FINE

CHALLENGE

Singapore is a fine city

CONCEPT

Fine Prank.

CONTEXT

Special thanks to is Suresh the “prankster”.

The story will feature a prankster running through the “fine” moves and the true-life inconveniences cause to others like me:-

01. I don’t know whether the no chewing gum rule was introduced because when it is stuck on the Mass Rapid Transit train doors, it apparently stopped the trains from moving. But, try opening your letterbox with a chewed gum tucked to the keyhole.

02. Try entering a lift with ammonia aroma if there is a no urinating sign and a slapped fine of $500.

03. Sitting on a one of the void-deck seats with spit on it.

04. Boarding a crowded bus with someone beside you carrying the spiky and odorous durains before there’s a “No Durains Allowed” fine.

05. I like to end with a national unity of carefully defined parameters to loosening up social liberties, “ Singapore is a fine city. I am fine with it.”

The Fine Sign with a “No” “X” action allowed or you’ll be “fine” certain amount of money is as iconic as it gets for Singaporean. It is iconic as our density of “fine” per square feet is probably the highest in the world - given our limited space. It is iconic as it is effective and it hurts where it is supposed to - the pocket. It is iconic because when I introduce myself as a Singaporean, foreigners will go: “you’re from the country that bans chewing gum.”

In many other respects Singapore is still "a fine city", even though people can be prosecuted for offences such as chewing the wrong sort of gum and not flushing the toilet. The same double-edged sword that takes away our air of freedom also ensures Singapore as one of the safest region in Asia with one of the lowest crime rate and drug trafficking.

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