Singapopre Toughening the Laws

• lotus999

  19 Jan 06, 22:14

  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?
  
• Salman

  19 Jan 06, 23:01

  I agree with 1, 2 and 6.
  
  Disagree with 5.
  
  As for 3, 4 & 7, present laws are already adequate, its the enforcement that is the problem, so no need to overkill. Very stupid of the govt.
  
  One question though. How do you enforce no.6?
  
  
• pikamaster

  19 Jan 06, 23:35

  Originally posted by Salman:

  I agree with 1, 2 and 6.
  
  Disagree with 5.
  
  As for 3, 4 & 7, present laws are already adequate, its the enforcement that is the problem, so no need to overkill. Very stupid of the govt.
  
  One question though. How do you enforce no.6?
  
  

  You enforce no. 6 (if I remember correctly) by installing snoop police in those hotspots and catchign any single who goes to those places.
• iveco

  21 Jan 06, 12:56

  Salman, you think whistle-blowers don't deserve protection, do you? The NKF saga has shown otherwise.
• ndmmxiaomayi

  21 Jan 06, 23:12

  Originally posted by Salman:

  I agree with 1, 2 and 6.
  
  Disagree with 5.
  
  As for 3, 4 & 7, present laws are already adequate, its the enforcement that is the problem, so no need to overkill. Very stupid of the govt.
  
  One question though. How do you enforce no.6?
  
  

  If you know the drug abuse law, you should know that no. 6 could be enforced.
  
  Extracted from CNB:
  
  

  
  Drug Consumption Outside Singapore
  
  In July 1998, a new provision was made in the law to treat consumption of drugs outside Singapore by a citizen or permanent resident as if the offence took place in Singapore. Before this provision, offenders were able to defend themselves by claiming that they had consumed the drugs overseas. With the amendment, a Singapore Citizen or PR whose urine is tested positive for controlled drugs cannot claim consumption overseas as a defence.

• iveco

  22 Jan 06, 14:10

  How does CNB know if someone consumed drugs abroad? Most of the time offenders were busted due to random urine tests. Others may have slipped through.
• LazerLordz

  23 Jan 06, 01:45

  Originally posted by iveco:

  How does CNB know if someone consumed drugs abroad? Most of the time offenders were busted due to random urine tests. Others may have slipped through.

  Drugs take time to rid itself from your system.
  
  Most take from 6 mths to 1 year.Plan carefully if you wish to consume drugs.