Public safety & law — Topics

3 Oct 2017

Staying United Against the Terrorism Threat

The debate highlighted Singapore’s consensus on the need for unity and multiracialism in combating terrorism, rejecting finger-pointing at any race or religion and emphasizing collective vigilance and resilience.
Speakers underscored the importance of countering extremist narratives online, using technology and collaboration, while also addressing the link between terrorism and drug trafficking to prevent funding and threats.
The discussion reinforced that multiracialism is a foundational strength, requiring continuous effort through community initiatives, education, and policies to foster trust and integration across all racial groups.

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3 Oct 2017

Staying United Against the Terrorism Threat

The Minister outlined multiple terror threats, including regional instability, radicalised individuals, and divisive preaching, and emphasized Singapore’s need to deter attacks, build community resilience through initiatives like SGSecure, and strengthen multiracialism.
Parliament highlighted the importance of active government intervention and community action to maintain racial and religious harmony, drawing on lessons from other countries and stressing that Singapore’s approach has been pragmatic and effective.
The debate focused on controlling foreign preachers who preach intolerance, combating hate speech, and reviewing laws to prevent radicalization while promoting a common Singaporean identity that respects diversity.

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3 Oct 2017

Staying United Against the Terrorism Threat

Multiple MPs emphasized that Singapore’s multiracialism and social cohesion are its primary defense against terrorism, calling for continued efforts to promote vigilance, resilience, and unity through community initiatives like the SGSecure movement and Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCCs).
The debate highlighted the need to prevent the spread of radicalized teachings by strengthening laws, rehabilitating detainees through groups like the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), and ensuring religious teachers are accredited via schemes like the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) to promote contextually appropriate teachings.
Speakers stressed the importance of proactive community engagement, including training grassroots workers, teachers, and youth ambassadors to identify early signs of radicalization and foster interfaith dialogue to counter extremism and Islamophobia.
Concerns were raised about the potential weaponization of multiracialism, with calls to deepen intercultural exchanges and mutual support across races, rather than allowing racial divisions to be exploited by terrorists or populists.
The motion was supported across the house, with MPs agreeing that Singapore must prepare for the possibility of a terrorist attack by strengthening social bonds, ensuring inclusive policies, and standing united to defeat the psychological aims of terrorism.

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3 Oct 2017

Mandatory Installation of Smoke Alarms in Newly Built Homes

Joan Pereira raised concerns about maintenance responsibilities for smoke alarms in rental flats and suggested connecting them to a central alert system for elderly residents with sensory impairments.
The Second Minister for Home Affairs clarified that mandatory installation is still being studied, citing data on reduced fire fatalities and noting that owners/occupiers are generally responsible for maintenance, with SCDF encouraging voluntary installation.
The Minister assured that maintenance checks and battery replacements would be coordinated with HDB and grassroots organizations, especially for elderly residents, and confirmed that all rental flats—not just those with elderly—would have the alarms installed.

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3 Oct 2017

Measures to Handle Accidents where Passengers Fall onto MRT or LRT Tracks

The government has installed screen doors on all MRT platforms and is installing safety barriers on LRT platforms, with the Bukit Panjang LRT completed and Sengkang-Punggol LRT targeted for completion next year.
If a passenger falls onto tracks, they should alert others, and bystanders can use emergency stop plungers to halt trains and notify the Passenger Service Centre and Operations Control Centre, prompting power shutdown and dispatch of trained personnel until SCDF arrives.
Rail operators must inform commuters about safety practices through signs and announcements, and the LTA and SMRT are trialling video analytics to improve incident detection on tracks.

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2 Oct 2017

Juvenile Offenders Admitted into Juvenile Homes since 2013

Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked for the number of juvenile offenders admitted to juvenile homes each year since 2013 by gender and their average length of stay by gender.
Minister Desmond Lee explained that juveniles may be sent to Juvenile Rehabilitation Centres or Places of Detention under the Children and Young Persons Act, with the Singapore Boys' Home and Singapore Girls' Home serving both roles.
The number of juveniles admitted to the Singapore Boys' Home and Singapore Girls' Home each year since 2013 is provided in a table, though the table itself is not detailed in the text.
From 2013 to 2016, the average duration of stay for juveniles discharged from Juvenile Rehabilitation Centres was 20 months for boys and 24 months for girls, while those from Places of Detention stayed about three weeks each.

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2 Oct 2017

Escalator Accidents in Past Three Years

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong inquired about non-user escalator accidents over the past three years and safety improvements since stricter maintenance started in November 2016.
Lawrence Wong reported 13 escalator incidents due to technical faults since mandatory reporting began in November 2016, noting the maintenance regime's effects are still being monitored.
He emphasized that escalator safety requires collective effort, including public awareness campaigns and personal responsibility like holding handrails and using lifts when necessary.

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2 Oct 2017

Juvenile Delinquents by Gender since 2013

The Minister reported that youth crime has declined over the past decade, with the number of youth offenders arrested falling from 4,280 in 2006 to 2,788 in 2016.
Shop theft, bicycle theft, other theft, rioting, and sexual penetration of a minor under 16 were the most common offences committed by youth offenders between 2013 and June 2017.
There is an over-representation of minority races among youth offenders, prompting collaboration with self-help and community groups to address the issue through a multi-agency approach.

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2 Oct 2017

Average Response Time by Emergency Services to Road Accidents

Ms Joan Pereira inquired about the average response times of emergency services to road accidents involving injuries and fatalities since 2015 and whether systems like eCall could be considered to reduce response times.
Minister K Shanmugam reported that over the past three years, SCDF responded within eight minutes for 90.1% of rescue-related accidents and within eleven minutes for 84.6% of ambulance-only calls, meeting their targets.
The Minister noted that while eCall could improve response times, it faces challenges such as high false alarm rates, and SCDF will continue monitoring and studying its applicability to Singapore.
SCDF emphasized the importance of public responsibility in calling "995" only for genuine emergencies to avoid overloading resources and delaying assistance for those in real distress.

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2 Oct 2017

Motorists and Taxi Drivers Committing Same Traffic Offence in Past Three Years

The Minister provided statistics showing that most motorists are not repeat offenders, with a small percentage committing the same traffic offence multiple times in the past three years, while taxi drivers have higher rates of repeat offences, particularly for speeding.
The government is engaged in road safety initiatives, including collaborations with taxi companies and the placement of more prominent warning signs, to educate and remind drivers about safe driving practices.
Very few appeals for traffic violations are successful, granted only in cases with strong extenuating circumstances such as medical emergencies, due to the serious safety implications of these offences.

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2 Oct 2017

E-registration with Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Singaporeans Travelling Abroad in View of Threats to Global Safety

Seah Kian Peng inquired about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' plans to encourage more Singaporeans to e-register their overseas travels amid increasing global safety threats.
Vivian Balakrishnan responded that the Ministry promotes e-registration through its website and app, simplifying the process by reducing required fields and integrating with partners like SATS Ltd and the SGSecure app.
The Ministry is also developing an MFA Chatbot with Govtech to enable e-registration via social media platforms, while emphasizing that e-registration remains voluntary and urging personal responsibility from travelers.
Balakrishnan highlighted that the Ministry prioritizes assisting those in genuine need during crises and encourages Singaporeans to stay vigilant, observe local laws, purchase insurance, and maintain communication while abroad.

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2 Oct 2017

Accidents Involving Unauthorised and Illegally Modified Power-assisted Bicycles

Dennis Tan asked the Ministry for Transport for accident statistics over the past two years involving power-assisted bicycles (PABs), particularly those unauthorised or illegally modified, whether penalties were imposed, and the types of penalties given.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that the Land Transport Authority currently does not track accidents involving non-compliant or illegally modified PABs but will work to do so moving forward as part of enforcement actions.
Khaw confirmed that users of non-compliant or illegally modified PABs can be fined up to $5,000, jailed up to three months, or both for first offences, with harsher penalties of up to $10,000 fine or six months’ jail for repeat offenders.

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2 Oct 2017

Accidents Involving E-bikes and Personal Mobility Devices

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked for the number of accidents, injuries, or fatalities involving e-bikes and personal mobility devices this year, as well as LTA's plans to mitigate them.
For the first half of this year, there were about 90 accidents resulting in four deaths and about 90 injuries, with most occurring on roads.
The Active Mobility Bill will enforce rules on safe riding, speed limits, and device specifications by year-end with stiff penalties for offences.
LTA is increasing enforcement, has issued over 1,400 advisories for unsafe riding, and has started registering power-assisted bicycles.
Public education and outreach, including the Safe Riding Programme and the Active Mobility Patrol Scheme with over 800 volunteers, will complement enforcement efforts.

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2 Oct 2017

Summons for Errant Riders of Personal Mobility Devices

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked if the Land Transport Authority (LTA) can issue summons to errant riders of personal mobility devices, motorcyclists, or cyclists based on video or photo evidence submitted by residents or Town Council staff.
Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan stated that LTA welcomes such submissions to strengthen enforcement against reckless riding.
He noted that under the upcoming Active Mobility Act, reckless riders could face fines up to $5,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both.
LTA is conducting a nationwide campaign and collaborating with volunteers and stakeholders to raise awareness of active mobility rules.

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2 Oct 2017

Inward-facing Dashboard Cameras for Protection of Passengers and Drivers

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah inquired about regulating inward-facing dashboard cameras to balance passenger privacy and driver protection in taxis and private hire cars.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that the Land Transport Authority must approve such cameras, ensuring safeguards like restricted access to recordings for investigation only.
Taxi and private hire car companies must comply with LTA requirements to protect passenger privacy when installing inward-facing cameras.
Drivers facing rogue passengers can seek assistance from their companies or the police without compromising passenger privacy.
The debate focused on establishing regulatory frameworks to address both privacy concerns and safety measures for passengers and drivers.

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2 Oct 2017

Refresher Courses for Drivers with Demerit Points

Joan Pereira proposed requiring drivers with demerit points to attend refresher lectures and tests to improve road safety.
The Minister explained that existing voluntary courses, like the DIPS Retraining Course and Safe Driving Course, offer skill refreshment and demerit point expungement.
These courses are optional, aiming to encourage drivers to take ownership of their behavior rather than imposing mandatory attendance.
The DIPS course is for suspended drivers, involving two days of training and tests to shorten suspension periods.
The Safe Driving Course is an early intervention with classroom and practical sessions, removing three demerit points upon completion.

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2 Oct 2017

Treatment and Confinement of Mentally-ill Residents who Destroy Neighbours' Properties or Display Signs of Violence

Miss Cheng Li Hui asked about expediting treatment and confinement at IMH for mentally ill individuals who harass neighbours and destroy property, as well as the criteria for their release.
The Minister for Health responded that community mental health services are being strengthened, with the Agency for Integrated Care serving as the first contact point for assistance and referrals.
For dangerous behaviour, the public can call 999, and under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act, police can bring individuals to IMH for assessment and potential inpatient treatment.
IMH discharges patients when doctors assess their acute psychiatric condition has stabilised, with longer-term recovery supported at home and through follow-up care coordination.
IMH works with families and community organisations to ensure compliance with appointments and medication, emphasising collective responsibility in supporting recovery and reintegration.

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2 Oct 2017

Closer Monitoring of Schools to Minimise Fights among Students

The Ministry of Education has equipped all schools with CCTV systems in critical areas to enhance security and deter incidents like student fights.
Schools actively teach social and emotional skills through Character and Citizenship Education to promote conflict resolution and positive values.
When incidents occur, staff intervene to manage the situation, support victims, discipline aggressors, and educate bystanders.
The Ministry emphasizes that shaping student behavior is an ongoing process requiring collaboration between schools, families, and the community.

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2 Oct 2017

Traffic Accidents on Causeway in Past Three Years

Melvin Yong asked for accident data, pedestrian involvement, and safety plans for the Causeway; the Minister responded that between 2014 and 2016, there were eight traffic accidents within Singapore's jurisdiction, none involving pedestrians, as the design eliminates the need for pedestrian road crossing.
The Traffic Police and agencies collaborate to ensure safe traffic flows, with special support teams at Woodlands Checkpoint during peak hours to manage high traffic volume.
Pedestrians are urged to use footpaths and avoid walking on roads, while motorists are reminded to drive safely.

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2 Oct 2017

Infrastructure Protection Bill

The Infrastructure Protection Bill establishes a legal framework to require critical, high-footfall, and iconic buildings to incorporate security-by-design principles during construction or major renovations, with the Commissioner of Infrastructure Protection overseeing compliance.
The bill grants authorities powers to issue security directives and emergency orders to protect other buildings deemed at risk, and enhances protections for sensitive locations by prohibiting unauthorized photography and allowing security officers to address threats in surrounding areas.
Stakeholders raised concerns about potential costs for building owners, the need for clear guidelines on designated buildings, and the importance of training security personnel, with the government emphasizing that security-by-design can be cost-effective and that measures will be implemented reasonably.

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