Public safety & law — Topics

1 Mar 2021

Roll-out of Home Fire Alarm Device Assistance Scheme

Miss Cheryl Chan asked for an update on the rollout of the Home Fire Alarm Device Assistance Scheme and any issues faced.
Since its launch in June 2018, about 43,000 HFADs have been installed in public rental flats, with a target to complete installation for all 60,000 flats by this year.
The main issues reported are some residents declining installation due to concerns about allowing contractors into their homes and the possibility of false alarms.

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1 Mar 2021

Committee of Supply – Head R (Ministry of Law)

Members commended the Ministry of Law’s rapid COVID-19 legislative response to support businesses but asked for further updates on efficacy and a framework for future crises.
Several MPs highlighted challenges in access to justice, urging more support for vulnerable groups, a review of criminal legal aid, and simplification of probate and estate processes.
Concerns were raised about neighbour disputes and the effectiveness of the Community Dispute Resolution Tribunal, with suggestions to strengthen mediation and harassment laws.
The debate emphasized the need to accelerate technology adoption, support small law firms, and enhance Singapore’s position as a global dispute resolution hub amid travel restrictions.
Proposals included modernizing legal processes like digital wills, digitizing land services, and acceding to international conventions to improve efficiency and international cooperation.

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1 Mar 2021

Review of Alleged Misappropriation and Pawning of Ceremonial Jewellery at Hindu Endowments Board

Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth about the Hindu Endowments Board's review of alleged misappropriation and pawning of gold ceremonial jewellery worth over $2 million between 2016 and 2020, and steps to prevent recurrence.
The Minister confirmed the incident occurred at the Sri Mariamman Temple, with the former Chief Priest charged under the Penal Code and other Acts, and the case is before the courts.
The Hindu Endowments Board conducted a special audit of gold inventories across all its temples, found no other irregularities, and is improving governance, including better gold movement registers and tighter oversight.
The Board is increasing audits, including unannounced ones, and working with the Commissioner of Charities to strengthen controls and share lessons with other Hindu temple charities.
The response emphasised serious follow-up actions to prevent future abuse and ensure proper management of ceremonial jewellery across all endowments.

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1 Mar 2021

Number of Drivers Issued with Summons and Fined for Illegally Modifying Their Cars

In the past two years, the Land Transport Authority issued an average of 610 monthly notices to owners for illegal vehicle modifications such as non-compliant exhausts, lighting, and tinted windows.
The government has increased penalties for vehicle owners, including fines up to $5,000 or jail for first-time offenders, doubled penalties for repeat offenders, and mandatory more frequent inspections or vehicle de-registration for serious cases.
Enforcement against workshops is challenging due to difficulties in gathering evidence and owner cooperation, though the law was updated in 2017 to strengthen action against workshops, and LTA is exploring additional measures.

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1 Mar 2021

Installation of Speed Cameras in Incident-prone Areas

Joan Pereira asked about the criteria for installing speed cameras and whether they could be placed in areas with frequent speeding, especially at night.
The Minister of State replied that the Traffic Police considers locations with frequent speeding and accident-prone areas, regardless of time, and assesses terrain suitability, alongside daily anti-speeding operations and collaboration with LTA on other speed-regulating measures.
Pereira followed up with questions on the number of speed cameras in Singapore and enforcement actions in Tanjong Pagar, to which the Minister responded that there are 41 fixed and mobile cameras plus one average speed camera system, and that Traffic Police conducts patrols in Tanjong Pagar despite it not being a known speeding hotspot.

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26 Feb 2021

Educating Cyclists on Section 11A of Road Traffic (Bicycles) Rules and Enforcement Efforts to Improve Road Safety

The Ministry educates cyclists on Section 11A through the Traffic Police’s “Use Your RoadSense” campaign and partnerships with groups like the Singapore Cycling Federation to promote safe practices, including using bicycle lights between 7 pm and 7 am.
Enforcement operations are conducted near Park Connector Network junctions to address cycling offences, including failure to display lights, with penalties for first-time and repeat offenders.
Public education and enforcement aim to improve road safety for both motorists and cyclists by raising awareness and deterring violations of bicycle light requirements.

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26 Feb 2021

Protocol for Law Enforcement Officers in Apprehending Suspects

The Minister explained that law enforcement officers use force based on real-time threat assessments to protect lives, prevent offences, and apprehend suspects, with policies reviewed as necessary and complaints investigated for possible disciplinary or criminal action.
The Minister noted that the Singapore Police Force has limited manpower and would consider the suggestion for public reporting on use of force data, but emphasized the existing recourse for public complaints and the lawful conduct of police.
The Minister highlighted that public education on police procedures and force guidelines is not currently a focus, but the Ministry invites further rationale on regular data reporting to Parliament.

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26 Feb 2021

Ensuring Safety Record of Vendors Engaged by Schools to Conduct Activities for Students

Schools conduct comprehensive risk assessments for all outdoor activities to identify and mitigate risks, with external vendors required to comply with MOE’s safety guidelines and school staff monitoring activities in real time.
All personnel, including external vendors, must possess relevant certifications and register with MOE, which assesses their safety records and experience; registrations are valid for two years and subject to review.
MOE periodically reviews vendors’ safety records, collects feedback from teachers and students, and takes action against unsafe practices, such as de-registering instructors or cancelling contracts.

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26 Feb 2021

Reasons for Government's Requests to Facebook for Information on Accounts in 2020

The government’s requests to Facebook for account information rose from 315 in the same period of 2019 to 759 in 2020, driven by a significant increase in cybercrime such as online scams and cyber-extortion.
The increase was largely due to a near quadrupling of social media impersonation scams on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, from 786 cases in 2019 to 3,010 in 2020.
Requests were also related to online harassment like doxxing, but none were for serious offences defined under the Seventh Schedule of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020.

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25 Feb 2021

Breakdown of Children and Young Persons below 25 Years Old Detained under Internal Security Act in Past 10 Years

Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the number of individuals aged 18 and below and those aged 19 to 25 detained under the Internal Security Act in the past 10 years, as well as the median detention duration for each group.
Minister K Shanmugam responded that three individuals aged 16 to 18 and seven individuals aged 19 to 25 were detained for terrorism-related conduct since 2010.
Of those aged 16 to 18, two remain detained and one was released on a Restriction Order after two years.
Of those aged 19 to 25, two remain detained and the rest were released on Restriction Orders, with detention periods ranging from two to six years.
The reply did not specify the median number of years detained for each age group as requested.

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24 Feb 2021

Cases of Harassment against Healthcare Workers and Enforcement of Harassment Act

The number of harassment cases against public healthcare workers while on duty has risen from about 1,080 in 2018 to about 1,300 in 2020.
Reports to the Police under the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA) Section 6 have similarly increased from 40 cases in 2018 to 58 in 2020.
Public healthcare institutions implement signages, escalation processes, staff training, and support services like helplines and counselling to address harassment.
The Ministry of Health and healthcare institutions maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards abuse and harassment of healthcare staff, taking appropriate actions against offenders.

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24 Feb 2021

Number of Accused Persons Who Applied for Legal Representation under Criminal Legal Aid Scheme over Past Five Years

Leon Perera asked the Minister for Law for the number of accused persons who applied for and received legal representation under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS) each year over the past five years.
CLAS provides legal aid to persons charged with non-capital offences who cannot afford lawyers and is administered by the Law Society Pro Bono Services with government co-funding since 2015.
Since the enhanced CLAS began in 2015, it has received an average of 2,400 applications annually, with over half (1,400 per year on average) receiving full legal representation.
The number of applicants receiving full legal representation under enhanced CLAS is more than three times the figure from before 2015.
Detailed annual data from 2014 to 2019 was provided in a table accompanying the response.

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24 Feb 2021

Incidence of Domestic Violence Against Children Aged 12 and Under in Blended Families

The Minister for Social and Family Development reported that 70–75% of investigated cases of domestic violence against children aged 12 and under in 2018–2019 involved households with one or both biological parents, with the remainder including blended families and other household structures.
The government emphasizes zero tolerance for all forms of family violence and abuse against children, urging the public to report concerns to ensure timely protection and assistance.
The National Anti-Violence Helpline (1800-777-0000) was highlighted as a dedicated 24-hour resource for reporting violence and abuse, consolidating support from existing helplines.

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24 Feb 2021

Lessons from Investigation into Death of Student during Height-based Activity

Mr Vikram Nair asked the Minister for Education for an update on the investigation into Jethro Puah's death during a height-based activity and for lessons to reduce risks in similar student activities.
The Minister for Education expressed condolences and stated that the incident occurred at an adventure facility operated by Camelot Pte Ltd during an annual school activity, but police investigations are ongoing and specifics cannot be shared.
MOE is conducting its own review of height-based outdoor education and will release findings and recommendations once completed, while all such activities remain suspended in the interim.

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16 Feb 2021