Yah Lah But - podcast cover

Yah Lah But

Ministry of Funnywww.yahlahbut.com
A thrice weekly podcast on conversations Singaporeans are having but not saying out loud – politics, culture, identity. Haresh Tilani and Terence Chia consider every side, never quite agree, and never play it safe. Honest, informed, always worth arguing about. Subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes.

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Episodes

YLB #139 - Why Oprah’s interview with Meghan and Harry is so polarizing & “Count on me, S’pore” copied in India

We finally watched the FULL interview and we try to make sense of it all. Was it fair? Why do some people hate it, while others love it? What could come next? And does it matter to Singaporeans? Elsewhere, the MCCY announced that they are investigating a potential copyright infringement of the song after videos of students in India singing it surfaced online. Is that necessary or is the Govt overreacting? Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! Here are our one SHIOK things for this week! ➤...

Mar 14, 20211 hr 8 minEp. 145

YLB #138 - A viral nature “influencer” on the Kranji forest clearing, wild boars & SG nature (feat. Biogirl MJ)

We speak to BiogirlMJ, one half of the duo behind the viral facebook page “Just Keep Thinking”, which has amassed more than 80,000 followers and tons of viral videos in a very short time. She makes videos about Singapore nature featuring stuff and places you wouldn’t believe exist in our country. So we ask her everything we’ve tried to understand, especially the recent current affairs in the world of wild boars and forests. Check BiogirlMJ & Just Keep Thinking out here: ➤ https://www.faceboo...

Mar 12, 20211 hr 38 minEp. 144

YLB #137 - The Govt’s project to unite S’poreans through football & is Viswa Sadasivan talking about casual racism?

MCCY’s Minister Edwin Tong announced a national FOOTBALL project to encourage youths to train and go professional. It even includes a “football curriculum” for primary school students. But is it aiming too high? Elsewhere, ex-NMP Viswa Sadasivan appeared in a video released this week talking about casual racism and stereotypes. Is it too soon given his sexual harassment allegations? Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! Here are our one SHIOK things for this week! ➤ The Reddit comment tha...

Mar 09, 20211 hrEp. 143

YLB #136 - Singapore’s first ARTS university & SingPass to be used to verify age when buying beer

In the same week that the Substation announced their closure, education minister Lawrence Wong announced that the first university of the arts will be formed by an alliance between NAFA and Lasalle. But why are some people pissed? Elsewhere, SingPass will soon be used to verify ages of people buying beer from vending machines by the end of 2021? First TraceTogether, now this?? Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! Here are our one SHIOK things for this week! ➤ Publisher Says ‘Allen v. Far...

Mar 06, 20211 hr 3 minEp. 142

YLB #135 - The Substation closes down amidst outcries & the 2 women hospitalised after a spin class

After weeks of buzzing, the Substation finally announced their decision to close permanently after 30 years of being a mainstay in the SG arts scene. Some people are sad, some people are angry and some people are pissed at the National Arts Council. Why? Elsewhere, spin cycle instructors have responded to news that 2 women were hospitalised with a potentially fatal muscle breakdown after class. But who’s to blame? SAMSUNG'S SHORT & SHARP FILM FESTIVAL This episode was proudly brought to you ...

Mar 03, 20211 hr 11 minEp. 141

YLB #134 - A wild boar gets euthanized in SG & thousands sign a petition against “vaccine passports” in the UK

After a couple of attacks on people, a wild boar was captured in Punggol on the afternoon of Fri, 26 Feb. By the evening, it was euthanized due to “aggressive behaviour”. But was that really the best thing to do? Elsewhere, Boris Johnson’s decision to review vaccine certificates or “passports” sparked a petition against it which has gotten more than 200,000 signatures. But do they have a point or are they being unfair? Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! Here are our one SHIOK things fo...

Feb 28, 202157 minEp. 140

YLB #133 - SG Pastor asks girls to dress more “modestly” & the new app that allow you to “chope” parking lots

On Feb 21, Pastor Joanne Chow published a post on the instagram account of @Thir.st, a local Christian publication, asking women not to dress in a revealing or provocative manner, so as not to incite lustful thoughts from men. It caused a huge kerfuffle online, but why? Elsewhere, a new app promises to allow SG drivers to book desirable parking spots in malls ahead of time. But do we really need something like that? Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! Here are our one SHIOK things for t...

Feb 24, 202158 minEp. 139

YLB #132 - NUS drops Viswa Sadasivan & Disney drops Mandalorian star Gina Carano

The case of the alleged sexual harrassment by Ex-NMP Viswa Sadasivan continues, with him being dropped by NUS for “all projects”. He also steps down from the NUS Alumni Advisory Board. So why did AWARE just put out a statement responding to...his statement? Over in the US, the Mandalorian’s Gina Carano claims she was bullied by Disney, after they dropped her for her social media posts. Is that fair? Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! Here are our one SHIOK things for this week! ➤ Erlin...

Feb 22, 20211 hr 6 minEp. 138

YLB #131 - Australia fights back against Facebook & the Kranji forest clearing screw-up

Overnight, Facebook literally turned off their services in Australia and caused a news Australia is still pressing on with their law forcing Facebook to pay news publishers, but what does this mean for the future of internet content? Back home, Singaporeans are pissed that parts of Kranji forest were cleared incorrectly. But are the people responsible for the error being let off too easily? ONE CHAMPIONSHIP! This episode was proudly brought to you ONE Championship, who are having their next even...

Feb 19, 202152 minEp. 137

YLB #130 - The most controversial part of Budget 2021 & David Letterman gets called a “bully”

Our DPM a.k.a. Sugardaddy Heng unveiled the budget for 2021 on 16 Feb, and it covers A LOT. It looks good on paper, but is it really that good? Could there be alternatives to the GST hike? Elsewhere, David Letterman is facing backlash for the questions he asked Lindsay Lohan during an interview from 2013. A video clip went viral, but is it fair to call him a “bully”? Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! Here are our one SHIOK things for this week! ➤ Best Of 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdow...

Feb 18, 20211 hrEp. 136

YLB #129 - The consequences of the horrible car crash at Tanjong Pagar & the Malaysian Govt wants to stop sugar daddies

On 13 Feb, Singapore woke up to the horrible news of a car crash that killed all 5 passengers. Investigations are ongoing, but is it just the fault of the driver? What about the car or even the road? Elsewhere, the Malaysian government wants to ban Sugarbook, an app that matches “sugar daddies” with “sugar babies”. But is the app doing anything wrong? Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! Here are our one SHIOK things for this week! ➤ Robin Who? Robbing You ➤ Super Nintendo World - Offici...

Feb 15, 20211 hr 7 minEp. 135

YLB #128 - Should Singapore companies withdraw from Myanmar & the man who scammed $1m by impersonating Ho Ching

A week after the coup d’etat by Myanmar’s military on 1 Feb 2021, SG businessman and Razer co-founder Lim Kaling cut his minority shareholding of a Burmese tobacco company. But should all Singaporean companies cut ties? Are there even a lot of such companies? Closer to home, a man scammed over $1m by impersonating Ho Ching. Why Ho Ching? And is it that easy? ONE CHAMPIONSHIP! This episode was proudly brought to you ONE Championship, who are having their next event on 26 Feb! Get your tickets at ...

Feb 12, 202157 minEp. 134

YLB #127 - Sexual harassment, patriarchy in Singapore, & Viswa Sadasivan vs Sharul Channa (Feat. AWARE Singapore)

We talk to Margaret Thomas, founder member & current president of AWARE Singapore, and Jasmine Ng, board member of AWARE & producer of their acclaimed podcast, SAGA, which documents the dramatic events of 2009. We talk about the show and dive deep into feminism in Singapore. We also talk about the recent case of Viswa Sadasivan and his alleged sexual harassment of Sharul Channa and at least one other woman. Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! Here are the links we mention in the...

Feb 11, 20212 hr 13 minEp. 133

YLB #126 - Ex-NMP Viswa Sadasivan accused of sexual harassment & SG Condo forbids maids from using facilities

On 4 Feb, ex-NMP Viswa Sadasivan after he was accused of sexual harassment by Sharul Channa, a famous local comedienne whom he interviewed for his TV show. Since then, at least one other woman has shared a similar experience and AWARE has made a statement too. But what happens now? Elsewhere, a local condo issued a notice forbidding domestic helpers from using the facilities and people are pissed. But is it fair? Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! And here are our one SHIOK things for ...

Feb 09, 20211 hr 13 minEp. 132

YLB #125 - Backlash against Dover Forest development & does MOE want to track our kids’ web history?

A viral video of Clementi forest in 2020 shone light on development plans for the Clementi and Dover forests. But do we always have to choose between nature and development? Elsewhere, a petition was started to lobby against MOE tracking the computer habits of all students who have school-issued laptops/ tablets. But should kids have that much freedom online? Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! And here are our one SHIOK things for this week! ➤ Straw Millionaire in Singapore at Ramen Ma...

Feb 02, 20211 hr 10 minEp. 131

YLB #124 - US travellers get deported from Bali after tweeting & fake news about CNY safety ambassadors

On 17 Jan 2021, Kristen Gray, a US “digital nomad” living in Bali for the past year, posted a Twitter thread proclaiming her “elevated lifestyle” that went viral and pissed off Indonesians. 10 days later, she and her partner were deported. Why? Back home, a fake message circulating on WhatsApp claimed that 5,000 temp staff will be hired to enforce COVID restrictions during CNY. Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! And here are our one SHIOK things for this week! ➤ Alice in Borderland | O...

Feb 01, 202153 minEp. 130

YLB #123 - Sec 4 student detained for terrorist attack plans & Redditors take on Wall Street with GameStop stock

On Jan 27, the ISD issued a press release with details on a 16-year-old Singaporean boy who was detained in Dec 2020 for planning terrorist attacks on 2 mosques in SG. How worried should we be? Elsewhere, the Redditors vs Wall Street via GamesStop saga continues to unfold, but what happened? And what happens from here? Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! And here are our one SHIOK things for this week! ➤ Terence's Fav Wildlife Photographer ➤ Daniel LaBelle on YouTube If you know anyone ...

Jan 29, 20211 hr 3 minEp. 129

YLB #122 - A mother gets pissed at SAF for making her wait & ALL bicycles in SG now need brakes (feat. Rishi Budhrani)

On Jan 23, a mother posted on the Complaint Singapore Facebook page about how frustrated she was at having to wait 2 hours for her son to book out of camp. The internet was divided, but does she have a point? Elsewhere, the Ministry of Transport issued a statement declaring that ALL bicycles on SG public paths and roads will be required to have brakes. Why? Featuring Rishi Budhrani, one of Singapore's top stand up comedians! Our live show ➤ https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/53489-comedy-show-...

Jan 26, 20211 hr 25 minEp. 128

YLB Week in History #2 - 18 years after GLADIATOR, Russell Crowe says kids these days have “no focus”

In Jan 2003, Russell Crowe became famous for “Gladiator”. 18 years later in Jan 2021, he became infamous for getting pissed at a tweet that called "Master and Commander", his other movie, “sleep-inducing”. He said kids have “no focus”, but does Gen Z actually have shorter attention spans? We debate this. And we also review our fav Reddit comments from the past week. Here's the article about Russell Crowe vs the tweet https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jan/18/when-film-stars-attack-russell-cro...

Jan 25, 202150 minEp. 127

YLB #121 - The pride flag controversy at SMOL eatery & tighter COVID rules for CNY?

On 18 Jan, the owner of SMOL eatery, a local F&B establishment, uploaded a CCTV video of a random man who ripped off a pride flag on display and hurled abuse at the staff. People pissed and an outpouring of support came, but is there more to it? With CNY coming up, there are murmurings of tougher COVID measures. Does that make sense? Check out Folklory.com , our new project! Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! And here are our one SHIOK things for this week! New Radicals perform ‘Yo...

Jan 22, 202152 minEp. 126

YLB #120 - MOE gets backlash after rant by transgender student & Boris Johnson wants UK to be “like Singapore”

A transgender student recently ranted on Reddit about MOE blocking her hormone therapy. The post went viral, and MOE responded with a post of their own. It got backlash, but was it fair? Elsewhere, the British PM Boris Johnson tasks his UK Chancellor with transforming the UK into the “Singapore of Europe”. Should we be proud or is it just politics? Check out Folklory.com , our new project! Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! And here are our one SHIOK things for this week! James Harden ...

Jan 19, 20211 hr 8 minEp. 125

YLB #119 - Trump’s social media ban & Uncle Roger gets backlash about China

President Trump’s ban from Big Tech platforms has been lauded by loads of people, but is it a good thing? Closer to home, Malaysian comedian Uncle Roger got backlash for taking down a video collab with Mike Chen (Strictly Dumpling) because of his views on China. Correct move or just pandering to appease Chinese fans? Check out Folklory.com , our new project! Check out our #YLB Subreddit for show notes! And here are our one SHIOK things for this week! Manchester United is Top! Ghost of Tsushima -...

Jan 15, 20211 hr 4 minEp. 124

YLB Week in History #1: 2017 Australian Open & the birth of Wikipedia

It’s our new “3rd EPISODE”, where we look at 2 interesting things that happened this week in any past year. Today, it’s the epic tennis final between Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal (2017) and the birth of Wikipedia (2001). We also have a section dedicated to our fans’ comments on Reddit. We’re experimenting, so please let us know what you think. Be honest. Check out our #YLB Subreddit and let us know if this format tickles your loins. And here's a link to the live show we're doing with Rishi B...

Jan 14, 20211 hr 4 minEp. 123

YLB #118 - Backlash against TraceTogether’s data use & PM Lee listed on Carousell for $5m

On 4 Jan 2021, the Govt revealed that data from the TraceTogether app could be used by the police for investigation of crimes, which prompted a LOT of debate. WTF or fair compromise? Elsewhere, troll accounts have started listing prominent Singaporeans and places for sale on retail app Carousell. Funny or dangerous? Check out Folklory.com , our new project! Check out our #YLB Subreddit and our one SHIOK things below! Parliament Sitting 4 January 2021 (English interpretation) Japanese ex-SIA stew...

Jan 11, 20211 hr 7 minEp. 122

YLB #117 - Rioters run wild on Capitol Hill & the 3 women accused of whitewashing Mahjong

Trump supporters went apeshit and stormed Capitol Hill to protest the 2020 US Election results, but why is that being referred to as a catastrophe of epic proportions? Elsewhere, 3 Texas-based Caucasian women who started a company called Mahjong Line have been accused of cultural appropriation with their “trendy” tiles. Fair criticism or no? Check out Folklory.com , our new project! Check out our #YLB Subreddit and our one SHIOK things below! LongBeachGriffy - YouTube Jack Ma’s absence stirs mem...

Jan 08, 20211 hr 3 minEp. 121

YLB #116 - KL-Singapore High Speed Rail gets #Cancelled & Man Utd’s Cavani gets banned for a “racial slur”

On 1 Jan 2021, the plans for the KL-SG HSR was scrapped after SG & M’sia couldn’t agree on a way forward. But after all the work since 2013, why did this happen? Elsewhere, Uruguayan soccer player Edinson Cavani received a 3-match ban and a £100,000 fine for an Instagram comment. Is it fair? Check out Folklory.com , our new project! Check out our #YLB Subreddit and our one SHIOK things below! José Mourinho to Dele Alli: "you are so fuc*ing lazy guy" RESIDENT EVIL 5 Peace!...

Jan 03, 20211 hr 14 minEp. 120

YLB #115 - News in 2020 we wanted to talk about but DIDN’T

2020 has been _______ . We’ll leave that to you to fill up. Amidst the craziness, that are stories we didn’t cover on YLB for whatever reason. From UFOs to naked people in Bedok to BREXIT and Singapore having the biggest “masturbation gap”, we close the loose ends before 2021 takes over. Check out Folklory.com , our new project! Check out our #YLB Subreddit and our one SHIOK things below! The Queen’s Gambit | Official Trailer | Netflix United go second as late Rashford winner sinks Wolves Peace!...

Dec 31, 202058 minEp. 119

YLB #114 - Ah Boys to Men actor and other celebs flout COVID Rules & the influencers selling “pre-loved” pillows

Maxi Lim, the Ah Boys to Men actor, is being investigated for flouting COVID19 rules at his recent wedding, while Sonia Chew and 12 other local celebs did the same at a gathering back in Oct 2020. Why do celebs keep doing this? Elsewhere, a recent viral campaign selling pre-loved pillows from Influencers claimed it was a “social experiment”. WTF is going on? Check out Folklory.com , our new project! Check out our #YLB Subreddit and our one SHIOK things below! Dreams from My Father by Barack Obam...

Dec 25, 20201 hr 4 minEp. 118

YLB #113 - Singapore moves into Phase 3 & hotel staycations cause 7-hour queues

On 14 Dec 2020, Singapore stopped again to watch PM Lee announce Phase 3 starting on 28 Dec 2020. But why that date, and what does it mean for Singaporeans? On a different note, this past weekend saw check-in queues of up to 7-hours form at various hotels. Are staycations really the best idea now? Check out Folklory.com , our new project! Check out our #YLB Subreddit and our one SHIOK things below! All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur | Official Full Trailer RF Cap | UNIQLO Peace!...

Dec 15, 202056 minEp. 117

YLB #112 - Is Warners Bros killing the cinema industry? Feat Antti Toivonen, co-writer of Tiong Bahru Social Club

Warner Bros announced that they’ll be releasing their entire 2021 slate of movies (17 of them) simultaneously on their streaming platform AND cinemas. Lots of Hollywood big guns have fired back and slammed them, but is that the future of films? Joining us is Antti Toivonen, a SG-based Finn who’s a veteran of the creative industry and also the co-writer of Tiong Bahru Social Club, a local film that just got released and was the opening film of the Singapore International Film Festival. Check out ...

Dec 12, 20201 hr 19 minEp. 116
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