Disneyland with the Death Penalty

Today I came across this article on engadget.com which left me utter less with a mild case of nostalgia. Here is the headline.

Singapore teen facing jail for surfing with NeighborFi

Seventeen-year-old Garyl Tan Jia Luo has the distinct honor of being the first person charged under Singapore's new Computer Misuse Act. The alleged crime? Piggybacking on his neighbor's WiFi connection without permission. This apparently wouldn't have gone so far had the neighbor (we'll call him Mr. Wilson) not lodged a complaint against the teen. While Tan was released on bail after a grilling by police, he's facing some serious consequences for enjoying his free ride, including up to 10,000 Singapore dollars ($6,425) in fines and up to three years in jail. Given Signapore's plans to blanket the entire country in free WiFi, however, you'd think they'd go a little easy on him for jumping the gun.

Apparently a little joy wardriving has run this little minor into some deep trouble of with the law. Plus the Singaporean government was so eager to put their first sacrificial lamb on the alter, they didn't hesitate to open a can of smack down on this little poor fella. It is true that nobody can tolerate a free loader in a LAN party, but pushing a minor to be your public enemy number one for a newly enact law is definitely "Unique" in Singapore. Only this place where a minor can be incarcerated for using somebody else internet, but it's quite alright by the state to be a prostitute while you're still a minor.

Though I really have to admit that Singapore is a place full of contrast which will make "The Brave New World" really proud of. The skylines of mega structure city-state sure are the testament to their economic achievements. And now the financial market growth has surpass HongKong as a crown jewel of the Asian fianancial market. As I watch my daily morning CNBC news, Singapore will periodically emerge from the market data every 10 minutes or so, plus the bombardment of "Uniquely Singapore" tourism campaign which basically promote "be happy or die" message to the masses really bewildered me at some point. Additionally the whole society are kept under a disillusions civic obedience not by a Somers like substance in the book but by a thing call "Fine". One thing is certain, Singapore is sure a "fine" city. Everything from smoking to durians are banned on Singapore's public places, if you don't know what the heck is durians not to worry cause what kind of country would ban fruit in public places anyway(no matter how rank it might be it's a damm fruit !). To further elaborate this uniquely sadistic legal system I have listed below some of Singapore's ridiculous laws that might land your butt in their holding cell while the cop is literally raping your wallet.

Uniquely Singapore Law

CHEWING GUM - shit is that niccorate ?
The sale of chewing gum was forbidden for 12 years until May 2004, where the sale of chewing gum for medical or dental purposes from a pharmacist was approved by the government, although gum sold as candy still remains prohibited.

SPITTING - not hot fire
Heavy fines and Corrective Work Order are levied on people who spit or litter in public areas.

ANAL SEX - none here
Currently, pornography, oral sex when not a precursor to regular sexual intercourse, and anal sex are illegal in Singapore. Magazines, movies and TV shows have to undergo government classification before being released to the general public and sales of several kinds of newspapers and magazines have been banned or restricted.

PROSTITUTION - Barely legal action
Prostitution is legal in Singapore but pimping and public solicitation are not. Licensed brothels operate in designated areas, some of them catering to the large community of foreign male workers. Plus if you're looking for a barely legal type of action just set your sail right over there.


DRUGS - please don't bother to ask "Do you Party"
Anyone caught with more than or equal to 15 g (0.5 ounces) of heroin, 28 g (1 ounce) of morphine or 480 g (17 ounces) of cannabis faces mandatory capital punishment, as they are deemed to be trafficking in these substances. The stated quantities are the nett weight of the substances after they have been isolated by laboratory analysis. From 1991-2004, 400 people have been hanged in Singapore, mostly for drug trafficking.

As a result, Singapore has one of the highest execution rates in the world relative to population. Science fiction writer William Gibson once has described Singapore as "Disneyland with the death penalty". So next time you ever wonder how those future dystopia might be envision in the world of Aldous Huxley or George Orwell just pack you bags and head to the Uniquely Singapore.