Hello.
Is Singapore a boring city? This question was a topic of conversation that sparked from the buzz surrounding Taylor Swift’s visit this month. Singapore felt so exciting then, leading some to suggest that Singapore needed Ms Swift to inject some fun into an otherwise staid country.
Sure, Singapore’s smaller land size compared to the rest of Southeast Asia does make recreational choices limited. Singapore may have also received flak for being a “fine city” in the past, but it is precisely because of the reliability, efficiency, safety and security that it is a preferred destination for prominent acts, says writer April Zara Chua.
It’s also one of the cleanest cities in the world, thanks to its anti-littering campaigns. In its latest push in this area, the National Environment Agency is considering publicising the images of litterbugs so that members of the public can help identify them.
If images of litterbugs are publicised, there is a need for safeguards to prevent abuse and unintended consequences, such as doxxing and cyberbullying, says the Singapore Kindness Movement’s William Wan.
Another topic that garnered attention is a proposed law that would give police officers more powers to apprehend “mentally disordered” people. There are concerns that this might add to the stigma around mental health and deter people from seeking help. But it also provides an opportunity to advance community mental health, says psychiatrist Dr Jared Ng.
We hope you enjoyed our selection of commentaries this week.
Alison Jenner
Supervising Editor, Commentary
