CNBC reporter ordered chicken rice at char kway teow stall in video about S'pore's low crime rate

He got served fried rice.

Belmont Lay | January 21, 2018, 11:13 PM

A video by CNBC about Singapore's low crime rate has been making the rounds on Facebook after it was published on Jan. 16, 2018:

The video's virality -- having clocked one million views in five days -- stems from its revelation of some startling facts.

These facts include how the Singapore police reported 135 days without any crimes including snatch-theft, house break-ins and robbery in 2016, as well as the report's assertion that many small businesses here enjoy little concern about shoplifting.

The video demonstrated this low-crime principle by having the reporter leave his valuables unattended in Lao Pa Sat food centre in the Central Business District area for more than two minutes as he went about ordering food.

Ordered chicken rice, got fried rice

However, the video's wide reach is also due to it taking some creative liberties with its presentation of information, which got called out by eagle-eyed viewers.

One typical response from viewers was the emphasis that Singapore is like any other country as it also experiences its fair share of crimes.

The other response, which is more hilarious, is the calling out of the reporter for going to Lau Pa Sat food centre where he ordered chicken rice at a char kway teow stall, and eventually getting served fried rice.

CNBC even clarified that the reporter ordered chicken rice:

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Dilemma

Herein lies the dilemma: As much as Singapore would very much like to claim this news as a win given its international reach, it clearly shows why a foreign entity singing Singapore's praises might not be the most ideal situation given this sort of blatant faux pas.

It also provides the "Let Singaporeans explain Singapore" camp some firepower.

This is not exactly "fake news", but it has taken a bit too much creative liberties.

For those who need an example of crime in Singapore:

Here's an unrelated but equally interesting article:

You need to get with the times, both for your bank account and your life