Governance & integrity

Pritam Singh asked about the impact of recent terminations of key management personnel at SingPost on its service performance and obligations as a public postal licensee. Josephine Teo indicated that the issues surrounding these dismissals were addressed in previous parliamentary responses regarding a whistle-blowing report. Teo noted that Singh was present during the discussion but did not pose a follow-up question.

• Mr. Xie Yao Quan raised concerns about the review of the Bizfile portal incident, specifically regarding the decision-making time to disable the NRIC search function.
• He inquired whether the review would assess how the decision time could have been shortened and if the findings would be made public.
• Indranee Rajah confirmed that the issue would be addressed in a Ministerial Statement by the Second Minister for Finance on 8 January 2025.

• Concerns were raised in Parliament regarding the alleged manual manipulation of delivery status codes for SingPost parcels, particularly in relation to a whistle-blowing report about falsified e-commerce shipment data.
• The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) confirmed that the incident was limited to international parcel deliveries and did not affect domestic postal services, which continue to meet regulatory standards.
• The government is monitoring SingPost's corporate governance and has issued advisories to ensure compliance with quality of service obligations, especially following the dismissal of senior executives.
• Ongoing reviews of the postal sector are being conducted to address structural challenges, including the decline in traditional mail usage, while ensuring the sustainability and accessibility of postal services.
• The IMDA is committed to maintaining public trust in postal services, particularly for essential functions like the delivery of legal notices and court papers, amidst the leadership changes at SingPost.

Assoc Prof Jamus Lim raised concerns about how the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) and Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) will handle prisoners' correspondence following a Court of Appeal ruling that found them acting unlawfully by disclosing letters, including those between prisoners and their lawyers. K Shanmugam explained that the ruling emerged from a case involving prisoners awaiting capital punishment and clarified that the breach was due to the lack of consent or court order for disclosure. Since May 2020, policies have been updated to require prisoner consent or a court order before sharing correspondence with AGC. The Court awarded nominal damages to three prisoners and acknowledged that officers acted in good faith, thus no further actions will be taken against them. Attorney-client privilege for prisoners remains, but must also consider prison security.

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked about the progress of the review of Formula 1 contracts and tender processes, including any identified irregularities and the potential release of findings for public transparency. Gan Kim Yong responded that the review of the contracts is still ongoing and that the Singapore Tourism Board has completed an audit of the 2022 race, which found satisfactory internal controls with no significant issues. Minister Grace Fu previously mentioned the Government's ongoing review of the F1 contracts.

• The Prime Minister’s office confirmed that the prosecution has filed Notices of Appeal regarding the court’s judgment in PP v Pek Lian Guan and Pay Teow Heng.
• The government cannot provide further details on disciplinary action against the two CPIB officers because the matter remains sub judice.
• The government did not commit to a review of the statement-taking process in the response.

• The selection of sponsors and keynote speakers for the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) is based on inviting leaders to focus on the annual theme, and the organizer does not vet their speeches for content or factual accuracy to maintain an open platform for diverse perspectives.
• The Ministry of Trade and Industry declined to disclose specific details, such as the amount paid by Aramco as a top sponsor, citing commercial confidentiality, though Aramco was among the listed sponsors for the event.
• The government assesses that the chief executive of Aramco’s keynote remarks reflect one perspective in the global energy transition and do not alter Singapore’s commitment to its own decarbonisation goals, emphasizing that SIEW’s credibility relies on accommodating differing views without endorsing them.

Hazel Poa questioned the criteria used by the Government for issuing correction directions under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) when factual errors are identified. Josephine Teo explained that two conditions must be met for a Correction Direction: a false statement of fact must be communicated in Singapore, and it must be deemed in the public interest by the relevant Minister. The decision to issue a Correction Direction involves a detailed assessment of each case by the Minister and their team, considering the nature of the falsehood, its context, and potential public harm.

Yip Hon Weng raised concerns about the accountability of lawyers involved with companies linked to a Japanese money-laundering syndicate and questioned if the current verification processes for client background checks would be reviewed. K Shanmugam responded that the Ministry of Law and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority are investigating the matter. He clarified that both lawyers and corporate service providers must adhere to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements, which include conducting due diligence and reporting suspicious transactions. Singapore's AML/CFT verification processes are regularly reviewed to align with international standards.

Yip Hon Weng questioned the Minister for Home Affairs about the entry of members of a Japanese money laundering syndicate into Singapore, seeking clarification on their detection, prior information on their criminal activities, and communication from Japanese authorities regarding a wanted notice issued in August 2024. K Shanmugam responded that the fugitives were not known to be wanted by foreign authorities upon their entry into Singapore. He also mentioned ongoing communication with foreign counterparts while indicating that further details could not be disclosed at this time.

Wan Rizal supported a Bill aimed at protecting the electoral process from misinformation by prohibiting deepfakes and AI-manipulated content that misrepresents candidates. Concerns were raised about the definition of "realistic enough" representations and the implications for private communications on social media platforms, with calls for clarity on enforcement and adequate monitoring during elections. Louis Ng questioned the right to request corrective actions against deepfakes, highlighting scenarios where a candidate might be positively represented, and sought clarification on the inconsistency in standards for defining offensive content. Josephine Teo affirmed that the Bill addresses the integrity of elections and holds both candidates and social media platforms accountable for misinformation, while also ensuring a balance between free speech and protecting voter interests. The Bill was subsequently passed without amendments.

The debate primarily revolves around the introduction of the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Bill (ELIONA Bill) to address the threat of deepfakes and digitally manipulated content during elections.

The Minister for Digital Development emphasized the alarming rise of deepfake incidents globally, citing examples from various countries and their impacts on elections. She asserted the necessity of the ELIONA Bill to safeguard democratic processes by prohibiting manipulated online content that can misrepresent electoral candidates.

Several parliamentarians raised concerns, including the bill's potential impact on freedom of expression, the clarity of definitions regarding manipulated content, and the challenges of enforcement, particularly in private communications or messaging apps. They also called for considerations of educational initiatives to enhance public awareness about misinformation and deepfakes.

Many members expressed support for the bill, recognizing the urgency of addressing the risks posed by advanced digital manipulation techniques in electoral contexts, while emphasizing the need for comprehensive measures to ensure its effectiveness and fairness in enforcement.

• Between 2019 and 2023, there were six cases of theft by airport staff, including one involving an ICA officer, and all Home Team officers undergo strict recruitment, annual financial declarations, and credit bureau screening.
• ICA officers are monitored by supervisors, deployed in pairs for security checks, and searches are conducted with travelers present and under CCTV, with body-worn cameras used to review conduct.
• While measures are effective in preventing misconduct, occasional incidents may occur, and when detected, officers face disciplinary action and criminal investigations with enhanced punishments.

• The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill 2024 was introduced to align with the Platform Workers Bill, prohibiting members of platform work associations from holding positions in key public service commissions to preserve impartiality.
• The Bill was passed after a debate, with a two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments, and was approved unanimously with 82 "Ayes" in both the Second and Third Readings.
• The amendments ensure parity with existing rules for trade unions, extending restrictions to platform work associations to maintain high standards in the Civil Service, Judicial Service, and Legal Service.

• The Minister defended the current definition of "public servant" under the Penal Code as broad and fit for purpose, emphasizing that it ensures high standards of conduct and protects officials, while noting that the government reviews anti-corruption laws regularly and is open to future changes if needed.
• Sylvia Lim raised concerns about the handling of a former minister's case, questioning the reduction of charges, the lack of a full trial due to a plea bargain, and the sentencing disparity, suggesting these issues may undermine public confidence and warrant a review of anti-corruption laws.
• The Minister responded that charge amendments and sentencing differences are common in legal proceedings, assured that enforcement agencies like CPIB and AGC performed their duties thoroughly, and stated that clear rules and decisive enforcement are key to attracting talent to public service.

• Edwin Tong stated that government agencies are reviewing the facts and circumstances regarding the NTUC Enterprise and Allianz Europe BV transaction, including the issue of whether NTUC Enterprise's undertaking to hold Income Insurance shares was indefinite.
• He indicated that it would be inappropriate to answer Pritam Singh's question until the review is completed.
• The review is being conducted by relevant government agencies to establish the facts related to the representations made by former CEOs of Income Insurance and NTUC Enterprise.

• The Public Service Division and ministries conduct conflict of interest checks before, during re-appointments, or when an officer’s role changes to ensure Permanent Secretaries can serve on private boards without compromising their duties.
• Permanent Secretaries must seek approval before accepting board appointments, with eligibility determined and monitored through these checks, which are reviewed by the Public Service Division and ministries.
• The government does not publicly disclose the results of these checks, citing the need to protect operational confidentiality and maintain the integrity of the review process.
• In the past five years, the checks have identified and prevented potential conflicts, though the exact number of instances is not specified in the response.
• The system aims to foster public-private sector collaboration by allowing Permanent Secretaries to serve on boards where no conflict exists, enhancing diversity of perspectives.

• The bill aims to amend the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 and Presidential Elections Act 1991 to ban online election ads containing certain digitally generated or manipulated content about candidates.
• It was presented by Minister of State Ms. Rahayu Mahzam on behalf of the Minister for Digital Development and Information and read for the first time.
• The bill is scheduled for a second reading at the next parliamentary sitting and will be printed for review.

He Ting Ru questioned the Minister for Digital Development and Information about the accuracy of the Government's deepfake detection technologies, the differentiation between harmful deepfakes and legitimate satire, and the protocol for wrongly identified videos. Josephine Teo explained that the Government utilizes various tools for detecting manipulated content but does not disclose accuracy rates to prevent exploitation by malicious actors. The Government can act against online falsehoods under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) if the content violates public interest, while satire or parody is exempt unless harmful. There is ongoing study regarding potential safeguards against the misuse of AI and deepfakes, particularly during elections.

Patrick Tay Teck Guan raised concerns about the investigation of a basketball coach allegedly accepting improper payments for student admissions under the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme and questioned if the Ministry of Education will review the DSA processes. Dr. Wan Rizal asked how the Ministry ensures integrity and fairness in the DSA process, measures to detect unethical practices, and support for affected students and parents. Chan Chun Sing referred to a previous written response regarding conflicts of interest in the DSA selection process.