Singapore slings a little caution to the wind

BBC NEWS | Programmes | From Our Own Correspondent: "The people of Singapore are used to doing exactly what they are told. But the reins of the nanny state are relaxing... ever so slightly. After all, this is the great nanny state, the place where Playboy is banned, jay-walking is almost unthinkable... and where nanny is not known for her risqué sense of humour.

Then there is the chewing gum ban - the one fact everyone seems to know about this small, immaculate country. It is still in force and you can go to jail for importing it illegally. But if you are determined to chew, you can now register and get medicinal gum at a pharmacy. It is not exactly revolutionary, but in a cautious way the authorities are experimenting with change - cultural change, not political.

In Singapore everything just works. My rubbish gets collected from the house every morning and the plumber calls to apologise if he is running 15 minutes late. A pothole would probably make the evening news. On the wall in front of me, there was a small notice from the proprietors warning customers that they would be fined if they were greedy and took more plates than they could actually eat. Singaporeans are used to being told what to do... and obeying. It is part of the deal. "