World Report

Is Singapore Ready for S-E-X on the Roadways?

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ASIEH NAMDAR. CNN ANCHOR: Is Singapore ready for the letters s- e-x on its roadways? Of the 1,500 votes cast in a local poll, the majority of voters said yes to using the three letters as a prefix on license plates.

Singapore's Channel NewsAsia has the story.

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FIONA TAN, CHANNEL NEWSASIA REPORTER (voice-over): Sex signs and number plates: The topic was hot enough to turn on 1,500 mouse clicks. Some 60 percent said, yes, s-e-x should be used as a prefix for vehicle registration numbers while 40 percent thought otherwise. Many voters also clicked on two checklists of options.

Among a group who voted yes to sex plates, more than half said it'll help create a positive imagine of Singapore as a fun place; a quarter will be proud to own and defend criticism of the plate. The rest would time their car's purchase and registration during the s-e-x series and would bid higher than normal. The highest bid for a car number plate was $118,000 in 1995. The Land Transport Authority said most bids are $1,000, the minimum bid amount.

In the other check list for the no voters, over a third said sex number plates have undesirable connotations, closely followed by those who said the plate will allow others to make fun of Singapore and Singaporeans. The rest were concerned the plate would distract other drivers, lead people to think of sex and some said they'll time their car's purchase and registration to avoid the sex series.

When asked to comment on the poll results, the LTA said the se- series will only be considered for use in a few years' time. It'll decide closer to the date, factoring in public sentiments and sensitivity. The LTA had earlier said before deciding whether to have the s-e-x series, it would gather feedback from the police and Motor Traders Association.

When contacted, the police said it'll give its inputs to LTA when approached. While the Motor Trader's Association said it'll collect customer feedback if asked, its secretary personally felt that sex is a taboo subject in Asian society, and among the Chinese community, Mr. Tay said the letter x is considered inauspicious.

DAVID TAY, SECRETARY, MOTOR TRADERS ASSOCIATION: X is not perceived to be very good as it implies that a person has been crossed out. It is important to realize that the consumer pays a lot of money for his car and hopes the choice he has made, both the car as well as the number, all goes well with him.

TAN: Mr. Tay said society's opinions may change four years down the road. Meanwhile, some of today's opinions were reflected in Channel NewsAsia's Web forum.

Terminator said: "The sex number plate is disgusting. Many perverts and jokers would love to own it and make fun of the local authority."

Another said: "When caught in a jam, the three letters may help to ease stress, so why not give it a try and see if the number if collisions actually drops."

And MercuryRising said: "It's not like you are displaying the word sexual intercourse. That would then be a different story altogether."

Well, as for this story, it seems to indicate that three-letter word can sound like a four-letter word to some. And to others, it's just two letters, OK.

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NAMDAR: OK, and that was Singapore's Channel NewsAsia.

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