Graffiti in SIngapore

Do feel that graffiti should be allowed in Singapore? Before I answer this question, let be brief you on how the Singapore government treat graffiti. There was a recent arrest and sentencing of the Oliver Fricker, 32, who graffitied an MRT train to 3 strokes of the cane that had come into spotlight in SIngapore. In 1994, Michael Peter Fay was also sentenced to caning in Singapore for theft and vandalism. The above reports showed how strict SIngapore deals towards graffiti. They count street art as vandalism and showed no mercy to bring the offenders to court. But personally, I felt that the punishment of Oliver is too strict. He may be punished, but not till the extent of caning. "This is what I see from where I stand:- Fricker’s act has caused no one physical harm.- Fricker’s act has not damaged anyone’s property. Sure, the MRT was vandalised, but it’s not that hard to clean off, right? Besides, quite a lot of us Singaporeans actually think it makes the MRT look more interesting, a refreshing difference from the boring standard trains.- Fricker’s act has alerted SMRT to the flaws and shortcomings of their security system (or lack of one). SMRT could not have learned this lesson in a way that was cheaper or safer; they could have been learning it from an overpaid security consultant, or from the aftermath of a planted bomb. Now they have the opportunity to bolster up their security and improve their system, all without having to spend money on an expert evaluation and without the loss of civilian lives!" ----------------------------------Quoted from http://kixes.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/how-dare-he-make-the-mrt-look-nicer/ Well, personally, I felt that there should be places set aside especially for street art. We need to let the people living in Singapore appreciate that street art is still an art.