Public safety & law

• Over the past 10 years, an average of about 350 National Service defaulters each year have either failed to register, enlist, or return after their Exit Permit expired, with about one third arrested or having come forward to resolve their offences.
• Efforts to trace NS defaulters include sending registered mails to their last known residences (including overseas), conducting house visits, and contacting educational institutions they attended; the Ministry of Defence works with the Police to arrest defaulters, and those charged face punishments set by the Courts under the Enlistment Act.
• No specific clemency criteria or details on pardons were provided in the response, as the focus was on enforcement and judicial processes rather than clemency criteria.

• In the past three years, there have been approximately 50 reported cases annually of senior citizens being injured from falling on public buses, mainly due to sudden bus movements when moving off or stopping abruptly.
• Measures to prevent such incidents include installing telematics systems on about 70% of public buses to help drivers review and improve driving patterns, though abrupt movements cannot be entirely eliminated due to unpredictable traffic situations.
• Additional efforts focus on promoting courtesy, such as encouraging younger commuters to give up seats to senior citizens to enhance their safety and comfort.

• The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) has instructed the 11 Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) sectors to review their connections to untrusted external networks, with the review to be completed by the end of 2018.
• The Prime Minister stated that the Government will not provide grants or funding for companies to implement cybersecurity measures, as these costs should be borne by companies as part of normal business expenses.
• The Government will continue to work closely with CII owners to strengthen cybersecurity, providing professional advice and resources such as SingCERT and Gosafeonline for guidance and education.

• The Government, through ACRA, takes firm action against companies that impersonate official agencies and has investigated seven entities in the past six years for failing to display proper registration details, which can lead to fines.
• Businesses are advised to remain vigilant, verify any unsolicited correspondence using ACRA’s free online search tool, and carefully review terms before signing any agreements.
• ACRA and CASE provide an online guide with a checklist to help businesses identify scams and conduct background checks, and victims should report suspected fraud to ACRA and the Police.

• Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned whether physical punishments like enforced exercises or drills for disciplinary infringements are still permitted in the SAF and, if not, when they were prohibited.
• Ng Eng Hen stated that such physical exercises and non-physical punishments are allowed under strict SAF guidelines, including limits on repetitions and durations, and are prescribed in the Joint Manpower Directive.
• He noted that unauthorized punishments or violations of training safety regulations are prosecuted within the SAF or through criminal prosecution in the State Courts.

• About 13,300 power-assisted bicycles (PABs) have been registered since August 2017, with a registration regime for e-scooters planned for early next year, while other PMDs like hoverboards will not require registration due to lower usage and speeds.
• Since the start of the year, there were about 650 offences involving PABs, including the use of non-compliant devices.
• Since the Active Mobility Act commenced in May 2018, there were over 700 offences involving PMDs, including non-compliant devices and speeding.
• The Land Transport Authority does not have records on the number of offenders charged.

• The Minister explained that phone scams by callers claiming to be government officials typically involve foreign syndicates exploiting victims' vulnerabilities by demanding payments and personal details over the phone, similar to other scams.
• He outlined preventive measures for the public, including vigilance against unsolicited calls, verifying the caller's identity by contacting official agencies directly, and using resources like the Anti-Scam Helpline and scamalert.sg.
• The Police work with stakeholders such as banks and convenience stores to raise awareness and implement prevention measures, which have helped stop scams and recover funds, while also using media and community outreach to educate vulnerable groups like the elderly.
• Efforts to combat these scams include collaborating with overseas enforcement agencies to disrupt foreign syndicates and money flows, resulting in arrests and convictions of money mules in Singapore.

• Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry inquired if there is a specific period for issuing traffic summons, as evidence or recall may fade over time.
• Minister K Shanmugam stated that agencies issue summons only with strong evidence, notifying vehicle owners within a week and non-owners within six weeks to verify identity.
• He noted that time norms may not apply if an offence is reported by the public without strong evidence, requiring investigations to establish facts.

• Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked if Class 4 driving licence holders could be exempted from the proficiency driving test at age 65.
• The Minister explained that ageing may affect driving ability, so all motorists over 65 must have their fitness certified, with heavier requirements for heavy vehicle drivers.
• Heavy vehicle drivers must undergo annual medical exams and proficiency tests from age 65, and enhanced versions annually after 70, to ensure safety due to the higher risk and skill needed for such vehicles.

• The Land Transport Authority implements Silver Zones in areas with high senior pedestrian accidents or a high proportion of elderly residents, featuring speed limits of 40 km/h, speed bumps, barrier-free crossings, and enhanced lighting to slow traffic and alert motorists.
• Existing 15 Silver Zones have shown a 75% reduction in accidents involving the elderly, with plans to complete six more by year-end and reach 50 by 2023, with potential for further expansion based on need.
• Silver Zones include centre dividers to narrow lanes, reduced speeds, and longer green man timing to improve safety for elderly pedestrians.

• Dennis Tan Lip Fong inquired if the Commercial Affairs Department will investigate former oBike Singapore directors and management over an alleged improper transfer of S$10 million collected from customers as prepayment to oBike Hong Kong.
• K Shanmugam confirmed that the Police are investigating oBike Singapore for misappropriation of funds but cannot provide further details as the investigation is ongoing.

• The Minister acknowledged that a minority of e-commerce scams are solved, with low prosecution rates, largely due to overseas syndicates and the anonymity of the internet.
• The Ministry is collaborating with online platforms to implement protective measures, including user advisories on risk minimization and the use of secured payment systems.
• Platforms like Carousell have introduced features such as CarouPay, an escrow system that releases payment only after buyers confirm receipt of items.

• Pedestrians and motorists involved in accidents can seek recourse through civil proceedings if the other vehicle lacks proper insurance coverage, such as private cars with non-commercial insurance or unauthorised commercial use of private hire vehicles or taxis.
• The law mandates all motor vehicles, including private cars, private hire cars, and taxis, to have insurance for third-party injury and death, with penalties for drivers who fail to comply, including fines, imprisonment, and licence disqualification.
• Private hire vehicles and taxis are prohibited from carrying goods for reward without Land Transport Authority approval, and drivers risk having their vocational licences revoked for violations.
• App operators must ensure only licensed and insured drivers and vehicles are used on their platforms, and they face warnings, fines, or suspension orders for regulatory breaches.

• Christopher de Souza questioned the Minister for Home Affairs on actions taken to prosecute people smugglers
• The Minister responded that between 2016 and July 2018, eleven individuals were charged and successfully prosecuted under the Immigration Act
• Those convicted received imprisonment sentences ranging from six to 30 months and caning of up to six strokes
• The Minister noted people smuggling is a transnational crime, and Singapore cooperates with foreign counterparts through information exchanges and law enforcement collaboration

• Miss Cheng Li Hui raised concerns about the rise in outrage of modesty cases on public transport, asking about current safety measures, the Ministry's plans to address the increase, whether cases occur more during peak or non-peak hours, and if male victims have increased.
• Minister K Shanmugam outlined that police conduct patrols at transport hubs and work with community volunteers, along with educational advisories, and urged victims to report early to aid in arrests.
• He noted that outrage of modesty occurs in roughly equal proportions during peak and off-peak hours, and the percentage of cases involving male victims has remained low over the past three years.
• The police are monitoring the rise and will regularly review their measures.

• Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned whether appropriate security assessment measures would be implemented for cybersecurity staff and contractors from various backgrounds, including those from countries linked to recent cyberattacks on SingHealth, NUS, and NTU.
• S Iswaran stated that public service staff and contractors dealing with classified government information must undergo security screening, and critical infrastructure sectors like banking and finance are required to screen staff and contractors with access to key systems.
• The Cyber Security Agency will license penetration testing and managed security operations centre services to ensure providers meet criteria, including that key executives are fit and proper persons.
• Critical infrastructure owners must calibrate vendor access based on business needs and cybersecurity risk profiles under the Cybersecurity Code of Practice.
• The government acknowledged that while these measures help mitigate insider risks, they are not foolproof.

The Bill strengthens enforcement and safety for land transport by introducing a mandatory registration regime for e-scooters, enhancing LTA’s capacity to appoint outsourced enforcement officers, and increasing penalties for damaging public streets. It also facilitates electronic service of notices and includes miscellaneous updates to various transport acts. While most MPs supported the Bill, some raised concerns about the adequacy of penalties, the need for compulsory liability insurance for PMD users, and the importance of public education and infrastructural improvements to ensure safe sharing of public paths.

• The bill seeks to amend the Supreme Court of Judicature Act and make a related amendment to the State Courts Act.
• It was presented by the Senior Minister of State for Law on behalf of the Minister for Law and was read the first time.
• The bill is scheduled for a second reading at the next available sitting of Parliament.

• Ganesh Rajaram inquired about the progress of the investigation into possible misuse of funds at Tiong Bahru Football Club.
• The Senior Parliamentary Secretary confirmed that police investigations are in their final phase and recommendations will be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
• It was stated that no further comments could be made at this time due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

• The Ministry of Manpower reported that over the past five years, approximately 130 foreign domestic workers per year were found to be under the minimum age requirement of 23.
• Since 2013, over 100 employment agencies have faced penalties ranging from warnings to prosecution, with two recent cases resulting in maximum fines and licence revocation.
• MOM employs a multi-layered approach including upstream checks by agencies, mandatory programmes for workers, visual checks, and permanent debarment for violations, while urging employers to report suspected underaged helpers.