SINGAPORE - The Perfect Yet Most Disturbing Dystopia

*Bureaucratic 1:24 Sorry guys, me no good at English

As a Singaporean, I have to say that while we do have a reputation for having strict rules for a lot of things, in reality they aren't always fully enforced. Most foreign media coverage tend to exaggerate the enforcement of these rules. Honestly, day-to-day life here doesn't feel like I'm walking over eggshells. But that's just my perspective as a citizen, I'm sure some outsiders might feel relatively restrained upon visiting my country.

“It’s a stupid law, they’re humiliating their own citizens” Is it that hard not to litter? I wish my country had those laws. That guy doesn’t realize how good he has it 😂

Kinda hit the point at the end there, if the people living in a country are happy with the life afforded to them, they probbaly don't care what form of government there is above

Westerners think it's their moral obligation to lecture other asian countries about freedom and democracy not realizing that it's the strict rules that have led to it's prosperity and peace.

I've lived in Singapore for the past year. If you're a dirtbag or a criminal, don't move here. The laws are tight but not draconian, jay walking is quite common, there is some litter on the streets. I lived in Vancouver for five years previous: my apartment was broken into and I was robbed, I was physically assaulted, most parks are home to homeless encampments (these aren't nice people but hotbeds of drug use and criminal activity), theft and vandalism is ignored by police, open drug use is ignored. My rent in Singapore is marginally higher but I'll take the security thank you very much.

How often do you hear developing countries say "We want to be the Singapore of X" They are definitely doing something right. Freedom is a funny thing yes certain freedoms are restricted in Singapore but in Singapore, you have the freedom to walk the streets at night without fear, Start a business without fear of someone breaking in and robbing it, free to take your children to the park without encountering drug addicts or heroine needles etc. Add to that the world-class healthcare, infrastructure, and education system taking everything into account there are not many places better to live than Singapore.

"Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I'm meaningless" Lee Kuan Yew

Dystopia, really? Please consult your dictionary for the true meaning of this word. I am sure that more than half of the global population would prefer the Singapore way of living over the living conditions in their countries. Singapore is a beacon of hope.

Just for context, most of Singapore's fines are not really enforced lol. People smoke everywhere (only in the CBD area it is more enforced) and nobody gives a damn about jaywalking. Public toilets are pretty dirty and often unflushed too. Its not as strict as the "fines" suggests

As a Singaporean, the rules aren't enforced so wildly as you think. As long as you do not do anything too stupid, no one is going to come after you. While I agree with some points, the video fails to mention that Mr Lee Hsien Loong is stepping down soon and will be transferring the post of prime minister to someone that is not of the Lee dynasty. What I have observed is that laws generally favour social order rather than personal liberties for the matter. What is not mentioned is that the Prime Minister can call for election with the President's approval and can call the election at a short notice without giving time for the opposition to prepare. Futhermore, electoral boundaries can be changed so as to favour the PAP. This severely disadvantaged the opposition. While Singapore is not the most democratic nation on Earth, I don't think Singapore can truly be called a dystopia since the share of votes the PAP got seems to be decreasing each and every passing year.

As a citizen staying in Singapore, there was a clear message and clear directions. Everyone cooperates and creates a safe and harmonious environment for all ages and diversities. Honestly, I appreciate the government for their efforts and the laws against corruption.

Lee Kuan Yew ensured that he would not be idolised. No road or street or bridge is named after Lee Kuan Yew.

Shocking fact: Foreigners are not forced to live in Singapore.

Despite all of it's flaws, you had to admit that laws in Singapore do functioned and applied in real life instead of just being a decoration on a sheet of paper like in majority of the countries in this world. In Singapore, you can feel relaxed knowing that the law applied for everyone no matter your nationality and your status Perfect example of this was the canning of Michael Fay, an American student in Singapore who were convicted of vandalizing trains. Despite the huge pressure from US President Bill Clinton, United Nations, and the human righst activists, Singapore still went through with the canning although the sentences was reduced quite a bit. This is something you won't see in countries worldwide. Especially in Japan, UK, and Philippines where Americans for years had been getting away from their crimes after raping schoolgirls, blackmailing, or hit-and-run that resulted in fatalities

I am an Indonesian, had my primary & secondary education in Singapore. I can attest that Singapore's supposed authoritarian measures were also combined with excellent socialization measures, even integrated with the young generation's education curriculum. No pain no gain 😊💪

I'm not going to pretend to know how singaporeans really live or feel about their living conditions, but if they're really mostly happy with it, that by definition, is not a dystopia

From what I know of singapore, it really does look like the one exception to the rule: A dictatorship that worked out well

Actually Lee Kuan Yew has it as a matter of public policy not to have streets and buildings named after him.

I am a Taiwanese American. As a Taiwanese and as an American, I was brought up to cherish democracy and freedom, and I do. But I have lived in Singapore for three years and half, and you know what. The state building sorcery that SG practices works. When someone from China feeds me the overused argument (aka communist propaganda) about authoritarian efficiency prevailing over democratic chaos, I call BS out on him. If the same comes from a Singaporean citizen, I shut up. I do think that censorship on freedom of speech is very real in Singapore. No need to deny that. However, Singaporean do not get jailed for life or killed if they express legitimate grievances. Singapore is simply not the evil blood thirsty dictatorship that western media like to portray. Tyrant doesn't have the self discipline needed to check its predatory instinct (in another word, corruption) in order to transform a small useless rock of an island from a third world economic backwater into a financial super powerhouse; but that's what Singapore did. Tyrant doesn't have the smart to recognize Singapore's potential as a shipping hub and then working hard to realize that vision; but that's what Singapore did. Tyrant doesn't have the competence and state capacity to make itself the first choice location for transnational corporations building their regional headquarters in Southeast Asia; but that's what Singapore did. Tyrant doesn't provide affordable and world class healthcare to its people; but that's what Singapore did. Tyrant doesn't enact strict inflation fighting policies to keep houses in Singapore affordable for its citizens; but that's what SG did. Tyrant doesn't go out of the way to buy land from owners at market price to build large scale housing estates all to, again, ensure affordable housing for its people; but Singapore did that in the 90's. To put it simply, tyrant usually doesn't care about doing a good job managing a country and taking care of its people; but they did that in SG. The ruling party of Singapore, People's Action Party, gets an A+ for state building; it gets an F for being a dictator.