Monday, October 04, 2010

Singapore is a "Fine" Country

Ignorance of foreign laws excuses no one so it pays to be cautious. International laws are most of the times universal, that is, as long as you respect people and respect their cultures, you will be fine. But sometimes, there are certain laws that are peculiar to a particular country. There are things which you can do in one country that you cannot do in another because it is considered illegal. You do that, even unknowingly, and you will be fined. And in a “fine” country like Singapore, here are some laws to remember so as not to find ourselves in trouble.

1. Bubblegum Law. Singapore is probably the only country that bans selling of gums. It was prohibited because of the unsightly and unsanitary proliferations of chewed gums that used to litter subways of the country. Although chewing of gum is allowed, most Singaporeans do away with gums and just contend themselves with chocolates or candies to avoid huge fines.

2. It is OK to be gay, just don’t overdo it. Singapore’s Penal Code provides that “Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years”. The same code also provides that "Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animals, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine." Although gross indecency is such a broad term, Singapore Laws tend to apply this in its more strict sense.

3. Pornography is a no-no. Of course, pornography is illegal in almost all countries but in Singapore, mere possession of obscene publication constitutes pornography. Selling, making, reproducing, buying, distributing materials which the local authorities deem obscene carry with it imprisonment which may go for 2 years.

4. Walking around at home nude is considered pornographic. Singapore Law provides “Any person who appears nude in a public place or in a private place and is exposed to public view, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.

5. Keep Singapore Clean. Singapore is one of the cleanest country in the world thanks partly to its anti-littering law. Littering can cost you a fine of you’ll also be forced to do community forced labor. If you are convicted of littering three times, you will have to clean the streets on Sundays with a bib on saying, “I am a litterer.”

6. Toilet Rules. These may sound weird and a reasonable man would say “who would do that?” but a law in Singapore deemed it illegal to pee in an elevator. So drunkards who relieve themselves in a lift mistaking it for a comfort room might find themselves waking-up in prison cells. I have also gathered that failure to flush a public toilet after use may result in very hefty fines but I just don’t know if this is real and how can they monitor this.

7. Smoke at your own risk. Singapore laws prohibits smoking in air-conditioned buildings including restaurants and work places. "The purpose of the smoking ban is to protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke," said the National Environment Agency. However, the law designates smoking areas for those who can’t resist to puff. Hefty fines are at stake so be sure to smoke only on designated places.

I have been to Singapore only twice and luckily, I have never yet gotten into trouble on both trips. (And hopefully never ever). Violation of laws definitely will alter any violator’s itinerary because settling it is time consuming and expensive too. So again, better be safe and cautious than sorry. And as any responsible traveler would do, always research on the laws and customs of your destination.

Hopefully, this post provided some guidance about peculiar laws on Singapore and feel free to either add anything on the list or correct my entries based on your own experience with the country. Have a safe journey everyone.

41 comments:

  1. Magpakita ka next time pumunta ka dito! LOL

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  2. ang daming rules... sa pinas na lang ako... hehehehe

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  3. Hello. Even though these laws are weird, they have more to do with common sense. The Singapore government has their unusual way to prohibit you from doing something against their country’s interests and so far, it has proved quite effective.

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  4. Hahaha...all is fine in Singapore. Been living here for half a century, I have never get into trouble with the law. But hubby was fined once for crossing the road without using the pedestrian crossing..hahaha. He deserved it cause it is dangerous both to himself and the drivers and he never think for me and my kids.

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  5. Ako pupunta a few days from now, just to take photos =)

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  6. We can actually learn a lot from Singapore on how we can keep our country clean. What I notice is that we Filipinos follow their law when we are there. How come we can't be as disciplined in our own land?

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  7. At least there you can see how people can be disciplined and how they can follow rules/laws without hesitations... hehehehehehehe

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  8. It is no wonder why SG is sooo clean, pollution-free and environmentally caring country because of these laws that moves people to have "green lifestyle." I 've been there once, I saw how SG is pro-green in its surroundings. I hope our country does the same.

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  9. Very timely, I'll be in Singapore soon. Will print this and give copies to my friends who'll be vacationing with me. Thanks for sharing. :)

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  10. I guess I will not have too many problems in Singapore... I hate bubblegum...I am not gay...not into pornography...I am not walking nude...never pee in an elevator and I don't smoke :-)

    Can I demonstrate in the street of Singapore and say it is not a real democracy ? ;-)

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  11. What? No peeing in elevatore and fine for not flushing? Unreal. What to do in Singapore then?

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  12. Just kidding bro. Musta na? Maliit lang kasi Singapore kaya kayang-kaya ng gobyerno nila na pasunurin talaga mga tao doon. Magaling si Lee eh. Sa Pilipinas kasi masyado maraming hindi disiplinado lalo na sa mga namumuno sa gobyerno. Peace.

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  13. Oman, this post i should say is one of your best post as you perfectly combined travel and laws. lawstude trademark post.

    dami dito sa mga laws di ko alam kasama na yung bubblegum. buti na lang di ako kumakain ng bubblegum.

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  15. i wonder if Singaporeans would do all these when in the Philippines.:p

    no peeing in the elevator is reasonable. but not being able to walk around in your own home naked sounds dictatorial.:p a violation of self-expression? LOL

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  16. interesting yung#2. thanks for sharing. isama ko na tong SG sa future trips ;)

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  17. it definitely is a fine city - on the other hand i feel safe being a first-timer roaming its streets even deep in the night.

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  18. since its the only country I visited other than ours, its my only reference of cleanliness and properity. here, everythings in order. of coarse , tehre is a price to pay, but who would want a country as organized as Sg????I miss Singa[pore.

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  19. So many Don'ts to keep track of! I'll stick to Lifesaver candies. :P

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  20. No wonder Singapore is so clean. Sa Pilipinas yata nagkakalat mga Singaporeans eh.

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  21. haha. natawa ako sa comment ni sidney. but i agree with him. i never do those things as well esp peeing in an elevator. haha

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  22. The fine country related jokes are being utilized in some of the shows in Universal Studios. :)

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  23. yeah they have also the finest water in the world... hohoho :)

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  24. Oman: Certainly is good to have an idea that you would be breaking the law by doing something so innocent as chewing gum.

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  25. meron pa silang fine for not flushing the toilet! he he!

    i also considered sinagpore to be one "fine" country...until i got there and found out it was one "great" country. :)

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  26. Hi Norman! Still Mr. Lee's fine country, but moving... ;)

    Blogtrotter Two just left Sardinia 2009, but it couldn’t make it without showing you the incredible Porto Cervo and its yachts... Enjoy and have a great week!

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  27. I lile this post kasi bagay sayo. Coming from a lawyer eh mas naging credible. Ang linis naman kasi ng Singapore eh kaya kahit mahigpit sila eh ok lang.

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  28. These are the laws which helped maintain the sterile environment of Singapore. I doubt if laws such as they have can ever be enforced in the Philippines.

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  29. so informative post atty...thank you for sharing this. it'll be a good reminder for those who wish to go to singapore like me.

    we'll never know, being irresponsible for small things such as bubblegums can cost us a lot.

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  30. was planning to drop by singapore on our trip to malaysia next week pero di kaya sa budget. hehe. probably next time.

    first time here! just dropping by - another travel blogger! :D

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  31. This is a very good information about Singapore. Thanks for sharing Atty.

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  32. What's amazing about this small country is that they have discipline and they do observe and follow their laws and they expect their visitors to do the same.

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  33. Singapore is a fine country except I think their laws are a bit too stifling.

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  34. this is what we we're discussing (the Singaporeans and some Egyptian and European tourists in Indonesia) about Singapore. Kaya naman it's really safe and clean sa "fine city"! I'm not aware of the other rules, so thnx for sharing this Oman, very helpful. :) Yun nga lang,parang d naman ata makatarungan yung law sa homosexuals, they should respect differences.

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  35. really weird rules but hey, good for them. These rules seem to be their ticket to an enviable prosperity ;)

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  36. Sana ganyan ang batas sa Pinas, para um,ayos tayo ng kaunti. Sa ngayon sinisimulan na ang bawal magtapon ng basura sa kung saan saan asa Metro Manila, sana magtuloy-tuloy.

    Sana next year matuloy ang parwork ko dyan sa SG.

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  37. Na papa wow ako sa mga magagandang photos. ang galing mo.
    i followed you

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  38. fioricet alcoholfioricet prescription
    The airport is highly leveraged on fridays and saturdays.

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  39. True that! The sad thing is they survive by coming to Malaysia to do all the stuff they cannot do in Singapore =_____="

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  40. I can only imagine the penalties if caught with drugs of any sort...wow!
    I knew about the gum law but thank you for the others...I'll be sure to dress in the bathroom with the door closed and locked! (and no windows)

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