Just 'fine' city suits Aussie tourist

SINGING PRAISES OF SINGAPORE AT 40

I RETURNED recently to Perth, Western Australia, from a nine-day visit to your 'fine' city of Singapore and, oh, what a glorious nine days.

Yes, nine glorious days of using a transport system that has not been trashed by vandals. Nine glorious days of walking streets that are not littered with empty beer bottles, beer cans and other alcohol-related residue.

Nine glorious days without having to suffer the sight of graffiti left by a class of people for whom crime is a pleasure and a pastime.

Nine glorious days without hearing the foulest of foul language flowing casually from the mouths of people in their everyday conversation.

Nine glorious days without seeing gangs of louts strutting victoriously about the streets in their baggy black uniforms.

Nine glorious days of feeling completely safe, day and night, indoors or outdoors.

Yes, nine glorious days in a clean society, maintained by effective laws.

Singaporeans are very fortunate to have a law-enforcement system that is still a terror to the criminal and a protector of the people, and a justice system that has not apostatised from justice, but still punishes evil-doers.

I wonder, though, do Singaporeans really appreciate their present situation, or do they take it for granted? Are they eternally vigilant or do they believe that the blessings of today would be carried through to tomorrow?

Is it possible that in Singapore, too, righteous laws and rigorous policing will one day be abandoned for soft laws and scant policing that embolden criminals and pave the way to anarchy?

Unrestrained by law and order, will marauding gangs of criminals terrorise Singapore, striking at whosoever and whatsoever they choose?

Will criminals one day be free to menace, maim and murder, in the knowledge that if captured they would never feel the rod of retribution or the hangman's noose?

I hope not. And to that end, I further hope and trust that Singapore will always maintain its just laws and firm policing, and that its citizens will actively support their Parliament in maintaining those peace-preserving institutions.

And do this, not just for their own sake, but for us also. Yes, us also, that we may point to the example of Singapore, and ask why we may not have the same.

Chris Hopkins
Perth, Western Australia

from The Straits Times Interactive
28 July 2005