killer gatto follow money of opes, page-9

byte, I don't think it is fair to paint Singapore in that manner. It is more their commitment to the principle of free trade as opposed to our nanny state approach that might allow that perception in some.
Their strength is actually the lack of corruption, and they do actively pursue it, but they also realise that they must allow private enterprise to operate without the state being too intrusive.
If they were to adopt our ways they would quickly revert to what it was when the British ruled it, a mud island in a strategic location. Perhaps it wouldn't even have that, it's strategic location is no longer important given how the region has developed post WW2.