Singapore Laws

Singapore is a wonderful mix of Malaysian, Indian, and Chinese cultures. However, although the country is very culturally diverse, it is not very tolerant in other ways; and sometimes breaking some of the local customs can put you in a lot of hot water. Make sure to avoid any unwanted attention by remembering these 5 crazy laws.

1. Flush the Toilet

It may sound crazy, but police officers do random public toilet checks to ensure the toilet is flushed after each and every use. If you are found guilty of not flushing the toilet, you could face a public caning!

2. Don’t Chew Gum

If you need to curb that bad breath, use a breath mint. Unlike other countries, it is illegal to purchase or import gum into the country. In fact, unless you have a doctor or dentist prescription for the use of the chewing gum, it’s best to avoid it altogether or you could end up facing jail time.

3. Don’t Look at Porn, Even in Private

It doesn’t matter if you are home alone, in a hotel, or in a secret underground lair; pornography is considered illegal in Singapore. Anything to do with it can also result in either large fines or imprisonment. Although magazines are allowed to discuss sex topics, they are required to have special parental warnings featured on the magazine covers.

4. Never Litter

Although littering is frowned upon just about everywhere, Singapore takes it one step further. Littering of any kind (even spitting) can result in a $1,000 fine. Depending upon the number of offenses, you could also have community services or spend time in jail.

5. No Snacking During Your MRT Commute

If you take the mass rapid transit system (or MRT) during your visit, you can forget about snacking.  Since 1987, the country has had a “no eating or drinking” policy. Fines of up to $500 can be issued to those daring to take a bite. In fact, a woman was fined $30 in 2009, when she popped a piece of candy in her mouth to help relieve her motion sickness while she was in-route to her destination.