Singapore government takes its lead from the Japanese occupiers

When the Japanese army broke through Singapore's last defences on 15 February 1942, they set about imposing their authority with unimaginable brutality. For seemingly trivial offences local people were beheaded in the street and their heads stuck on spikes as a warning and deterrence to others.

Killing a civilian for the possession of 400 gms of heroin is ignorant, politically inexpedient and barbaric.

The Singapore government is yet to rise above the context of 1942.