disneyland, with a death penalty.

It’s already known worldwide that Singapore is one of the countries with the lowest crime rates, despite the small police force when compared to the size of police units in other countries. The society definitely plays a huge part in the low crime rate. The moral norm that the society holds probably explains why crimes are not committed as often as compared to other countries. Overall, Singapore is viewed as a conservative country, even though it has been many times claimed that the people have been following the Western trends. Although the conservativeness of the country may gradually diminish over the years as youths these days are more daring as compared to youths back then, moral and family values will still uphold.

Maybe Singapore is what it is today, because a healthy upbringing for children is still prioritized. Although every family has a different set of values based on the religion and customs they practise, the fundamental ones are usually similar. Schools, on the other hand, strengthens and reinforces the fundamental values taught to the children. As they grow up, these values are inculcated and instilled in them. In a way, our opinions or views are moulded by schools or other education institutions and we have no choice but to abide to them because what is being taught is law. We follow, so in a way, ethnocentrism exists, because the values that we learn are right and what conflicts or collides with these values is deemed as wrong.

The definition of crime itself is different in every country or in every society. What is deemed as a crime in Singapore may not be in other countries. For example, in some countries, voicing out about the government may be viewed as a critic, but in Singapore, it is viewed as a crime. Being conservative may be a contributing factor but the strict laws or the heavy consequences that one has to face when a crime is committed is probably a greater contributing factor on why Singapore is able to achieve in being one of the countries with the lowest crime rates. The government that sets the agenda and heavy punishment is issued to those who fail to follow the rules. William Gibson referred Singapore as “Disneyland with a death penalty” where Singapore is believed to have the world’s highest rates of execution. Despite the movements done to be a less strict country, such as lifting bans to once prohibited acts like bungee jumping or dancing on bars, regulations are still strict as ever. When rules or laws are broken, there is a tendency that they are reinforced, reminded or new laws are implemented with a higher price to pay. News are published, or the media plays a role in sending the message to the public.

To say that fear is instilled in the public so that crimes are prevented is true to some extent. In the west, the people may be used to the chaos happening in their country, but in Singapore, their goal is to be a peaceful and harmonious country. When a crime is committed, it not only affects the individual, is also affects the society as a whole as social implications will surface. Hence, harmony is also achieved by silencing opinions or views that may oppose or clashes with the norms or beliefs which are already being set by the government. Regulating the media is already an example. The censorship board plays a role in making sure that programmes and films shown will not spark any negative or conflicting thoughts in the public, which explains why some films are banned such as “Arabs and Terrorism” or films on homosexuality too. To continue to be a peaceful harmonious country, films on terrorism may be banned to avoid any views brought up in the film to surface among the public which in turn may cause discrimination, while the case of the ban of films on homosexuality only reemphasizes my point that Singapore is after all a conservative country.

Like how gay sex is being banned, so are other acts or themes that are deemed to not be Singapore-friendly.

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