Singapore. Flawed at times.

Being in Singapore for these couple of days, I really like the food here. At food courts, Hawker Centers, there is a "ranking" which nobody seemed to care. I've been to many Hawker Centers and I was a little disturbed when I talked to a Hawker who got a "A" grade for cleanliness. His stall looked normal, not exceptionally clean, and I do see occasional flies flying around. I asked him how he got the "A" and his answer was "Pay Loh"

I've been around Singapore for food, trying out many stalls all over the island as I was writing a book, and reviewing some food. I get Diarrhoea at times, but nothing too serious, and generally do not look at the rating. In my opinion, If an "A" stall is beside a "D" stall, the rodents, cockroaches and other pests can run past the "A" stall to get to the "D" stall. All the rating are for show. Nobody really cares about the rating and a lot of people know that you can "pay" for better ratings.

I've seen long queues at stalls with "C" ratings, and no one bothers. Even after the recent deaths of 2 Singaporeans after eating contaminated food, many do not seem to bother as with the other government department, the ratings are just for show. Until somebody dies.

About paying for inspections, I believe it is common practice as I was approached by a man outside Viacom, an inspection center. The man asked for $150 to "settle everything". I did not go for it as my car was as is! Yet to my disappointment, it actually failed the inspection for handbrake / brake alignment. I've seen cars with bodykits, under car neons, aftermarket turbos, HIDs and other illegal modifications pass through uneventfully, and I guessed that I could have paid for the convenience, they tell me any problems and I rectify it on my own convenience.

So much for "no corruption"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know some contractor who install scaffolding and shelter/tents for fairs and they do pay "protection money". Bar owners and Pubs are also paying protection money, and not to security companies.

Organized crime, I thought was the thing of the past, and something like that will never happen in Singapore. but recently, on my unpleasant visits to Geylang for food, I saw gambling dens behind Lorong 20, Singapore Police Officers walking by and nothing happened. In the dark back alleys, there were also syringes on the floor, and I don't think they were left there by diabetics injecting insulin. I was asked "What gang I was from." when I walked by some men (Mainland Chinese)

Often on Duxton Hill and Geylang, many men gather, and I really doubt that all of them who do not seem like they work (chilling out and drinking at 6pm on a weekday) and they do not sound local. Are they illegal immigrants who came and set up gangs?

I've heard many stories about "stolen goods" appearing in used item stores, or along Sungei Road, a common place to find your stolen bicycles. Other places in Sim Lim Square, you can find your stolen Laptop and phones for sale.

My main disappointment was that Singapore felt like a safe, clean and green country -- 10 years ago. Everything has changed and though on the outside, the city is more built up, better transportation system, more international events, there are however, more organized crime as I saw on the newspapers that "Harassment from Loan sharks are on the rise". Is the the price Singapore has to pay for Globalization?

Don't get me wrong, crime exist everywhere, corruption too. And Singapore is probably safer as thugs here generally carry only knives, 9mm or smaller pistols. My only worry is when someone shoots at you, the police will deny that it was a gunshot wound as guns are illegal in Singapore.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are a lot of laws in Singapore, I feel that there may be "too much" laws and specific government agencies that deal with everything from casinos to marriages. Bureaucracy is to the max! On the surface, everyone complies, but when you start looking deeper, the bureaucracy is indeed a hinderance, and many choose to openly ignore laws and rules.

To apply for fireworks permit, I heard you have to go through 9 departments for approval, and you have to pay for each application. To renovate a house, to cut down a tree in your own house, multiple permits are required. In the end, those that follow the laws are the ones paying for it as the ones that ignore the laws tend to be out of trouble.

For example, if you buy an old house and you decide to do a minor renovation after taking over the house. An inexperienced architect/contractor would be get ALL the necessary permits before even expanding the toilet or enlarging the balcony. If the plans of the house do not conform to that which was filed, the government agent, URA or BCA would go after the new owner for non-compliance, while the previous owner who was responsible just simply not care.

I guess the culture does promote crime and illegal behavior. I can bet that half the prostitutes in Geylang are either on a tourist visa or a student visa, and none on a prostitution visa. And yet, there are some whores working there who are licensed.

It might just be the attitude of the people. NIMBY, Not in my backyard. If its not in their backyard, it is just not their concern.

--Iron Bowl.