Conspiracy theories. Some thrive on ’em, some are sceptics. But they go beyond the possibility of Beyoncé being the Illuminati kween, and the government being run by a horde of lizard people – and Singapore isn’t spared either.
From our stray cats being spies for the government, to top-secret tunnels, here are the most outrageous Singapore conspiracy theories that have made their way around:
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Image credit: Nor Aishah Abu Bakar via Facebook
This theory was conspired by a sharp-eyed netizen who noticed that the number of visible CCTVs around neighbourhood estates have dwindled down over the years. Maybe Singapore has gotten safer, you’d think. But the theory posits that the cameras haven’t “disappeared”, they’re now installed in the most unexpected places – stray cats.
The theory even goes on to say that these furry critters have been implanted with “nano cameras”, making spying on unsuspecting passers-by an easy task.
Hello Kitty – the real scammer.
Source: @hexbrowns via Reddit
This one Reddit user seems to be on to something. It’s no wonder Singaporeans are obsessed with those Hello Kitty toys from McDonald’s.
Believability scale: 1/5
Singapore may have a low crime rate but we’ve had our fair share of wanted criminals such as Adrian Lim who murdered 2 children and Tan Chor Jin, a gang leader who shot a man to death. Then there’s Mas Selamat, the infamous toilet-vent escapee.
His escape in February 2008 led to the largest manhunt in Singapore’s history. Despite his subsequent arrest in 2009, sceptics were still, err, sceptical about the man police claimed they had captured to be Mas Selamat.
Conspiracy theorists believe that the reported escape was just a ruse to cover the fact that he’d been killed while in detention. Some others also believe that the terrorist was never recaptured and is still alive and kickin’ it somewhere in the world.
Believability scale: 3/5
Image credit: Urban Explorers Asia
Accessing Sentosa is as easy as taking the monorail or walking across the boardwalk. But there have been conspiracy theories of another route of access to the offshore island via Labrador Park through an underground tunnel.
Legend has it that when the British built the Labrador Battery in 1939, they also constructed a tunnel to access Fort Siloso. However, all bunkers were sealed in the 1950s, and the tunnel’s interior has since collapsed.
The tunnel’s interior – where does this go?
Image credit: Urban Explorers Asia
The sealed entrance can still be found, though no one truly knows the real reason behind it. If this is the entrance to the #1 express route to Sentosa – confirm no jam here, that’s for sure.
Believability scale: 3.5/5
Image adapted from: Wikimedia Commons
One of the more macabre conspiracy theories in Singapore is this one about the Benjamin Sheares Bridge being made out of bones. And not just any kind of bones, but human bones.
This all started during the bridge’s construction in the 1970s – a time when child kidnappings were rampant in Singapore. The theory alleged that the Sheares Bridge was built on the bones of these lost children.
The construction of Benjamin Sheares Bridge.
Image credit: National Archives of Singapore
Many felt that this was propaganda to decrease the number of kidnapping incidents. This fear-mongering tactic ensured parents were more careful not to let their children wander around alone. Some even believed that a dog-headed man was responsible for the kidnappings. Welp.
The scariest part is that there may be some truth to it – a bunch of friends allegedly found what looked to be a “human skull” in the waters under the bridge in 2013.
Believability scale: 1/5
I’ll admit, the fact that it hardly rains on National Day has made me suspicious of weather modification techniques used for sunny skies on 9th August yearly. This running joke has been going around long enough that even the Singapore government has stepped in to quell the rumours about cloud seeding.
Cloud seeding isn’t as mysterious as it sounds though – it’s just modern technology that some countries around the world actually use to help prevent or induce rain and snow. And because I’m no scientist, here’s a diagram that explains how it works:
Image credit: Eacourier
In 2015, however, then-Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan announced that the Singapore government “does not engage in cloud seeding and has no plans to do so”. Although this was in response to unexpected downpours after a bout of haze, we can safely assume the same applies to National Day also.
Believability scale: 1/5
Ah, aliens. No list of conspiracy theories would be complete without the mention of the extraterrestrials, which seem to be fond of Singapore it seems.
One ex-SAF personnel risked his life to share his story, claiming that he and several other pilots were forced to attend to UFO cases with their fighter jets. He even mentioned that he had been sworn to secrecy, and could face the death penalty for going public with this info.
This crazy story aside, most of these UFOs turn out to be nothing other than military blimps, or even the Starhub Lightship.
Starhub lightship.
Image credit: Flickr
One netizen got spooked by an RSAF military blimp in February 2013.
Image credit: @IsmethakaSmurf via Twitter
But aliens or nah, I hope they left after trying some chilli crab at least.
Believability scale: 2.5/5
If you’ve paid enough attention during Social Studies class, you’d know that in 1961, a major fire broke out in Kampong Bukit Ho Swee. This inferno wiped out more than 2,800 houses, leaving 54 injured and 4 dead, securing its title as Singapore’s biggest fire incident of all time.
Image credit: National Archives of Singapore
For years, the true cause of the fire remained unknown. But fire hazards back in the day such as flammable attap roofs were thought to have played a part. This eventually led to “emergency” redevelopments in the area – Singapore’s first public housing project.
Here’s where things start getting a lil’ fishy – villagers were swiftly rehoused in the newest flats that time. So, many believed the fire was intentionally set to chase out stubborn residents who refused to leave their kampung, which hindered plans to redevelop the estate.
Believability scale: 3.5/5
Turns out, our $1 coin is more than a mix of copper and nickel. It’s got an octagonal design, believed to follow the Bagua – a protective amulet in the Taoist belief that drives away bad luck.
Too much of a coincidence?
Image credit: leftover currency & your feng shui store
This story dates back to the 1980s, where feng shui masters were allegedly consulted in the plans to build our well-linked MRT system today. But there was belief that these underground tunnels would disrupt Singapore’s “dragon vein” – the flow of energy that brings prosperity.
The feng shui masters had apparently advised that every Singaporean should carry a Bagua with them to counter the bad vibes. One way the government supposedly came up with to instil this was to copy the design into an everyday object that people were likely to carry – coins.
The $1 coins were reworked in September 1987, just 2 months before the first MRT line opened in November that year. Whether it’s legit or not, at least there’s a chance of this amulet-coin giving me more huat in life. Tee-hee.
Believability scale: 4/5
Apparently a version of a yeti or bigfoot possibly exists in Singapore. This conclusion was made when a Malay man back in the 1800s mentioned seeing an ape-like greyish creature walking on 2 legs and lurking in the forest.
Well, that wasn’t the only sighting. Japanese troops during WW2 that walked through Bukit Timah Forest also claimed to have seen this 1-2m-tall monkey creature – but only its silhouette.
Silhouette of monkey man in the forest.
Image credit: The NightRaiders via Facebook
If you thought that was the last of its appearance, jokes on you because the myth and the legend resurfaced again in 2012 on video this time. Photos of the creature were also captured in 2019.
Believability scale: 4/5
Here’s the scoop about the late MM Lee’s former residence: apparently, a secret tunnel lies under 38 Oxley Road, and is used to avoid heavy traffic to get to the Istana.
Image credit: Property Asia Direct
On Quora, a certain Sean Lee debunked this piece of information, stating that the area simply had no space for this alleged top-secret passageway. And even if there was one, it would have been extremely costly and time-consuming to build.
Believability scale: 2/5
While traversing the depths of the interwebs, I chanced upon one last “conspiracy” I knew I had to include:
Image source: @9kz7 Reddit
TBH, it’s giving us “Australia doesn’t exist” vibes. But guess what, we’ve been there. It’s 100% real. We’ve taken IG-worthy pics of Yishun Dam, visited SAFRA Yishun for its Dinoland, and had our last hurrah at ORTO Yishun. Heck, we’ve got a whole article on things to do in Yishun.
Believability scale: 6/5 (We’re kidding. 0/5)
In the words of the great Oprah Winfrey – So what is the truth?
Well, no one really knows. But whether you’re a sceptic or a believer with your own theories, these conspiracies will send some questions flying for sure. At the end of the day, is it all just a bunch of baloney? Put on your tin-foil hats my friends – I’ll let you be the judge of that.
For more scary stories, check out:
Cover image adapted from: Angelica via Foursquare, Wikimedia Commons, National Archives of Singapore
Originally published on 12 Jan 2018 by Ra Krishnan. Last updated by Iffah Nabilah Norhisham on 17th July 2023.
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