Forum: Singapore’s cleanliness not a case of civic pride, but of compliance

The Forum letter “

Singapore’s cleanliness not just a result of policy, but a reflection of its people

” (Nov 10) by Mr Henry Koh Chiew Phor left me bemused, not least because the general tenor of the article smacked of selective comparison and contextual blindness.

While Singapore’s MRT system deserves recognition for its general cleanliness and efficiency, the letter presented an oversimplified comparison that ignores critical contexts such as scale and complexity.

For instance, the New York City Subway’s 472 stations with about 1,000km of track and 24-hour service dwarves the scale of Singapore’s MRT. The logistical challenge of maintaining cleanliness in a much larger, older, and more heavily used system is patently greater.

Looking beyond reports of Singaporeans complaining about dirty MRT station toilets, this illusory “civic pride” also does not extend to toilets in our coffee shops and hawker centres, as they have been reported to remain filthy despite decades of campaigns and enforcement.

Let’s face it, a more sanguine future may yet lie with stricter enforcement. As a pragmatist, I daresay better behaviour is driven by the threat of (heavier) penalties. This is a form of compliance, not necessarily genuine civic pride. And this may be the stark reality.

Amos Wu Pom Hin