Funny Singapore traffic rules

I noticed the first part as soon as I landed here. The second part came in only when I started to visit more often.

Assume you are driving a car on Singapore roads. You have come up to a traffic light and you are waiting for it to turn green. Now depending on which way you are going, there are multiple ways in which you will respond.

If you are going straight, you will just wait for the light to turn green and then scram.

If you are turning right, you will slightly nudge your car towards the right and wait for the flow of traffic from the opposite side to ebb before you turn right...even when your signal has not turned green. This is similar to the "Yield" sign on American roads. The opposite side traffic has right of way, but you are OK to take that turn when cars are not headed your way.

If you are turning left, and here is where I find it strange and funny, you will nudge your car a little ahead and let the pedestrians cross the road and then gun the car before the light turns red. When it turns red, you stay put and wait for the light to turn green.

Why do I find it funny, you ask?

Cause Singaporeans will take turns when there is probability of oncoming traffic, but not when there is a certainity of NO traffic coming.

Strange, huh?

The left turn should be a free left turn. Pedestrians and other cars will still have the right of way, again like the "Yield" sign, but you should be able to turn left.

Especially since the country drives on the left hand side of the road.

But then, when were these things based on logic?