There is a reason why Singapore outdoes Jakarta

In Singapore it's quite normal for people, entire families, young and old, to wander the streets, ride a bus or stroll home from work late at night -- because, unlike Jakarta, the city state is a safe place to live and work.

With an area as large as Jakarta, Singapore is home to many ethnicities and nationalities and is relatively safe for tourists.

During a recent three-day visit to learn more of Singapore's tourism board, I noticed a distinct lack of police on the city's streets.

Only during one visit to a close-by neighborhood for common people in Mustafa did I notice a police car with male and female officers in it.

I thought perhaps Singaporeans did not need to be protected by police officers anymore, or perhaps it was Singapore itself that had become a safe haven for most people.

Jakarta Post, Indonesia