Got to know a new friend,
Ms E from the land down under.
Thought it would be apt
to welcome her to Singapore,
with a little bit of insight.
The Singapore government
has the right to arrest and detain anyone,
without trial,
a blantant disregard for
the Universal Law of Human Rights.
Singaporeans generally live in a climate
of political fear.
We have our own self-styled KGB
called ISD or
Internal Security Department.
Any public gathering of more than 5 persons
is outlawed,
which makes public protests
impossible.
Our media, TV, radio and newspapers
are government owned.
We are ranked 144th in press freedom,
just 22 notches above
North Korea.
General elections here
are under the direct control,
of the Prime Minister,
no independent election commissions,
like Zimbabwe.
We also have the dubious honour
of having the highest executions rate
in the world.
The government files defamation suits
against its critics,
thereby bankrupting them.
The wealth of the country,
about $250 billion is
effectively in the hands
of one family.
There are no laws
that protect the privacy of
the individual.
The police admitted
they hacked into home computers,
in the name of IT security.
There is also a law against
political talk
via SMS
during election time.
The poorest 10% of the population earns
$61 a month,
the prime minister earns $154,000 a month.
The middle class
is doomed to hardship,
at retirement age,
his flat will consist 75%
of his networth,
as opposed to 20%
recommended by any financial planner.
We have the highest elderly suicide rate
in the world,
in a society with no compassion,
the young do not have the means
to take care of the elderly.
Minister Mentor reaffirmed NO
to suggestions of using the country's reserves
to subsidise elderly health care.
He probably thinks,
the country's savings
is his
and his alone.
16,000 households
could not afford utility bills.
2000 houseeholds
could not afford children education.
We averaged 400 suicides a year,
thats about one
daily.
We expect
the highest economic growth rate
in Asia this year,
overtaking even China,
but unemployment
hovers around around 4.5%.
Since I mentioned North Korea and Zimbabwe,
thought it would be noteworthy,
that Kim Jong Il does his banking,
and Robert Mugabe does his shopping
in Singapore.
Dictators sure flock together
