Orchard Towers opened in the 1970s with food competitions judged by Lee Kuan Yew’s mother and dreams of clean modern retail. Over time, bars, massage parlours, and underground economies moved in. We explore how this transformation happened, the crimes that cemented its reputation, and why its past refuses to disappear even as the building has rebranded.

 

Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).

 

Credits:

 

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

 

If you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

 

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

Orchard Towers opened in the 1970s with food competitions judged by Lee Kuan Yew&rsquo;s mother and dreams of clean modern retail. Over time, bars, massage parlours, and underground economies moved in. We explore how this transformation happened, the crimes that cemented its reputation, and why its past refuses to disappear even as the building has rebranded.
&nbsp;
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
&nbsp;
Credits:
&nbsp;
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani) Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet) Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi
&nbsp;
If you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
&nbsp;
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

Hosted by the dynamic duo behind Ministry of Funny and Yah Lah But... - Haresh Tilani & Terence Chia - "Tell You First" is an edutainment podcast that aims to dive into a fascinating array of topics you never knew you needed to know.

And the fun doesn't stop there—sometimes, we bring in special guests to join the laughter! Tune in for a one-of-a-kind blend of comedy and knowledge, and uncover a world of captivating insights that will leave you both enlightened and entertained.

Produced by Ministry of Funny, and brought to you by Mediacorp

The views and opinions shared during this podcast series are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mediacorp Pte. Ltd. or its group of companies.

Hosted by the dynamic duo behind Ministry of Funny and Yah Lah But... - Haresh Tilani &amp; Terence Chia - "Tell You First" is an edutainment podcast that aims to dive into a fascinating array of topics you never knew you needed to know.
And the fun doesn't stop there&mdash;sometimes, we bring in special guests to join the laughter! Tune in for a one-of-a-kind blend of comedy and knowledge, and uncover a world of captivating insights that will leave you both enlightened and entertained.
Produced by Ministry of Funny, and brought to you by Mediacorp
The views and opinions shared during this podcast series are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mediacorp Pte. Ltd. or its group of companies.

Tell You First

Hosted by the dynamic duo behind Ministry of Funny and Yah Lah But... - Haresh Tilani & Terence Chia - "Tell You First" is an edutainment podcast that aims to dive into a fascinating array of topics you never knew you needed to know.

And the fun doesn't stop there—sometimes, we bring in special guests to join the laughter! Tune in for a one-of-a-kind blend of comedy and knowledge, and uncover a world of captivating insights that will leave you both enlightened and entertained.

Hosted by the dynamic duo behind Ministry of Funny and Yah Lah But... - Haresh Tilani &amp; Terence Chia - "Tell You First" is an edutainment podcast that aims to dive into a fascinating array of topics you never knew you needed to know.
And the fun doesn't stop there—sometimes, we bring in special guests to join the laughter! Tune in for a one-of-a-kind blend of comedy and knowledge, and uncover a world of captivating insights that will leave you both enlightened and entertained.

How Orchard Towers Earned Its Shady Reputation 

Marker 01

In 2014, fifteen people, mostly Malaysian and Singaporean, spent a day painting body art on each other, running relay races, and doing kettlebell exercises by a campfire, all while completely nude on a secluded Penang beach. When footage of this event surfaced online, it sparked a national backlash, with Interpol called in to help, and a years-long legal showdown. We trace how a beach retreat amongst friends led to the harshest penalties for public nudity in Malaysian history, and what the controversy reveals about personal freedom and public decency in the region.

 

Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).

 

Credits:

 

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

 

If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.

 

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

In 2014, fifteen people, mostly Malaysian and Singaporean, spent a day painting body art on each other, running relay races, and doing kettlebell exercises by a campfire, all while completely nude on a secluded Penang beach. When footage of this event surfaced online, it sparked a national backlash, with Interpol called in to help, and a years-long legal showdown. We trace how a beach retreat amongst friends led to the harshest penalties for public nudity in Malaysian history, and what the controversy reveals about personal freedom and public decency in the region.
&nbsp;
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
&nbsp;
Credits:
&nbsp;
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani) Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet) Production Manager - Z&rsquo;en Peck (@peck.takes.photos) Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi
&nbsp;
If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
&nbsp;
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

The Nude Sports Games That Shocked Malaysia and Singapore

For 120 years, the British colonial government was Singapore's largest licensed drug dealer. Opium was processed on a hill in Pasir Panjang, that is known today as Opium Hill. By the time the system was dismantled, opium profits had ballooned to an astronomical $55 million, and was funding a significant part of Singapore’s colonial budget. In this episode, we explore how a state heavily funded by licensed addiction came to have one of the toughest anti-drug stances in the world.

 

Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).

 

Credits:

 

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

 

If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.

 

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

For 120 years, the British colonial government was Singapore's largest licensed drug dealer. Opium was processed on a hill in Pasir Panjang, that is known today as Opium Hill. By the time the system was dismantled, opium profits had ballooned to an astronomical $55 million, and was funding a significant part of Singapore&rsquo;s colonial budget. In this episode, we explore how a state heavily funded by licensed addiction came to have one of the toughest anti-drug stances in the world.
&nbsp;
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
&nbsp;
Credits:
&nbsp;
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani) Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet) Production Manager - Z&rsquo;en Peck (@peck.takes.photos) Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi
&nbsp;
If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
&nbsp;
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

Was Modern Singapore Built on Drug Money?

Twenty-six Brompton bicycles, a $57,200 government purchase, and a tender that drew just one bid. Sounds suspicious? HardwareZone users thought so. By tracing Facebook friend lists, company records, and regulatory filings, they uncovered a relationship that was the start of a national scandal. We follow the online investigation that forced audits, attracted CPIB attention, and turned a regular procurement exercise into a public scandal.

 

Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).

 

Credits:

 

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

 

If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.

 

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

Twenty-six Brompton bicycles, a $57,200 government purchase, and a tender that drew just one bid. Sounds suspicious? HardwareZone users thought so. By tracing Facebook friend lists, company records, and regulatory filings, they uncovered a relationship that was the start of a national scandal. We follow the online investigation that forced audits, attracted CPIB attention, and turned a regular procurement exercise into a public scandal.
&nbsp;
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
&nbsp;
Credits:
&nbsp;
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani) Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet) Production Manager - Z&rsquo;en Peck (@peck.takes.photos) Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi
&nbsp;
If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
&nbsp;
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

How Orchard Towers Earned Its Shady Reputation

Tell You First

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