its environmental impact?

Also joining the conversation are Singapore Management University’s Assistant Professor of Political Science Nathan Peng and the SGTech co-chair of AI, Cloud, and Data Chapter Mr Gunasekharan Chellappan.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:22 Will CDC vouchers be a permanent fixture of the Budget?

5:34 Could Budget 2026 have helped lower income families more?

10:05 “Some people don’t feel like their lives have gotten 2.5 times better.”

12:58 Why do people perceive they aren’t doing well?

18:27 Don’t look at AI as new technology: Guna

21:25 ‘E-nannying’ should stop: Nathan

25:00 Anxiety over being made redundant by AI

30:20 Healthy concern vs unwarranted anxiety?

35:25 Losing the human connection over AI

40:17 Will there be more regulation with stronger AI push?

42:24 Mitigating the negative environmental effects of AI

45:42 How to pick which AI course to take

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi

Executive producer: Danson Cheong 

Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law

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

---

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

--

#tup #tuptr

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The strong push towards artificial intelligence and support for vulnerable groups such as lower-income families were two big themes that emerged at Budget 2026.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also the Finance Minister, just delivered his first Budget since the new government was elected last year.

How will businesses be affected by these measures, and how will the Singapore workforce adapt? In our push for new avenues of growth, are there worries about Singaporeans being left behind?

In this episode of The Usual Place, I speak with National University of Singapore political science lecturer Rebecca Grace Tan and Singapore Business Federation chief policy and operating officer Musa Fazal about what they made of this year’s Budget.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:12 First reactions to Budget 2026

3:57 What did this year’s Budget miss?

6:12 Using CDC vouchers for strawberries

9:15 Are we dependent on handouts?

14:25 How can AI benefits be spread across society

19:45 The reality of businesses using AI now

24:30 High global talent wages will raise business costs

28:38 Are we ensuring no one’s left behind as S’pore purses growth?

34:51 Growth in the economy, but fewer jobs?

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi

Executive producer: Danson Cheong 

Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law

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

---

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

--

#tup #tuptr

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to charting their career paths, it’s likely most young Singaporeans would opt for white-collared jobs.

Hands-on skilled trades? Not so much.

Yet, The Straits Times reported in January that a growing number of younger people are choosing to go into traditional skilled trades such as plumbing and landscaping.

In this episode of The Usual Place, I speak with two millennials who have chosen not to follow the conventional script and have built businesses with their own hands.

Ms Geraldine Goh, 31, is a licensed plumber, who started her own business Agraffe in 2017 after a stint as a facilities management officer at a town council. She was studying mechanical engineering at a university, but dropped out after two years.

Meanwhile, Mr Ahmad Alhabshee, 36, started his own furniture company Urban Salvation about 11 years ago. He designs and handcrafts bespoke wooden furniture using sustainably sourced materials.

He branched out on his own after he was slighted by a former employer, who judged him for not having enough academic qualifications.

What convinced both of them to take on blue-collared work and become their own bosses? What does it mean to go against expectations in a society that still measures success with grades and paper qualifications?

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:50 The misconceptions of being a female plumber 

8:53  Why I dropped out of NTU to work at a town council

12:32  The harsh reality of the furniture business

20:05  30 years of experience vs. a licence   

28:35 Why modern men can’t fix a $1 door hinge

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, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi

Executive producer: Danson Cheong 

Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law

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

---

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

--

#tup #tuptr

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the World Economic Forum in Davos, it’s clear that global diplomacy has grown more confrontational and transactional. So what’s the game plan for Singapore now?

In this episode of The Usual Place, Natasha speaks with ST opinion editor Lin Suling, who was in Davos last week, and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy dean Joseph Liow about how we can work with American president Donald Trump’s conventional style of foreign policy.

The consensus was that ignoring the US is not an option, and that Trumpism is here to stay, even after the US president steps down.

As for Singapore, it’s not our style to “tahan”, said Suling, using the Malay word for endure. “Our mantra is to adapt and find new opportunities, and to get on the train.”

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:34 What was it like watching Mr Trump speak at Davos?

4:39 Is the world order “rupture” exaggerated?

8:23 How to avoid getting in the crosshairs of the US

14:14 Why it’s not possible for S’pore to ice out US

21:14 S’poreans need to be flexible in outlook and purpose

26:48 Will Trump’s moves influence other big powers to invade other countries?

29:48 “Might is right” has been normalised: Suling

32:54 Great powers have “no qualms” shoving rules aside: Joseph

35:19 Trump called out the dysfunction of the United Nations

37:19 Are countries FOMO about not being on the Board of Peace?

42:10 Should we just wait out the next three years of Trump’s presidency?

45:28 Trumpism is here to stay, even if Trump isn’t here: Joseph

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, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi

Executive producer: Danson Cheong 

Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law

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

---

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

--

#tup #tuptr

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There has been a buffet of discussion as pre-packed food for students have been in the spotlight recently.

Some schools have had to turn to prepared meals from centralised kitchens because of shrinking student numbers and a lack of canteen stallholders.

But this has not been to everyone’s taste.

Bento boxes from airline caterer SATS made the news after pictures of unappetising servings at Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) surfaced online in early January.

It prompted a flurry of discussion both on and offline, as everyone weighed in with their thoughts from the colour of the boxes – turquoise – to the dishes served to what pre-packed meals takes away from the recess experience.

The media was later invited to HCI to taste the food and speak to students, who gave reviews about the SATS pre-packed meals. The school’s principal said the menus will be refined, and SATS will relook recipes and food presentation.

Then on Jan 14, concerns emerged over food safety after 60 primary school pupils came down with suspected food poisoning after consuming food prepared by Gourmetz, the school’s caterer.

In this week’s episode of The Usual Place, I chat with two canteen stall operators, Ms Nurkusmawati Kasim, who runs a Western food stall in a primary school, and Ms Grace Lim, who operates a snack stall in a primary and secondary school, about their experience providing meals for students.

Jalan Besar GRC MP Shawn Loh, who is the group managing director of food conglomerate Commonwealth Capital Group, joins us to discuss whether there are alternatives to the central kitchen model.

Highlights (click/tap above):

​0:55 Were the reactions to Hwa Chong Institution bento boxes overblown?

6:17 Why Grace and Wati chose to work in school canteens

9:22 Crafting menus for students

11:54 Healthy meals affects operating cost

14:43 Can you make money as a canteen stall vendor?

18:25 I just wanted to kill time when my son’s at school: Wati

20:47 Why central kitchens work for schools

22:13 Why Shawn champions a model where prepped ingredients are cooked on-site

25:35 Wati’s experience as a former air stewardess is handy when feeding masses

27:24 Do we romanticise recess time?

32:24 Cafeteria model offers control over nutritional value of food

34:50 What would entice people to become canteen vendors?

37:03 “Meal prep is the least efficient way.”: Shawn

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, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi

Executive producer: Danson Cheong 

Editorial producers: Elizabeth Law & 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

---

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

--

#tup #tuptr

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh has been removed as Leader of the Opposition by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, a day after Parliament debated his suitability for the role.

PM Wong has invited the WP to nominate another elected MP. But the person put forth has to be an MP who has not been implicated in the earlier findings of the Committee of Privileges that looked into former MP Raeesah Khan’s conduct in Parliament.

The saga started in 2021 when Ms Khan lied in Parliament. It led to an inquiry by the COP to uncover the sequence of events of who knew what, and when. Mr Singh was later convicted by the courts for lying to the COP.

What happens now, and are cracks beginning to show within the party, especially as some cadres have called for a special conference?

On this episode to discuss the Parliament debate and the implications of Mr Singh losing the role are:

• Mr Peh Shing Huei, a regular commentator on Singapore politics and a former ST news editor. He is also the founding partner of content agency The Nutgraf, and author of several books about politicians and people in government, and
• Singapore Management University’s Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan, who is a political analyst. He was also a former Nominated Member of Parliament.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:47 Lifting of the WP whip for debate about Pritam Singh

5:08 “It wasn’t a good day at the office for Parliament.”: Prof Tan

9:57 Pritam vs Tharman: What’s the difference in cases?

14:22 Will there be a political cost to the PAP for this motion?

17:14 Was it the right move for WP MP to bring up PAP MP’s indiscretion?

22:23 Fatigue about the matter

25:23 “This is closing the loop.”: Prof Tan

27:55 Are the cracks showing in the WP, despite show of unity in Parliament?

30:15 Possible leadership challenge within the WP?

34:29 This issue an “albatross” around the WP’s neck: Prof Tan

41:51 Peh on why Pritam didn’t resign first

42:57 What does removing the LO office mean for S’pore politics?

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, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi

Executive producer: Danson Cheong 

Editorial producers: Elizabeth Law & 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

---

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

--

#tup #tuptr

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finding a new job may be on your resolution list this year, but will it be the right move in 2026?

Much of the job market in 2025 was dominated by uncertainty and mixed signals.

Fresh university graduates shared – and documented on social media – their struggles landing interviews and jobs, despite sending out multiple resumes.

Retrenchments climbed in the third quarter of 2025 after dipping in the previous two quarters, while job vacancies continued to fall, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s third-quarter labour report. There were 69,200 job openings in September, down from 76,900 in June, the report said.

Meanwhile, the workforce was constantly cautioned about how artificial intelligence could reshape – and potentially displace – many roles.

Will it be more of the same in 2026, or will the market turn in favour of job seekers?

In this episode of The Usual Place, I want to find out how job seekers can navigate the market and what kind of upskilling we need to make career changes.

Joining me on the podcast are:

• Ms Serla Rusli, a LinkedIn career expert who advises job seekers on career matters based on hiring and job market trends, and

• Ms Joyce Bijl, business development director for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East at ManpowerGroup, a global company that deals with workforce solutions.

We’ll also discuss whether more employees will continue with “quiet quitting” or “job hugging”.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:50 Why companies are ‘cautious’ with hiring despite better GDP growth

6:36 Use existing network instead of mass applying for jobs 

12:44 How to use LinkedIn to gauge the job market 

18:04 How to future-proof your job against the AI disruption

35:03 Trending in 2026 - move over “quiet quitting,” here comes “quiet cracking” 

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, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi

Executive producer: Danson Cheong 

Editorial producers: Elizabeth Law & 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

---

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

--

#tup #tuptr

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least four three-room resale Housing Board flats were sold for between $900,000 and $935,000 in the first 11 months of 2025. What’s driving these eye-watering prices for smaller units, and how does this affect buyers who see three-room units as an accessible way to own a first home? 

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

In this episode of The Usual Place, host Natasha Ann Zachariah speaks with Mr Nicholas Mak, chief research officer at property portal Mogul.sg, and Mr Patrick Chee, property agent and founder of real estate portal Homeseller SG.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:49 Million-dollar 3-room HDB flat to happen “in the next ‘bull run”: Patrick Chee

6:13 Who buys pricey 3-room HDB flats? 

8:34 Majority of 3-room HDB flat are still transacted in the range of $500,000

15:14 Property prices outlook

21:36 Previous property bubbles 

30:32 Does sentiment play a role in flat prices

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, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi

Executive producers: Danson Cheong & Elizabeth Khor

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

---

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

--

#tup #tuptr

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.