Laws in Singapore and what you cannot do in Singapore

Singapore, as explained to us by one of its residents, is a city where the entire country is packed in. And that’s the impression it gives, as it’s difficult to find undeveloped space here.

This doesn’t mean, however, that Singapore is overwhelming. Quite the opposite. Despite utilizing every inch of land, there is room for magnificent parks and green spaces. In the business districts, despite the congestion, you can find places to relax in charming gardens and restaurants. It’s easy to forget that we are in one of the most densely populated cities in the world, as we’ve already written in the previous article.

Singapore means modernity cleanliness and order

What stands out the most upon arriving in one of the world’s last city-states? Of course, it’s the modernity and an unparalleled cleanliness and orderliness not seen anywhere else. The city looks immaculate, and at every step, we encounter people responsible for such a state of affairs.

In Bristol, where we live, things are neat and clean, but here in Singapore, a certain threshold has been crossed, creating an almost sterile ecosystem where people, like ants, move back and forth, taking care of their human affairs.

Changi Airport in Singapore is the most modern airport in the world

Even the airport, which sprawls across the western side of the island with a wide asphalt strip, looks like it was created for a sci-fi film. It is the most modern and filled with the latest technological achievements, the airport we have ever seen.

Within its premises, apart from typical facilities like game rooms, shops, and VIP lounges, beautiful gardens have been created, and there is even a small zoo. Additionally, there is a swimming pool and two cinemas where we can relax while waiting for our flight.

This airport has won numerous prestigious awards, including the Skytrax award, and it has done so every year six times in a row. Similar to the airport itself, the transportation system arranged here allows us to move around the city comfortably.

Changi Airport is located 17 kilometres from the centre of Singapore. We can get there by metro, which is the primary and entirely sufficient means of public transportation in the city. If you’ve used the metro in other parts of the world, you know that it is far from perfect. Very often, the carriages can be dirty, noisy, and not always safe.

But not in Singapore. The metro, which serves millions of passengers in this extraordinary city, is as clean as if it just rolled out of the factory. There is silence, even during rush hours, which is unthinkable in, for example, the bustling London Underground.

People, upon entering the carriage, take their seats without a word, reading or looking down. Conversations are rare, and laughter even rarer. No one drinks coffee from paper cups or even water from a plastic bottle. Eating in the carriage is out of the question. Why is that? What method has been found to make society respect the city and each other to such an extent? The answer is one word – punishment, or rather, its inevitability.

And here we come to the topic of today’s article:

Penalties for offenses in Singapore

Singapore is not a place for those who like to break rules or disrupt public order. Any non-compliance with established rules carries severe penalties.

However, it’s not just the punishment that deters unruly tourists and city residents from wrongdoing but its inevitability. The principle is simple: if we are caught breaking the law, we will face consequences.

From the infamous act of chewing gum in public, which can cost us $500, to corporal punishment for theft, or even the death penalty for drug trafficking, all offences are treated seriously. The latter crime, drug trafficking, is particularly vigorously prosecuted. In the past 10 years, over 400 people smuggling heroin into Singapore have been executed.

It doesn’t matter who we are, where we come from, or whether we were aware of a particular prohibition or not. The penalty is predetermined, and we must face the consequences of our actions.

What should we remember to avoid problems in Singapore

The list of prohibitions in Singapore is long, so focus:

• Chewing gum in public will cost us $500, and selling it can even land us in jail.
• Carrying dangerous items or materials is even pricier. Caught with a canister of petrol, we’ll be $5,000 poorer. Remember that the Singaporean dollar is only slightly cheaper than the green one from the USA.
• Feeding pigeons carries a similar penalty to chewing gum.
• Drinking and eating are prohibited not only on the subway platform, but also at metro stations. You can’t even open a bottle of water. Interestingly, right after the station, we can sit on the side walk and have a drink. It’s not prohibited, perhaps because alcohol in Singapore is so expensive that only a few can afford it.
• In public places, we cannot have anything that smells bad. This applies to strongly smelling food as well as an unwashed companion.
• Walking naked, even in a hotel room, is forbidden. If a small Asian person sees how well-endowed we Slavs are, he might feel cheated.
• Pornography and nudity are strictly prohibited. Distributing such materials will not only lead to eternal damnation, but also an opportunity to tour a Singaporean prison.
• Smoking on the street is not allowed, but you can smoke in almost any restaurant or club.
• Bringing cigarettes or alcohol with you is strictly prohibited. Caught with contraband, we may be fined or flogged.
• If you connect, even accidentally, to someone’s Wi-Fi, you will be considered a hacker and may end up behind bars.
• Loud laughter or destroying anything in the city results in at least a fine.
• There are neighbourhoods where, even in your flat, you cannot smoke or even watch TV after 22:00.
• You must also remember not to spit on the street, not to urinate anywhere, and to dispose of rubbish properly.

These are just the most important things you need to remember to avoid these less pleasant experiences in Singapore.

What punishment can we be sentenced to?

Warnings about penalties in Singapore are not just empty warnings and media curiosity. For breaking any prohibition, you will face severe penalties, regardless of who you are and where you come from. Always remember this!

Fine in Singapore

This is the basic type of penalty that the police or the court can impose on us. The lowest we’ve seen is $500. It’s a bummer to pay such money for smoking on the street or crossing it in an unauthorized place.

The highest fine we’ve heard of is $5,000. You can be punished with this amount for possessing dangerous items. I advise leaving the pocketknife from grandpa safely at home.

Caning punishment in Singapore

It is not a joke. In Singapore, corporal punishment is still in use today. You can get a caning for offences such as theft, burglary, or inappropriate behaviour.

The procedures for caning are strictly defined. The length, weight, and thickness of the cane are specified in the regulations. The person administering the punishment—I don’t know what he’s called, let’s call him the executioner—uses the cane on your back or other parts of the body, as determined earlier by a doctor. Afterward, the same doctor dresses the wounds and checks if everything is as it should be after being beaten with a cane.

This punishment applies only to men; women are not subjected to it, but children are. Teachers have the right to use the cane to discipline their students. Beating children at home is also allowed. The appropriate equipment, in the form of a bamboo cane, can be purchased at any household goods store.

Jail sentence in Singapore

We will go to prison when our offence is serious, or when we commit an act many times. Prisons in Singapore are like the whole city clean, and tidy. The inmates move like cogs in a clock, and disobedience apparently does not pay off.

Death penalty in Singapore

The death penalty is the highest penalty and is used for the most serious offences. These include: drug smuggling and trafficking, murder, armed robbery, rape, and paedophilia.

To carry out the death penalty, a good old gallows is used, operated by an executioner… I don’t know if it’s the same one who beats people with a stick? Maybe… it’s not fun either way.

Human rights in Singapore

It is difficult to unequivocally determine whether relinquishing certain civil rights in favour of security and order is worthwhile, as it is a matter of individual values, priorities, and preferences. Everyone has a different opinion on the balance between personal freedoms and maintaining social order.

In Singapore, there is a clear approach to maintaining order and discipline, resulting in a high standard of living, safety, and prosperity. However, the price of this success includes strict penalties and restrictions in some aspects of daily life.

The decision to accept such limitations depends on individual priorities. Some may value safety and a high standard of living, ready to forgo certain personal freedoms. Others may feel that certain restrictions are too restrictive and would prefer to maintain greater autonomy in their daily lives.

Whether someone would agree to such limitations in exchange for safety and prosperity is a subjective decision that depends on individual values, beliefs, and priorities.

To conclude our adventure with penalties in Singapore

You must be vigilant and considerate during your visit to Singapore. An example is our dinner at a restaurant in a large department store. The place itself was very cool, themed with characters from DC Comics.

A few tables away from us, there was a German couple with a child. The little one was a real handful—rude, screaming, and tantrum-throwing. He yelled so loudly that even the plastic Batman standing in the corner looked annoyed. Imagine the surprise of the oblivious parents when they were fined after the meal. The fine was added to their bill.

Even if you try, if you are caught doing something wrong and cannot handle the penalty, remember that attempting suicide is also punishable. The consequence can be a hefty fine or imprisonment.

Polish version