#862: Is PM Wong Avoiding SG’s Population Question? & The Real Cost of Clean Energy ft. Sudhir Vadaketh

Terence (0:00)

Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh didn't invent independent media in Singapore. What he did was make a bet that readers would pay for it. After years reporting for The Economist, Sudhir co-founded Jom, a media outlet built on a unique subscription model. In this episode, we talk about the question that he thinks nobody in government wants to answer. Exactly how many people is Singapore planning for?

Sudhir Vadaketh (0:21)

What sort of population do we actually want? What are we building to it?

We don't actually know. We simply have no idea what kind of a country we're building, and I think the PAP has to get over its hesitation to involving Singaporeans in these kinds of conversations.

Terence (0:35)

That uncertainty is already playing out. From the recent hoo-ha over the New Western Island, the Orang Laut put out a post.

Sudhir Vadaketh (0:41)

They actually said they weren't even consulted on the New Western Island plan, right? There was this great irony that NDP were celebrating this community for the first time ever, and then just a few weeks later, we're announcing something that even further destroys their ecology, right?

Terence (0:56)

To shocking revelations about where Singapore gets its energy from.

Sudhir Vadaketh (0:59)

This quote-unquote clean energy is having such a huge impact on our neighbours. There are many stories of villagers getting theft out of their homes in order to build renewable farms to supply Singapore.

Haresh (1:11)

If you listen to Yah Lah But, you know we ask a lot of hard questions about the tech world, but things are moving so fast, it's hard to keep track of everything with just our laptops. That's why we're paying attention to Tech Week Singapore this year, happening on 29th and 30th September at MBS. 5 leading shows under one roof, covering data centers, AI, big data, cybersecurity and even developer ops. Basically tech that impacts so much of our lives every day. There'll be 700 plus companies and 550 plus speakers, along with 30,000 plus people over 2 days. 95% of whom went for last year's show and found it so good, they want to come back. Best part, it's free to attend. Just register at the link in the show notes. And now, on to the podcast.

What's up, everybody? Welcome to another episode of Yah Lah.

Terence (2:02)

Ba ba ba ba.

Haresh (2:03)

Your Thrice Weekly Podcast, where we talk about the hottest news with a touch of what? Terence.

Terence (2:08)

Good old humor.

Haresh (2:09)

Good old humor, man.

Terence (2:10)

Yeah.

Haresh (2:10)

Today, a very special episode with a very special someone who's been a bit hard to get the past year-ish.

Terence (2:16)

Been quite elusive.

Haresh (2:17)

Yeah, very elusive. Even though he's been on our podcast four times already, suddenly the past year, he's damn no time for us.

Terence (2:24)

Because silently plotting to kill off the competition with his own podcast or so.

Haresh (2:32)

They say what? Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer. On that note, welcome back Sudhir.

Sudhir Vadaketh (2:38)

Thank you.

Haresh (2:39)

When I was asking how should we introduce you for the fifth time, you said recovering alcoholic.

Sudhir Vadaketh (2:44)

Yeah.

Retiring alcoholic. Oh, so not recovering, still alcoholic. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Trying to, trying to.

Haresh (2:52)

Cool. But yeah, this is your fifth time on Yah Lah But.

Sudhir Vadaketh (2:54)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, you know, my friends are asking me why do you all keep having me? And I said, I must be a filler when you can't get anybody. Which is why when you all figured out that I've been on every year except last year, it makes perfect sense because last year, you guys only wanted politicians.

Haresh (3:11)

No, no, you were part of our... Okay, you want me to go back to...

Sudhir Vadaketh (3:13)

That's why you were so busy last year.

Terence (3:15)

To clarify, we drove a bus to you, to interview you, you energy.

Haresh (3:20)

And I'm sure the WhatsApp...

Sudhir Vadaketh (3:21)

Because you needed somebody in Pasir Ris. We all know why, we all know why.

Haresh (3:25)

I'm sure the WhatsApp receipts will reveal that we have been trying to get you on the podcast for damn long, damn long. So it's good to finally get you back, Sudhir.

Terence (3:35)

I mean...

Sudhir Vadaketh (3:35)

No, no, no, it's good to be here. Thanks, man, thanks.

Terence (3:37)

But really just seeing your life from afar or through Instagram and everything, very busy year for you. And what Jom has been doing the last year as well.

Sudhir Vadaketh (3:45)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It has been a busy year. We organized our first big sort of half-day event called Jom Fest at the Asian Civilization Museum in May. It was headlined by Teo Yeo Yen, you know, sort of around her new book. And so it was great. We had four panels, 200 plus people. Sold out, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it was great. It was, you know, for us, sort of validation proof that we could actually organize a big event, you know. Up till then, we'd only organize smallish events, but so it was nice to be able to do that.