A Letter From Singapore

By Dr. W. Gifford Jones

August 17, 2003

This week, something I've never done before. I've often published comments from readers, but never an entire letter. But I believe this unsolicited letter from Singapore is interesting, thought-provoking and too important to toss away. As the lawyers say "Res ipsa loquitor". This letter speaks for itself.

The letter reads, "I now live in Singapore, but have lived in Ontario for over 50 years. This year when I was home I read your article about Singapore justice. Why you agree with Singapore officials that we have become "irresponsibly permissive" about law and order in North America. Why our namby-pamby approach adversely affects patients emotional and physical health. And why we need a dose of Singapore justice in Canada.

In Singapore the streets are safe at any hour. My wife and I can walk safely home from visiting friends at midnight and go anywhere without being concerned about our safety. Anyone knows that this is not the case in Toronto or other large cities.

Crime exists in Singapore, but it ‘s petty crime by Canadian standards. There is also serious crime. For instance, last week there were four murders and all of them were solved in ten minutes. Moreover, they were personal squabbles among people who knew each other.

Shortly after we arrived in Singapore in 2001 a 35 year old man convinced a minor to kill his wife. He was tried, had his appeal and was hung in 14 months. The minor is spending the rest of his life in jail. In Canada there would be appeals and appeals.

Last month three Thai nationals were executed for bludgeoning one of their own to death because of a sexual slur.

People know there is a death sentence for dealing in illegal drugs. Fridays are execution days and on Saturday the local newspaper informs citizens that an execution has taken place.

Justice is swift here. An Indonesian suspected of stealing cell phones from his colleagues at school was apprehended on Tuesday. He was convicted on Thursday, had his appeal on Friday and deported on Saturday. He will never be permitted to return to Singapore.

A lawyer from the Sault criticized your column by saying "tough laws do not deter crime. Tell him to come to Singapore and get his facts right.

I've read Lee Kuan Yew's biography. He is the founder of modern day Singapore. He is quite emphatic that there is a place for respect, fear and punishment for those who chose not to follow the norms of the community.

If local Singaporeans are distressed by their tough laws they do not show it. The ones we speak to say they like it this way. The rules are clear and everybody understands the consequences.

I like it. I've never heard of a car being stolen. There is no graffiti anywhere, the children do not yell obscenities to others in public places. Public housing in Singapore is treated with a sense of pride unlike in Toronto where it's often quickly turned into slums and hovels.

We go to parks where we see a class of neatly uniformed, well-behaved children with rakes in their hands performing a national service. If this was done in Canada the parents would cry foul and the children would refuse to get out of bed. If they did they would yield the rake as a weapon. My apologies if I appear cynical but a lifetime in Ontario education did it to me.

Enough rambling. You are right. Punishment, as Aristotle preached, is a form of medicine and I'm just happy to substantiate the validity of your columns about Singapore with my own experience."

Past letters from readers are 95 percent in favour of the Singapore solution. But we all know it's not going to happen here. There are of course many reasons why that is the case. The big one is that there is no-one with spine like Lee Kuan Yew or anyone remotely like him in Canada.

So there will be another 20,000 cars stolen just in Toronto this year, more homes vandalized, more young people addicted to drugs and young innocent girls dismembered. The list grows.

I'm always interested in your opinion pro and con.

W. Gifford-Jones M.D is the pen name of Dr. Ken Walker graduate of Harvard. Dr. Walker's website is: Docgiff.com

My book, �90 + How I Got There� can be obtained by sending $19.95 to:

Giff Holdings, 525 Balliol St, Unit # 6,Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1E1

Pre-2008 articles by Gifford Jones

Canada Free Press, CFP Editor Judi McLeod