Public safety & law — Topics

4 Oct 2021

Support Measures to Assist Vulnerable Dependants of Sole Breadwinners under Remand or Jailed and Processes to Identify Them

The Singapore Prison Service collaborates with community partners like the Yellow Ribbon Community Project to identify and assist families of inmates, providing referrals to social service offices and family service centres for housing, education, and daily needs.
Initiatives such as annual booster packs with grocery vouchers, bookstore vouchers for children, and targeted support for Malay/Muslim families through M3 agencies are part of the outreach efforts.
Inmates' family needs are identified through interviews with prison officers, visits by Visiting Justices, or volunteers, leading to referrals to Family Resource Centres or social service agencies for further assistance.
Funds like the Inmates’ Families Support Fund and Yellow Ribbon Emergency Fund offer temporary financial matching and support to ex-offenders and their families upon release.
The government's primary support comes through multiple agencies, with community programmes supplementing these efforts to address vulnerable families' needs.

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4 Oct 2021

Protection for Bank Customers against Attacks Which Hijack Messages or Passwords and Misrepresent Banks

Joan Pereira asked the Prime Minister about protections for bank customers against sophisticated attacks that hijack messages or passwords or misrepresent banks, as well as measures customers can take to safeguard their credentials and how to identify trustworthy online services.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, responding for the Prime Minister, indicated that the question would be addressed in his reply to a subsequent question filed by Dr Tan Wu Meng.

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4 Oct 2021

Fire Prevention Measures in Nature Reserves and Parks Given Rising Temperatures

NParks is implementing fire safety measures like vegetation trimming, debris clearing, and fire break maintenance, while also increasing patrols and enforcement against smoking and unauthorised burning during dry periods.
NParks is developing a Forest Fire Detection and Monitoring System using CCTV, drones, and video analytics to enable faster fire identification and real-time response coordination with SCDF.
NParks is educating the public through signs about preventing fires, such as prohibiting smoking in reserves and ensuring fires are not left unattended at camping and barbecue sites.

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4 Oct 2021

Proposal to Increase Penalties for S Pass and Employment Pass Holders Found Guilty of Submitting Forged Academic and Other Documents

The debate centers on a proposal by Gan Thiam Poh to increase penalties for S Pass and Employment Pass holders who submit forged documents, such as academic certificates, to enter Singapore.
Minister Tan See Leng responded that existing penalties under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act include fines up to $20,000, imprisonment up to two years, or both, plus work pass revocation and permanent bar from working in Singapore.
The Ministry of Manpower considers the current penalties sufficient and comparable to those under the Immigration Act, with no immediate plans to raise them further.
MOM is enhancing screening and fraud detection, and employers are urged to ensure rigorous recruitment processes for foreign workers.

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4 Oct 2021

Investigation into and Enforcement against Hate Crime Cases in Past Five Years

Tan Yia Swam asked for statistics on hate crime investigations and outcomes over the past five years.
K Shanmugam explained that Singapore does not track crimes by offender motivation but uses sections 298 and 298A of the Penal Code as proxies for racial and religious hate crimes.
In the last five years, 143 cases were investigated under these sections, resulting in 55 warnings, two fines, five jail terms, and five combined fines and jail terms.

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4 Oct 2021

Work Pass Holders Arrested and Convicted for Overstaying after Expiry of Passes

From 2011 to 2020, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority investigated 1,746 work pass holders for overstaying offences.
Of those investigated, 1,027 were charged and convicted for overstaying after their passes expired.
The remaining cases resulted in composition fines or warnings, depending on factors like reasonable cause for overstaying and the duration of overstaying.

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4 Oct 2021

Steps to Ensure Safety and Well-being of In-patients at Institute of Mental Health

Murali Pillai asked about steps to ensure the safety and dignity of IMH in-patients and support for psychiatric nurses after recent court convictions for offences against patients.
Ong Ye Kung affirmed that patient safety is a top priority, with zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviour, and described IMH’s protocols including staff training, team-based care, weekly patient feedback, monthly audits, and thorough incident investigations.
He added that IMH supports staff well-being through de-escalation training, peer support, individualised assistance for stress, and reminders for colleagues to look out for each other.
The Ministry will continue working with public healthcare institutions to protect the well-being of both patients and healthcare workers.

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4 Oct 2021

Public Sector and Companies' Readiness to Deal With Ransomware Attacks

Mrs Josephine Teo highlighted a significant rise in ransomware incidents in Singapore, with cases increasing from 21 in 2018 to 89 in 2020 and 68 reported in the first half of 2021, reflecting a global trend of escalating cyber threats.
The government advises against paying ransoms, as it does not guarantee data recovery and may encourage further attacks, instead emphasizing prevention through good cyber hygiene, regular software updates, strong passwords, and proactive monitoring.
Businesses and public agencies are encouraged to adopt robust recovery measures, including offline backups of critical data and regular practice of incident response plans, while the public sector employs a tiered approach to cybersecurity involving prevention, monitoring, and business continuity.
The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore is developing initiatives like the SG Cyber Safe Programme, Cybersecurity Toolkits, and a Trustmark to help enterprises, especially SMEs, improve their cybersecurity posture and resilience against ransomware.
The government is committed to empowering businesses with resources and information, stressing that cybersecurity is a collective effort requiring participation from all enterprises to safeguard Singapore’s digital ecosystem.

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4 Oct 2021

Recourse for Employers against False Accusations by Migrant Domestic Workers

Joan Pereira asked for an update on recourse for employers against false accusations by migrant domestic workers.
MOM takes a firm stance against MDWs who file false employment complaints or claims.
MOM investigates all complaints thoroughly and fairly, interviewing both parties and reviewing evidence.
Actions have been taken against MDWs found to have provided false information, including fines, imprisonment, or both.
MDWs found guilty of false allegations have been barred from working in Singapore.

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4 Oct 2021

Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill

The debate centered on the necessity of the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (FICA) to protect Singapore’s sovereignty from covert foreign interference, with the government arguing for swift legislative action due to evolving threats, while opposition parties raised concerns about potential overreach and insufficient oversight.
Key disagreements included the appeal mechanism, with the government defending a Reviewing Tribunal chaired by a Supreme Court Judge as necessary for handling sensitive intelligence, whereas the Workers' Party proposed appeals to the High Court for stronger judicial oversight, which was rejected.
Amendments proposed by the Workers' Party to increase transparency—such as requiring public disclosure of FICA designations and reasons—were mostly rejected, though the government committed to publishing key decisions, with exceptions for national security.

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4 Oct 2021

Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill

The government, led by Minister K. Shanmugam, introduced the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill to counter online hostile information campaigns and foreign influence through local proxies, citing growing threats from state actors and the need to protect Singapore's sovereignty and political processes.
The bill grants authorities powers to designate individuals and entities as Politically Significant Persons (PSPs), issue directives to remove or label content, and demand information from platforms, with appeals handled by a tribunal rather than the High Court, sparking concerns over judicial oversight and potential abuse of power.
Workers' Party MPs proposed amendments to increase transparency, narrow the scope of "political ends," and shift appeals to the High Court, while the government agreed to some changes but defended the bill's necessity, balance, and alignment with international practices.

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4 Oct 2021

Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill

The Minister for Home Affairs moved the Second Reading of the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill to address threats from hostile foreign actors.
Leong Mun Wai, a Non-Constituency Member, attempted to raise a point of order and propose an amendment to the question during the debate.
The Speaker instructed Leong Mun Wai to wait for his turn to speak before raising his proposed amendment.

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4 Oct 2021

Allegation of Police Behaviour towards Victim of Sexual Assault

Minister K Shanmugam responded to allegations made by MP Raeesah Khan about police behavior towards a sexual assault victim, emphasizing the seriousness with which the government views such claims and the need for investigation.
The Minister requested specific details from Ms Khan, such as the police station, date, and officer descriptions, to facilitate an inquiry while aiming to protect the victim's confidentiality and avoid re-traumatization.
Ms Khan declined to provide the requested details, citing confidentiality with the survivor, despite clarification that sharing the police station and month would not breach confidentiality.
The Police have been instructed to investigate further, including interviewing Ms Khan and the relevant officers, and to refer any misconduct allegations to the Internal Affairs Office, as no matching case was found in records so far.

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4 Oct 2021

Petition

Leong Mun Wai presented a petition from eight individuals and an online petition with over 7,400 signatures opposing the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill, citing concerns over broad definitions, ministerial powers, and limited judicial review.
The petitioners requested a delay in the Bill's passage and its referral to a Select Committee for broader public consultation and stakeholder deliberation.
Pritam Singh and the Workers' Party supported the call for the Public Petitions Committee to review the petition.

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14 Sep 2021

Cases Where Parts of Building Facade have Dislodged and Cause of Decorative Features on Concrete Roof at Bedok Industrial Park Falling Off

The Building and Construction Authority receives an average of 24 reports annually of dislodged façade elements.
The concrete roof decorative feature at 3013 Bedok Industrial Park E dislodged on 22 August 2021, prompting an investigation by a Professional Engineer with results expected by September 2021.
A Periodic Façade Inspection regime for buildings over 20 years old and 13 metres tall will take effect early next year, requiring inspections every seven years.

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14 Sep 2021

Cyclists and Riders of Power-Assisted Bicycles Caught for Not Wearing Helmets and Actions Taken against Them in First Eight Months of 2021

In the first eight months of 2021, 292 helmet-related violations were detected among cyclists and power-assisted bicycle riders, with no separation in tracking between the two groups.
Over 75% of offenders received a composition fine of $75, while the maximum penalty for first-time offenders is a $1,000 fine and/or three months' imprisonment.
Repeat offenders face harsher penalties, including a maximum fine of $2,000 and/or six months' imprisonment.

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14 Sep 2021

Accidents Occurring at Signalled Traffic Junctions with Discretionary Turns in Past Five Years

Over the past five years, an average of about 430 accidents per year occurred at signalled traffic junctions with discretionary turns.
Approximately 40% of these accidents involved motorcyclists, 25% involved pedestrians, and 7% involved cyclists, while less than 0.5% involved personal mobility aid device users.
The Land Transport Authority is progressively introducing Red Amber Green signals at junctions to address safety concerns, with over 600 operational and a target of 1,200 by 2024, while alternative safety features are considered where RAG signals are not feasible.

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14 Sep 2021

Actions against Cyclists who Ride Against Traffic or Beat Red Lights Resulting in Accidents

Cyclists who ride against traffic or beat red lights may be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for up to three months for first-time offenses, with harsher penalties for repeat offenders and those causing accidents.
Motorists owe a duty of care to all road users, including cyclists, and may be penalized if they fail to exercise reasonable care, even if the cyclist was breaking traffic rules.
In accidents, fault and liability are assessed on a case-by-case basis, with both cyclists and motorists potentially facing penalties under traffic laws or civil claims for negligence.

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14 Sep 2021

Rehabilitation and Reintegration Challenges Faced by Prison Inmates Aged 55 and above upon Release and Measure to Assist Them

Older prison inmates aged 55 and above face challenges including age-related health issues, securing accommodation, employment, financial needs, and social support, similar to other offenders but with additional vulnerabilities due to their age.
While in prison, inmates have access to rehabilitation programmes that can be adapted for age-specific needs, and after release, they can benefit from community-based programmes like CBP and MAS for supervised reintegration, with tailored support from volunteers and befrienders.
Healthcare services are provided during and after imprisonment, with referrals for continued treatment and mental health support, while post-release accommodation assistance is facilitated through Family Resource Centres and social workers.
Employment support is delivered through Yellow Ribbon Singapore, which offers skills training, job placement, and career coaching, including digital literacy programs like "Seniors Go Digital" to help older inmates secure suitable jobs.
Family and volunteer support are emphasized, with initiatives like the Throughcare Volunteer Framework and befriender programmes to maintain relationships and provide pro-social guidance for older offenders lacking family support.

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14 Sep 2021

Impact on Security in Singapore and Neighbouring Region due to Taliban's Control of Afghanistan

Minister K Shanmugam noted that while there is no specific terrorist threat to Singapore from Afghanistan's situation, the Taliban's control could create conditions for groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS to regroup, potentially attracting Southeast Asian militants and facilitating radicalisation via social media.
Historical precedents, such as the Soviet-Afghan war, showed foreign fighters returning to Southeast Asia to form militant groups like Jemaah Islamiyah and plot attacks in Singapore, with recent examples including ISIS-K recruiting from the region and supporting attacks in the Philippines.
The government emphasises the critical role of the community in countering radicalisation, with high public support for SGSecure, and plans to expand initiatives like the Community Response Roundtable to enhance local preparedness and vigilance.
The Ministry of Home Affairs will continue to review and strengthen SGSecure to remind residents of their responsibility in combating terrorism, focusing on reporting suspicious activities and supporting crisis response efforts.

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