Singapore Population approximately 6 million people

Singapore: • Population – approximately 6 million people • Size – 719 km 2 (half the size of St. Petersburg) • Demographics – 75% Chinese, 15% Malay, 10% Indian • Languages – Mandarin, Bahasa Melayu, Tamil, English • Religions – Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity

Brief History of Singapore

Singapore’s route to independence • 1824 – Singapore became a British possession • 1942 -1945 – British forces surrendered Singapore to Japan • 1946 – Singapore became a separate crown colony • 1959 – Singapore became self-governing with Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew • 1963 – Singapore merged with Malaysia • 1965 (9 August) – Malaysia expelled Singapore from the Federation • The bill was passed with a 126 -0 vote

VOTE: 126 – 0

The Singapore Pledge We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language, or religion, to build a democratic society, based upon justice and equality, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity, and progress for our nation.

The flag of Singapore consists of two horizontal halves, red above white. Red symbolises universal brotherhood and equality of man; white stands for pervading and everlasting purity and virtue. In the upper left corner, a white crescent moon and five white stars form a circle. The moon represents a young country ascending. The five stars stand for the ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.

What About the Crime Rate?

Why is there a low crime rate in Singapore? • Educating the public (newspaper articles, public campaigns) • Public awareness (posted notices) • Police and community interaction • • Public assistance – people helping to solve crime; easy phone apps Citizens on Patrol – neighborhood groups; more civic minded people Community Policing System – more frequent visibility of police on bicycles New programs • Tough on Crime • Tough on ‘small crimes’; corporal and capital punishment • Security cameras and focus on prevention

Educating the Public

Educating the Public

Public Awareness

Police/Community Interaction Public exercises • Grassroots and community leaders gathered for a Crisis Response Exercise on 18 September 2016. • The four-hour exercise tested the participants • Resolved communal issues that emerged from a simulated crisis in their neighbourhood.

Awareness that brought about new programs

SGSecure • Exercise Heartbeat 2016: Businesses Join in SGSecure Movement • Exercise Heartbeat - annual counterterrorism exercise (Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force) • Involvement of private sector, and focus on business continuity plan in the event of an attack.

Harmony in Diversity • The Harmony in Diversity Gallery: Promote religious harmony and interfaith peace in a religiously diverse society. • Part of SGSecure: 'Community Cohesion' pillar to engage Singaporeans on the importance of racial and religious harmony.

Religious Rehabilitation Group • Counter ISIS narrative – • Engagement of religious leaders • People can honor religion while living in a secular country • Religious Rehabilitation Group: Created guidebook and a helpline • Questions related to issues on radicalisation • Issues related to ISIS ideology and extremism

Internal Security Act • Stop illegal groups that can harm the internal security of Singapore • International terrorism • Foreign subversion • Espionage • Acts of violence or hatred using race or religion • Acts that cause public alarm or arouse resentment • Ministry of Home Affairs

Tough on Crime

People are always curious…. • • • Feeding pigeons - $500 ( 23, 500) Selling gum - $100, 000 ( 4, 708, 800) / prison for two years Annoyance by musical instrument in a public place - $1, 000 ( 47, 100) Playing any game that interferes with traffic – $5, 000 ( 235, 400) Singing or saying obscene musical lyrics– prison for a year Spitting - $1, 000 ( 47, 100) Connecting to someone else’s Wi-Fi - $10, 000 ( 470, 900) / prison for 3 years Nude in your home with open curtains - $2, 000 ( 94, 200)/ prison 3 months Littering - $1, 000 ( 47, 100) Graffiti – prison plus caning Jaywalking - $1, 000 ( 47, 100) / prison 3 months Business Insider 5 Aug 2015

More serious examples: • Capital punishment – • Examples: Drug trafficking, waging war against the government, piracy, murder, and use of firearms, ammunition or explosives • Corporal punishment – • Examples: Drug abuse, possession of weapons, kidnapping, robbery, sexual abuse, rioting, and vandalism • Judges have discretion

What other aspects might keep the crime rate low? • National Service • Low unemployment rate • Economic growth and development • Universal education • Public Housing • Family involvement and responsibility • Culture in Singapore

Paintball, not NS

National Service • 2 -year commitment • Armed Forces • Police • Civil Defence • Can be called into service until the age of 50 (officers), 40 (others)

Low unemployment

Singapore GDP: in US Billions Electronics Engineering Aerospace Energy Biomedical Financial Tourism Logistics

Universal Education • Compulsory Education to provide: • Common core of knowledge • Help to build national identity and cohesion • Desired outcomes • • Confident person Self-directed learner Active contributor to teams Concerned citizen • Ministry of Education

Public Housing • 82% live in HDB flats (housing and development board) • Provides stability and sense of belonging • Affordable for all people • Financial security and retirement adequacy • Improving quality • Promoting family ties and social integration • Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

Family involvement and responsibility • Live with parents until 30’s or 40’s • Cannot buy subsidized housing until age 35 • Maintenance of Parents Act • Work-Life Grant for flexible work arrangements • Survey on Social Attitudes of Singaporeans (2006) • 96% - Close-knit family. Emotional and financial • 40% of families with children live either with or close to their parents

Culture in Singapore • Meritocracy • Social and racial harmony • Democracy, peace, progress, justice, equality • Singapore maintains tight restrictions on arts and cultural performances. Not permitted: race, religion, allegations of corruption or nepotism in government, nudity and other forms of obscenity

Diversity in the nation • Why does ethnic segregation not make any sense? • • • Class Status Marginalized groups Former national identity Cliques • Apartments must have same demographic as population • Potential problems with ‘pockets’ of groups

Questions? ?