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My work

Below you’ll find a selection of my writing, podcasting, consulting, and advocacy work among other things.

For commissions or collaborations, please reach out through my contact form or at isaacneoyichong@gmail.com.

Writing

I’ve written for various publications as a freelance writer on sociopolitical issues. Some examples of my work are below:

Books/Book Chapters

Organising a Climate Movement for the Many in We Are Not The Enemy: The Practice of Advocacy in Singapore (co-written with Kristian-Marc James Paul). Ethos Books, 2024.
Crisis and Inequality: Social Protection Gaps in Pandemic Singapore in Who Cares? COVID-19 Social Protection Response in Southeast Asia (co-written with Dr Stephanie Chok). Silkworm Books, 2023
Guilty as charged: 25 crimes that have shaken Singapore since 1965 (credited as contributor). Straits Times Press, 2015.

Book Reviews

Undiplomatically Speaking (Review of Living the Asian Century: An Undiplomatic Memoir by Kishore Mahbubani) in Mekong Review (Volume 10, Issue 38, February 2025).

Articles/Reporting

Recapturing the reading spirit in Singapore in Jom (paywalled).
Pragmatic resistance: adaptation or co-option? in Jom (paywalled). February 17, 2023.
Student Activism is Proving that Singaporean Apathy May Soon No Longer Exist in Rice Media. January 18, 2019.
Lampshade maker keeps family trade shining bright in The Straits Times. February 16, 2015

Op-Eds

Overcoming the challenges of organising community aid in a crisis in TODAY. May 20, 2020.
Three ways to help education remain a social leveller in TODAY. April 17, 2019.

Separately, I run a Substack publication called Situating Singapore together with two friends, where we publish occasional commentaries and deep-dives, applying more incisive, academically-tinged modes of analysis to Singaporean culture, politics, and society.

Podcasting

I cohost the ‘Civic Engagement and Action’ series on the socialservice.sg podcast together with Kwan Jin Yao, where we chat with Singaporeans who are active in creating spaces for sustained civic engagement and political participation. We recently concluded the ‘Before the Ballot’ series, where we talked to experts about key election issues before the upcoming Singapore General Elections.

I have also produced and co-hosted the Climate Kopitiam podcast with teammates from SG Climate Rally.

Below you can find both podcasts and selected episodes:

Socialservice.sg

Climate and environmental issues as election issues (with Bertrand Seah) – socialservice.sg presents: "Before the Ballot"

With environmental consultant Bertrand Seah, we discuss the progress made in environmental policies since GE2020 and what gaps still exist. We also talk about the state of climate advocacy in Singapore, how environmental issues have impacted politics in other countries, and discuss whether environmental issues will still be an important election issue in Singapore’s next general election. The feature photos are by Ng Shi Wen (episode) and Kelli McClintock on Unsplash (cover).

Climate Kopitiam

EP 9: Tackling Transboundary Haze: Creative advocacy with Greenpeace Malaysia – Climate Kopitiam

We’ve all heard about the radical actions that Greenpeace has taken to raise awareness for environmental issues. What does Greenpeace do in Southeast Asia? What needs to be done to tackle the pressing problems of deforestation and transboundary haze? Join us in this interview with Heng, Regional Campaign Strategist for Greenpeace Southeast Asia. Heng Kiah Chun, or Heng for short, is the Regional Campaign Strategist from Greenpeace Southeast Asia. Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Heng was involved in Greenpeace projects such as the imported plastic waste trade investigation, and is currently focused on transboundary haze and air pollution campaign in the region.We learn about Greenpeace’s strategy and practices, such as creative non-violent direct action, and how they work with different stakeholders when it comes to complex socio-environmental issues. Specifically, we zoom in on the transregional haze in Singapore, unpack why it is such a challenging issue to tackle, but also explore some leverage points towards more sustainable palm oil production, less deforestation, and clean air access for all. Visit http://www.act.gp/THPA to learn more about Greenpeace’s campaign for a Transboundary Haze Pollution Act. #CleanAirForAllExample of a creative campaign where Greenpeace painted a mural to raise awareness about the Haze issue: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3uyJ71JSb4/?hl=enGreenpeace Southeast Asia’s social linksWebsite: https://www.greenpeace.org/southeastasia/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenpeacesea/ Report: Indonesia’s Chronic Forest Fires – 2023https://www.greenpeace.org/southeastasia/publication/66509/report-indonesias-chronic-forest-fires-2023/Latest updates to follow:The journey toward recognising environmental rights as a human right is making progress with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia's (SUHAKAM) report launch, welcomed by Greenpeace Malaysia and CERAH Anti-Haze Action Coalition. SUHAKAM will be bringing the six recommendations, that includes a call for the enactment of a Clean Air Act with transboundary haze pollution mechanisms, to be table at the next parliamentary seating. https://www.greenpeace.org/malaysia/press/59024/ending-haze-the-silent-enemy/—————————————————————————Want to get involved to stop air pollution in Southeast Asia? Check out People’s Movement for the Haze (PMHaze) – a singapore Website: https://www.pmhaze.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pmhaze/Protect Our Peatlands: https://www.instagram.com/protectourpeatlands/Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(03:58) Introduction to Greenpeace and its strategies(07:35) Overview of issues Greenpeace Southeast Asia works on(11:42) Heng’s role as a Regional Campaign Strategist and how regional activities are coordinated(15:00) Overview of the haze issue(19:58) Three perspectives to tackle the problem(21:18) Greenpeace campaigns on the haze issue(26:09) Examples of responsible palm oil Initiatives (30:30) Can the palm oil industry really keep up with demand without deforestation?(35:28) Challenges faced in organizing(38:55) Changing the narrative of environmental challenges(42:18) Bridging gap between business and local communities(50:55) The need to strengthen environmental and human rights(52:16) Deforestation, clean air, and climate change(54:29) Conclusion

Consulting

As a freelance consultant with Beyond Social Services, I carried out data cleaning and analysis and created data visualisations using Microsoft Excel and Tableau for a research project on the impact of Covid-19 on low-income families in Singapore.

The report titled “Mind the Chasm: COVID-19 & Deepening Inequalities in Singapore”, received coverage in the media including in The Straits Times, Berita Harian, and The Business Times. Click below to read the report:

I was also engaged by Beyond to conduct a qualitative analysis of their performance feedback exercise. I used Dedoose to identify and code extracts from respondents, and presented my findings of the most valued attitudes and values to Beyond’s staff.

Advocacy

In addition to writing about civic engagement, I make sure to practice it as well by contributing to civil society initiatives and trying to make a difference for those less privileged than myself in society.

I am currently a member of the editorial team at SG Climate Rally, a youth climate organisation that advocates for climate justice in Singapore. I have represented the organisation at events such as N3Con and the Singapore Independent Media Fair, and contributed comments to the media on behalf of the organisation.

I was also a member of the inaugural Youth Panels initiative by the National Youth Council, as part of the #GreenHacks youth panel focusing on environmental sustainability. You can read a profile of my experience on Mothership.

During COVID-19, I was part of a team that created the digital Covid-19 Mutual Aid Hub, a search portal which consolidates ground-up initiatives for those in need to quickly find the aid they needed. It was featured in The Straits Times.