Moving to a new, foreign country is a daunting task which many expats find very overwhelming. At Asia Expat Guides, we understand your concerns and your specific needs as an expat. We routinely share articles and expat tips about moving to Asia at http://asiaexpatguides.com/expat-tips/. In this particular slide, we compile the unusual laws in Singapore. Did you know you are not allowed to chew bubblegums in Singapore?

1. Unusual Laws in Singapore
A Guide for New Expats in Singapore
By: Asia Expat Guides

2. Singapore, the „fine‟ city
• To many people who have visited this small city/country, Singapore
is indeed a fine city. It is almost utopian with the ultra-cleanliness
and orderliness, unlike its Southeast Asian neighbors. However, the
word „fine‟ for Singapore carries double meaning as there are
numerous unusual regulations that can get you fined, or
penalized, in Singapore; even for doing things that are considered
normal in your home country.
• Here are just some of the „unusual‟ things that are forbidden in
the Lion City.

3. • Singapore takes cleanliness very seriously and
apparently gum just causes too much of a mess to be
sold in the country at all. If you can't live without
it, just bring a little with you before your trip to
Singapore, make sure to keep it in your mouth and
stick it at the trash can afterwards. Bringing chewing
gums in large amount and spitting it on the floor can
cause you to pay a hefty fine.

4. • Don't think about connecting to that unsecured
network of your neighbor. If you are caught just quickly
logging on, it is considered "hacking" and offenders can
be fined for stealing, even facing charges punishable
by up to three years imprisonment. If you don‟t have
internet connection at home, go to coffee shops
offering free wi-fi or internet cafe.

5. • In Singapore, everything has to be kept clean and this
extends to the bathroom as well. If you are caught
failing to flush a public toilet after using it, you can
expect a nice fine, because apparently police officials
have been known to check.

6. • It is illegal to litter in many countries, but the
punishments for doing it in Singapore are without
comparison. Not only can you get a seriously hefty
fine, litterers receive "community work orders" where
they are forced to pick up trash in public. The
punishment is intended to publicly embarrass
convicted litterers.

7. • Although hugging is a probably a common thing to do in
your home country, ask for permission before hugging
people in Singapore, otherwise you can be charged for
“outraging the modesty of another person”. In
addition, when you haven‟t seen your loved ones for a
long time, make sure you are not over affectionate to
them when meeting in a public space as you could be
charged similarly.

8. For more information about
being an expat in Asia, visit
http://asiaexpatguides.com