4 ms·

I haven't visited Malta but Singapore would be one of my top choices if I had to migrate somewhere (if not the top). Big city but you can go anywhere at any ti

I haven't visited Malta but Singapore would be one of my top choices if I had to migrate somewhere (if not the top). Big city but you can go anywhere at any time and feel extremely safe. Impressive public transport. Amazing food, probably the best among countries I've visited. Everyone speaks English but you can enjoy a mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian cultures. The people tend to be quite nice. Good economy. Feeling of growth, rather than decadence like in much of the West, every time I go there seem to be several new MRT lines. Sane politics (see public housing, etc.) Plenty of places to visit, activities and things to do. It's not perfect, maybe a bit too hot and I don't like their long working hours and exploiting of maids, but in my view it's top notch. On March I'll go to Malta, let's see how I compares, but I doubt I'll like it more (no offense to Malta, as I said, the think is that I really have a good concept of Singapore).

zarzavat 3y ago
Having to be completely obedient to the state wears on the soul. All migrants experience this to a certain extent in any country but in Singapore it’s turned up to 11. The fruits of capitalistic success might be enjoyable for a while, but it’s a shallow existence. I think that Singapore is enjoyable in small doses.
- shotnothing 3y ago
  > Having to be completely obedient to the state wears on the soul I think this is very overstated, people break laws and talk shit all the time. Just don't do drugs and be an asshole and you should be fine, many laws are not enforced
  - refurb 3y ago
    While this is true - that many laws are broken, with the government looking the other way, or citizens just keeping their mouths shut - the statements made by Singapore's leadership sends a chill down my spine. Just recently they made unilateral (clearly, because PAP controls Parliament and has since the country's founding) changes to the law that police don't need a warrant to search someone if there is a "reasonable suspicion the person may destroy evidence prior to a warrant". Not to mention there is no "right to remain silent" or "right to lawyer" (before making a statement), etc, etc. But what really caught my notice was the quote from the Minister of Justice - “There is no downside to this amendment because if they search and they find the evidence, or if they do not find the evidence, no one is worse off." To me that is wild. Invasion of privacy of an innocent individual and "no one is worse off". There isn't even an attempt to talk about trade offs - "yes, this is in invasion of privacy, but we're carefully balancing it against the need for an effective police force". Just straight up "searching the private space of an innocent individual is insignificant". That said, there is overwhelming support for this kind of law in Singapore. There was a recent poll that asked something like "Do you agree with this statement: It is better that there is stability than democratic rights." and 70-80% of Singaporeans said "yes". So "meh?". I may recoil at the very premise of the system, but Singaporeans seem to like it.
    - kelipso 3y ago
      > It is better that there is stability than democratic rights." and 70-80% of Singaporeans said "yes". I think you'll find similar opinions in all of the east asian countries like south korea, taiwan, japan, china. Lived in singapore for a few years, I think it's great to visit but don't know if I'd want to live there; one party state, strict laws etc. Taxes are low though, so that's pretty nice.
pydry 3y ago
Singapore has pretty insane politics (e.g. being a dissident blogger is practically a capital crime) but excellent city planning. The working culture is also toxic af and there is a strict racial hierarchy (enforced by violence when challenged) that made me deeply uncomfortable living there. Great weather, housing, food, city planning and public transport though. I wish my government tried to clone their fantastic commieblocks and not their oppressive, oligarchic style of government but alas they do the opposite.
- delta_p_delta_x 3y ago
  > being a dissident blogger is practically a capital crime Oh, for f*ck's sake. Hacker News and unbridled exaggeration, name a better combination. Look, I get that Singapore's leaders are especially litigious, and they are rightly criticised for it by a plurality of the population. However, a defamation lawsuit is a far cry from a death sentence. Somehow I get the feeling most commenters who criticise Singapore for its 'draconian authoritarian totalitarian xyz-itarian oligarchic police state laws' have never set foot in the place.
  - refurb 3y ago
    Sure "capital crime" is hyperbole, but the authoritarian nature of the government is well known. I mean a guy was arrested for holding up a piece of cardboard with a smiley face drawn on it for a few seconds while someone took a picture of it. This was deemed "unlawful assembly without a permit". He had already spent time in prison for prior protests in support of Hong Kong. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/24/singapore-smiley-face-activist-in-one-man-protest-charged-with-unlawful-assembly https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/24/singapore-smil...
    - delta_p_delta_x 3y ago
      > "unlawful assembly without a permit" Dunno why you put it in quotes: it's in Singapore law[1]. [1]: Public Order Act 2009: https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/POA2009 https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/POA2009
  - 3y ago
modernpink 3y ago
>enjoy a mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian cultures Apart from the food, what specifically about these cultures is enjoyable?
- j7ake 3y ago
  Their language, literature, music, history, and art.

zarzavat 3y ago

Having to be completely obedient to the state wears on the soul. All migrants experience this to a certain extent in any country but in Singapore it’s turned up to 11. The fruits of capitalistic success might be enjoyable for a while, but it’s a shallow existence. I think that Singapore is enjoyable in small doses.

shotnothing 3y ago
> Having to be completely obedient to the state wears on the soul I think this is very overstated, people break laws and talk shit all the time. Just don't do drugs and be an asshole and you should be fine, many laws are not enforced
- refurb 3y ago
  While this is true - that many laws are broken, with the government looking the other way, or citizens just keeping their mouths shut - the statements made by Singapore's leadership sends a chill down my spine. Just recently they made unilateral (clearly, because PAP controls Parliament and has since the country's founding) changes to the law that police don't need a warrant to search someone if there is a "reasonable suspicion the person may destroy evidence prior to a warrant". Not to mention there is no "right to remain silent" or "right to lawyer" (before making a statement), etc, etc. But what really caught my notice was the quote from the Minister of Justice - “There is no downside to this amendment because if they search and they find the evidence, or if they do not find the evidence, no one is worse off." To me that is wild. Invasion of privacy of an innocent individual and "no one is worse off". There isn't even an attempt to talk about trade offs - "yes, this is in invasion of privacy, but we're carefully balancing it against the need for an effective police force". Just straight up "searching the private space of an innocent individual is insignificant". That said, there is overwhelming support for this kind of law in Singapore. There was a recent poll that asked something like "Do you agree with this statement: It is better that there is stability than democratic rights." and 70-80% of Singaporeans said "yes". So "meh?". I may recoil at the very premise of the system, but Singaporeans seem to like it.
  - kelipso 3y ago
    > It is better that there is stability than democratic rights." and 70-80% of Singaporeans said "yes". I think you'll find similar opinions in all of the east asian countries like south korea, taiwan, japan, china. Lived in singapore for a few years, I think it's great to visit but don't know if I'd want to live there; one party state, strict laws etc. Taxes are low though, so that's pretty nice.

pydry 3y ago

Singapore has pretty insane politics (e.g. being a dissident blogger is practically a capital crime) but excellent city planning. The working culture is also toxic af and there is a strict racial hierarchy (enforced by violence when challenged) that made me deeply uncomfortable living there. Great weather, housing, food, city planning and public transport though. I wish my government tried to clone their fantastic commieblocks and not their oppressive, oligarchic style of government but alas they do the opposite.

delta_p_delta_x 3y ago
> being a dissident blogger is practically a capital crime Oh, for f*ck's sake. Hacker News and unbridled exaggeration, name a better combination. Look, I get that Singapore's leaders are especially litigious, and they are rightly criticised for it by a plurality of the population. However, a defamation lawsuit is a far cry from a death sentence. Somehow I get the feeling most commenters who criticise Singapore for its 'draconian authoritarian totalitarian xyz-itarian oligarchic police state laws' have never set foot in the place.
- refurb 3y ago
  Sure "capital crime" is hyperbole, but the authoritarian nature of the government is well known. I mean a guy was arrested for holding up a piece of cardboard with a smiley face drawn on it for a few seconds while someone took a picture of it. This was deemed "unlawful assembly without a permit". He had already spent time in prison for prior protests in support of Hong Kong. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/24/singapore-smiley-face-activist-in-one-man-protest-charged-with-unlawful-assembly https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/24/singapore-smil...
  - delta_p_delta_x 3y ago
    > "unlawful assembly without a permit" Dunno why you put it in quotes: it's in Singapore law[1]. [1]: Public Order Act 2009: https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/POA2009 https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/POA2009
- 3y ago

modernpink 3y ago

>enjoy a mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian cultures Apart from the food, what specifically about these cultures is enjoyable?

j7ake 3y ago
Their language, literature, music, history, and art.