SINGAPORE VISIT 2008.
Many of you may have visited Singapore and Malaysia more than once. Most visitors see, tourist attractions like the Bird Park, Zoo, Night Safari, Under Sea World, Santhosa Island and a few shopping malls. We visited these places first time in 1973 and many times later. During our subsequent visits, we could notice significant improvements and changes over the years.
We made another trip to Singapore and Malaysia, from Mid Dec. 2008 to Mid January 2009. We had no specific agenda and only wanted to spend time with my sisters, one in Singapore and the other in Kuala Lumpur. Since we had already seen most of the tourist attractions, we had plenty of time enjoying the hospitality of many relatives and friends. We visited many of their homes and went out with them to a variety of places outside. We went for long leisurely walk almost every day on the roads and in parks. We visited a large Crematorium and the large University Hospital in Singapore. We attended regular church services and prayer groups at both places. We were able to observe and see life in both these places at the ground level. Therefore I am sharing my impressions from a different perspective, about both these places.
Emigration and Customs.
At the Singapore Airport, it takes only less than 5 minutes for clearance at emigration, and more often no customs check at all, unless you have dutiable goods to declare.
The emigration and customs facilities at the border of Singapore with Malaysia by road (either end of the new bridge by each country) are also very well designed, user friendly and fast.
Excellent A/C Bus services operate frequently between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur with facilities comparable to first class comforts in large aircrafts. About 320 kms are covered in 4 ½ hours, including stop for refreshments, emigration and customs of both countries. Two drivers share driving at steady speed of 110 kms/hr on beautiful express way, through green country side, farms and palm oil estates. The cost was equivalent of Rs.900/- per person each way. There are many rest areas along the express way with good restaurants, shops and clean toilet facilities.
Cars, Roads and Traffic control.
Almost all multilane roads have flowering and ornamental plants in the median and also trees and plants on both sides. The large trees are trimmed at regular intervals using power tools. All roads are well lit, have wide grass strips with good pedestrian paths, well lit bus bays with shelters made of rust proof materials. All roads including the ones in residential areas are in superb condition with adequate lights, well designed storm water drains, side walks and have clear sign boards. Every road including the ones in residential areas is mechanically washed with a rotary brush and vacuum dried by a moving machines at least once every fortnight. Road repair gangs are fully equipped to repair cable or water lines and to relay the roads within 24 hours. Flyovers and bridges are made with well finished prefabricated materials, very fast with minimum disruption of traffic. They are now building more of Road Tunnels, many of them very long, and fewer flyovers. The tunnels have many obvious advantages over flyovers. They bypass other roads and even rivers, with low gradient, much faster to build and disturb very little surface land.
The Express ways are with 6 lanes or more with beautiful trees or ornamental plants in the median, landscaped sides and excellent sign boards. The use of these express ways is controlled by automatic Electronic Road Pricing ( ERP or Toll), but with no booths to stop. The rates are different at different time of the day and direction. This is displayed on large Electronic overhead boards and automatically charged to your electronic device on the vehicle (which is compulsory by law for every vehicle on the road), as you pass the electronic point. They are free after 10/30 pm till 7 am. You have the choice of using toll free alternate roads, which are longer and slower, with more intersections with traffic signals. You pay the Road Price and you can move at 90 kms or more on these express ways.
You have the choice of paying a lower tax for your car, if you opt to use them only during week ends and at night after 7 pm to 7 am. A red number plate is given for such vehicles. They can be used on weekdays by paying a daily user fee for each day. With very efficient public transport system from all locations, many citizens choose this facility and save much money. With these controls, they have removed the earlier restrictions of minimum 3 passengers per car for crowded downtown areas and use of odd and even numbered cars on alternate days. They also earn much revenue from the high road taxes for the use of the express ways.
There are many surveillance cameras at many points on the road. Any traffic violation recorded will reach the owner of the vehicle, with details, within a week with a stiff fine. Every offence has a point system and when the points reach 240, the license will be suspended for 6 months. Second such offence will cause suspension of the license for 2 years.
Car parking is controlled by automatic debit to you vehicle electronic device, in large parking areas. Ticketing machines are used at the entrance and exit in smaller places and at public parking facilities. Road side and market parking and in other areas, a prepaid card system has to be used. These parking cards are available in most shops and petrol stations. While parking, the card has to be placed near the wind shield with date, time of expected parking. Mobile inspectors check these cards to ensure they are parked within the time specified.
The Metro Rail, The Monorail, Public Bus system and the Taxi network makes the public transport system very efficient. The bus system can take you from any residential area to the nearest MRT or Mono Rail station and back. They are frequent and are not crowded. The Taxi service will pick you up from your residence in less than 10 minutes of a telephone call and you pay only the metered charges, which will include extra 2 S$ for home pick up. The government has succeeded in making private car owners to use about 6% more of public transport system each year, by it’s efficient service. The total numbers of New Cars are limited by the government. If you agree to scrap your old car, you can get an entitlement for buying a new car and this could be traded to the dealer for a price. If you intend to buy a new car you have to have an entitlement. The old cars have to be tested for fitness at prescribed periods. Older cars have to pay much higher taxes. No malpractice or bribing is possible. The law has absolute faith in the enforcing officers down the line.
One news paper report which caught my attention is worth quoting (I have preserved the cutting). A Malaysian business Tycoon was jailed in Singapore, for offering to take care of a policeman during his visit to Malaysia , when he was caught taking a U turn at the wrong place.
Petrol is priced at about S$1/50 per liter (Rs.47/-), which is only a little more than the price of a cup of coffee or a cola in Singapore.
Drainage and water conservation.
All roads, housing and other areas have a network of scientifically designed storm water drains, leading to main deep drains 15 to 20 feet wide and lead to a chain of 17 reservoirs in different parts of the island. The reservoirs are maintained as parks and used as recreational facilities. They are interconnected and are the only source of fresh water. House hold and industrial sewerage is treated, purified and recycled. The Government claims that every drop of water is used at least 3 times.
Recently they have built sluice gates across one of the large bays, impounding a large body of sea water. They have installed a series of high tech pumps to pump out the salt water from the bottom, as the lake get filled with rain water. Series of large pumps are also provided to pump out surplus rain water into the sea. The sluice gates will be opened only to cope up with extra ordinary flood waters. They expect that the entire lake will have fresh water in 2 years time, to supplement future requirements of fresh water.
Markets and Food Courts.
Local markets in all residential areas are clean, with many vegetables and fruit shops well stocked with products from all over the world. The fish and meat shops are called the wet market and are also well stocked. They are very clean and offer wide choice. Australian prepacked beef and meat is available in all local markets. Separate stalls sell beef, meat, chicken and pork. You can select according to your choice, including fat free portions. These stalls are also provided with electricity by the corporation for using freezers. Prices of all products are high in our standards, but well within the purchasing power of local population.
All markets have large number of food stalls with wide variety of foods to choose from, with a common food court. You can select food from different stalls and it will be served by each stall owner at your table. The tables and chairs are cleaned by service staff, commonly paid by the stall owners. Facilities for clean water, proper facility for washing plates/ vessels and the stalls with gas and electricity are provided by the corporation for a reasonable fee. There is a wide variety of good food at these stalls at reasonable price. These food stalls are very popular and the local population in large numbers uses the food courts at all times of the day till late in the night.`.
Large Shopping Malls.
Each locality has one or more large multistory Shopping Malls, with one or more floors of free or paid car parking space. Everything from vegetables to expensive electronic goods are available with a variety of food stalls. The prices in most of them are comparable to the local market shops, except the up market and business district Shopping Malls. Most Indians use 40 year old `Mustafa`, which is a large shopping mall with wide choice of almost any products, spread over 5 floors in two connected adjacent buildings, open 24 hours, owned by a South Indian. The prices are reasonable and they provide 3 floors of free parking space inside their building.
VivoCity, near the Harbor and the International Trade Centre is another large new modern Shopping Mall, with individual shops selling a variety of products. The first 4 floors are paid car parking space, with electronic display of available parking space. The Ferry services to the nearby Islands operate from this Mall. Each private Ferry Company has Airline like counters with passenger security and baggage checks. The Mall has large open area with trees, landscaped gardens, water fountains and pools for children, on top floors (8th and 9th floors), open to the sky. This space can be hired for private functions with beautiful view if the Harbor and Santhosa Island. Santhosa Island was accessible only by ferry or cable cars during our last visit in 1999, but is now connected with multi lane Road Bridge.
Houses and residential facilities.
Every citizen has a home, according to their income. The lower income group is provided with, a Kitchen and two rooms,in a multilevel cheap housing cluster,for a very low rent. There is option for buying the same home, with a slightly increased monthly payment, over a specified period of time. Those with more income, buy private flats of their choice. The rich have Independent Houses, in exclusive areas and are very expensive. Even the very rich build their luxury villas, in such residential areas. The house owner in any class, is expected to keep his place in clean, hygienic conditions. Periodic official inspection will ensure enforcement,, by severe fines for any violations. Each home owner must segregate recyclable (metals, glass and plastic) and organic waste into separate large containers,with wheels and lids and leave them outside on specific days, for collection. Any other bulky items will be removed, on specific request. Even if you have to cut a tree, you will have to inform the corporation and pay for it’s removal.
No security guards or attendants are visible, as everything is electronically controlled. The gates have remote control and all better homes have electronic surveillance and burglar alarm system, connected to the local police station and the owner’s office or mobile phones.
Strict building rules are in place, applicable for all kinds of buildings and no exceptions are made.. The Marthoma Church, is a new four story building, with parsonage and other facilities. They had to provide for adequate parking space, two lane approach road and also provide 24 toilets, for the estimated maximum persons using the building. The corporation has to be paid service tax for each of the toilets.
Crematorium.
Singapore is progressively removing the old cemeteries and encourages use of crematoriums. The electric crematorium, we visited has facilities to burn a dozen bodies, at the same time. The buildings are beautifully maintained, with adequate space for each family members to pay their last rights in privacy.. There are rows of small cells in an adjacent building, for keeping the ashes of the departed, with memorial slab, for a payment. They are also beautifully maintained. Only artificial flowers are allowed to be used,to avoid breeding of mosquitoes in flower pots. The premise has adequate car parks, landscaped and is comparable to the best parks.
NationalUniversity Hospital.
This Hospital is similar to a state level medical college hospital in India,but much cleaner. We made two visits to this hospital, with my sister. We had the opportunity to spend a few hours each time, moving around the hospital, while my sister was with the dentist. All specialties are in a large building complex, at the heart of the city. All the buildings, rooms, corridors and stores are air-conditioned, except few open areas and the food court. The facilities are comparable with 5 star Hotels in India. It has clean toilets, hygienic multicusine food courts, General store, Book shop, large Pharmacy, all comparable to an up-market city mall in Singapore. Such hygienic and clean conditions in a large government public hospital,is un imaginable in India.
Dicipline
Singapore is one of the cleanest cities in the world. Citizens are trained to be disiplined. No one will throw a match stick, cigaretbut, chocolate wrapper, empty water bottle, wastre paper etc, in any public place or roads. Very heavy fines are imposed,for any violations, including if stagnant water is found in your premises, by the healthinspecters...All boys have compulsory military training, before the age of 18. Thisis one reason, for all citizens to observe stict dicipline. I wish we had some such training for our youth in schools.
K.George John.
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