'Clean, calm, quiet, and safe': UK writer sparks debate after saying Britain could learn from Singapore’s rules

SINGAPORE: In a recent piece for The Telegraph, the British journalist and BBC presenter Michelle Jana Chan said that her home country could learn from Singapore, where strict rules governing transport and other parts of public life “make everyday life a pleasure.”

Ms Chan, who until recently lived in Singapore, referred to the announcement in September from the LTA about the new rules for bus passengers, including high fines for playing music or videos loudly, eating, or drinking, and even higher fines of up to S$5,000 for more serious offences such as vomiting.

She noted how “clean, calm, quiet, and safe” commuting in Singapore is amid its high-density population, adding, “I never once witnessed antisocial behaviour, felt threatened or unsafe.”

Ms Chan noted how the UK is similarly imposing fines for antisocial behavior on public transport but wondered how this will be implemented, given that there are now fewer British Transport Police. She wrote about having asked a girl on the Tube to stop vaping and pointed to a sign saying smoking was not allowed, but the girl merely said she was dyslexic and could not read, and the friends who were with her just laughed.

The article included a chart of the world’s 50 safest countries based on the Global Peace Index, where Singapore is ranked eighth and the UK, 39th.

The writer noted how compliant Singaporeans are, and while there has been criticism toward the city-state’s overly strict environment, “Others say the resulting levels of hygiene, safety and security are worth it, and the perfect fit for high-density urban living.”

Her Oct 31 piece has since received hundreds of comments, with commenters apparently divided into two camps. In one, people, especially those who have visited Singapore, wrote about how clean and safe the city-state is. Others noted how Singapore’s laws prevent ethnic enclaves "so you don't get parallel societies who feel they don't have to keep to the laws of the country.”

Another wrote, “Singapore works because crime is detected and always punished - that’s what the UK should learn.”

“Singapore is indeed a well-run, low crime country from which the UK could learn much,” a commenter agreed.

Other commenters, however, seemed to find Singapore’s laws overly strict, saying they wouldn’t even want to visit.

“It sounds like the sort of place I’d go out of my way to avoid,” one wrote.

There were others, however, who said that better laws in Britain are needed.

“Well, something needs to be done in Britain to re-establish a sense of civility and respect for each other,” a commenter chimed in. /TISG