Public safety & law — Topics

26 Jul 2021

Refresher Road Safety Training for Drivers of Heavy Vehicles and Buses

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary outlined existing road safety training for heavy vehicle and bus drivers, including integrated learner courses, optional defensive driving classes, and mandatory vocational licence modules, with refresher courses and corrective training for high-risk drivers.
Bus operators are trialling new technologies to monitor driving behaviours and provide corrective training, while public bus captains receive regular safety briefings and ongoing operator-run refresher courses.
In response to concerns about mental well-being, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary noted that drivers can access public mental health resources and are referred to psychological support and counselling if needed, especially after traumatic incidents.

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26 Jul 2021

Accidents Involving Public Buses and Probe into Recent Accident at Bukit Batok Bus Interchange

Multiple MPs raised questions about a bus accident at Bukit Batok Bus Interchange on 11 July 2021, requesting details on its cause, contributing factors, support for the injured, and the safety of interchange designs.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport confirmed the accident involved two buses, noted ongoing police investigations, and reported that support is being provided to the injured, while highlighting existing safety measures like speed limits, driver training, and telematics systems.
Official data presented showed a steady decline in public bus accidents, from 270 in the first five months of 2017 to 148 in the same period in 2021, with human factors often cited as the primary cause.

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26 Jul 2021

Help for Individuals Affected by Bank-related Cyber Scams or Unauthorised Bank Transactions

The Minister confirmed that consumers are generally protected from financial losses due to unauthorised transactions if they act responsibly, with liability caps for card transactions and non-card e-payments, and banks are offering interim support like waived fees during investigations.
In cases where neither the consumer nor the bank is at fault—such as when victims claim they did not divulge OTPs—authorities are investigating specific incidents, and MAS is reviewing the framework to clarify responsibilities, with an aim to complete this by year-end.
MAS has directed financial institutions to enhance vigilance and consumer awareness, implement additional safeguards, and consider partial waivers for disputed amounts based on individual circumstances, while legislative changes are being considered as part of the holistic review.

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26 Jul 2021

Curbing Scam Calls Made From +65 Prefix Phone Numbers

The Ministry of Communications and Information and the Infocomm Media Development Authority are working with telecommunication companies and the Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams to block scam calls and enhance detection, while also promoting public awareness through offline and online efforts.
The Senior Minister of State confirmed that the +65 prefix is used to flag overseas calls as potentially suspicious, and the government is exploring more concerted ways to block their sources, though legitimate overseas calls also use this prefix.
Education remains a key focus, with programmes like Seniors Go Digital and partnerships with grassroots organizations to teach cyber safety tips to vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly.
The Minister emphasized that public vigilance is critical in defending against scams and urged the community to look out for one another and join anti-scam efforts.

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6 Jul 2021

Data on Workplace Injuries in Food and Beverage Industry caused by Slips, Trips and Falls

Melvin Yong asked whether COVID-19 manpower shortages contributed to slips, trips and falls in the food and beverage industry, requested injury data broken down by surface type, and inquired about technology to mitigate risks.
Minister Tan See Leng noted that while manpower challenges exist, slip, trip and fall injuries have been rising since before the pandemic, with close to 1,200 cases in the past five years, mostly on wet or slippery surfaces near steps.
The Workplace Safety and Health Council launched a national prevention campaign in June 2021, providing education and free guidance visits to help companies address these hazards.
Technology solutions, such as slip meters and real-time monitoring using vision analytics and wearables, are being promoted and trialled in the F&B sector to improve safety.
The government is aligning these efforts with its WSH 2028 strategy to advance technology-enabled workplace safety.

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6 Jul 2021

Investigation of Fire onboard Singapore-registered Vessel "X-Press Pearl" and Its Subsequent Sinking in Sri Lankan Waters

Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned whether the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau or MPA would investigate the fire and sinking of the Singapore-registered vessel X-Press Pearl and if findings would be made public.
The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau confirmed it has launched a marine safety investigation in line with IMO guidelines and that the report will be made public.
The Maritime and Port Authority has also started a separate investigation under the Merchant Shipping Act and will share relevant lessons with ship owners and operators.

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6 Jul 2021

Race-related Incidents Investigated Annually over Last 10 Years

Over the past 10 years, the Police investigated race-related incidents annually under Sections 298 and 298A of the Penal Code, with the exact yearly numbers provided in a table appended to the reply.
Cases that resulted in stern warnings, charges, or convictions each year are detailed in the table, excluding ongoing investigations or cases with no further action.
The figures cover the period from 2011 to 2020, focusing on acts that wound racial feelings or promote enmity between racial groups.
The response clarifies that warnings and charges do not include cases still under investigation at the time of the reply.

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6 Jul 2021

Building Owners to Ensure Public Warning System Can Be Received at Basement of Buildings

Mr Murali Pillai asked if SCDF can require building owners to ensure basement reception of FM radio broadcasts for imminent threats.
The Public Warning System uses outdoor sirens and the SGSecure app, with multiple channels like TV, radio, social media, and SMS for emergency messages.
SCDF is enhancing emergency broadcasts to platforms like meWATCH and meLISTEN, and the next-generation PWS from 2024 will support voice messages and in-building PA systems for wider coverage.

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6 Jul 2021

Changes Made to Policies and Practices Following Recent Case of Influence Operations and Foreign Intelligence Recruitment

The Ministry of Home Affairs conducts security clearance for sensitive public sector roles and uses legislation like the Internal Security Act and Political Donations Act to guard against foreign interference.
Institutes of Higher Learning have protocols to oversee academic collaborations and raise staff awareness, while the government engages in outreach to make citizens discerning of manipulation attempts.
The government is studying new legislative levers to counter foreign interference and will not publicize specific actions taken against foreign states for security reasons.

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6 Jul 2021

Sale of Dangerous Weapons on Online Retail Platforms

Miss Cheng Li Hui raised concerns about the availability of dangerous weapons like karambits on online retail platforms and asked if the laws will be reviewed.
The Minister confirmed awareness of such sales and noted that karambits are currently unregulated but will be covered under the upcoming GEWCA, requiring licenses and police screening for sellers.
Existing laws already prohibit carrying karambits in public without lawful purpose, and MHA will continue reviewing legislation to ensure public safety.

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6 Jul 2021

Efforts to Equip Schools, Parents and Teachers with Skills to Identify and Support Abused Students

Dr Wan Rizal asked about enhancing the Nurturing Early Learners Framework to better protect students following reports of sexual offences involving young children.
The Ministry of Education is reviewing the NEL Framework to include body safety awareness and help-seeking skills, with the revised version to be launched in end 2022, and teachers are trained to identify and report abuse.
Schools provide support to affected students and staff, engage parents on spotting distress signs, and have protocols for reporting cases to authorities and taking disciplinary action where necessary.

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6 Jul 2021

Steps to Ensure Persons with Records of Sexual Offences or Violent Crimes Do Not Work as Private Tutors

Mr Patrick Tay asked if the Ministry of Education (MOE) plans to regulate private tuition providers and what mechanisms exist to prevent individuals with sexual or violent criminal records from working as private tutors.
Chan Chun Sing explained that MOE requires registration for tuition centres with 10 or more students and for their tutors, who must declare criminal convictions; serious offenders, including those with sexual offences, are not registered, but this does not cover freelance tutors or agencies.
The government is considering mandatory criminal screening for those working with children across sectors, and parents are encouraged to exercise due diligence when engaging private tutors or centres.

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6 Jul 2021

Reports of Sexually-explicit Online Posts Made to MUIS and MUIS' Response

Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap questioned MUIS on the timeline and response to complaints about an online poll targeting female Islamic religious teachers, the number of similar cases reported, counseling measures for suspects, and a timeline for revising moral education programs.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that MUIS received complaints on 26 May 2021, offered support to victims, and lodged a police report, with investigations ongoing and no further comments until completion.
From January 2019 to June 2021, MUIS received 12 complaints of sexual harassment involving members of the asatizah fraternity as perpetrators and two reports of asatizah as victims, with no similar cases reported since the online poll.
MUIS regularly reviews the Islamic education curriculum for programs like Kids aLIVE and Teens aLIVE to address emerging issues affecting Muslim children and youths.

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6 Jul 2021

Investigation into Online Poll Ranking of Female Muslim Religious Teachers for Sexual Attractiveness

MUIS reported an online poll sexualizing female Muslim religious teachers to the Police in May 2021, with investigations ongoing, and has offered support to victims while receiving 12 complaints of sexual harassment by asatizah and two reports of asatizah as victims over three years.
MUIS has established processes for reporting harassment confidentially, including immediate support, investigations, and disciplinary actions by a senior committee, with Police reports made for criminal acts.
Training and initiatives include internal workshops with NTUC and TAFEP, anti-harassment policies in mosques and madrasahs, talks by Club HEAL, and certified courses for teachers to address psychological and emotional needs.

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6 Jul 2021

Upstream Interventions to Detect and Prevent Child Abuse

The Ministry for Social and Family Development emphasized that prevention and early detection are key, with Social Service Agencies like Family Service Centres providing community-based services and parenting programmes to manage family stressors and reduce abuse risks.
Multiple touchpoints in the child protection ecosystem, including schools, police, and medical institutions, use guides like the Sector-Specific Screening Guide and Child Abuse Reporting Guide to identify and refer at-risk children for early or statutory intervention.
Public awareness campaigns, such as "Break the Silence," and the National Anti-Violence Hotline have increased reporting of child protection concerns, contributing to a rise in cases that the Ministry attributes to better detection rather than an actual surge in incidents.
The Ministry confirmed that the Child Protective Service is managing the increase in cases amid the pandemic, and the Taskforce on Family Violence will announce recommendations later this year to further address child abuse through education and enhanced support.
The Ministry urges the public to report suspected abuse via the National Anti-Violence Hotline, reinforcing that keeping children safe is a shared responsibility.

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6 Jul 2021

Investigation into Recent Incident Resulting in Death when PMD Caught Fire in Lift

The Minister confirmed that SCDF and LTA are investigating the fatal PMD fire incident in Woodlands, noting it is premature to comment further while the probe is ongoing.
The public was advised to use only UL-2272 certified PMDs and EN-15194 compliant e-bikes, with non-compliant devices deemed dangerous and to be disposed of via e-waste recyclers.
An inter-agency taskforce led by SCDF and LTA is working with stakeholders like NTUC and food delivery companies to promote device safety and encourage disposal of non-compliant devices.
LTA has banned the import of non-compliant PMDs and e-bikes into Singapore, except for legitimate uses such as research or re-export.

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6 Jul 2021

Incident of Rainbow Flag being Thrown at Staff at a Lau Pa Sat Stall

Police concluded their investigation into a man who threw a rainbow flag at SMOL salad bar staff at Lau Pa Sat, issuing him a 24-month conditional warning for causing harassment under POHA, given no injuries, his mental health history, and the short duration of the incident.
The Government affirmed that harassment and abuse of any person, including LGBTQ individuals, are not condoned, with laws like POHA providing civil and criminal protection for all.
Minister K Shanmugam highlighted existing legal measures, including the Penal Code for hurt or incitement of violence, and amendments to the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act to address religious-based incitement.

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6 Jul 2021

Summons Issued for Failure to Wear Face Masks amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment about the number of summons issued for not wearing face masks and actions to encourage compliance.
Grace Fu Hai Yien reported that over 2,300 fines have been issued since mask-wearing became mandatory in April 2020.
She emphasized that masks with good filtration reduce droplet transmission and must be worn outside except during eating, drinking, or strenuous exercise.
Government agencies deploy Safe Distancing Ambassadors and Enforcement Officers to advise and enforce mask-wearing, and businesses are required to ensure patron compliance.
Public outreach through newspapers and social media is used to encourage adherence to safe management measures and mask-wearing.

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6 Jul 2021

Safeguards in Place after Recent Spate of Ransomware Incidents Abroad

The Cyber Security Agency has directed Critical Information Infrastructure sectors to enhance monitoring, regularly back up data offline, and practice incident response plans to counter ransomware threats.
Government agencies are heightening network monitoring, reviewing business continuity measures, and will conduct a whole-of-government ICT incident exercise to improve readiness for cyber incidents.
Public advisories have been issued to encourage cyber hygiene practices such as updating systems and raising employee awareness, with the CSA urging stakeholders to act urgently to implement these measures.

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6 Jul 2021

Regulatory Framework for Social Media Platforms to Respond to Stop Scammers and Imposters

The Police collaborate with social media platforms, issuing about 6,000 takedown requests in 2021 for scam-related accounts and sharing information for platforms to remove such accounts within one to seven days.
Under the Broadcasting Act, IMDA can direct internet content providers to take down prohibited material like scams as soon as possible and block access to scam websites.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Communications and Information are studying enhancements to regulations to address online harms, including scams, and will share findings later.

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