The stick or deportation?

[El_Goretto]

I was chatting over dinner with some friends about caning in Singapore. It surprised them that it was still an active form of official punishment.

It got me searching for details on how and when it is administered and I learned that for foreigners overstating their visa by 90 days, caning is the appropriate punishment.

According to Wikipedia, the offender only finds out when they will receive their caning on the day it is carried out. Moreover, during the handing of the punishment, the offender is naked with feet and hands attached, bent over with protection on the lower back and the canning is given on bare butt.

So it is a bit more involved than just a few slaps on the butt.

If given the choice, what would you choose? Deportation or a sore butt? Although, presumably, deportation is also following after the caning in Singapore.

Perhaps, when complaining about the overstay fine in Indonesia, offenders should be glad they didn't do so in Singapore!

 

[jstar]

Yeah, it was a big thing in the 90ies, there were some cases with US and Swiss citizens…


So kids, don’t steal Singaporean road signs and don’t spray graffiti on the MRT trains!

 

[Hawk256]

What are the crime rates in Singapore? How about comparing the crime rates in Aceh to another comparable size area in Indonesia? Fines only punish people without a lot of money. A rich person can get fined multiple times and it's not going to affect their behavior. Although some countries base the fine on income which may be a little more like punishment.

 

[Bad_azz]

I was chatting over dinner with some friends about caning in Singapore. It surprised them that it was still an active form of official punishment.

It got me searching for details on how and when it is administered and I learned that for foreigners overstating their visa by 90 days, caning is the appropriate punishment.

According to Wikipedia, the offender only finds out when they will receive their caning on the day it is carried out. Moreover, during the handing of the punishment, the offender is naked with feet and hands attached, bent over with protection on the lower back and the canning is given on bare butt.

So it is a bit more involved than just a few slaps on the butt.

If given the choice, what would you choose? Deportation or a sore butt? Although, presumably, deportation is also following after the caning in Singapore.

Perhaps, when complaining about the overstay fine in Indonesia, offenders should be glad they didn't do so in Singapore!

I reckon if they stripped me naked & bent me over with my arse in the air, then I would not be the one suffering- I reckon they would rapidly yell- Holy Guacamole! My eyes need bleaching! Cover the old bag up & deport her,

 

[fastpitch17]

I reckon if they stripped me naked & bent me over with my arse in the air, then I would not be the one suffering- I reckon they would rapidly yell- Holy Guacamole! My eyes need bleaching! Cover the old bag up & deport her,

Probably would have to get in the line to be canned with their fantacies created and their later hopes for you.

 

[pantaiema]

I reckon if they stripped me naked & bent me over with my arse in the air, then I would not be the one suffering- I reckon they would rapidly yell- Holy Guacamole! My eyes need bleaching! Cover the old bag up & deport her,

yikes ... A Bad-azz might be farting when get canned.
I believe they have male and female executors.

 

[Bad_azz]

At my age, farting would be the least of their worries. Farts aren't always gas....

 

[pantaiema]

I just come across this thread and remind me this story.

Jail, caning for Indonesian who swam to enter Singapore illegally after speedboat trip from Batam

Jamaludin Taipabu used an improvised flotation device to swim for an hour to Singapore after jumping off a boat.

www.channelnewsasia.com

"Jail, caning for Indonesian who swam to enter Singapore illegally after speedboat trip from Batam
Jamaludin Taipabu used an improvised flotation device to swim for an hour to Singapore after jumping off a boat"

This was reported by CNA in Sep, 17 2025 They still impose caning and jail sentences on illegal immigrants in Singapore. Because of this, the country doesn’t face many issues with bogus asylum seekers or undocumented migrants like those seen as a major problem in the EU, especially the UK.

 

[Bob]

I just come across this thread and remind me this story.

Jail, caning for Indonesian who swam to enter Singapore illegally after speedboat trip from Batam

Jamaludin Taipabu used an improvised flotation device to swim for an hour to Singapore after jumping off a boat.

www.channelnewsasia.com

"Jail, caning for Indonesian who swam to enter Singapore illegally after speedboat trip from Batam
Jamaludin Taipabu used an improvised flotation device to swim for an hour to Singapore after jumping off a boat"

This was reported by CNA in Sep, 17 2025 They still impose caning and jail sentences on illegal immigrants in Singapore. Because of this, the country doesn’t face many issues with bogus asylum seekers or undocumented migrants like those seen as a major problem in the EU, especially the UK.

The caning and jail is a deterrent. That the whole coastine, which isn't so long, is surveilled and patrolled 24/7/365 may be more of a deterrent.
Oh and back to the OP, the illegals don't get a choice, it's caning and deportation.

 

[pantaiema]

The caning and jail is a deterrent. That the whole coastine, which isn't so long, is surveilled and patrolled 24/7/365 may be more of a deterrent.
Oh and back to the OP, the illegals don't get a choice, it's caning and deportation.

If you want to look at extreme examples of people exploiting the asylum and immigration system, one of the clearest cases is migrants crossing the Channel from France to the UK. After landing in the UK soil, all they need it is to make up the story that they will be killed if they are returned home. There are many documentaries on YouTube that cover this issue. Much of the current disorder and misuse within the immigration and asylum system is often attributed to the EU and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

It is also important to note that, unlike many Asian countries where welfare systems are limited or nonexistent, most European countries have very generous benefit systems. In some cases, families with many children can receive benefits that exceed the income of people who are working. This alone becomes a clear pull factor.

 

[john madden]

@pantaiema could you post some examples of such generous welfare schemes?

 

[pantaiema]

@pantaiema could you post some examples of such generous welfare schemes?

There is a lot of information available online if you look it up. At present, the benefit cap applies to two children maximum; however, this cap will be lifted for families with more than two children. in the near future. So a single parent might get more than the one shown on the table below, if they have more than two children once the two children limit is lifted.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/benefit-cap/how-much-is-the-benefit-cap

Asylum seekers are entitled to receiving benefits once their asylum applications have been approved and they have residency status. Below is just example in the UK, but most of the EU countries, especially the Scandinavian countries have a similar generous welfare & benefit system.

Unlike the pension system, receiving this benefit does not depend on prior contributions during one’s working life. You can get up to £2,110.25 pm equivalent to IDR 47m per month without working. Putting aside any money obtained through illicit means, how many people in Indonesia earn that much, even at senior management levels?

On the top of this, residents have access to free healthcare, free schooling for children, and free training, even though they have not contributed to the welfare, healthcare and education system. All of these costs are covered by taxpayers.

Once an asylum application is approved, individuals may be able to bring their entire family from their country of origin. In certain cases, elderly parents can also be admitted on humanitarian grounds. Since these parents are adults, each of them may be entitled to receive a benefit of £1,229.42 on the top of the £2,110.25 pm granted to the family. Never mind the burden to the healthcare system, even though these individuals have never contributed to welfare or healthcare. While it is the state providing these benefits, the cost is ultimately borne by taxpayers

In addition during the asylum process, legal fees are all paid by taxpayers, which can range from tens of thousands to a few hundred thousands. In a few cases a few millions of pounds per individual just for legal fees alone have been reported.

 

[john madden]

Once they have residency status ... May be able to bring their family ... And then you compare to an Indonesian wage which was NOT the implication in your earlier post. Fancy a little holiday on Nauru?

 

[pantaiema]

Once they have residency status ... May be able to bring their family ... And then you compare to an Indonesian wage which was NOT the implication in your earlier post. Fancy a little holiday on Nauru?

@pantaiema could you post some examples of such generous welfare schemes?

Well, I was responding to the question above. As I explained in Post #12, the welfare system in Western Europe is generally more generous than in other developed countries. Generous here is meant in comparison with other developed countries. How much benefit theasylum, immigrants who do not work in Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, Japan are receiving ? The standard of living for people receiving benefits cannot, of course, be compared to that of multimillionaires.

For example, in the UK, the National Health Service means that people do not need to purchase subsidised health insurance or private or, unlike in many other developed nations. All residents are entitled to access national healthcare.

In addition, the number of children a family has can increase the total benefits a parent receives. There is also the possibility of bringing parents to live with them, who may then become eligible for benefits in the same way as other residents or citizens.

 

[john madden]

Sure, if, when etc.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

The problem in the UK is they do everything on a residence basis not on a citizenship basis. So all you have to do is get yourself into the country somehow and you are treated as well as a citizen there, with all possible benefits and support you need.
It is obviously an extremely rich country to be able to do that when even places like Singapore or the Emirates can't. How much longer it can continue is another question.

 

[Bob]

The problem in the UK is they do everything on a residence basis not on a citizenship basis. So all you have to do is get yourself into the country somehow and you are treated as well as a citizen there, with all possible benefits and support you need.
It is obviously an extremely rich country to be able to do that when even places like Singapore or the Emirates can't. How much longer it can continue is another question.

Singapore has no inclination to cover employment pass holders and other visitors, so it would be won't instead of can't. It may be the same in UAE.

 

[harryopal1]

S

There is a lot of information available online if you look it up. At present, the benefit cap applies to two children maximum; however, this cap will be lifted for families with more than two children. in the near future. So a single parent might get more than the one shown on the table below, if they have more than two children once the two children limit is lifted.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/benefit-cap/how-much-is-the-benefit-cap

Asylum seekers are entitled to receiving benefits once their asylum applications have been approved and they have residency status. Below is just example in the UK, but most of the EU countries, especially the Scandinavian countries have a similar generous welfare & benefit system.

View attachment 5310

Unlike the pension system, receiving this benefit does not depend on prior contributions during one’s working life. You can get up to £2,110.25 pm equivalent to IDR 47m per month without working. Putting aside any money obtained through illicit means, how many people in Indonesia earn that much, even at senior management levels?

On the top of this, residents have access to free healthcare, free schooling for children, and free training, even though they have not contributed to the welfare, healthcare and education system. All of these costs are covered by taxpayers.

Once an asylum application is approved, individuals may be able to bring their entire family from their country of origin. In certain cases, elderly parents can also be admitted on humanitarian grounds. Since these parents are adults, each of them may be entitled to receive a benefit of £1,229.42 on the top of the £2,110.25 pm granted to the family. Never mind the burden to the healthcare system, even though these individuals have never contributed to welfare or healthcare. While it is the state providing these benefits, the cost is ultimately borne by taxpayers

In addition during the asylum process, legal fees are all paid by taxpayers, which can range from tens of thousands to a few hundred thousands. In a few cases a few millions of pounds per individual just for legal fees alone have been reported.

Struth! If the figures above are correct, the single parent allowance is $2500 a month more than what I get for my Aus aged pension. I think I need to head off to the UK and claim that Islamic extremists are threatening my life if I remain in Indonesia or return to Australia.

 

[pantaiema]

S

Struth! If the figures above are correct, the single parent allowance is $2500 a month more than what I get for my Aus aged pension. I think I need to head off to the UK and claim that Islamic extremists are threatening my life if I remain in Indonesia or return to Australia.
View attachment 5314

That is correct that If you are residents. a single parent with two children, living in greater London and you are not working (e.g earn nothing), you would receive £2,110.25 value of benefit, which is equivalent to US$2,829.45 pm. On the top of it free children education, free heathcare for the whole family.

In the near future, there will be no limit on the number of children considered, so in theory a single parent could receive a higher amount depending on the number of children.

Because this is a benefit and not a pension, you don’t need to have paid into the system to qualify.

. I think I need to head off to the UK and claim that Islamic extremists are threatening my life if I remain in Indonesia or return to Australia.
View attachment 5314

Some individuals may succeed in claiming asylum on those grounds, particularly since the UK remains subject to the ECHR and operates under the presumption of innocence, also people have nothing to lose to attempt that as their legal representatives are funded by taxpayers, even when acting against the taxpayers own interests.

There have been many media reports of people crossing the Channel from France to the UK who claim they would face death if returned to their home countries, yet later, after being granted asylum, are found to travel back there on holiday.

 

[pantaiema]

Singapore has no inclination to cover employment pass holders and other visitors, so it would be won't instead of can't. It may be the same in UAE.

People should be aware that in the UAE, employees do not pay personal income tax on their salaries. In contrast, Singapore operates a territorial tax system. While foreign-sourced income is generally not taxed in Singapore, income that is accrued in or derived from work performed in Singapore is taxable. As a result, foreigners working in Singapore are still required to pay personal income tax and other applicable taxes. Singapore’s government could, if it wished, use tax revenue collected from employees including foreign workers to extend benefits more widely to residents, but it cleverly avoids doing so for obvious reasons.

As mentioned by @Helpful Herbert In the UK, taxation and welfare are largely based on residency rather than citizenship, meaning individuals may access benefits even if they have made little or no prior contribution. This approach has contributed to long-term fiscal strain and economic decline, with the UK declining from once being the richest country in the world to now ranking 31st and continuing to fall. Politicians often support this policy for political gain, since residents who receive benefits despite not having contributed to the system, and their families, may later become eligible voters.

It is also important to distinguish between pensions and benefits: pensions are paid from specific pension funds built up through individuals’ contributions during their working lives, whereas benefits are funded from general tax revenues collected from the population.