What is the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill? How will it impact our lives? How do we avoid running afoul of it? Why is this law so important? Lawyer Carol Yuen, NCMP Leong Mun Wai, and Progress Singapore Party Women's Wing leader Wendy Low will discuss this mammoth, complicated law with New Naratif managing director PJ Thum and unpack its far reaching implications. This interview was recorded live on 30 September 2021.

New Naratif's Political Agenda

What the FICA?

On today's episode, PJ Thum speaks to Faris Joraimi about his book, Raffles Renounced. They talk about how the book came about, how it rejects the orthodoxy of Singapore’s history, its national myth, and how it challenges the Raffles-centric view of the country’s history. They also discuss race and what it means to be Malay in a hyper-racialised society. This interview was recorded on 8 May 2021 and has been edited for clarity. Please visit New Naratif's Youtube channel for the full interview. Purchase Raffles Renounced at https://www.ethosbooks.com.sg/products/rafflesrenounced

"Raffles Renounced" with Faris Joraimi

The Online Citizen has been banned in Singapore via the government's suspension of its class license under the Broadcasting Act. Editor-in-Chief Terry Xu joins New Naratif managing director PJ Thum to discuss the banning of TOC, what Terry plans to do next, and the proposed new anti-foreign interference law and how it will impact both TOC and New Naratif. This interview was recorded live on 15 September 2021.

The Online Citizen Banned: Discussion with Editor-in-Chief Terry Xu

Ryaihanny Sahrom is a legal professional and a freelance writer with a passion in human rights for marginalised genders. Speaking to PJ Thum and Sean Francis Han, she argues that effectively addressing crime requires a societal shift in how we define justice, moving from retribution towards abolishing the environmental conditions that create it in the first place. This, she argues, is also an Islamic approach to transformative justice. Resources to start your journey on abolitionist politics: http://criticalresistance.org/resources/ Are Prisons Obsolete? Why I Believe Prison Abolition is a Muslim Issue

Prison Abolition and Islam

Content warning: This podcast includes references to sexual assault 19-year-old Elijah Tay is already a veteran activist, having started at just 14. They return to Political Agenda to talk to PJ Thum and Sean Francis Han (Wake Up, Singapore) about their personal life journey, their founding of My Queer Story SG and LGBTQIA+ activism, and their advice for other young people who are trying to create positive change in the face of familial, societal and institutional resistance. For more, please visit this link. This episode is a collaboration with Wake Up, Singapore. You can find out more about them online on their website, Facebook and Instagram.

My Queer Story with Elijah Tay

Up and Out is an Instagram page dedicated to better quality sex education for Singaporean youth, while also speaking out against the outdated sex-ed curriculum of the Singapore education system. PJ Thum and Sean Francis Han (Wake Up, Singapore) talk to the founders, Vanessa and Vivian, about the importance of uncensored, inclusive, and holistic sex education and how it can be achieved. They also discuss their own lives and how they became activists. This podcast was recorded on 21 January 2021. You can donate to them here. To learn more and support their cause, please visit: Shop Catalogue   Survivor Waitlist Linktree If you are a business owner or an artist of any kind, and you want to collaborate, you can DM them on Instagram or send an email to upandout.contact@gmail.com. This episode is a collaboration with Wake Up, Singapore. You can find out more about them online on their website, Facebook and Instagram.

Up and Out!

Malaysia is falling apart: people are struggling with hunger in their homes, their healthcare system is falling apart, their leaders are bickering amongst themselves, and their parliament is failing to hold those leaders accountable. How did a prosperous country end up in such dire straits? Lim Wei Jiet, a human rights lawyer, speaks to PJ Thum and Sean Francis Han (Wake Up, Singapore) about the ongoing humanitarian and political crises in Malaysia, how it happened, and where it might go. They also discuss lessons that Singapore can draw from this and how Singaporeans can help their Malaysian brothers and sisters. This interview was recorded on 27 July 2021 For more information on how you can help, please visit this website. This episode is a collaboration with Wake Up, Singapore. You can find out more about them online on their website, Facebook and Instagram.

The Quadruple Crisis in Malaysia - and Lessons For Singapore

Aleesha Khan works on sexual violence and mental health in Singapore and she runs Self_ally, an Instagram page which provides resources to survivors of trauma and abuse. She talks to PJ Thum and Sean Francis Han (Wake Up, Singapore) about her life story, her activism, and her work. They discuss some of the psychology of racism in Singapore, from both the viewpoint of those who perpetuate racism and those who experience it, and what might be done about it. This episode is a collaboration with Wake Up, Singapore. You can find out more about them online on their website, Facebook and Instagram. For more, please see instagram.com/self_ally

Racism and Group Psychology

Content warning: This podcast includes references to suicide. Shaza Ishak is the managing director of Teater Ekamatra, Singapore's only ethnic minority theatre company. She talks with Sean Francis Han (Wake Up Singapore) and PJ Thum about her life story and the challenges she faced as a female Indian Muslim professional in Singapore. They go into detail about Teater Ekamatra, minority representation, and its unique role in Singapore; and, more broadly, the role and sustainability of the arts in the country, and how it can survive and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more and support Teater Ekamatra, please visit ekamatra.org.sg/ This episode is a collaboration with Wake Up, Singapore. You can find out more about them online on their website, Facebook and Instagram.

What is Minority Theatre?

Trigger Warning: Sexual violence and self-harm At seven, Devika Satheesh Panicker was sexually assaulted. After a year of abuse, her parents learnt of the matter and the perpetrator was arrested and incarcerated. Yet this was only the beginning of a long journey for her, first as a survivor and subsequently as an advocate for sexual violence awareness. Sean Francis Han (Wake Up Singapore) and PJ Thum talk to her about her life and experiences, her career and advocacy, and her experience as an actress and Vasantham beauty pageant winner. In particular, she discusses the issues and challenges around sexual violence in Singapore (particularly around the issue of consent) and provides crucial advice for how to listen and help survivors. This episode is a collaboration with Wake Up, Singapore. You can find out more about them online on their website, Facebook and Instagram.

Devika Panicker: Actress and Advocate

Heckin' Unicorn sells subtle & unique LGBTQIA+ merchandise, such as enamel pins, socks, and notebooks, that allow people to express their identity. Its founder, Teo Yu Sheng, talks to PJ Thum and Sean Francis Han (Wake Up Singapore) about the origins of Heckin' Unicorn, its ethos and mission, his personal journey, and how he reconciles capitalism and activism. They also discuss his personal philosophy, the Unicorn Library, and his hopes for the future. This episode is a collaboration with Wake Up, Singapore. You can find out more about them online on their website, Facebook and Instagram.

Heckin' Unicorn and the Business of Activism

Min Cheong and Jufri Salim of the Singapore Democratic Party sit down with Sean Francis Han (Wake Up Singapore) and PJ Thum to talk about why they decided to join politics, what they hope to achieve, and their vision for Singapore. They also talk about the evolving challenges of politics in Singapore, the false dichotomy between democratic values and "bread and butter" issues, and about housing, inequality, and education policy. About the SDP: yoursdp.org This podcast has been edited for clarity. For the full interview, please visit our website to watch the Youtube video. This episode is a collaboration with Wake Up, Singapore. You can find out more about them online on their website, Facebook and Instagram.

The SDP's Young and Women Democrats

Innovative musician and activist Subhas Nair released his new album, Tabula Rasa/Tak Boleh Rasa, direct to fans via Telegram. He talks to Sean Francis Han (Wake Up Singapore) and PJ Thum about the music on this album, unpacks its complex commentary of politics and society, and explains his decision to bypass conventional distribution channels - even streaming platforms - to sell his music direct to his audience. To purchase the album: https://subhasmusic.com/tabularasa

Tabula Rasa/Tak Boleh Rasa, by Subhas Nair

Jolene Tan is author of "After The Inquiry", a new novel on censorship, propaganda, idealism, and everyday authoritarianism in Singapore. She discusses the novel with PJ Thum, and they go into detail in particular about the protagonist, Teck, and what the novel might reveal about Singapore. In the non-spoiler discussion, they delve into depth about the unseen forces which shape how Singaporeans think and act; how certain values are replicated by the incentive structures of the system; and her authorial process. This interview has been edited for clarity. Please watch the Youtube video above for the full version, which includes the spoiler discussion, in which they dive deeper into the plot and ending. You can purchase the novel at https://www.ethosbooks.com.sg/collections/latest/products/after-the-inquiry Learn more about Jolene at https://jolenetan.org/

"After the Inquiry", With Author Jolene Tan

The Substation, Singapore's foremost experimental arts space, is due to be evicted from its building. Its board consequently and controversially decided to close the space. T. Sasitharan, former Artistic Director of The Substation (1996-2000) joins PJ Thum and Sean Francis Han to talk about The Substation, its importance, and the problem with how the arts are funded and censored in Singapore. They address the disingenuous nature of how the National Arts Council represented the Substation issue, and more broadly exchange thoughts about why the arts are important to Singapore's future. This episode is a collaboration with Wake Up, Singapore. You can find out more about them online on their website, Facebook and Instagram.

The Substation and the Control of the Arts in Singapore

A fortnightly discussion on Singapore politics and current affairs, featuring Kirsten Han, PJ Thum, and guests, brought to you by New Naratif.

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New Naratif's Political Agenda

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