Public safety & law — Topics

5 Feb 2018

Annual Breakdown of Sexual Harassment Incidents on Public Transport from 2013 to 2017

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Transport for the annual number of reported sexual harassment incidents on public transport from 2013 to 2017 and whether public transport operators are required to implement safety policies against such harassment.
The Minister provided a table showing the annual number of reported Outrage of Modesty cases on public transport over the past five years but did not specify the exact yearly figures in the speech.
The Land Transport Authority, TransCom, and public transport operators have conducted public education campaigns to address Outrage of Modesty and encourage reporting, treating every case seriously.
These agencies commit to continuing collaboration to improve commuter safety and security on public transport.
The debate highlights ongoing efforts to educate the public and manage sexual harassment incidents, though specific annual data was not detailed in the provided text.

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5 Feb 2018

Ban on Errant E-scooter Owners with Repeated Offences

Joan Pereira asked if the Ministry tracks e-scooter owners and would consider banning repeat offenders.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that the Land Transport Authority does not maintain records on the ownership of personal mobility devices like e-scooters.
The Active Mobility Advisory Panel is reviewing regulations for PMDs, including possible registration, and will make recommendations later this year.

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5 Feb 2018

Safety and Privacy of Data on Third-party Booking Apps

Mr Ang Hin Kee asked about the regulatory powers of the Land Transport Authority over third-party booking apps regarding vehicle safety information, data protection for commuters and drivers, and preventive safety measures.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan stated that operators are not required to submit fleet safety data but must dispatch licensed and insured vehicles, with potential suspension for repeated violations.
Personal data of commuters and drivers is protected under the Personal Data Protection Act, which mandates security arrangements and imposes financial penalties for breaches.
The government relies on existing laws like the Road Traffic Act and PDPA to address safety and privacy concerns without imposing new specific requirements on third-party apps.

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5 Feb 2018

Tailgating Detection System at Car Parks to Detect Motorcyclists who Avoid Payment

The Tailgating Detection System (TDS) can detect motorcyclists who evade payment by tailgating vehicles or riding on pavements around gantries.
HDB will enforce penalties against motorcyclists caught by TDS to deter errant behavior and improve pedestrian safety.
HDB will monitor TDS's effectiveness since it was recently introduced in HDB car parks.

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5 Feb 2018

Implementation Costs of Workplace Safety Requirements

Yee Chia Hsing asked whether the Ministry for Manpower considers implementation costs and sets a threshold beyond which safety practices become too costly or impracticable.
Lim Swee Say responded that the Workplace Safety and Health Act generally uses a non-prescriptive approach, allowing companies flexibility, but stipulates specific measures for high-risk sectors after consulting industry for reasonable cost and practicality.
He emphasized that while costs are unavoidable, safety measures should be viewed as investments, as accidents cause greater losses and human suffering, and the Ministry will continue working with partners to help companies improve standards.

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5 Feb 2018

Support for Volunteers who are Abused on The Job

Mr Zainal Sapari asked about the number of active Community Volunteer (CV) programme participants, support for volunteers facing abuse, and whether body cameras could be provided.
There are currently about 350 active CVs, who are trained to disengage from abusive individuals and can report incidents to the police and NEA for possible legal action.
NEA has no plans to equip CVs with body cameras, as most offenders comply with their advice, and CVs are legally protected as public servants.

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5 Feb 2018

Investigations, Prosecutions and Convictions under Prevention of Human Trafficking Act

Since the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act came into force on 1 March 2015, authorities have investigated 166 alleged trafficking cases, with eight substantiated.
Of the eight substantiated cases, five were sex trafficking and three were labour trafficking, and four sex trafficking cases have resulted in convictions with imprisonment of 38–80 months and fines up to S$30,000.
The remaining four cases are still undergoing court proceedings.

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5 Feb 2018

Regulation of Online Platforms that Sell Drugs that Require Doctors' Prescriptions

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) monitors and removes illegal online sales of prescription drugs, working with web administrators and international agencies like INTERPOL to enforce laws that prohibit such sales.
Individuals caught selling prescription-only medicines online without a license face fines up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment for up to two years under the Health Products Act.
HSA conducts public education campaigns, including advisories and an online video, to warn consumers about the dangers of buying medicines from unlicensed online sources.

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5 Feb 2018

Cybersecurity Bill

Multiple speakers supported the Cybersecurity Bill, emphasizing the rising cyber threats and the need to protect Singapore’s critical information infrastructures, while also raising concerns about compliance costs, potential impact on businesses and consumers, and the need for sufficient cybersecurity talent.
Key discussion points included the adequacy of incident reporting requirements, the balance between investigative powers and privacy, and the need for support measures—such as grants, streamlined processes, and public education—to help businesses, especially SMEs, and the public adapt to new regulations.
The Minister clarified that the Bill applies to systems in Singapore, including those partially overseas, and that investigations are calibrated and non-intrusive; he also outlined efforts to grow local cybersecurity talent, collaborate internationally, and raise public awareness without introducing new agencies or overriding existing laws.

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5 Feb 2018

Cybersecurity Bill

The Cybersecurity Bill establishes a legal framework to proactively protect Singapore's Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) across 11 essential sectors, requiring CII owners to comply with obligations such as incident reporting, cybersecurity audits, and participation in exercises, with penalties for non-compliance.
The Bill empowers the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) to investigate threats and incidents, including intrusive measures for serious cases, while safeguarding confidentiality and providing appeal mechanisms for CII owners.
A licensing framework is introduced for cybersecurity service providers in penetration testing and managed SOC monitoring, aiming to ensure credibility while being light-touch initially, with support for industry development and public education on cybersecurity.

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5 Feb 2018

Criminal Reference on City Harvest Church Matter

The Court of Appeal ruled that company directors and senior officers are liable under the lesser penalty of Section 406 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust, not the more severe Section 409, creating a legal gap that the government plans to amend.
The Minister criticized public abuse and contempt towards the judiciary over the case, warning against intimidation of lawyers and noting that fake headlines scandalizing the courts may be prosecuted.
The Minister explained that the law was not amended earlier because the previous precedent was settled for 40 years, and Parliament does not legislate without cause.

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5 Feb 2018

Collection of Signatures at Public Place for Parliamentary Petitions

Pritam Singh asked whether the Police would allow signature collection for parliamentary petitions in public places and how citizens can legally arrange such signings beyond Speakers' Corner, given the requirement for physical signatures.
The Parliamentary Secretary replied that such events can be held at Speakers' Corner without a permit, but outside that area, a Police permit is required under the Public Order Act.
Pritam Singh sought clarification on the Police’s discretion in granting or withholding permits for signature collection outside Speakers' Corner, citing a specific case involving the Sungei Road Flea Market.
The Parliamentary Secretary stated that permit requirements are fact-sensitive and directed the MP to file a separate Parliamentary Question for a detailed response on specific incidents.
The debate highlighted the legal framework for public petition signatures and the procedural steps for seeking clarification on enforcement discretion.

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5 Feb 2018

Review of Petrochemical Companies' Governance Processes after Recent Case of Theft of Fuel from Pulau Bukom

The Second Minister for Home Affairs outlined that petrochemical companies like those on Pulau Bukom must obtain an annual license from the SCDF, which requires security measures and notification of any theft, with high-risk sites subject to inspections.
The Minister confirmed that Shell Bukom was last inspected in December 2017 and was compliant at that time, but stated that ongoing police investigations will determine if the theft was due to security inadequacies.
Both the Minister and Mr. Desmond Choo acknowledged that while current processes are in place, the investigation's findings will be crucial for determining if further tightening of security and governance is needed to prevent recurrence.

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5 Feb 2018

Online Dating Platforms that Exploit Young Persons

Seah Kian Peng and Tin Pei Ling asked the Ministry of Social and Family Development about the dating platform TheSugarBook, which targets young people and could lead to exploitation, and inquired about legal actions and protective measures.
Minister Desmond Lee stated that sugar dating platforms commodify relationships and risk exploiting young people, with police monitoring TheSugarBook for illegal activities like sexual services, while emphasizing education and family guidance as the primary defense.
The Minister highlighted past actions like banning the Ashley Madison site for conflicting with family values, but noted that in the broad online realm, education and reinforcing societal values are more sustainable than banning every troubling site.
Tin Pei Ling raised concerns about TheSugarBook being featured in a mainstream teenage magazine and asked about efforts to address the root causes of why young people turn to such platforms, with the Minister agreeing to ongoing discussions and community efforts to support families.

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10 Jan 2018

Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods – Causes, Consequences and Countermeasures

The government proposed a Select Committee to comprehensively examine the causes, consequences, and countermeasures for deliberate online falsehoods, citing Singapore’s high internet penetration, racial diversity, and strategic position as key vulnerabilities.
Speakers unanimously supported the motion, emphasizing the severe societal risks such as eroded trust, social division, and foreign interference, while calling for a multi-pronged approach including legislation, public education, and technological solutions.
Concerns were raised about balancing regulation with free speech, with members urging the committee to define falsehoods clearly, protect genuine discourse, and ensure measures do not silence critics or impede democratic processes.

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10 Jan 2018

Scams on Claims Investigated since Implementation of SkillsFuture

Since January 2016, SkillsFuture Singapore has referred six fraudulent claim instances to the Commercial Affairs Department for investigation, including two major cases.
The Ministry has issued advisories, warnings, and suspensions to 27 training providers who breached marketing guidelines, with some already suspended.
The government reaffirms zero tolerance for abuse of SkillsFuture funding and is strengthening efforts to prevent scams and pressure tactics by training providers.

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10 Jan 2018

Greater Discretionary Power for Courts to Administer Harsher Punishment for Child Abuse Offenders

Christopher de Souza proposed giving courts more discretion to impose harsher punishments for child abuse offenders.
Multiple ministries are reviewing child abuse laws, including penalties, and will announce details after the review is completed.
De Souza cited a recent court case where the judiciary suggested similar enhanced sentencing powers for vulnerable victims.
The Ministry of Law noted the suggestion and said it will be considered as part of the broader legislative review.

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10 Jan 2018

Investigation into Aluminium Composite Claddings on Buildings with Potential Fire Risk

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong questioned how two brands of aluminium composite cladding with Class "0" certificates were found to pose fire risks and how SCDF identified the danger.
The Minister confirmed the brands were Bolliya and Bolli-Core FR, explaining that a building owner submitted samples for testing, which were found non-compliant, leading SCDF to identify six other buildings using these panels.
The Minister stated that investigations are ongoing, the certification system's integrity is not yet compromised, and SCDF is requiring all affected buildings to remove the cladding while ensuring other fire safety measures are maintained.

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10 Jan 2018

Review of Singapore's Laws to Deter Online Child Pornography

Christopher de Souza asked for an update on reviewing Singapore's laws to deter online child pornography and for details on restricting, deterring, and punishing access and hosting of such content.
The Minister for Home Affairs, Mr K Shanmugam, explained that internet content providers are class-licensed and must comply with the Internet Code of Practice to prohibit child sexual abuse material, with the IMDA empowered to take down content, block websites, or suspend licenses, and the Police investigating such cases.
He noted a major review of the Penal Code is considering dedicated laws and higher penalties for child pornography-related activities, with proposals for public consultation later this year.
Christopher de Souza urged prioritizing deterrence in the review and offered GPC support, which the Minister agreed to coordinate with.

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10 Jan 2018

Investigation into Joo Koon MRT Train Accident

The Joo Koon MRT collision on 15 November 2017 was caused by a software logic issue in the new signalling system, which deactivated the protective bubble between trains, a scenario not anticipated by the system supplier Thales.
The train captain of the second train was unable to engage emergency brakes in time to prevent the collision, as they were not aware the protective bubble could be deactivated and were not trained for this specific failure.
As a precaution, the Tuas West Extension is separated from the rest of the East-West Line until the full transition to the new signalling system is completed, and Thales has rectified the flaw and will set up a simulation facility in Singapore.

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