Public safety & law — Topics

13 Sep 2021

Stakeholders Consultation Process for Upcoming Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act

The Ministry of Home Affairs and MCCY will consult community leaders and groups from all racial groups in drafting the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act, with engagement plans in development.
The Act will include both criminal provisions for acts promoting racial enmity and non-punitive measures to focus on mediation and restoring relations, aiming to guide societal norms without encouraging litigation.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers will assess evidence and public interest to decide on prosecutions, while Parliament will define the threshold for criminal actions through the new law.

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13 Sep 2021

Names of Companies Involved in Case where Former LTA Deputy Group Director Was Jailed for Taking Bribes

Dennis Tan asked if the LTA would reveal the names of companies involved in the bribery case and whether they would be banned from future government contracts.
The Minister emphasized that LTA maintains strict procurement and safety standards, with multiple layers of checks to prevent corruption.
The names of persons charged have been made public via CPIB press releases, but company names have not been disclosed.
Debarment decisions are made by the Standing Committee of Debarment after current proceedings conclude.
CPIB can only recommend debarment once the legal process is completed.

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13 Sep 2021

Debarment of Parties Involved in Case where LTA Deputy Group Director was Convicted of Receiving $1.24 million in Bribes

Gerald Giam asked the Minister for Finance about the debarment status of parties involved in the case where an LTA deputy group director was convicted of receiving $1.24 million in bribes, specifically regarding any recommendations from CPIB, SCOD decisions, and proactive requests for recommendations.
Lawrence Wong explained that debarment is an administrative procedure to protect the Government’s interests and that CPIB can recommend debarment after a court establishes corruption involving a contractor or related parties.
CPIB has submitted recommendations to the Standing Committee on Debarment (SCOD) concerning convicted parties in this case, and SCOD is currently reviewing these recommendations before making a decision.

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13 Sep 2021

Fake COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates Detected at Borders

Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of fake vaccination certificates detected at Singapore's borders and abroad, whether perpetrators were apprehended, and what penalties apply.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that since August 2021, selected travellers must show proof of vaccination, and ICA conducts manual checks where digital verification is not yet in place.
He confirmed that no fake vaccination certificates have been detected at Singapore's borders and no reports of fake Singapore-issued certificates abroad have been received.
Presenting a fake certificate could lead to fines up to $10,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both under the Infectious Diseases Act.
Offenders presenting fake certificates abroad may face foreign laws and could be investigated by Singapore Police if evidence suggests a domestic offence.

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13 Sep 2021

Shoring Up Emergency Preparedness to Deal With Weather Phenomena Due To Climatic Change

The Singapore Civil Defence Force has long educated the public through materials like the Civil Defence Emergency Handbook, interactive exhibits, and advisories on responding to various weather-related emergencies.
An inter-agency Wildfire Task Force led by SCDF implements preventive measures such as vegetation management to mitigate risks from drier, hotter conditions linked to climate change.
The government regularly conducts multi-agency contingency exercises to update emergency planning assumptions and improve coordination for climate-induced weather events.

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13 Sep 2021

Fight against Illegal Trade of Species Listed under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

The Minister reported that illegal wildlife trade in Singapore has shifted from air passenger baggage to parcel post due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and increased e-commerce, with NParks investigating these cases and enforcing actions.
Singapore is enhancing its enforcement regime by training officers at border and parcel post offices, collaborating with logistics and e-commerce partners, and deploying a new K9 unit to detect illegal wildlife and products.
The government is leveraging science and technology, including the new Centre for Wildlife Forensics, to improve investigation and prosecution, while reviewing the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act to strengthen regulatory powers.

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13 Sep 2021

Courts (Civil and Criminal Justice) Reform Bill

The Bill introduces a permanent framework for remote and digital court proceedings, including video-link hearings, paper-based submissions, and asynchronous exchanges, to enhance efficiency and accessibility while ensuring fairness, particularly for litigants-in-person.
It empowers the Attorney-General to intervene in civil proceedings as guardian of the public interest, with a statutory process where courts grant permission based on adequately set-out reasons without examining merits, aiming to clarify and streamline the AG's role.
The Bill mandates courts to consider ordering parties to attempt amicable resolution before continuing litigation, promoting a shift towards conciliation and compromise in dispute resolution.
Other amendments include simplifying court terminology across more than 150 Acts, enabling the High Court to grant freestanding interim relief in aid of foreign proceedings, and allowing proceedings under arbitration acts to be heard in private by default.

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13 Sep 2021

Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill

The Bill increases maximum penalties for outrage of modesty and certain sexual offences involving minors, citing a rise in reported cases and the need for stronger deterrence.
It amends laws to clarify and expand the scope of offences such as giving false information to public servants, obstruction of public servants, and various sexual offences, including voyeurism and child abuse material.
The debate highlighted concerns about the age limit for caning, the application of mental health defences, potential overlaps in offences related to false information, and the protection of both victims and the wrongly accused.

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13 Sep 2021

Coroners (Amendment) Bill

The Coroners (Amendment) Bill was introduced to amend the Coroners Act and make a related change to the Infectious Diseases Act.
The Second Minister for Law, Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai, presented the bill for its first reading.
The bill was scheduled for a second reading at the next available sitting of Parliament and ordered to be printed.

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13 Sep 2021

Sedition (Repeal) Bill

The Sedition (Repeal) Bill was introduced to repeal the Sedition Act and make consequential amendments to other Acts.
The bill was presented by the Minister of State for Home Affairs on behalf of the Minister for Home Affairs and read for the first time.
The bill is scheduled for a second reading at the next available parliamentary sitting and will be printed.

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13 Sep 2021

Private Security Industry (Amendment) Bill

The Ministry of State for Home Affairs introduced the Private Security Industry (Amendment) Bill to update the Private Security Industry Act and make a related amendment to the Protection from Harassment Act.
The bill was presented by Mr Desmond Tan on behalf of the Minister for Home Affairs and received its First Reading in Parliament.
The Second Reading of the bill was scheduled for the next available sitting of Parliament and the bill was to be printed.
The debate focused on amending existing legislation to strengthen regulations in the private security sector.
The proposed changes aim to enhance legal frameworks and ensure better protection against harassment in the industry.

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3 Aug 2021

Statistics on Current Number of Licensed Swimming Pools in Singapore and Those with Lifeguards on Duty

There are about 2,700 licensed swimming pools in Singapore, including those in private residences, condominiums, and clubs.
All 27 ActiveSG pools managed by Sport Singapore have lifeguards on duty, but current licensing only requires first-aid boxes, lifebuoys, and resuscitation illustrations, not lifeguards or trained personnel.
The government encourages a multi-stakeholder approach to water safety, including education and personal responsibility, but has not committed to legislating lifeguards or on-premise life-saving training.

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3 Aug 2021

Profile of Safe Distancing Ambassadors Deployed across Singapore since April 2020 and Venues of Deployment

About 3,000 Safe Distancing Ambassadors and Enforcement Officers from 17 government agencies have been deployed daily across Singapore since April 2020, though gender and age breakdowns are not available.
Safe Distancing Ambassadors lack enforcement powers and are not typically sent to check on nightlife establishments that pivoted to F&B after March 2020, with such checks handled by Enforcement Officers and Auxiliary Police Officers.
Enforcement operations at pivoted nightlife venues vary based on ground conditions, and details on these operations were previously provided by the Minister of Home Affairs in July 2021.

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3 Aug 2021

HDB Blocks Found Not Amenable to Deployment of Surveillance Cameras for Detection of High-rise Littering

The Minister explained that with over 12,000 HDB blocks of varying designs, the National Environment Agency (NEA) assesses each block for camera feasibility and uses creative mounting solutions to deploy surveillance in tight spaces.
For blocks where cameras are unsuitable, NEA conducts site investigations and interviews to collect evidence, while partnering with Town Councils for timely information sharing.
Beyond enforcement, NEA and Town Councils use community-oriented strategies like informative standees and posters to shape norms and deter high-rise littering.

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3 Aug 2021

Non-imposition of Death Penalty on Individuals under Age of 16

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked whether there is any intention to review the law on minors following the River Valley High School incident and if the current position of not imposing the death penalty on individuals under 16 will be retained.
Minister K Shanmugam advised against drawing premature conclusions from the incident and stressed that any decision to lower the age limit for the death penalty would require careful consideration.
The government currently sees no reason to lower the current age limit and does not anticipate any change to the existing policy.

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3 Aug 2021

Number of Male and Female Prison Inmates with Children under Age of Seven and 18 Respectively

He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the number of male and female prison inmates in 2020 with children under the ages of seven and 18.
K Shanmugam responded that as of 31 December 2020, there were 9,204 male inmates and 1,162 female inmates.
Among male inmates, 2,224 had at least one child under 18 and 869 had at least one child under seven.
Among female inmates, 508 had at least one child under 18 and 227 had at least one child under seven.

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3 Aug 2021

Number of Reports filed by Public through i-Witness that Aided Ongoing Police Investigations

Since its launch in April 2016, more than 150,000 reports have been filed by the public through i-Witness.
The Police do not track how many of these reports have aided ongoing investigations or led to action against unreported crimes, as the platform is designed for quick submission of information.
Victims are encouraged to lodge formal Police reports for detailed information, and case outcomes are only communicated to persons directly involved in the investigation, not to all i-Witness submitters.

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3 Aug 2021

Separate Licences for Family Karaoke Operators from Other Nightlife-oriented Operators

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether separate licences could be issued for family karaoke operators and if restrictions could be relaxed for them with safe management measures.
Minister K Shanmugam noted that karaoke poses high COVID-19 risks due to singing and enclosed spaces, but the government is considering separate licensing for family-oriented operators if they are less likely to engage in illegal activities.
The Minister emphasized that the risk from singing remains regardless of operator type and asked for clarification on whether the Member supports separate licences and relaxed restrictions for family-oriented karaoke.

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3 Aug 2021

Data on Canings Administered by Singapore Prison Service without Judicial Sentencing over Past 10 Years

The Minister for Home Affairs explained that caning by the Singapore Prison Service is reserved for aggravated prison offences and follows a structured process involving investigation, adjudication by a Superintendent, review by an independent committee, and medical checks before execution.
Between 2011 and 2020, SPS administered 2,875 instances of institutional caning to 2,149 inmates, with a median of three strokes per case, typically for offenses like violence against inmates or staff.
No cases were referred to Visiting Justices for increased corporal punishment during the 10-year period, as the Superintendent's existing powers were deemed sufficient.

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3 Aug 2021

Conducting Joint Patrols with Indonesia in View of Increased Piracy or Armed Sea Robbery Incidents in Eastbound Lane of Traffic Separation Scheme

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Defence about discussions with Indonesia for more joint patrols due to increased piracy incidents in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme near Tanjung Pergam, Bintan Island.
Minister Ng Eng Hen stated that while Singapore does not conduct joint patrols with Indonesia, it collaborates through coordinated patrols in respective territorial waters and regular exchanges to address transnational maritime threats.
The Republic of Singapore Navy’s Information Fusion Centre shares hotspot information with neighbouring countries to aid patrol decisions, and engagement with the shipping community on security measures has increased.
Singapore will continue working with maritime agencies and neighbouring states to collectively address maritime incidents and security threats.

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