Singapore: The Uncovered Truth

Chris Hussey and Jonas Goode

Background

Singapore may seem like the perfect country: clean imported water, a safe atmosphere, a clean environment, and a successful business hub. The country has been rated the world’s fourth largest foreign exchange trading center and is 6th in the world in terms of GDP per capita. In addition, the country is a cultural melting pot with four official languages, and around 5.2 million people using public transportation—buses, trains and cabs—daily, on the island inhabited by 4.6 million. On the surface, the Lion City seems like the perfect country, but underneath lies a censored, fear loving, country poverty-stricken with secrets.

All media in Singapore is controlled by the government, which is wholly in the hands of the dictating political party, People’s Action Party (PAP). The government censors racial, sexual, political, and religious issues in movies, radio, television, newspapers, magazines and books. All films must go through Singapore’s MDA (Media Development Authority) for ratings and editing which include American Pie, Zoolander, and Lust, Caution which were heavily edited or banned. Moreover, all radio and television programs must be pre-recorded and viewed in advance to make sure unsuitable content has been omitted. For live shows, extra caution is taken to prevent any tension that may arise. When it comes to publications, it is extremely difficult to censor each and every article before it hits the press. In the past, many writers have been able to criticize the Singaporean government, but not without consequence. For example, Warren Fernandez’s book Thinking Allowed? is a collection of news articles criticizing Singapore. Catherine Lim, a well-known Singaporean writer, has been banned from publishing anything in Singapore as a result of her constant criticism of the government. Because of those harsh consequences Singaporean writers have succumbed to self-censorship in fear of government intervention.

Singapore means the lion city when the feared city should be its name. Writers censor themselves because they know how much the government can do to ruin their lives; they can be jailed, fined and possibly exiled from the country. But writers are not the only one who are afraid—almost every Singaporean lives in fear and if not, should be. The government still carries out the death penalty…they are not rookies at this. “The chief executioner, Darshan Singh, said that he has executed more than 850 people during his service from 1959 using the phrase: "I am going to send you to a better place than this. God bless you." This included 18 people on one day, using three ropes at a time. Singh also said that he has hanged 7 people within 90 minutes.” In fact, Singapore had the highest execution rate per-capita in the world from 1994-1999 with 13.57 executions per one million people—Saudi Arabia followed with 4.65. In addition to the death penalty, Singaporeans fear living in poverty, which has led to prostitution, drug laundering and suicide.

It is believed that Singapore is a rich country and takes care of its people; however, many of its citizens are living in poverty. Here, there are two types of people: the extremely rich and the extremely poor—two ends of the spectrum. The upper class society lives downtown in either lavish private apartments or houses while the lower class (85% of population) live in Housing Development Board (HDB) Flats. These HDB Flats are referred to ‘pimped out’ communist housing blocks from the old Soviet Union. Moreover, when tourists come to Singapore, they comment on the cleanliness and lack of beggars in all areas; the reason that beggars are rare is that the Destitute Persons Service conducts raids and picks up any vagrants that can be found. In general, these vagabonds are the elderly who have no one to take care of them and have no opportunities to work or get involved in other things. The reason the majority of these beggars are not part of the younger generation is because they fear that lifestyle and turn to prostitution, drug laundering and sadly, suicide. Prostitution in Singapore is not illegal but only at licensed brothels can this occur; street prostitution is illegal. In addition, people may become involved with drug laundering which is a very profitable yet risky activity. These two alternatives to living in poverty allow for a ‘better’ life to some people—the profit does not amount for the risks. Finally, when it comes to suicide, Singapore ranks quite high in the international circuit. On average, one person takes his/her own life a day, and with every one successful suicide attempt, seven unsuccessful ones have occurred. Due to the fear of poverty, Singaporeans become involved in not only these three alternatives but others as well.

This country may seem like a jewel in the middle of a third-world South East Asia but it too can show glimpses of poverty, dictatorship and fear. Many attempts for solving these issues have failed—the Singapore Democratic Party for example. Without rights, the Singaporeans will always have these issues.

Issue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svyb1DBhXu8 (Part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfIsfmvwGNk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfIsfmvwGNk (Part 2)

Solutions

If you ask most people in Singapore if there is need for change, most would reply negatively. The reasons for this are because the country is very successful and most citizens are living fine…but it might be possibly in fear of what the government will say in response. There is no mass poverty in Singapore but glimpses of it can be seen—indirect poverty: trash picking, begging and the homeless. Singapore is solving these problems everyday by picking up the homeless and beggars and helping them out. When talking about the death penalty, Singapore may consider lessening the punishment for drug trafficking. According to a criminal lawyer, the death penalty for drugs is too severe and is a violation of human rights…the right to live. In Singapore, it may be too risky to try and have the government change their death penalty policies. It might be too risky because the PAP may come after those who oppose them, something they have done in the past. In all, it might be too late or too early for a change in political party. Maybe in the future, not the near future, there will be a change in government that will possibly result in improvement of this country; however, at the moment, most people will say that there is no need for change in Singapore.

Bibliography

1) “Human rights in Singapore” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Singapore>

2) “Censorship in Singapore” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Singapore>

3) “Capital Punishment in Singapore” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Singapore>

4) “Singapore” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore>

5) “Poverty in Singapore” FocusSingapore

<http://www.focussingapore.com/information-singapore/singapore-poverty.html>

6) “Poverty in Singapore” Singapore Democrats: Truth About

<http://yoursdp.org/truth-about/poverty-in-Singapore>

7) “The Media” Singapore Democrats: Truth About

<http://yoursdp.org/truth-about/media>

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