Amplified Opposition Voices Fuel Singapore's Podcasting Revolution

In the throbbing heart of Singapore, the city-state famed for its affluence and strict media regulations, a new wave of uncensored conversations is brewing. Podcasts like Yah Lah But, a show that plunges into Singapore's politics, are promising "the unvarnished truth" in a country where domestic media is tightly controlled by the government and self-censorship is rampant.

This podcast, and others like it, are part of a burgeoning movement, providing a much-needed alternative perspective on the May 3 polls. Host Terence Chia asserts, "We're not scared. There's a desire to really hear different voices."

Despite Singapore's reputation as a modern global hub, Reporters Without Borders ranks it 126th out of 180 countries in terms of media freedom. The city-state's media landscape is dominated by players linked to the government, which critics argue are too pro-establishment.

On the contrary, mainstream election coverage of the opposition has improved over the past decade. However, independent platforms like Yah Lah But refuse to sugarcoat their guests' opinions. Co-host Haresh Tilani emphasizes, "We don't just bash the establishment. We, in fact, challenge them."

Ahead of the election, Yah Lah But has shifted its focus to political topics, offering long interviews with politicians from both sides of the aisle. These candid conversations provide a glimpse into the personalities behind the political figures. Tilani notes, "In parliament, rallies, and in mainstream media you see one side of them, but podcasts allow you to see the human side of them."

The Singaporean ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has held power since 1959 and is expected to win the May 3 election. However, the opposition has made significant strides in recent years, prompting the election to be seen as a referendum on PAP's popularity. Despite podcasts' niche reach, they have become an essential platform for non-ruling party players, like the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), whose chairman, Paul Tambyah, believes they offer "a better platform than mainstream outlets."

SDP leader Chee Soon Juan has never been invited for a long-form interview by mainstream media in his three decades in politics. In contrast, he was on The Daily Ketchup, another breakout podcast, for nearly an hour and a half. Chee lamented that "mainstream media just won't engage in that sense."

Legacy media's biggest problem, according to veteran former editor P.N. Balji, is the government's control over it. Balji doubts that even if the government opens up, media would know what to do. "They've been used to a certain style of reporting," Balji cautions.

With the podcast microphones finally on, the opposition is not wasting time. When Workers' Party's rookie candidate Harpreet Singh appeared on Yah Lah But, his hour-long episode attracted almost 100,000 views in two weeks - a significant milestone for a long-form interview in tiny Singapore. "This is literally the first time I've heard this man speak, but [he] has completely won me over," commented one listener.

Podcasts are indeed providing a platform for the opposition to reach a wider audience. According to Cherian George, a Singapore politics and media expert, "Podcasts have greatly expanded the opposition's access to the public, and their presence also pressured the mainstream media to take down their pro-establishment bias a notch."

Indeed, Yah Lah But's hosts believe that podcasts will play a larger role in Singapore's political discourse in the future. Chia believes, "Podcasts are really providing the platform to ask really tough questions that the mainstream media isn't able to ask." The future of political discourse in Singapore seems to be increasingly shifting towards the airwaves of podcasts, offering new avenues for open dialogues and unfiltered political discussions.

Singaporeans are turning to podcasts as an alternative source of democratic news and discussions, bypassing the government's tight control on domestic media. Yah Lah But, a popular podcast, is promising "the unvarnished truth" and becoming a vital platform for the opposition, as they strive to reach a wider audience in the lead-up to the 2025 general elections. The increased presence of podcasts in Singapore's political discourse is pressuring mainstream media to address their pro-establishment bias, potentially leading to a shift in the future of political discussions in the city-state.