Insular Southeast Asia - Dragons and Tigers: A Geography of South, East and Southeast Asia - page 464

of Singapore' s politics. Led by Lee Kuan Y ew , the PAP was
the party of a new English-educated elite intent on creating
a new , industrialized Singapore.
The creation of Malaysia in 1963 included Singa-
pore. However, unresolved issues surrounding the com-
bined power potential of the Chinese in both Singapore
and Malaya led to the creation in 1965 of a separate Re-
public of Singapore. Under the tutelage of Lee Kuan Y ew
and the PAP , the island transformed itself from an entre-
pôt economy to an industrial and post-industrial econ-
omy in the space of 30 years. Under the strong, stable,
and corruption-free PAP , Singapore is a model of planned
development.

a 22 pound (48 kg) reduction in particulate matter
(soot).
Buses and taxis are ubiquitous, and the city has
a super-modern and super-clean subway system.
People must line up neatly to avoid a fine. Also,
food, especially durian (a very smelly fruit), is for-
bidden on public transport. There are signs in the
subway stations to this effect (Figure 16-15). If you
decide to ignore a rule, you will be chastised by the
people around you or arrested if police are present.
Singapore is recognized as the cleanest and
most orderly city in Asia. This achievement largely
derives from Singaporeans' acceptance of behavioral
rules and great pride in their pristine environment.

The Rules

PLANNING OFFENSIVES
The city is a traveler' is paradise with magnificent architec-
ture, botanical gardens, a fine zoo (the best in Asia), and a
plethora of shopping opportunities. The Land Acquisition

In less than two generations, Singapore has trans-
formed itself from a swampy , overcrowded slum to a
modern, gleaming metropolis where rules and regu-
lations control activities and behavior. For example,
if you litter, even a single cigarette butt or a small
piece of paper, there is a US$1,000 fine. Vendors
can't sell chewing gum. If you forget to flush the
toilet, there is a US$500 fine. A Singapore car can't
cross the border from Malaysia with less than three-
quarters of a tank of gas. Smoking is forbidden in
many areas, and if you are caught smoking Indone-
sian cigarettes they will be confiscated and you
might end up in court.
T Traffic congestion in the central city is at a min-
imum because in 1975, the government began to
enforce a Licensing Scheme that charged drivers a
fee for entering the downtown area. T Traffic experi-
enced a 45 percent reduction and vehicle crashes
fell 25 percent. In 1998, an Electronic Road Pricing
System was installed. Required transponders were
installed in vehicles free of charge. Consequently ,
traffic was reduced by an additional 15 percent.
This has helped Singapore to maintain ideal traffic
speeds of 30-40 mph (46-64 km) per hour on ex-
pressways. Moreover, 65 percent of commuters use
the elaborate network of public transportation.
The air quality in Singapore meets the health
standards of the Environmental Protection Agency
of the United States. For instance, reduced traffic in
the central business district has led to an 176,400
pound (80,000 kg) reduction in CO 2 emissions and

Figure 16-15
This is only one of multiple signs in a Singapore Metro station.
Rules of behavior are posted everywhere in the city . Photograph
courtesy of B. A. Weightman.