Singapore in a fine state, no joke

(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-07 14:42

Were he to visit Singapore today, founder Sir Stamford Raffles would be pleased. His vision for the transformation of the once swamp-covered island into a modern business mecca is complete.

Singapore is a country of many contrasts. Hi-tech skyscrapers soar among picturesque old buildings while people remain steeped in ancient traditions despite living in one of the most advanced countries in the world.

Here visitors can step back in time among the beautiful architecture of the colonial past but they will find the real heart and soul of the city in the ethnic quarters of Chinatown, Arab Street and Little India.

And nature lovers will be surprised at the many pockets of green in the city's public parks, gardens and nature reserves that soften the concrete jungle.

For people like me visiting the city-state for the first time, the country is at first glance a much cleaner and smaller version of Shanghai.

But when I landed at Changi Airport I quickly realized I was in Singapore.

I was handed an immigration form with the words "Warning! Death to Drug Traffickers Under Singapore Law" and it gave me a moment of panic about the asthma medication in my bag.

A common joke about this city-state is that Singapore is a "fine" country. But drug trafficking is just the tip of the iceberg. This tropical island nation has fines for almost everything - grafitti, eating and drinking on public transport, littering, illegal parking, spitting, urinating, roller skating, smoking, jaywalking and more.

Gosh! If Shanghai implemented those regulations, many would soon go bankrupt or it would quickly become the richest city in the world.

By the way, it's not true that gum-chewing is illegal in Singapore. Only selling gum in the country is illegal. People are free to chew but they have to import it, or get it by prescription.

People might say Singapore is staid or strait-laced, but I say it is manicured, efficient and orderly.

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