Singapore’s Prison island on Pulau Senang was an experiment in 1960 that was ahead of its time, and attracted global attention for all the right reasons. The first 3 years were billed as a success, until an uprising led to deadly riots that saw 4 people killed and 18 people sentenced to be hanged for murder. We cover the bare facts, but also look into the factors that led up to the experiment, the people involved, and whether it was a bad idea to begin with or just a bad outcome.

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



Credits:



Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)

Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)

Project Manager - Dominique Lee

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

Singapore’s Prison island on Pulau Senang was an experiment in 1960 that was ahead of its time, and attracted global attention for all the right reasons. The first 3 years were billed as a success, until an uprising led to deadly riots that saw 4 people killed and 18 people sentenced to be hanged for murder. We cover the bare facts, but also look into the factors that led up to the experiment, the people involved, and whether it was a bad idea to begin with or just a bad outcome.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny) and brought to you by Mediacorp.
 
Credits:
 
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Project Manager - Dominique Lee
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

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.

The Deadly Riots of Singapore’s Only Prison Island Experiment

Marker 01

Surrounded by modern estates and valued at over a hundred million dollars on paper, residents here still pay rent in the tens of dollars and leave their doors open to neighbours. Behind it all stands one woman and her resistance to commercialisation. This episode explores why Kampong Lorong Buangkok still exists, how the kampong spirit endures, and why some residents refuse to trade for a flat.

 

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

Surrounded by modern estates and valued at over a hundred million dollars on paper, residents here still pay rent in the tens of dollars and leave their doors open to neighbours. Behind it all stands one woman and her resistance to commercialisation. This episode explores why Kampong Lorong Buangkok still exists, how the kampong spirit endures, and why some residents refuse to trade for a flat.
&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

Why This $150 Million Kampong is Still Standing

Singapore has never banned alcohol outright, but after the Little India riot it built a maze of rules that changed Singapore’s drinking culture and stopped people from buying rum raisin ice cream after 1030pm. We explore the incident that sparked the law, the backlash from businesses and residents, the absurd enforcement stories, and whether the crackdown actually fixed the problem or simply moved it out of sight.

 

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

Singapore has never banned alcohol outright, but after the Little India riot it built a maze of rules that changed Singapore&rsquo;s drinking culture and stopped people from buying rum raisin ice cream after 1030pm. We explore the incident that sparked the law, the backlash from businesses and residents, the absurd enforcement stories, and whether the crackdown actually fixed the problem or simply moved it out of sight.
&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

How A Riot Changed Singapore’s Nightlife FOREVER

Long before Chinatown became known for its historic temples and colourful shophouses, its streets were controlled by secret societies fighting over turf, vice money, and influence. What began as migrant aid networks slowly morphed into violent gangs, stretching their reach from Chinatown’s back alleys to European drug routes. In this episode, we explore how Singapore’s underworld grew deeper and more organised than most people realise, the rise of infamous figures like Lim Ban Lim and “Mr Big,” and the brutal turf wars of the 1970s and 80s before sweeping new laws finally pushed the scene underground.

 

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

Long before Chinatown became known for its historic temples and colourful shophouses, its streets were controlled by secret societies fighting over turf, vice money, and influence. What began as migrant aid networks slowly morphed into violent gangs, stretching their reach from Chinatown&rsquo;s back alleys to European drug routes. In this episode, we explore how Singapore&rsquo;s underworld grew deeper and more organised than most people realise, the rise of infamous figures like Lim Ban Lim and &ldquo;Mr Big,&rdquo; and the brutal turf wars of the 1970s and 80s before sweeping new laws finally pushed the scene underground.
&nbsp;
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
&nbsp;
Credits:
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

The Deadly Riots of Singapore’s Only Prison Island Experiment

Tell You First

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