Changes in Singapore society in that time

“My focus is on governance.”

On having more opposition politicians

On going into his ninth election

Perceptions of him as a “hard politician”

He says a serious-minded person can come into the Singapore political system and make a difference.

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. 

In the lead-up to Singapore's next general election that will be held on May 3, 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves.

Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam is a seasoned politician about to head into his ninth election at the upcoming General Election.

The minister, who will be leading the Nee Soon GRC team at GE 2025, first became an MP in 1988 and later a Cabinet Minister in 2008.

In this episode, he speaks with Natasha and her co-host and editor of The Straits Times - Jaime Ho - about how he has seen Singapore and the PAP change in the almost four decades he has been in politics.

Also, what does he make of the public’s perception of him as a "hard politician"?

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:18 Changes in Singapore society in that time

7:25 “My focus is on governance.”

17:53 Mr Shanmugam on having more opposition politicians 

40:35 On going into his ninth election: “I won’t be here if I didn’t think I could do it.”

50:42 His take on perceptions of him as a “hard politician”


Follow ST’s GE2025 coverage here:

Unpacked newsletter: https://str.sg/JGMTq

Latest articles: https://str.sg/kkXQ

Host: Natasha Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)

Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this episode: https://str.sg/8Wav

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: ST Video (Joel Chng and Marc Justin De Souza)

Edited by ST Podcast producers: Teo Tong Kai & Eden Soh

Shorts edited by ST Video: Johnboy Iype John

ST Podcasts executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

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#tup #tuptr

He says a serious-minded person can come into the Singapore political system and make a difference.
Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.&nbsp;
In the lead-up to Singapore's next general election that will be held on May 3, 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves.
Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam is a seasoned politician about to head into his ninth election at the upcoming General Election.
The minister, who will be leading the Nee Soon GRC team at GE 2025, first became an MP in 1988 and later a Cabinet Minister in 2008.
In this episode, he speaks with Natasha and her co-host and editor of The Straits Times - Jaime Ho - about how he has seen Singapore and the PAP change in the almost four decades he has been in politics.
Also, what does he make of the public&rsquo;s perception of him as a "hard politician"? Highlights (click/tap above):
2:18 Changes in Singapore society in that time 7:25 &ldquo;My focus is on governance.&rdquo;
17:53 Mr Shanmugam on having more opposition politicians&nbsp; 40:35 On going into his ninth election: &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t be here if I didn&rsquo;t think I could do it.&rdquo; 50:42 His take on perceptions of him as a &ldquo;hard politician&rdquo; 
Follow ST&rsquo;s GE2025 coverage here:
Unpacked newsletter: <a href="https://str.sg/JGMTq">https://str.sg/JGMTq</a>
Latest articles:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/kkXQ">https://str.sg/kkXQ</a>
Host: Natasha Zachariah (<a href="mailto:natashaz@sph.com.sg">natashaz@sph.com.sg</a>)
Read Natasha's articles:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/iSXm">https://str.sg/iSXm</a>
Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this episode:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/8Wav">https://str.sg/8Wav</a> Follow Natasha on LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/v6DN">https://str.sg/v6DN</a>
Filmed by: ST Video (Joel Chng and Marc Justin De Souza)
Edited by ST Podcast producers: Teo Tong Kai &amp; Eden Soh
Shorts edited by ST Video: Johnboy Iype John
ST Podcasts executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/5nfm" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/5nfm&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3iptWDheZTbc6UWH19K9Ik">https://str.sg/5nfm</a>
Apple Podcasts:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/9ijX" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/9ijX&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1FaPmmc8vEyCxKmRadKVZo">https://str.sg/9ijX</a>
Spotify:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/cd2P" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/cd2P&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2w3xb6c1ejhhdXDpghQkBE">https://str.sg/cd2P</a>
YouTube:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/wEr7u" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wEr7u&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mQ12S80ZFi9MtpS0oP5Kz">https://str.sg/wEr7u</a>
Feedback to:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wvz7&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2LPvTdnzHsUwHU7VHQNXR8">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
ST Podcasts website:&nbsp;<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://str.sg/stpodcasts&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw11bVm3kZchw4h57yIYmPUV">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
ST Podcasts YouTube:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/4Vwsa&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3m8aAMNJ7I1x71LUJyga7_">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/icyB" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/icyB&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Z9ol0eeLYDBOp1ky8QJVI">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/icyX" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/icyX&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726912254033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1t-PEBbVM8Grjm7dumueld">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
#tup #tuptr

Natasha and her guests unpack the latest current affairs, every Thursday.

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests. 

Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah

Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis

Editorial producer: Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.&nbsp;
Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah
Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor &amp; Ernest Luis
Editorial producer: Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

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