It's not limited to their libraries. All of their public facilities are like this. Even their public swimming pools (not allowed to use them if you are a visitor, their digital ticketing system requires the local equivalent of a SSN). The official excuse is that it's tax payer subsidized.

It's very much a classist country where you position in society is determined by your immigration status. Everything there is tiered based on whether you are a "citizen" (first class), permanent resident (second class), and you are in a permanent out group if you are not in the above two classes. And if you are a foreigner, whether you are a white "expat" or a Dubai -style indenture servant migrant worker. Valley tech bros are obsessed with that country but all that glitters is not gold.

> Even their public swimming pools (not allowed to use them if you are a visitor, their digital ticketing system requires the local equivalent of a SSN). The official excuse is that it's tax payer subsidized.

There's a FAQ specifically addressing this [1]:

> If you do not have Singpass, you may still approach our pool or gym staff to buy single-entry passes.

[1] https://ask.gov.sg/activesg/questions/clztixkjr00agracq0ys53...

And? This would work great elsewhere. Why should i pay my taxes for subsidizing shit for Muslims?

This is also pretty funny considering how much of Singapore's business is related to sheltering the wealth of the rich from other nations.

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