YISHUN: THE DEVIL'S RING

Generally, Singapore is considered by people as a safe place to live and work: there is a low crime rate, we are protected from natural disasters, and the government is relatively stable. The reputation of this idyllic city-state has, unfortunately, had its pristine reputation blemished time and time again by one district: Yishun. Masquerading as a sleepy heartland shopping district, the town known to some as “Nee Soon” is inhabited by the scourges of Singaporean society: criminals, perverts and murderers to name a few. One resident said: “ I have been living for my whole life but I cannot escape the fact that everyday, something bad will happen to my family.” Another resident also told The Last Word: “ I hope that Singapore takes notice of this and helps those victims of crime, afterall, we want to live safely.”

At first glance, the district doesn’t look that bad, with good schools, clean parks and cheap accommodation. It puzzles me why there are a high number of crimes in this area than other parts of Singapore. It seems like an ordinary town, but the bevy of headlines that come out of the town are far from ordinary: 

1. Man robs bank with air pistol, but fails.
   
2. Man kidnaps young girls.
   
3. Man murders three people.
   

Singaporean society has responded the best way they know how: memes. Some internet and social media users are making fun of Yishun and saying that “we should build a wall around Yishun to make Singapore great again”, after asking some residents about this, they were mostly angry: “ Those online people only sit around making fun but they never understand what it means to live here.” Some people believe that Yishun is just jinxed. Some believe that it is simply misunderstood. Only time will tell.

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