Public safety & law

• The Minister for Home Affairs explained that laws such as defamation and harassment statutes, including the Protection from Harassment Act, govern speech in both public and online spaces, allowing individuals to take legal action against defamatory or harassing content.
• Foreign students are permitted to participate in academic discussions and debates without restriction, but political activities by foreigners are regulated under laws like the Public Order Act and the Public Entertainments (Speakers' Corner) Exemption Order 2016, with security agencies focusing on genuine threats to national safety.
• The government emphasized educating young people about their rights, responsibilities, and the political systems and successes of Singapore, while welcoming ideas to better convey these principles to students.

• The Minister outlined a wide spectrum of drone threats, from sophisticated long-range weaponized drones to simple retail drones that can disrupt air traffic, and emphasized the need for layered, cost-effective responses across multiple agencies.
• Singapore’s air defences have been enhanced with early-warning systems like the G550 AEW aircraft and upgraded ground-based systems such as the SPYDER and ASTER-30 to counter military-grade drone threats.
• For mid-level threats, the SAF deploys additional sensors and counter-measures during high-risk events, while agencies like MHA, MOT, and CAAS handle specific domains like airport security and major events.
• The government is implementing regulations, deterrent penalties, and working with the drone industry to embed geofencing technology, while encouraging cooperation from hobbyist communities to reduce unauthorized flights.
• The response stresses a sustainable, proportionate approach that matches counter-measures to the threat level, continuously learning from global incidents to plug gaps in Singapore’s defence.

• Mr. Louis Ng proposed mandating laser lights on bicycles and PMDs to project a warning symbol onto the path, aiming to alert pedestrians, especially suggesting a pilot with delivery drivers and companies bearing the cost.
• The Ministry of Transport requires lights for night use on these devices but will study the practicality and safety of laser lights, noting existing regulations and potential glare risks, particularly for children.
• Officials highlighted that while laser lights aid road cyclists in London, their effectiveness and visibility in Singapore's well-lit shared paths lack conclusive evidence and require further assessment.

• Er Dr Lee Bee Wah inquired about the percentage of foreign workers in the online food delivery industry and whether jobs could be restricted to Singaporeans, while the Minister of State confirmed it is illegal for foreigners to work as self-employed delivery riders and detailed penalties under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
• The Minister of State reported that in April, two Malaysians were caught working illegally for food delivery and are under investigation, and he urged the public to report illegal workers to MOM.
• Er Dr Lee Bee Wah highlighted concerns about Malaysians on Malaysian-registered motorcycles delivering food and asked about enforcement and how residents can report such cases, to which the Minister of State explained penalties for both the illegal workers and Singaporeans who abet them.
• When asked to publicize a contact number for reporting, the Minister of State suggested visiting the MOM website for the relevant telephone number.

• Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether sensitivity training is provided to police and other first responders for handling victims of violence related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, including LGBTQ victims of family and intimate partner violence, and how such training is conducted.
• The Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, responded that police officers are trained to be sensitive to all victims, including those from the LGBTQ community, covering issues like trauma causes, victim needs, vulnerabilities, and victim management.
• The training aims to ensure that first responders effectively address the specific needs and challenges faced by LGBTQ victims of violence.

• The Minister for Home Affairs provided a breakdown of the 940 overstayers arrested in 2018, including 510 Short-Term Visit Pass holders, 107 Work Pass holders, and 283 Special Pass holders, with the remainder holding other passes such as Long-Term Visit Pass and Student’s Pass.
• The median overstay duration was about two months, though specific percentiles for the 20th, 50th, and 80th were not detailed in the response.
• The number of overstayers arrested has declined from 1,690 in 2013 to 940 in 2018, reflecting enforcement efforts.
• ICA will continue to maintain enforcement efforts to manage the overstaying situation.
• Anthea Ong’s question sought detailed data on overstay duration percentiles and pass type breakdowns, which were partially addressed.

• The Ministry is collaborating with home affairs and police authorities to curb spam SMSes from illegal moneylenders and sports betting syndicates by targeting prepaid SIM card abuse.
• Measures include restricting the number of prepaid SIM cards per person since 2014 and exploring tighter regulations alongside technical solutions with telecom providers.
• Public awareness campaigns using infographics and guidance on phone spam filters are being promoted to help individuals block and report such messages.
• Citizens are advised to report illicit SMSes through designated hotlines or platforms to support enforcement efforts.

• Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Transport to review punishments for PMD riders who injure pedestrians.
• Khaw Boon Wan stated that such riders can be prosecuted under the Penal Code for causing hurt or grievous hurt through rash or negligent acts, with penalties including fines up to $10,000 and/or jail up to four years.
• Relevant ministries and agencies regularly monitor the effectiveness of current penalties and will enhance them if necessary to deter errant riding behavior.

• Lim Biow Chuan questioned if the Land Transport Authority would review punishments for selling non-compliant PMDs
• Khaw Boon Wan stated the government takes a tough stance against selling or modifying non-compliant devices and currently imposes fines up to $5,000 and/or up to three months' jail for a first offence
• He added that authorities are considering raising penalties to deter irresponsible acts
• The debate focused on holding retailers accountable for unsafe PMDs sold for public path use
• Proposed stricter penalties aim to root out illegal sales and modifications of such devices

• Yee Chia Hsing asked for stricter measures to prevent pet bird shops from sourcing from illegal smugglers and for harsher penalties, including caning and vehicle confiscation, for smugglers.
• Lawrence Wong outlined existing controls, such as health certificates, import permits, and inter-agency border checks, with penalties under the Animals and Birds Act of up to $10,000 fines and one year imprisonment, plus higher penalties for endangered species or animal cruelty.
• Pet shops must keep detailed bird records and are subject to unannounced checks, with breaches resulting in fines up to $5,000, licence suspension, or revocation, and NParks can seize vehicles used for smuggling.
• NParks will continue reviewing requirements and penalties to ensure they remain effective, though specific new measures like caning were not committed to.

• Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Home Affairs about legal tools to deter the recording of security officials during crises, noting it can interfere with their operations and public safety.
• The Public Order Act allows officers to direct individuals to stop taking or sharing footage of ongoing operations, with penalties of up to one year imprisonment or a $20,000 fine.
• For serious incidents like terrorist attacks, the Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Act permits a Communications Stop Order to ban all filming in an area, with offenders facing up to two years imprisonment or a $20,000 fine.
• These special powers under POSSPA require activation by the Minister for Home Affairs and are not for day-to-day use.
• Both laws aim to prevent interference with security operations while balancing public safety and communication rights.

The bill expands the Children and Young Persons Act to cover children up to 18 years old, aligning with international standards and extending protections against abuse, neglect, and for youth offenders. It introduces new provisions to define and address emotional harm, such as psychological abuse, to allow for earlier and more precise intervention in cases like that of the hypothetical "Valerie." The legislation creates an Enhanced Care and Protection Order (ECPO) to provide stability for children who cannot safely reunite with their parents, granting designated caregivers authority to make key decisions. It replaces the "Beyond Parental Control" label with a new "Family Guidance Order" framework to focus on family dynamics rather than solely blaming the child. Additionally, the bill aims to improve rehabilitation by extending Youth Court jurisdiction to 18-year-olds, making youth criminal records spent upon completing court orders, and enhancing safety measures in youth homes, including the controlled use of restraints.

• NEA uses surveillance cameras to catch high-rise littering offenders, reporting over 2,200 caught between 2012 and 2018 with 52 repeat offenders, and employs fines up to $10,000 and Corrective Work Orders as deterrents, while acknowledging community engagement is essential for long-term change.
• Enforcement investigations typically take 10 weeks to six months, with prioritization based on severity and evidence; NEA is open to exploring better technology, such as smaller cameras, but emphasizes that deterrence and behavior change are the primary goals.
• Members of Parliament raised concerns about the effectiveness of current measures, including long investigation times, persistent littering despite cameras, and suggested harsher penalties like flat repossession, to which NEA responded that extreme measures are available but require careful case-by-case consideration.

• The Urban Redevelopment Authority investigated about 600 suspected illegal short-term rental cases annually over the past five years, with action taken against both property owners and tenants, who are mostly Singaporeans from various age groups.
• First-time offenders caught renting out homes casually receive composition fines up to $5,000, with 14 such fines issued since May 2019, while recalcitrant or commercial offenders face court prosecution and higher penalties.
• To date, 10 individuals have been charged, including Singaporeans and foreigners on work passes; four were fined between $13,000 and $70,000, and six others face over 80 charges pending in court.
• URA holds property owners liable for infringements even if the tenant is the offender, and the authority plans to continue increasing enforcement efforts.

• From 2015 to 2018, a very small fraction of Personal Protection Order (PPO) applications were rejected at the point of complaint, primarily when the allegations were insufficient to meet the legal definition of "family violence" under the Women's Charter.
• The vast majority of applications proceeded to a hearing, where rejection could occur if the respondent demonstrated lawful self-defence or if the court was not satisfied that a PPO was necessary for the applicant's protection.
• The Minister provided statistics in response to the query but the exact numbers are not included in the available debate text.

• The Minister for Home Affairs explained that CCTV footage of traffic accidents is treated as evidence and is not shared with victims, next-of-kin, claimants, or alleged offenders during ongoing investigations to prevent witness tampering and ensure accurate information gathering.
• While alleged offenders can request to view such footage if charged in court, victims and their families generally cannot access it while criminal proceedings are still active.
• After criminal proceedings conclude, evidence including footage becomes part of the public record and can be accessed by applying to the court.

• Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong raised a concern about bus shelter advertisement boards creating blind spots that may lead to accidents involving pedestrians, personal mobility device users, and cyclists.
• The Land Transport Authority stated it considers safety in placing advertisement panels and ensures they do not obstruct the views of commuters, path, and road users.
• LTA advised cyclists and PMD users to ride behind bus stops where possible and is building cycling paths and widening footpaths behind busy bus stops.
• LTA continues to promote safe riding practices through public education campaigns, such as reminding users to slow down when approaching bus stops.

• The Land Transport Authority (LTA) monitors shared personal mobility devices (PMDs) from private land by engaging operators to understand their deployment plans and conducting patrols at known hotspots to detect illegal entry into public spaces.
• Operators deploying shared PMDs for hire in public places without a licence face fines up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment up to six months, with LTA impounding illegally deployed devices and considering contraventions in future licence applications.
• All device-sharing operators, whether operating on public or private land, must ensure safe riding and proper parking, and LTA is considering additional regulations while continuing to monitor the sector closely.

• Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked whether any persons should be held responsible for the training accident death of Corporal First Class Liu Kai and if disciplinary or legal proceedings would be taken.
• Ng Eng Hen stated that MINDEF cannot provide a reply because police investigations into the death have not yet been concluded.

• The inter-agency Wildfire Task Force Committee led by SCDF coordinates preventive measures, including increased patrols during the dry season and the removal of fire hazards like dead leaves.
• NParks has intensified patrols in vegetated areas and is exploring the use of technology such as video analytics and drones, alongside constructing fire breaks to limit fire spread.
• SCDF educates the public on fire prevention, such as properly extinguishing embers and avoiding discarded materials that can ignite fires, with stricter penalties for illegal cigarette disposal.
• Amendments to the Penal Code, effective in 2020, introduce a new offence for causing or contributing to dangerous fires and a presumption clause holding offenders liable if a fire occurs shortly after illegal disposal.