The Singapore Sling dilemma

Saurabh Shukla | | New Delhi, January 27, 2014 | UPDATED 08:36 IST

Thousands of tourists thronging the city-state of Singapore and to the favourite hangouts of Clark Quay and Boat Quay may see a different Singapore by the end of the year, as the country braces for curbs on alcohol consumption in public. So, one may not be able to enjoy the Singapore Sling, the famed cocktail that originated in Singapore, in a public park or on a walkway. A senior minister told me that the government is now seriously considering expansion of the ban, currently imposed in Little India, across the entire city-state to ensure that there is uniformity in law.

Political opinion is divided on this; in Parliament many lawmakers demanded that the ban should be extended to rest of Singapore. While one lawmaker stressed that the ban has affected local bar owners in Little India, another lawmaker argued that families in Little India had approached her with a plea to discipline the crowd that gathers in the locality.

Referring to the riots in Little India, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Teo Chee Hean said, 'This was the worst public order disturbance in Singapore in more than four decades.' Last week, he told Parliament, 'We are reviewing processes to tighten liquor control at specific places. Full set of liquor control measures will be announced when they are ready.' For a country that is tourist-friendly, these are tough decisions. But given the seriousness of the December riot, it is not surprising since Singapore is also a regimented country. For the time being though, the ban is on consumption of alcohol on streets and public parks in Little India, and sale of liquor is not allowed after 8 pm. Moreover, the police have been given extra powers to ensure there is no repeat of such riot.

Little India is home to hundreds of Indian restaurants and shops, and second home to thousands of Indian migrant workers. The riots in December, following the accidental death of an Indian migrant worker, came as a shock to Singaporeans who still cannot accept that ambulances and police vehicles were torched. Talking to me, some of them drew parallel with the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. That's a bit far-fetched, since the riot in Little India was not premeditated. And the police controlled it in two hours, without a shot being fired.

However, the police crackdown saw 35 Indians being arrested. While 10 were released, 25 of them are facing trial. Fifty-seven Indians and one Bangladeshi have been deported and have been banned from returning to Singapore. Considering that 13,000 foreign nationals were deported last year, it is a small number. But this being the election year in India, some political parties in Tamil Nadu may raise the issue as many of Indian migrants are from that state. So, Singaporeans have been extra careful; they despatched their two senior ministers to India - Foreign Minister K. Shanmugham and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office S. Iswaran who also handles trade and industry portfolio, besides being the second minister for home affairs.

As Singapore awaits the report of the inquiry commission, the government has to address the growing divide between the workers and the affluent Singaporeans. It's a tricky situation that the country must handle carefully.

Timely intervention and quick management of the situation by Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, Vijay Thakur Singh (in pic), helped in containing any damage to the relationship between the two countries over the riot in Little India. The envoy brought in a dose of proactive diplomacy and did an excellent job. The senior diplomat was quick to interact with the Singapore government and convey India's concerns.

'We have taken Little India issue strongly with Singapore, and they provided us quick consular access following the incident,' Singh told me.

She has ensured that her consular staffers are sent with interpreters to reach out to the community and in dormitories where migrant workers stay. The idea is that this issue be handled delicately to ensure that genuine problems of Indian workers is sorted out by Singapore government, and that actions of few Indian workers do not taint rest of the workers.

Singh now has to work closely with Singapore government to ensure that agents do not dupe Indian nationals. During my visit, I spoke to some of them who were promised high-paying jobs, but have been forced to work as part-time workers with low payments.

With increasing business ties between the two countries, New Delhi attaches high value to the bilateral relationship. But, India's regulatory surprises and change of goal posts are some of the concerns for Singapore's business leaders that need to be addressed.

The visit to Singapore is not complete without seeing its newest wonder, the Gardens by The Bay, where the light and sound show with psychedelic lights and a vertical green structure in the shape of a giant tree attracts one and all. The garden even has an India corner, featuring Indian trees and plants. One can see flowers and palms of different varieties from across the globe, and the setting provides a good weekend break for many Singaporeans. It also has an arena for music concerts, besides a cycling track. Indian urban planners would do well to learn from it.

Power of LKY is intactIt was a memorable experience to see the visionary 90-year-old Lee Kuan Yew (in pic) in action as he walked in, assisted by an aide, and sat facing his son Lee Hsien Loong, the country's prime minister, during my visit to Singapore's Parliament. Even at this age, Lee Kuan, popularly known as LKY, has a grip on country's politics.

He transformed Singapore into a financial centre with muscle, through his foresight and wisdom. Even though observers claim LKY increasingly paved way for his son, his party still reaches out to him for advice. While he is rarely seen at public events, LKY is still one of the towering global statesmen.

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