The "Estepilha" article in Funchal Notícias contrasts Madeira's aspiration to be the "Atlantic Singapore" with the reality of civic behaviour on the island.
While Singapore enforces strict laws, including heavy fines and physical punishments like caning for offences such as littering or public urination, Madeira appears to have more lenient laws and little enforcement. The author recounts an incident of two individuals urinating on a wall in Funchal Marina, an act that would be punished with "rattan" in Singapore.
The comparison extends to other crimes and misdemeanours, such as vandalism, drugs, and even not flushing public toilets, where Singapore adopts a zero-tolerance policy and severe penalties, contrasting with the perceived impunity on the island of Madeira.