Singapore Keeps Ban On Chewing Gum

Government leaders in Singapore say they'll retain their ban on chewing gum. Parliament's secretary of national development, Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, says the ban has reduced incidents of vandalism and litter. He adds that, before the ban, commuter delays were caused
when vandals prevented subway doors from closing with what he described as gobs of gum.


A Sticking Point

Some citizens of Singapore
Are joining forces to implore
The government to think anew,
And start permitting folks to chew.
The years-long ban on chewing gum
Is making islanders quite glum.
But leaders there, all thinking green,
Who want to keep the island clean,
Say subway trains would run quite late
When gum and doors conglutinate.

© 2010 Jim Gordon