My Personal Top Truths/Myths about Singapore 4

Myth: An Australian high-tech company has invented a spanking machine for the Singaporean government.
I've been told this myth by an expat who had been living in Singapore for quite a while. Sounds incredulous, I know, but if you've been here for a while it doesn't sound so very unbelievable anymore.

Truth:  Just because there is no spanking machine, doesn't mean there is no corporal punishment. Caning forms part of the local culture and starts, naturally with different degrees of severity, for kids at home (not in every family), continues at school, and if you're unlucky/dumb enough to spray graffiti on a local train and get caught, you get caned as an adult (amongst other things). There is a wide range of offenses that are punishable by caning, so better tread carefully and don't go around and give the local coppers wedgies. Lastly, at least some Singaporean kids seem to be disappointed and wish to remedy the fact that no caning/spanking machine is used here.