# #812: WP’s Kenneth Tiong on The “STUPID” Comment & Why He Left Finance for Opposition Politics

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/yah-lah-but-1019349/812-wp-s-kenneth-tiong-on-the-stupid-comment-why-he-left-finance-for-opposition-politics
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/yah-lah-but-1019349/812-wp-s-kenneth-tiong-on-the-stupid-comment-why-he-left-finance-for-opposition-politics.md
Podcast: [Yah Lah But](https://stenobird.com/podcast/yah-lah-but-1019349)
Published: 2026-05-04T11:29:25+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/89d66238
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6a31164c2603763bbffb56e3/e/4ec264a4-b28e-4ba4-91d1-bba31b65c665/media.mp3
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Duration seconds: 5295

## Resource

Kenneth Tiong, Workers’ Party MP for Serangoon in Aljunied GRC, on why Singapore's opportunity ladders have narrowed since the 1990s, how government grants trap entrepreneurs in bureaucratic hoops & what NS could teach servicemen but doesn't. Enjoyed this one? Please 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘 to the channel so you don't miss our latest episodes. Every subscriber helps us grow, open doors to new guests, stories, formats or ideas! 𝙇𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙉𝙀𝙍 𝙎𝙐𝙍𝙑𝙀𝙔 𝙒𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪! 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙪𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙖𝙝 𝙇𝙖𝙝 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙮 https://yahlahbut.short.gy/2026survey It takes just a few minutes, and your responses will directly shape how we make the show, from the topics we cover to how we deliver them. 10 lucky respondents will be randomly selected to receive a YLB sticker pack. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 Terence: Meet River Wonders' new capybara pup & join themed activities from Apr. 3 Haresh: Why Billionaires Fear This Economist Kenneth: Aonishiki Becomes ŌZEKI: The Ukrainian Who Changed Sumo Forever 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 – "𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝘁” https://yahlahbut.short.gy/subscribe Get a roundup of our One Shiok Things & first dibs on our latest launches delivered straight to your inbox! (00:00) We're Hiring! (00:50) Intro (01:47) One year in Parliament reflections (03:01) Wanting to be an essayist before politics (04:33) Brown University and Ivy League experience (05:28) From philosophy to computer science (08:02) Consulting, finance, and entrepreneurship before politics (10:43) Why opposition politics over PAP (13:20) The narrowing ladder of Singapore opportunity (16:32) Capital access challenges for R&D startups (18:12) Why the Workers Party aligned with his ideas (19:58) Job precariousness and Singapore's hyper-specialised economy (23:36) The "stupid q…

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