Public safety & law — Topics

6 May 2019

Review of Speed Limit on Non-Expressway Roads

Sitoh Yih Pin queried whether the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has considered lowering speed limits on non-expressway roads to enhance safety amid increased use of bicycles and personal mobility devices.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that speed limits are determined based on road geometry and pedestrian activity, with reduced limits already applied in high-activity zones like school and silver zones.
The government prioritizes building dedicated cycling paths and a comprehensive cycling network across HDB towns by 2030 instead of reducing road speed limits.
Emphasis was placed on user behavior, urging all road and path users to exercise caution and consideration for safety.
The overall approach focuses on infrastructure development and shared responsibility rather than solely lowering speed limits.

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6 May 2019

Steps to Ensure Thales Signalling System is Safe for Use on MRT System

Khaw Boon Wan emphasized that the Thales CBTC signalling system is an established product used globally, but is customised for Singapore's MRT with rigorous design, testing, and maintenance to ensure safety.
He noted that the Hong Kong Tsuen Wan line collision is under investigation, and Singapore will study the report once available, while clarifying that Singapore does not use the dual backup system speculated to be involved.
The Joo Koon incident in 2017 was attributed to operating legacy and new CBTC systems concurrently, which has been resolved as the NSEWL now runs entirely on CBTC.
LTA has established a CBTC simulation laboratory in Singapore with Thales to conduct additional tests and fine-tune the system, contributing to improved reliability on the NSEWL.
Khaw Boon Wan assured that LTA and SMRT remain vigilant in ensuring rail safety through continuous monitoring, testing, and maintenance.

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6 May 2019

Public Agencies’ Exemption from Personal Data Protection Act

Public agencies and officers are governed by the Public Sector (Governance) Act and Instruction Manual 8, which criminalize unauthorized data disclosure and impose fines or imprisonment for breaches.
Additional laws like the Official Secrets Act and specific sectoral acts further deter irresponsible data handling, while internal disciplinary actions can be taken for negligence.
Regular audits and compliance checks under IM8 enforce specific security measures, with agencies required to address gaps and have their actions tracked to completion.
A dedicated committee is reviewing and recommending enhancements to data security policies to keep pace with technological advances and maintain public confidence.

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6 May 2019

Disallowing Cyclists on Bus Lanes during Bus Lane Operating Hours

Melvin Yong asked if LTA will disallow cyclists from using bus lanes during operating hours due to insufficient width for safe distance between buses and cyclists.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that land constraints require cyclists to share lanes, with rules like staying left and cycling single-file to reduce obstruction to buses.
The Ministry has equipped buses with blind-spot mirrors and collision warning systems to improve bus captains' awareness of cyclists.
Khaw emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility, requiring vigilance from all road users.

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6 May 2019

Road Accidents Involving Pedestrians Using Mobile Phones

Ms Rahayu Mahzam asked whether the Ministry tracks road accidents involving pedestrians using mobile phones, the numbers over the past three years, and if legislation or measures are needed to deter such use.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that the Police do not track such accident numbers, noting that mobile phone use is one of many distractions and that legislating against pedestrian distractions is impractical.
He emphasized that fostering good road safety habits and personal responsibility is a better approach, with Traffic Police conducting outreach like the "Use Your RoadSense" initiative and LTA installing "LOOK" road markings at crossings.

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6 May 2019

Singaporeans or PRs Involved in Easter Sunday Bombings in Sri Lanka

Minister K Shanmugam confirmed there were no Singaporeans or Permanent Residents among the casualties in the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, though a Singapore-based British lawyer and her children were killed.
The minister outlined key lessons, including the need for international intelligence cooperation, swift security responses, and enhanced security measures for public and religious venues.
He emphasised the importance of community preparedness through SGSecure, strict action against radicalisation and hate speech, and safeguarding Singapore’s racial and religious harmony.

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6 May 2019

Police Reports Filed against PMD Users

Between 2016 and 2018, there were approximately 200 police reports filed against PMD users for accidents causing injury to others.
The investigation duration for each case varies and depends on factors such as the availability of evidence.
The government does not have information on the average compensation amount ordered by courts to be paid to victims.

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6 May 2019

Workplace Accidents in Schools Involving Cleaners

Mr Zainal Sapari questioned the Minister for Education about the trend and number of workplace accidents involving school cleaners over the last three years, the percentage of cleaners trained in workplace safety, and the potential mandate for cleaning team leaders and supervisors to attend a hazard identification course.
Minister Ong Ye Kung reported that since October 2017, 35 workplace accidents involving school cleaners were reported, with about half being slips and falls, and noted that MOE requires cleaning contractors to provide safety officers and conduct risk assessments.
The Minister stated that currently about 50% of school cleaners have undergone workplace safety training and that MOE will consider mandating all cleaners to receive such training during future contract reviews.

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6 May 2019

Criminal Law Reform Bill

The Criminal Law Reform Bill introduces enhanced protections for vulnerable victims, including stricter penalties for abuse and neglect, while clarifying definitions to distinguish from existing legislation like the Vulnerable Adults Act.
It repeals marital immunity for rape, expands the legal definition of rape, and creates new offences for sexual communication with minors and distribution of intimate images, with extra-territorial application for certain crimes.
The bill decriminalizes attempted suicide but increases penalties for abetment, raises the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 10 years with safeguards, and amends fraud and conspiracy offences to modernize the Penal Code.

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6 May 2019

Criminal Law Reform Bill

The Bill expands and updates sexual offence definitions, including making marital rape fully criminal, redefining rape to cover penile penetration of the anus and mouth, and introducing new offences against sexual exploitation and voyeurism.
It decriminalises attempted suicide to focus on rehabilitation, increases the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 7 to 10, and enhances penalties for offences against vulnerable victims such as children, domestic workers, and persons in intimate relationships.
New offences are introduced to tackle emerging crimes like fraud, online scams, and the distribution of intimate images, while the sentencing framework is revised with presumptive minimum sentences for certain offences to allow judicial discretion in exceptional cases.

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6 May 2019

Findings and Follow-up Actions on National Service Training Death

The Committee of Inquiry found that the death of CFC(NS) Aloysius Pang was caused by preventable safety lapses, with all three personnel in the SSPH—CFC(NS) Pang, the Gun Commander, and the Regular ME2 Technician—failing to follow standard operating procedures and not ensuring everyone was in safe positions before moving the gun barrel.
The COI and the External Review Panel on SAF Safety identified systemic issues including a lack of coordinated safety control during mixed-crew maintenance, failure to activate emergency stop buttons, and weaknesses in safety culture, particularly among NSmen.
The SAF has accepted all recommendations, which include enhancing safety culture, reviewing SOPs, improving training for maintenance and medical personnel, and implementing measures like annual safety tests and involving NSmen in safety reviews, with follow-up ensured by the Inspector-General’s Office.

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6 May 2019

Detection and Prevention of Casino-related Crimes

The Minister stated that casino-related crime has decreased by 58% between 2010 and 2018, with police and the Casino Regulatory Authority actively managing risks through licensing, international cooperation, strict penalties, and surveillance.
In response to a supplementary question, the Minister clarified that the vast majority of casino crimes are opportunistic and petty, such as theft and cheating, with very few cases linked to organised crime syndicates.
Since 2010, fewer than 20 crimes have been tied to syndicates, and the government remains vigilant, with casino operators cooperating to deter foreign criminal infiltration.

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6 May 2019

Police’s Handling of Voyeurism Cases and Issuance of Conditional Warning

The Minister for Home Affairs provided detailed statistics on sexual misconduct cases in Autonomous Universities, showing that out of 31 cases reported to police between 2015 and 2018, 16 were prosecuted, 13 received conditional warnings, and only one student re-offended.
The Minister explained the discretionary factors Police and AGC consider when deciding on prosecutions or warnings, including the offender’s remorse, likelihood of rehabilitation, severity of the offence, and whether aggravating factors like premeditation or circulation of videos are present.
He outlined proposed amendments to the Penal Code to criminalise voyeurism as a standalone offence with enhanced penalties, and emphasised the government’s commitment to tough laws while balancing the need for proportionate enforcement and victim support.
In response to supplementary questions, the Minister clarified that rehabilitation assessments are made by trained police officers and AGC, victim impact is a key consideration, and consistency in applying penalties across similar cases is important for fairness and deterrence.

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6 May 2019

Enhancing Measures to Prevent Sexual Harassment in Schools and Institutes of Higher Learning

Ministers Indranee Rajah and Ong Ye Kung outlined current measures in schools and institutes of higher learning, including disciplinary frameworks, counselling support, campus security enhancements like CCTV and improved hostel locks, and education on respect and consent.
Parliamentarians raised concerns about the adequacy of past responses, the need for tougher penalties, publicising punishments, and whether infrastructural changes and support for victims should have been implemented earlier, especially after high-profile cases like the NUS voyeurism incident.
The government emphasised that while autonomous universities have autonomy, moral suasion and policy guidance are used to ensure consistent standards, and all institutions are reviewing their approaches to prevent sexual harassment and support victims holistically.

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6 May 2019

University Students Involved in Voyeurism and Sexual Harassment Cases

The Minister for Education reported that over the past three years, Autonomous Universities handled 56 sexual misconduct cases involving students (42 on-campus and 14 off-campus), with voyeurism accounting for 66% of cases and an incidence rate of about 0.2 cases per 1,000 students annually.
Of the 56 cases, 37 were reported to the Police, with 31 under investigation or having evidence; 10 resulted in jail terms, while university disciplinary actions included official reprimands, suspensions, dorm bans, and only one expulsion (later reduced to suspension).
The Minister emphasized the need to review disciplinary frameworks to balance deterrence, victim redress, and offender rehabilitation, citing growing concerns over voyeurism and announcing that all Autonomous Universities will strengthen penalties and campus safety measures.
The Minister acknowledged public outrage over recent cases but urged respect for due process, discouraging trial by media and mob justice, while affirming the government's commitment to improving victim support and campus safety holistically.

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1 Apr 2019

Measures to Prevent Healthcare Insurance Fraud

MOH monitors MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plan claims, working with insurers to identify suspicious patterns and referring potential criminal cases to the police.
The Singapore Medical Council enforces ethical guidelines that prohibit doctors from letting financial considerations influence clinical judgement, with disciplinary action for violations.
MOH urges doctors, healthcare staff, patients, insurers, and the public to report suspected fraud to MOH, SMC, or the police.

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1 Apr 2019

Singapore Medical Council's Appeal against its Disciplinary Tribunal's Sentence on Dr Soo Shuenn Chiang

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh questioned how a confidential medical memo, falsely obtained by a patient’s brother, was accepted by the court for a Personal Protection Order application.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that courts make independent decisions and reasons would be in a judgment, but no findings were made on whether the memo was admitted or relied upon in granting the PPO.
The Disciplinary Tribunal noted there was no clear evidence the PPO was granted due to the memo’s disclosure, only that it was produced in the application.
Family Justice Court proceedings are held in camera, and no grounds of decision have been issued, leaving no public facts on the memo’s admission or reliance.
The Singapore Medical Council is appealing the DT’s decision, which may allow the court to review the memo’s procurement and its role in the PPO grant.

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1 Apr 2019

Regulations in Place Governing Release and Publication of Prejudicial Information on Ongoing Criminal Investigations and Proceedings

The Minister outlined that law enforcement agencies are guided by legal requirements and must balance public interest with the need to avoid prejudicing investigations, especially in the age of social media where timely information release is often necessary.
Police confirmed investigating the incident involving the Prime Minister's son and disclosed the suspect's prior criminal history to the media without naming him, citing public interest and security concerns to maintain public confidence.
The suspect was found to have multiple criminal antecedents and was operating an unlicensed ride-sharing vehicle when he filmed and distributed videos of the vulnerable individual, prompting immediate police action.

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1 Apr 2019

Statistics on Business E-mail Compromise Scams and Measures to Educate Potential Victims

Over the last five years, the number of business e-mail compromise scams in Singapore increased from 98 cases in 2014 to 378 cases in 2018, with financial losses rising from about $11 million to about $57 million.
The Police do not track the total amount of money recovered from these scams, and recovery is challenging as they are often conducted by overseas criminal syndicates, though recovered funds are returned to owners via court applications.
The Police are working with business organizations to educate potential victims through email advisories, pamphlets, web postings, and outreach events, and have also set up an Anti-Scam Helpline and the scamalert.sg website.

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1 Apr 2019

Evaluation Framework for Grounding and Review of Aircraft Operating in Singapore

CAAS evaluates aircraft for operation in Singapore using an established framework aligned with international regulations, assessing design, technology maturity, and resolution of known safety issues, with reviews conducted by a multi-disciplinary team.
After approval, CAAS continuously monitors the reliability and airworthiness of in-service aircraft through regular inspections, tracking technical defects and incidents, and reviewing safety data from manufacturers, operators, and other regulators.
CAAS will ground an aircraft type if it determines that continued operation poses a safety risk.

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