For many years, Singapore has received numerous criticism for the death penalty that it practises, the ultimate punishment for crimes that was passed down from its former colonial ruler to manage its colonial slaves, nevermind that the same colonial ruler has basically scrapped that same rule from its constitution.
But criticisms have mostly come from liberal western countries that have no idea of what Asian values are, that Singapore embrace so tightly in order to provide a safe and conducive environment for citizens to nurture and house their families.
If not for the death penalty, more drug smugglers will attempt to smuggle drugs through our customs, increasing the already increasing rate of drug abuse in Singapore.
If not for the death penalty, people would be plotting to murder their acquaintances due to petty differences because the most that they would get is life imprisonment.
If not for the death penalty, people would have no qualms kidnapping others for ransom and trying to escape off the island with their ransom money because at most, they will spend the rest of their lives behind bars if caught.
If not for the death penalty, people would be firing firearms to rob banks and trying to escape off the island with their ill-gotten money or shooting someone to kill them because knives are too mainstream in Singapore, all just due to the fact that life imprisonment is not enough to deter people.
The death penalty is so much more of a deterrence than the thought of spending the next 30,40,50 years behind four walls of solid concrete.
Therefore, we can see how the capital punishment plays a crucial part in our peaceful lives in Singapore.
For that, I would suggest Singapore should hold public executions for the death-roll inmates to deter would-be offenders.
I would go even further to propose that we have the executions, hangings to be conducted in front of the Istana. There seems to be plenty of space that could house the hanging platform and sufficient space for barriers to be erected.
Why Istana? you may ask.
Because after all, the President is the only person who could give clemency to prisoners who have been sentenced to death. Given that from the experience of the past two presidents, they have not given clemency to any of the prisoners during their term, therefore I probably think that the presidents would find joy in witnessing first hand the sight of the hideous criminals hanging by their neck, lifelessly, swinging to the breeze on Friday mornings. (Death-roll inmates are put to death at the dawn of Fridays)
Also, if any victims are involved, the family members to have a sense of closure by the sight of the grieving family members of the criminal.
A good idea for Singapore Tourism Board to consider too, to promote the public execution as a place of interest for tourist to visit. Given that tourists cannot visit Istana anyway and a value-adding act that does not need an outrageous sum of money to be thrown into.
Just imagine, “Only in Singapore! Witness the hanging of a criminal on the streets of Orchard.”, the new local attraction might even spur tourists to specially arrange their trip to Singapore to coincide with the event or even come specially for it. The international controversy surrounding the event would even save plenty of advertising money for the stat board.
At this point, people reading this may be saying that such acts would be offensive to the public and that people will feel disturbed especially for the children.
Now, how can the act be deemed offensive when it is sanctioned by the state and its people for the purpose of deterrence. How to deter when you don’t show it to people?
For all you know, unsuspecting people who might commit crimes are not informed of the penalty that awaits them if they do. Although ignorance is not an excuse but for the sake of preventing more crimes, we ought to put such punishment in the public to make an example out of them.
Let the kids on the street witnessing the scene have a taste of what’s coming to them if they decides to foul the said laws. In fact, we should schedule field trips to witness first hand what Singapore’s law is about.
That the rich and fabulous lifestyle that they see along Orchard Road and the fact they can walk on the streets, 3am in the night is a result of such punishment dealt upon hardened criminals who have been dutifully judged by the courts in Singapore.
As for active citizen involvement, I would champion that all-abled citizens to be put on duties through balloting. Anyone chosen through the ballot will pull the lever to drop the criminal to his/her death. After all, it is said that the majority of Singaporeans support the death penalty and by taking part in the ballot is the highest form of support one could show.
As citizens of Singapore, we all have to do our part in keeping the law and order of Singapore to protect our family. How can we discard our duties and simply pass this sacred role of enforcing justice to someone who is just collecting his/her pay to put a person to death? That is like hiring an assassin to knock someone off whom we want to kill!
No! Putting someone to death for his/her crimes should be something dignifying, else why would citizens support such an act? It must be something good that is why the majority has not voiced against the penalty.
Putting the drug dealer who smuggled 100g of harmful heroin to death.
Putting the person who murdered another one in cold blood to death.
Putting a man who unlawfully discharged a firearm to death, these are all acts of justice!
So no one should shy away from the grandeur task of pulling that lever. Just imagine the reporters taking a photo of that moment where the level is pulled, and the person falls through the platform. Your kids will be so proud of you when they see a photo of you performing such a heroic act. (Nevermind the miniscule chance of the person being wrongly accused of the crime and having his/her name cleared after a few years after death, thus branded a person who killed an innocent person.)
So let us not put the efforts of our founding fathers and government to waste. We should preserve what we have today and go a step further to ensure that people are mindful of Singapore law, to respect and fear the consequences of fouling them.
Let there be public executions in front of Istana, the symbol of the head of state to remind all about the law of Singapore.
By this point if the reader doesn’t realise it is satire, by all means, support public executions instead of supporting the act of killing someone secretly out of sight.
