Line #140 UsefulNotes/Singapore


1	[[quoteright:327:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cia_world_factbook_map_of_singapore.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:327:Don't be fooled by the map. It's all one big city.]]
3
4	->''"Clearly you've never been to Singapore..."''
5
6	Clearly, the writers of ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' hadn't either... the place is depicted as a large town at the close of UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfPiracy, when it was in fact a swampy island (which had ''formerly'' been a major trading hub until the Majapahit Empire had enough of ''that'' and invaded, with the fleeing rajah founding the Sultanate of Melaka, which ''itself'' fell to the Dutch, who finished the job the Majapahit started in about 1612, terminating any large-scale trade for two centuries) until being bought up at the start of the era of empires by Sir Stamford Raffles, who was just about the opposite of Lord Cutler Beckett and quite a guy[[note]]His deputy and co-founder of the British colony there, Major-General William Farquhar, would probably disagree given that Raffles sacked him as the Resident four years into his term, condemning him to a life of obscurity[[/note]]. To be fair, though, they got other things right: Chinese formed a big part of the population of Singapore when it did exist and the Straits of Malacca by which it sits are even today a (comparative) pirate hotspot. Also, prior to becoming a Crown Colony in the latter part of the 19th Century, it ''did'' have a reputation of being a WretchedHive with rampant crime, corruption and opium; a derisive nickname given to it at the time was "Sin Galore." Its WretchedHive reputation was revived for a short while after its full independence in 1965 (see below); the lawlessness was largely tamed by The80s.
7
8	A British colony for a while, it was captured by the Japanese in 1942 after they came in via the jungle on bicycles - the naval guns were NOT pointed out to sea, as widely believed. They did not, however, have a lot of HE (High-Explosive) rounds, and the guns had to resort to firing ineffective armor-piercing rounds after these ran out. UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill called it the worst disaster in British history, which is wholly accurate in pure numeric terms. This event, and the subsequent war atrocities, is generally acknowledged as the [[ShockingDefeatLegacy trigger of the local awakening]] that the Western colonial powers [[NotSoInvincibleAfterAll weren't - and were never - invincible]], and when the British returned, the independence movement kicked into full gear with the UsefulNotes/ColdWar as a backdrop (the Malayan Emergency raged on as Communists attempted to overthrow the British-backed government), with self-governance being granted in 1959.
9
10	In 1963, Singapore declared independence from the British Empire as part of UsefulNotes/{{Malaysia}}, but this didn't stick due to the Malaysian-Indonesian ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia-Malaysia_confrontation Konfrontasi]]'' (the only armed conflict where Singaporean soldiers died), where Indonesian leader Sukarno attempted to forcibly incorporate Malaysia into his "Greater Indonesia", leading to acts of state-sponsored terrorism and border clashes in Borneo and the ''very'' violent racial riots between Chinese and Malays, exacerbated by the political squabbling between the central Malaysian government and Singapore. As such, on 9 August 1965, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew tearfully announced Singapore's independence from Malaysia.
11
12	Similarly, Singapore is not ''[[Music/RainDogs made of iron ore]]'', as Music/TomWaits would tell you[[note]]although its geology is dominated by iron-rich lateritic soil[[/note]], although it probably isn't a good idea to fall asleep while you're ashore.
13
14	The '''Republic of Singapore''' ('''Malay:''' ''Republik Singapura''; '''Chinese:''' ''新加坡共和国 Xīnjiāpō gònghéguó''; '''Tamil:''' ''சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு Ciṅkappūr kuṭiyaracu''), is an island city-state in Southeast Asia, about 700 square kilometers in total land area, splitting from Malaysia in 1965, a state it still has some disputes with. Ties between the citizens of both countries remain extremely close, since almost everyone has friends, family, and/or business on the other side of the causeway.
15
16	It is notable that, of all the countries established in the 1960s, it went from a third-world-country to an incredibly prosperous and rich island nation. The typical Singaporean citizen is multilingual, highly-educated, and well-paid, with good exposure to several different cultures. The pollution is pretty much non-existent, the infrastructure is highly-developed and still being improved, and the overall cleanliness is stunning, seemingly impossible to attain considering its urban AND tropical nature. The homeless, poor, and the elderly are generally well-cared for, yet the economy takes the burden in its stride. It commands a respectable military, and there are enough policemen for each square kilometre, combined with government protocols, which means that safety and law enforcement remain extremely high. All in all, it is an extremely successful and efficient First World Country, especially considering where it was fifty years ago, with a booming economy, great prosperity, and much general comfort despite the humidity.
17
18	Sounds amazing, right? Wouldn't mind going there to study or work, or for a holiday? Well, there are some things you'll need to watch out for. It ''can'' be a great place to live in, but it does have a dark side.
19
20	In addition to the humidity, hot sun, and mosquitoes, Singapore has garnered a fairly infamous reputation for being incredibly strict and conservative when it comes to its laws - with very frequent use of the death penalty (400 hangings between 1991 and 2004 - note that the place had a population of ''4 million'' at the time), including for drug trafficking. (The crime rate in Singapore is pathetically low though, so depending on your point of view the death penalty may or may not be a necessary evil or even a good thing to keep citizens in line. The use of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning_in_Singapore caning]] is also common as a punishment, as an American tourist by the name of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Fay Michael Fay]] found out the hard way in 1994 after being arrested for theft and vandalism. It has several notably restrictive laws: discouraging homosexuality and banning same-sex marriages[[note]]Gay sex was finally decriminalised in 2022, but additional restrictions were placed on intentions to legalize same-sex marriage[[/note]], issuing fines for intentional littering, outlawing the possession of porn, and banning [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the sale of chewing gum]],[[note]]although not possession, so bringing in a stick or two for yourself or friends is acceptable unless you go around sticking wads of gum on public property[[/note]] amongst others. Fortunately, the penalties for all but the first are simply fining and/or community service; the goal is to keep the city clean and safe, not to lock people up. Creator/WilliamGibson once memorably described the place as "[[http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1.04/gibson.html Disneyland with the death penalty]]"[[note]]He was dissatisfied later that he managed to convey the city's "creepy anal retentive" authoritarianism better than its "unrelenting dullness"[[/note]], and the locals make jokes about this - you can get T-shirts saying "Singapore is a [[{{Pun}} fine city]]", enumerating most of the fines one is likely to incur for various misdemeanours. The government finally passed laws allowing controlled gambling a couple of years back, and two large casino resorts have been completed ([[InsistentTerminology though the term "Integrated Resort" is preferred]]). With the new tourism spike, the government is loosening some of their stricter laws.
21
22	The 15th wealthiest country per capita in the world (5th by purchasing power, 3rd if you go by IMF data), it is very densely populated, mostly of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian ethnicity. The general population is undergoing some interesting developments, with Singaporeans emigrating to other countries while [[MightyWhitey foreigners]] come to the country seeking high paying jobs. This has been of much talk among the local population, creating the saying "National Service for the locals, jobs for the foreigners", National Service referring to the mandatory 2 years of full-time military service for male Singaporean citizens.
23
24	Due to the high population density, much of the population live in high-rise government developments. Some of the newer developments are nice enough to be mistaken for private condominiums, although some unsatisfied people have claimed that a few of the newer apartments are as small as the 'pigeonhole' apartments made back in the old days, only more modern.
25
26	Singapore is ostensibly a representative democracy, although some political science professors would disagree rather vehemently. The primary political party, the People's Action Party (PAP), has dominated elections since self-government in 1959 much like Malaysia, but their lead slipped in the 2006 election. However, since the 2008 Malaysian election where opposition parties achieve significant gains, the PAP has become wary of changing political tides. In the 2011 election, the PAP's lead slipped once more, with various important constituencies nearly taken by the opposition. There is speculation that Singapore might end up as a two-party system with the Worker's Party (WP), especially with the first leader of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew (and remaining the unofficial leader of the PAP), finally retiring and then proceeding to die in 2015 at the age of 91. [[note]]Yes, he was almost 36 years old when Singapore achieved self-rule in 1959, and almost 42 when Singapore became fully independent.[[/note]] Despite this, much of Singapore's influence and prosperity comes from initially unpopular policies started by the PAP. Politically, it is now one of the USA's best buds in the Pacific, especially in South-East Asia. In fact, it maintains good relationships with an abundance of other nations, generally ranging from 'friendly acquaintance' to BFF.
27
28
29	Some military analysts rank the Singapore Armed Forces as the best equipped and trained force in the region, since its highly-educated pool of conscripts allows it to invest in more advanced military technology. Recruitment is mostly on a conscription basis using a system similar to Israel's, with able-bodied male citizens above a certain age (sixteen and a half, almost always deferred until eighteen after schooling) serving one and a half to two years of National Service, followed by Reservist duty annually. Note that 16-year-olds would be considered child soldiers, according to an optional protocol to the Geneva Convention. However, the entrance standards tend to be much higher than the average 16-year-old could manage without rigorous training. In all, it is considered an extremely rare, surprising occurrence for someone younger than 18 to show up.
30
31	There is also the Singapore Civil Defence Force, which started as a normal fire brigade and was made what it has become when the government decided to upgrade the organisation following the infamous Hotel New World incident in the 1980s, coincidentally the time when the murderer Adrian Lim was at large (he has since been made to dance the hemp fandango, and is known for infamous [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toa_Payoh_ritual_murders Toa Payoh ritual murders]]). The SCDF is also manned by conscripted full-time NS men, and now encompasses the handling of biochemical and radioactive materials, as well as first aid.
32
33	Singapore is also a very secular society and have strong sense of religious tolerance, as there are a wide variety of religions that Singaporeans practice. In fact, Singapore is one of the few states where their population does ''not'' have a majority religion (Buddhism, the most practiced religion in Singapore, is followed by roughly 33% of their population). The only religions that Singapore bans is the Jehovah Witnesses [[note]]Jehovah Witnesses core beliefs is that they refuse to serve the military or any nation and Singapore has a mandatory draft as mentioned above[[/note]] and Unification Church [[note]]The government considered their church to be a cult, and the fact that their founder, Sun Myung Moon, had made a lot of controversial statements relating to Judaism[[/note]]. Singapore also doesn't tolerate any material that encourages racism or religious discrimination, and ban materials that does so (such as ComicBook/ChickTracts). Religious tolerance, however, is seen as SeriousBusiness, and any offensive remarks or discriminatory manner towards other religions will most likely lead into serious trouble with the authorities.
34
35	Special mention must be made of the local English dialect - while {{engrish}} is also commonplace due to [[BlindIdiotTranslation lazy translators]], '''Singlish''' is what gives the Singaporean experience its unique, 101% genuine feel ([[DontExplainTheJoke the extra 1% is because we're kiasu (scared to lose out)]]). Singlish, as already indicated by the name, as an English-based creole, formed from language contact between the many languages in Singapore when it was under British rule, including Mandarin Chinese, Malay, Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochew, and Tamil. Attitudes towards Singlish vary, but it is nevertheless spoken by the overwhelming majority of Singaporeans in informal situations. Officially speaking, Singlish is heavily frowned upon, and seen as nothing more than heavily modified English, and an indication of low education. A more-than-cursory look, however, reveals that although Singlish has a primarily-English lexicon, its grammar is much closer to that of Mandarin Chinese or Malay.
36
37	The cost of living is ridiculously high. Fortunately, the large amount of high-paying corporate jobs, as well as copious amounts of government welfare programs, means that the average Singaporean salary is more than capable of taking it. If you're a tourist looking for expensive meals and good living, though, set up a heavy budget and research ahead, or your wallet will bleed. In fact, if you don't plan your money carefully, any holiday-maker can expect their money to drain quickly.
38
39	Neil Humphreys, a thoroughly decent bloke from [[UsefulNotes/OneLondonThirtyThreeBoroughs Dagenham]], has written a really good trilogy of books on his life in Singapore, starting with ''Notes from an Even Smaller Island''. [[note]] In case you're wondering, the title references Creator/BillBryson's ''Notes From A Small Island'', where the island was UsefulNotes/{{Britain}}.[[/note]] He has also [[BigEater gained a lot of weight from enjoying our fine international cuisine]] - but beware of the [[FireBreathingDiner peanut soup]].
40
41	In short, Singapore is an up-and-coming island nation, which is excellent to live and work in, or even just come for a holiday. While sometimes restrictive, it doesn't trespass on most great freedoms. It can handle itself in a war or in emergencies (though it's pathetic on the scale of the military superpowers), and possesses a remarkable combination of cleanliness, safety, and comfort. Just don't break the law, make sure to read all warning signs, and manage your budget well. And, if you intend to live there, be prepared to be diligent, working hard and doing your duty.
42
43	----
44	* UsefulNotes/SingaporeansWithStealthFrigates - tropes describing the Singaporean military go here.
45	* For a list of Singaporean works with trope pages, see SingaporeanMedia.
46	* UsefulNotes/SingaporePolitics
47	----
48	'''Fictional Singaporeans:'''
49
50	[[AC:{{Anime}}]]
51	* Faye Valentine, ''Anime/CowboyBebop''.
52	* ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' had one Mobile Fighter from ''Neo-''Singapore (a source of UnfortunateImplications in his own right.)
53	* Hachihachi is a personification of the Singaporean [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR_88 SR 88]] rifle in ''Manga/{{Upotte}}.''
54	* Singapore himself shows up in ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'', and at most accounts a nice guy, but still mentions the "Fine City" reputation.
55
56	[[AC:{{Comics}}]]
57	* Jenny Quantum, ''ComicBook/TheAuthority''.
58	* Tyger Tiger a.k.a Jessan Hoan, Creator/MarvelComics.
59	* The titular character of Mr Kiasu, as written by the Kuppies (their pen name).
60	* The [[{{ThemeNaming}} food-themed]] Roti, Kaya, and Guyu, superheroes who run a kaya-sandwich shop, also written by the Kuppies.
61
62	[[AC:VideoGames]]
63	* Goh Min and Goh Xiulan, triad leaders of the 54 Immortals from the campaign of ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsIII''.
64	** He "Seraph" Zhen-Zhen, a triad enforcer and Specialist of multiplayer.
65	* Neraine from the [[WebGames flash game]] ''VideoGame/Genesis2009''.
66	* While not exactly Singaporean, Bolo Santosi from ''VideoGame/JustCause2'' made waves across the internet solely from her cringe-worthy, exaggerated [[WhatTheHellIsThatAccent Singaporean accent]] bordering on SoBadItsGood territory.
67
68	[[AC:WebOriginal]]
69	* ''Website/SCPFoundation'': "Mr. Ji Fan" a.k.a [[http://www.scpwiki.com/scp-2857 SCP-2857]] appears to be a regular Chinese-looking local, who has a fondness for cooking Hainanese chicken rice... that happens to be anomalously addictive to anyone else who eats it. Amongst his claims to have been forcibly teleported from an alternate future timeline (somewhere past his supposed birth year: 2029), he also mentions having a ''doctorate'' in '''chicken rice preparation''' from a non-existent culinary school and somewhat involved in a future conflict involving a feud between [[SeriousBusiness "chicken ricers" and chili-crabbers"]].
70	* Jennifer Chase from Roleplay/ShinHyakujiHighSchool.
71
72	'''Singapore in fiction:'''
73
74	[[AC:{{Anime}}]]
75	* An episode of ''Anime/CardfightVanguard'' had the crew visit Singapore as part of the [[TournamentArc Vanguard Fight Circuit]].
76	* Not only does ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' feature a Singaporean character (the aforementioned Faye Valentine), the Singapore Merlion statue actually features in key episodes involving her.
77	* The Siak (pronounced Sok) Republic in ''Franchise/GhostInTheShell''.
78	* ''Anime/PlasticMemories'': As noted in this [[https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/34qac3/anime_vs_real_life_comparisons_plastic_memories/ reddit thread]], many background scenes take inspiration from notable Singaporean buildings and locations. [[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Dpt_ClFVFd3Kx0aU460RW_RkCMijtNTg2ma2X32bN50/edit See for yourself.]]
79	* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'' has a part set in Singapore, where the group battles against Ebony Devil and Yellow Temperance.
80	* Episode 6 of ''Anime/APlaceFurtherThanTheUniverse'' features the group stopping by and staying in Singapore while on the way to Fremantle, Australia. The episode is basically SceneryPorn of the island state with ''very'' [[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ja08CBs63TPC5uPwB4afT9peFsol033mGBaMFZH07r0/edit accurately rendered locations]] around the country.
81	* Singapore is the central location of ''Manga/CaseClosed: The Fist of Blue Sapphire'', where the titular detective is whisked there by Kaito Kid to solve a mystery. Obviously, this being a NonSerialMovie, a monument is destroyed - in this case Marina Bay Sands.
82
83	[[AC:{{Comics}}]]
84	* Madripoor, a NoCommunitiesWereHarmed version in Creator/MarvelComics, although there is a separate Singapore in this universe. InUniverse, Madripoor is essentially the opposite of modern-day Singapore, being a crime-filled WretchedHive, and is often bought, taken over, our used as the home of various terrorist and criminal operations, from HYDRA to the Maggia to the Brotherhood of Mutants. Think Gotham City if it was located in the middle of Asia.
85	** The Blue Marvel once stopped what looked like Parliament House from crashing and falling.
86	** The X-Corps from are also said to have a branch here.
87	* The Plutonian sinks the entire island, killing everyone on it, in ''ComicBook/{{Irredeemable}}''.
88	* ''The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye'' by Sonny Liew details the life and work of Singapore's greatest comics artist, and how his works are affected by the history of Singapore itself.
89
90	[[AC:{{Film}}]]
91	* ''Film/AhBoysToMen'', is a series of Singaporean-Malaysian films about [[Main/{{Conscription}} National]] [[UsefulNotes/SingaporeansWithStealthFrigates Service]] in Singapore.
92	* In ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'', Harry Osborn mentions to Peter Parker that he spent some time in Singapore.
93	* ''Film/AroundTheWorldInEightyDays2004'': While on the run from colonial authorities in India, Phileas Fogg mentions, but quickly dismisses Singapore and Hong Kong as railroad destinations to avoid capture in British-occupied territories.
94	* Singapore has gotten mentions in ''Film/BatmanBegins'', as where parts of Batman's cowl are manufactured.
95	* ''Be With Me''
96	* In ''Film/IndependenceDayResurgence'' the (absurdly China-looking) island nation along the rest of Asia is [[ApocalypseHow obliterated]] by the arrival of alien mothership.
97	* Parts of ''Film/InTheMoodForLove'' are set in Singapore.
98	* ''Film/INotStupid'', an affectionate satire of Singapore's former education system.
99	* The second act of ''Film/HitmanAgent47'' is set in Singapore, where the Syndicate International headquarters is located.
100	* Singapore has been mentioned in at least one Film/JamesBond film. Seems like [[UsefulNotes/SecretIntelligenceService [=MI6=]]] has a tiny branch here in ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies'', where the jamming signal from the Carver Media satellite gets picked up on.
101	* ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilo_Ilo Ilo Ilo]]'', a family drama implicitly set during the Asian Financial Crisis detailing the struggles of being a maid in Singapore, was the country's first entry to win an award at the Cannes film festival.
102	* ''Film/CrazyRichAsians'', as with the book it's adapted from (see below), takes place mostly in Singapore and concerns itself with the lives of its 1%.
103
104	[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
105	* ''Literature/ClassicSingaporeHorrorStories'' from Damien Sin, a Singaporean ex-poet and writer, one of the most influential example of local Singaporean literature.
106	* Kevin Kwan's ''Literature/CrazyRichAsians'' is about the lifestyle of the insanely rich in Singapore. It focuses on an Asian-American girl whose boyfriend takes her to his hometown in Singapore for his best friend's wedding where she discovers that he comes from an extremely wealthy and influential Singaporean OldMoney family who lives in a palace. Much of the country's culture is introduced here.
107	* As per the Film example, Singapore has been mentioned a grand total of once in the ''Literature/JamesBond'' novels, as where [[SailorEarth 0011]] has been reported to have disappeared.
108	* James Clavell's novel ''King Rat'' (part of his Literature/AsianSaga series) is set in Singapore's notorious Changi prison during UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo.
109	* ''The Singapore Wink'' a novel by Ross Thomas.
110	* ''The Singapore Grip'', a 1978 novel by Booker Prize winner J.G. Farrell focuses on the lives of white and Chinese residents of Singapore during ''UsefulNotes/WorldWarII''. It was adapted into a six-part ITV series in 2020.
111
112	[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
113	* The ''Series/CriminalMinds'' spinoff series ''Series/CriminalMindsBeyondBorders'' Season 2 Episode 6 takes place in Singapore, where the International Response Team investigates the murders of two American air stewardesses. The episode drew plenty of flak from local online netizens for their [[TwoDecadesBehind stereotypical, orientalist]] depiction of Singapore's geography and culture; namely locales that look more in line with China or Hong Kong, the depiction of Geylang Serai as a red-light district (sort-of correct) that is an "overcrowded slum with a thriving underworld" (very wrong) and pushing a narrative about the 'draconian state' laws that contrast with what the American characters are used to back home.
114	* ''Film/HouseOfHarmony'' depicts a romance between a Singaporean Chinese woman and an American expatriate in the 1920s.
115	* ''Series/SerangoonRoad'', a 2013 co-production between [[Creator/TheABC the Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] and HBO Asia. It's set in 1960s Singapore and focuses on an Australian expat and the Chinese woman who runs a detective agency he does casual work for.
116	* ''Series/{{Suburgatory}}'': Dalia's father gets married and moves to Singapore, since it's where his new wife comes from and when Dalia finds out about it, she's upset because they don't bring her.
117	* Most of the futuristic city scenes in Season 3 of ''Series/{{Westworld}}'' were filmed in Singapore. However, episode 4 shows Serac bringing Maeve to the city because the Rehoboam system detected a divergence in Arnold's house where Dolores built five host bodies after leaving from Westworld. Maeve spends the rest of the episode looking for the identities of these hosts.
118
119	[[AC:WebOriginal]]
120	* ''Webcomic/{{Polandball}}'' has Singapore be uniquely triangular-shaped (besides [[VisualPun Bermuda]]) instead of spherical, and jokes concerning Singlish, capital punishment, ''karoshi'' and its relative wealth are rife there, [[VerbalTic lah]].
121	* ''Website/SCPFoundation'' has [[http://www.scpwiki.com/scp-2965 SCP-2965]], which was found in '''[[ConvenientlyInterruptedDocument [REDACTED] ]]'''Station of the Circle Line MRT.
122
123	[[AC:VideoGames]]
124	* ''VideoGame/AceCombat'': The [[FictionalCounterpart world of Strangereal]] has a counterpart to Singapore in the form of the city-state of Selatapura. Fittingly, it is located in the southernmost tip of the Usea continent and plays a big part of the ''Lighthouse War'' conflict in VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown due to the SpaceElevator built near the city.
125	* ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}''
126	** ''VideoGame/Battlefield4'' features [[UsefulNotes/ChineseWithChopperSupport Chinese]]-[[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs occupied]] Singapore in one of its campaign missions.
127	** ''VideoGame/Battlefield2042'': The multiplayer map "Manifest" is set at a port in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulau_Brani Pulau Brani]], Singapore. In the climate-change ravaged world of ''2042'', a sea wall that has successfully staved off the global rising sea levels was built around the island, making Singapore one of the last viable shipping ports ''in the entire world'' for maritime trade.
128	* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty''
129	** ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'' has a Strike Force Mission take place within a futuristic Keppel Harbour, with the Singapore skyline visible in the background. The multiplayer map "Cargo" takes place at the aforementioned Harbour.
130	** In ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsIII'', a futuristic Singapore is featured prominently in the single-player campaign. The advanced, wealthy city has since declined rapidly since 2060 after an industrial accident contaminates most of the Central Business District and is now under quarantine. The 54 Immortals, a local triad gang continues to perform nefarious criminal operations within the containment walls after the government abandons reclamation efforts due to frequent typhoons hitting the region[[note]]As part of the futuristic consequences of climate change; the region has never seen a natural disaster of that scale since, ''ever''[[/note]].
131	* ''VideoGame/D4DJGroovyMix'': The first event story, "[=NonS=].T.O.P. the Best!!", features the four women of the DJ unit [=Merm4id=] going on a vacation to Singapore and explore popular local landmarks. Notably, the VisualNovel-style interface uses actual photos of Singapore rather than the usual generic background illustrations.
132	* ''[[VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution Deus Ex: Human Revolution]]'': Part of it is set in a futuristic Singapore. Specifically, [[spoiler:Omega Ranch, a biotech research facility that is where all the surviving scientists are being held. Now that the Singapore government is focusing on promoting its biotechnology industry, this may not be too far-fetched.]]
133	* Freeware RPG game ''Everlong'' has a small fishing village named Singapore. Given that Singapore used to be a fishing village, it might not be entirely coincidental.
134	* ''VideoGame/MarioKart'': Befitting its WorldTour theme, ''VideoGame/MarioKartTour'' has a course based off of Singapore's Central Area, the aptly-named Singapore Speedway. It was later added as a DLC course in ''VideoGame/MarioKart8 Deluxe''.
135	* ''Franchise/MassEffect'' mentions in the Codex that Singapore is the site of a SpaceElevator, and considering that Singapore is the only prosperous and highly developed industrialized nation along the equator, it makes a lot of sense for one to be there. In the backstory, Singapore was the site of a transport accident that caused a major Element Zero contamination incident, exposing a lot of children ''in-utero'' and causing the development of biotics: party member Kaidan Alenko was one of these babies.
136	* ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorRisingSun'' has a level set in Singapore during the Japanese Occupation, where OSS agents Joe and Tanaka attempts to infiltrate a secret Axis meeting held at Raffles Hotel while passing by old monumental landmarks such as Chinatown, Jamae Mosque and Sri Mariamman Temple.
137	* ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedNitro'' features Singapore as one of the five global cities for a place for street racing.
138	* In the WWII RTS game ''[[Videogame/MenOfWar Men of War: Assault Squad]]'' and it's sequel, a 1940s Singapore is one of the scenarios, featuring the playable attacking [[UsefulNotes/KatanasOfTheRisingSun Imperial Japanese Army]] against the defending [[UsefulNotes/BritsWithBattleships Commonwealth forces]]. It is depicted as a generic lush jungle terrain map and the British forces in possession of ''far'' too many tanks stationed there at the time in real life (read: ''zero'').
139
140	----
141
142	'''Notable shows in Singapore:'''
143
144	* ''Under One Roof'' - A longrunning sitcom that featured the Tan family, who live in a HDB flat in Bishan. Tan Ah Teck (played by ''Moses Lim'') is the awesome, if overweight, father of the house, with many a humorous {{aesop}}, all of which taking place "[[{{catchphrase}} Long, long ago, in the Southern province of China]]."
145	* ''Phua Chu Kang'' - A sitcom (starring Gurmit Singh) about an Ah Beng construction contractor, his inept employees, and his family. Season One features a lot of Singlish, which was later cut as part of the government's Speak Good English campaign. They {{handwave}} the dropping of Singlish by claiming that Chu Kang was sent for English lessons between seasons.
146	* ''Gotcha'' - a now-defunct show akin to ''Series/JustForLaughsGags'' and ''Series/CandidCamera''.
147	* ''The Unbeatables'' - a Chinese-language drama with amazing gambling stunts, which starred two Great Old Names of Caldecott Hill, Zoe Tay and Li Nanxing.
148	* ''Triple Nine'' - An old crime drama starring the local Criminal Investigation Department, or CID.
149	* ''VR Man'' - A short, one-season wonder featuring [[HenshinHero a pager which the titular hero used as a transformation device]]. It was very heavy on the {{narm}}.
150	* ''The Golden Pillow'' - Another popular Chinese-language drama.
151	* ''The Little Nyonya'' - An extremely popular drama featuring the local culture of the Straits-born Chinese, or ''Peranakan'' folk. It's popularity has warranted a DVD release of the entire series.
152	* ''@ Moulmein High'' - A teen drama set in a Secondary school. In addition to featuring the students, the show also featured the teaching staff and the romances that budded between them.
153	* ''Growing Up'' - a long-running English-language drama chronicling the trials and tribulations of an everyday family, spanning the 60s to the 90s.
154	* ''Makan Sutra'' - A little show which highlighted quite a lot of good places to eat in Singapore, hosted by effervescent, Vespa-riding, self-proclaimed "makan guru" KF Seetoh.
155	* ''Crimewatch'' - A police-sponsored current affairs/public service program which occasionally highlights interesting case-files (by way of re-enactments) to show how good the boys in blue are at catching the crooks.
156	* ''The Noose'' - Something of a FollowTheLeader to ''Series/TheColbertReport'' and ''Series/TheDailyShowWithJonStewart'', this spoof news program goes with demographical rather than political stereotypes, and content-wise comes close enough to crossing the line to last seven seasons thus far. The disclaimer before the OP helps.
157	* ''OK Chope!'' - Another FollowTheLeader, this time to panel shows like ''Series/MockTheWeek'' (which has been obliquely acknowledged in the show). Several major changes to the formula include handing buzzers to all the players (referencing how the name "chope" is Singlish for claiming seats in an eatery or something similar), and pre-filmed segments like interviews to keep the show that much more current and relevant.
158	* ''Tanglin'' - Named for one of the more upmarket residential areas in Singapore, this is Mediacorp's first English-language long-form drama, screening 5 nights a week in order to churn out over 400 episodes to date.
159
160	In a related vein, Singaporean adaptations of shows from overseas are equally popular, including local versions of ''Series/AmericanIdol'', ''Series/WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire'', ''Series/TheWeakestLink'', ''Series/DealOrNoDeal'', ''Million Dollar Money Drop, Series/DontForgetTheLyrics,'' ''Just for Laughs: Gags'' and ''Series/MinuteToWinIt''.
161
162	[[AC:The Singaporean flag]]
163	https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/singapore_flag_7452.png
164	->The flag's red and white stripes symbolize fraternity and virtue, respectively; at the canton is the crescent symbolizing Singapore as a youthful nation, and the five stars symbolize the city-state's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality. The similarity to the Islamic Crescent and Stars is coincidental, but evocative.
165	----
166	[[AC:The Singaporean national anthem]]
167
168	->Mari kita rakyat Singapura
169	->Sama-sama menuju bahagia
170	->Cita-cita kita yang mulia
171	->Berjaya Singapura
172
173	->Marilah kita bersatu
174	->Dengan semangat yang baru
175	->Semua kita berseru
176	->Majulah Singapura
177	->Majulah Singapura
178
179	->Marilah kita bersatu
180	->Dengan semangat yang baru
181	->Semua kita berseru
182	->Majulah Singapura
183	->Majulah Singapura
184
185	--
186
187	->来吧，新加坡人民，
188	->让我们共同向幸福迈进；
189	->我们崇高的理想，
190	->要使新加坡成功。
191
192	->来吧，让我们以新的精神，
193	->团结在一起；
194	->我们齐声欢呼：
195	->前进吧，新加坡！
196	->前进吧，新加坡！
197
198	->来吧，让我们以新的精神，
199	->团结在一起；
200	->我们齐声欢呼：
201	->前进吧，新加坡！
202	->前进吧，新加坡！
203	[[note]]
204	->Lái ba, xīnjiāpō rénmín,
205	->Ràng wǒmen gòngtóng xiàng xìngfú màijìn;
206	->Wǒmen chónggāo de lǐxiǎng,
207	->Yào shǐ xīnjiāpō chénggōng.
208
209	->Lái ba, ràng wǒmen yǐ xīn de jīngshén,
210	->Tuánjié zài yīqǐ;
211	->Wǒmen qí shēng huānhū:
212	->Qiánjìn ba, xīnjiāpō!
213	->Qiánjìn ba, xīnjiāpō!
214
215	->Lái ba, ràng wǒmen yǐ xīn de jīngshén,
216	->Tuánjié zài yīqǐ;
217	->Wǒmen qí shēng huānhū:
218	->Qiánjìn ba, xīnjiāpō!
219	->Qiánjìn ba, xīnjiāpō!
220	[[/note]]
221
222	--
223
224	->சிங்கப்பூர் மக்கள் நாம்
225	->செல்வோம் மகிழ்வை நோக்கியே
226	->சிங்கப்பூரின் வெற்றிதான்
227	->சிறந்த நம் நாட்டமே
228
229	->ஒன்றிணைவோம் அனைவரும்
230	->ஓங்கிடும் புத்துணர்வுடன்
231	->முழங்குவோம் ஒன்றித்தே
232	->முன்னேறட்டும் சிங்கப்பூர்
233	->முன்னேறட்டும் சிங்கப்பூர்
234
235	->ஒன்றிணைவோம் அனைவரும்
236	->ஓங்கிடும் புத்துணர்வுடன்
237	->முழங்குவோம் ஒன்றித்தே
238	->முன்னேறட்டும் சிங்கப்பூர்
239	->முன்னேறட்டும் சிங்கப்பூர்
240	[[note]]
241	->Ciṅkappūr makkaḷ nām
242	->Celvom makiḻvai nōkkiyē
243	->Ciṅkappūriṉ veṟṟitāṉ
244	->Ciṟanta nam nāṭṭamē
245
246	->Oṉṟiṇaivōm aṉaivarum
247	->Ōṅkiṭum puttuṇarvuṭaṉ
248	->Muḻaṅkuvōm oṉdṟittē
249	->Muṉṉēṟaṭṭum ciṅkappūr
250	->Muṉṉēṟaṭṭum ciṅkappūr
251
252	->Oṉṟiṇaivōm aṉaivarum
253	->Ōṅkiṭum puttuṇarvuṭaṉ
254	->Muḻaṅkuvōm oṉdṟittē
255	->Muṉṉēṟaṭṭum ciṅkappūr
256	->Muṉṉēṟaṭṭum ciṅkappūr
257	[[/note]]
258
259	--
260
261	->Come, we fellow Singaporeans
262	->Let us progress towards happiness together
263	->May our noble aspiration make
264	->Singapore successful
265
266	->Come, let us unite
267	->With a new spirit
268	->Together we all proclaim
269	->Onward Singapore
270	->Onward Singapore
271
272	->Come, let us unite
273	->With a new spirit
274	->Together we all proclaim
275	->Onward Singapore
276	->Onward Singapore
277	----
278	[[AC:Government]]
279	* Unitary dominant-party parliamentary constitutional republic
280	** President: Tharman Shanmugaratnam
281	** Prime Minister: Lee Hsien Loong
282	** Chief Justice: Sundaresh Menon
283	** Parliament Speaker: Seah Kian Peng
284	----
285	[[AC:Miscellaneous]]
286	* '''Capital:''' Singapore
287	* '''Largest region by population:''' Central Region
288	* '''Population:''' 5,703,600
289	* '''Area:''' 728.3 km
290	(281.2 sq mi) (176th)
291	* '''Currency''': Singapore dollar (S$) (SGD)
292	* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' SG
293	* '''Country calling code:''' 65
294	* '''Highest point:''' Bukit Timah Hill (164 m/537 ft) (191st)
295	* '''Lowest point:''' Singapore Strait (22 m/72 ft) (-)

Context UsefulNotes / Singapore