Economist.com Cities Guide: Singapore Briefing - October 2005

News this month

Fever pitch

Singapore is reeling from a surge in cases of dengue fever, with more than 10,200 infections since January. This figure has already surpassed last year’s total of 9,459. Yaacob Ibrahim, the Environment and Water Resources Minister, said on September 19th that it was time for “search and destroy” missions to root out the Aedes mosquitoes that carry the illness, which has symptoms that include intense fevers and aches. The increase in infections (and 11 deaths) has forced many local hospitals to postpone non-emergency operations, to make room for dengue patients in the wards.

The problem is unusual for Singapore, which has the cleanest environment in the region. Even before the latest spike, heavy fines were imposed on those who allowed mosquito-breeding sites, such as still water, in their homes. Health experts are puzzled by the trend, but speculate that mosquitoes have adapted their behaviour to avoid regular culling. The government has appointed a panel of experts to try to solve the problem.

Caught in the net

How to regulate cyberspace is a question most governments are still grappling with. In September, Singapore officially decided to treat the internet just like traditional print or broadcast media, at least for social matters. At issue was a trio of allegedly racist blogs (online diaries) posted by ordinary citizens. Citing the Sedition Act, Singapore police arrested three ethnic-Chinese men for their various online comments, which reportedly targeted Malays. Should they be convicted, they could face a maximum penalty of three years in jail, plus a fine of S$5,000 ($2,977) for each illegal blog entry.

Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister, said that maintaining social harmony in a multiracial state such as Singapore was essential. (Malays account for about 14% of the population; 75% are ethnic Chinese.) Criticism of the charges has been muted as the case has yet to come to trial.

How bad can it be?

Tiny, affluent Singapore has always been affected by events in Indonesia, its giant neighbour. This is why a stream of high-level Singaporean ministers attempted to soothe market nerves after Indonesia's currency plunged, in late August, to its lowest level in four years. The rupiah's plummet could be blamed on Indonesia's fuel subsidies, as the government has long fixed fuel prices below the international rate, paying the difference itself. A rise in oil prices could force Indonesia's government to spend up to $13 billion on fuel imports this year—over six times what it originally budgeted. This, among other unfortunate moves by Indonesian officials in response to some worrying economic trends, has gradually depreciated the rupiah and spooked the markets.

But Singaporean officials have been quick to allay domestic fears. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, deputy managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, said he was not concerned, as Indonesia’s economy remains fundamentally sound. Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore's prime minister, urged Jakarta to flesh out details of a programme to cut the subsidies. And Lee Kuan Yew, a former prime minister, also weighed in, saying the difficulties bore no resemblance to the regional financial crisis of the late 1990s.

Khoo d'etat

Eric Khoo, Singapore’s top film-maker, is earning plaudits at home and abroad for his latest effort, “Be With Me”. But the movie’s success did not stop a broadside on September 7th from the city-state’s Media Development Authority (MDA). The government group banned posters advertising Mr Khoo’s work, arguing that the depiction of “lesbian intimacy” violated local rules.

Although censors approved the film for audiences over 18, they found the intended advertising—which showed two teenage girls lying in an embrace—to be too much. “One of the guidelines states that posters must not depict or promote homosexual or lesbian intimacy,” the MDA said. Mr Khoo was disgusted. “There's absolutely nothing that is sensational,” he complained to the local press. “It's good eye-candy.”

Officers and elephants

Be careful what you say in Singapore, even if you don’t use any words. Police confirmed on September 1st that they are investigating the appearance of eight cartoon-style cut-outs of white elephants that appeared outside a completed—but as-yet-unopened—train station during a ministerial visit. The mute pachyderms appeared to be a novel way for locals to express their annoyance that Buangkok station has yet to open, despite the fact that the line was completed two years ago.

The Straits Times reported that the police received an emergency call about the apparent protest. Although the focus of their probe remains unclear, it is illegal in the tightly run city-state to put up public posters or exhibits without a permit.

Catch if you can

October 2005

Theemidhi Firewalking Festival

October 24th 2005

Theemidhi's 2am start-time may seem daunting, but it is well worth climbing out of bed (or staying out) for. Prepare to be awed by this ritual, in which Hindu devotees cross a four-metre bed of glowing coals in the courtyard of a lovely temple. The hot stroll recreates a scene from “The Mahabharata”, an Indian epic poem, in which the goddess Draupadi proves her innocence by walking over burning coals. To see this in person, either gather with the devotees at Little India’s Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road at around 2am, or head directly to the firewalking itself, which starts about an hour later at the Sri Mariamman Temple at 224 South Bridge Road in Chinatown. The Sri Mariamman is Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple and perhaps its most atmospheric.

Underground stations will be closed at this hour, so grab a taxi. Visit Singapore’s website has more information about the festival.

More from the Singapore cultural calendar