Frankly I really have had enough of the rules and regulations.
From littlespeck:
Singapore
Toughening the laws
If you think opening up means less regulation, think again. By Seah
Chiang Nee.
Jan 18, 2006
In recent weeks, the government has announced a series of new laws
that has got people asking, "What has happened to the promise of a
grater opening up of Singapore?"
Well, apparently both issues need not contradict each other,
judging by the official action. Surely, you can be more open and at
the same time have tougher legislation, can't you?
Remember more than a decade ago, (the then) Prime Minister Goh Chok
Tong announced a serious effort to review all regulations to see
what, if any, could be eradicated.
After a while, the exercise was abandoned without much being
cancelled on the argument that people preferred to have it that
way.
Post-British Singapore has always had the reputation of being
over-regulated, a 'fine' city. Even Minister Mentor Mr. Lee Kuan
Yew recently talked of the disadvantageous restraints here, "This
cannot, that cannot".
So what happens? We have been having these toughter announcements
within the past week or two: -
1. Violent protesters at the annual meetings of the International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Singapore could face caning and
imprisonment, a minister said.
2. The government has said that legislation to protect
whistle-blowers is not necessary at present.
3. Draft dodgers to face tougher penalties. Defence Minister Teo
Chee Hean told parliament that the fine would be doubled to
S$10,000. The maximum jail sentence of 3 years will not go up, but
the Defence Ministry will now push for a jail term for defaulters
in serious cases.
4. Bus, taxi fare cheats could end up in jail. Commuters who cheat
on bus and taxi fares could end up behind bars under proposed
legislation to stamp out a problem that has dogged Singaporean
transport operators for years.
5. Teenage schoolgirls were told by police that they might break
the law if 'white elephant T-shirts (used last year to protest
non-opening of the Buangkok MRTstation) that they wanted to sell to
raise funds were worn 'en masse'.
6. A new law to punish Singaporeans who have sex with under-aged
girls abroad.
7. A Straits Times headline 'Getting tough on workplace safety'.
Those who flout safety rules and cause accidents in the workplace
will be punished severely under a new law just passed in
Parliament. Fines for errant companies will more than double to
$500,000 from $200,000.
Any first time visitor here would have gained the impression that
Singapore is full of law-breakers, not a good sign for an aspirant
world-class city.
Has it become a belief with our scholar bureaucrats that any
trouble can be resolved only by the cane? Is this a good sign for
the Republic's future when only punishment can make people
behave?
Those who draft policy papers must have an easy time, if that is
the case.
One explanation could be the government feels threatened by the
hotting up of the pre-election political temperature.
It has been apparent for some time now that the 21st Century
Singapore has become more divisive and less compliant to the
government.
The preparations for the coming election and the little controlled
Internet are not helping to bring harmony. People are devising new
ways to protest or to make their unhappiness known.
Mr. Chee Soon Juan, head of the opposition Singapore Democratic
party, has called for non-violent civil disobedience activities
against the 'authoritarian' government.
Is this a sign that the government is cracking down on dissent? If
so, will the Internet be the next target?