Public safety & law

Vikram Nair raised concerns about the increase in vegetation fires and Singapore's rising temperatures, asking if SCDF is taking steps to mitigate these fires. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Goh Pei Ming, confirmed that climate change has heightened wildfire risks and detailed the inter-agency Wildfire Task Force's efforts to reduce these risks, including monitoring weather patterns, preventing potential hotspots, and public education. Goh noted that while the SCDF has managed to control vegetation fires in recent years, continuous vigilance is necessary due to the seasonal nature of weather impacts on fire incidence. He emphasized the importance of proactive measures in anticipation of dry weather conditions.

Charlene Chen questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about Singapore's strategies to reduce road fatalities by incorporating urban design measures similar to those in cities like Helsinki. Jeffrey Siow responded that the Land Transport Authority is continuously reviewing and enhancing road design and infrastructure for better safety. He highlighted the 2023 Friendly Streets initiative aimed at improving walking and cycling safety through reduced speed limits and traffic-calming measures.

He Ting Ru raised concerns regarding the finding that over 31% of Work Permit holders do not have access to their passports and asked the Ministry of Manpower about measures to prevent violations of the Passports Act. Tan See Leng emphasized that retaining migrant workers' passports is prohibited and that the Ministry takes this issue seriously. The Ministry employs multiple channels to inform migrant workers of their rights and to encourage reporting of passport retention violations, including the Settling-In Programme and communication through apps and social media. Most employers return the passports after intervention, and the Ministry will take enforcement actions, including debarment, against non-compliant employers.

Cai Yinzhou questioned the Minister for Manpower about the evaluation of work-related accident risks in platform delivery, regulation of time-based incentives, and the potential mandating of Safety Time-Outs after accidents. Tan See Leng stated that the Ministry of Manpower will extend the Workplace Safety and Health Act to cover platform work starting in January 2025, following consultations with stakeholders to address safety risks. The Approved Code of Practice for Platform Services prohibits operators from imposing time-based incentives that may compromise safety, and the Platform Workers Trilateral Group will further strengthen these guidelines. MOM is actively monitoring accidents involving platform workers and balances safety measures with business operations and livelihoods when considering Safety Time-Outs.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked about the median response times for police investigations and internal reports of abuse and harassment in healthcare, as well as the outcomes of internally reported cases. Ong Ye Kung responded that healthcare workers are encouraged to report incidents promptly, and immediate measures are taken by public healthcare institutions to de-escalate situations and warn offenders. Follow-up actions may include written warnings, access restrictions, or police involvement for serious cases, with investigation duration varying based on case complexity.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked about the reporting of abuse and harassment cases under the Tripartite Framework for the Prevention of Abuse and Harassment in Healthcare, specifically seeking statistics on incidents reported to the Police versus internal reporting forms, along with trends since implementation. Ong Ye Kung reported an increase in awareness leading to 3,000 and 4,200 reported incidents in 2024 and 2025, respectively, with approximately 7% classified as high severity and about 15% of all cases reported to the Police.

Cai Yinzhou raised questions regarding the police's efficiency and methods in locating missing persons, including average response times and the role of social media in resolving cases. K Shanmugam responded that the police do not track average times for locating missing persons, as it varies by case, but prioritize vulnerable individuals, usually finding them within a day. He indicated that police pursue leads through various means, including social media appeals and collaboration with online service providers, but do not formally track the effectiveness of these methods in solving cases.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked if the Land Transport Authority (LTA) could mandate contractors to provide early warning notices at least 200 meters ahead of road work sites to enhance traffic efficiency and safety. Jeffrey Siow responded that the LTA's Code of Practice already requires advance warning signs at specified distances depending on road speed limits, with 280 meters being the minimum for roads with a 50 km/h limit. Contractors face consequences for not adhering to these requirements.

Cai Yinzhou asked if the myResponder app could expand to cover all HDB residential fires and include a tier to assist elderly and mobility-impaired residents during evacuations. K Shanmugam explained that the app currently activates Community First Responders for minor fires, but more serious fires are managed by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) due to safety concerns for untrained responders. In HDB fire incidents, SCDF prioritizes evacuating residents from the affected floor and two floors above, advising others to stay in place for their safety. SCDF collaborates with grassroots organizations to conduct evacuation drills for vulnerable residents.

Charlene Chen raised questions about the assessment of accident risks for taxi, private hire car drivers, and delivery riders, specifically regarding exposure metrics like distance traveled. Jeffrey Siow clarified that accident risks are not assessed solely on distance but rather through a holistic approach, collaborating with platform providers to enhance safety. Training for taxi and private hire car drivers includes components on occupational health hazards, such as fatigue awareness and management, as part of their licensing. Additionally, platform companies are required to ensure adequate third-party liability insurance for drivers and riders using active mobility devices while working.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked for data on locations with three or more police callouts for recurring public nuisance, the average number of callouts before resolution, and the effectiveness of the current response approach. K Shanmugam stated that the Police do not track such data, emphasizing that their focus is on law-and-order concerns and that nuisance cases often require referral to other agencies. For non-arrestable offences, complainants may initiate mediation or file claims with the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals for resolution, and the Police will enforce compliance with any issued orders. The Police collaborate with stakeholders to address underlying causes of recurring disturbances.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong raised concerns about cyclist and e-bike user safety practices, asking if the Ministry of Home Affairs will enhance enforcement against violations like riding without helmets or lights. Sim Ann acknowledged the issue and stated that the Traffic Police and Land Transport Authority already enforce regulations at accident hotspots, ensuring that all road users abide by traffic rules. Tan expressed the need for fair legal accountability for motorists in accidents involving non-compliant cyclists and suggested using CCTVs to identify repeat offenders. Sim Ann assured that culpability in accidents is assessed holistically, considering all circumstances involved.

Elysa Chen questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about the number of vehicles in Singapore with defective Takata airbags that remain unrectified. Jeffrey Siow responded that as of February 2026, approximately 215,000 vehicles are affected by the Takata airbag recall. Over 90% of these affected vehicles have been fixed, while around 16,000 are still in the process of rectification.

He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Manpower for an update on the representation of non-unionised employees by non-legal NGOs at the Employment Claims Tribunal to balance their standing against employers. Tan See Leng responded that the tribunal process is simplified and accessible without legal representation. Non-unionised workers can also seek assistance from a Community Courts Tribunals Friend, which may include representatives from NGOs during proceedings.

Hazlina Abdul Halim asked about the existing programs for providing inmates with AI and digital skills training to enhance their employability post-release and suggested piloting structured AI literacy courses in prisons. K Shanmugam noted that Yellow Ribbon Singapore and Singapore Prison Service offer digital skills training aligned with job market needs, benefiting around 3,600 inmates since 2022. They are exploring collaborations for AI literacy training, including a trial program in 2026 aimed at elderly inmates on Generative AI tools. Additionally, "SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace 2.0" will begin in 2026 for community supervisees to develop essential digital and AI-related skills.

Fadli Fawzi asked about the deportation statistics for Employment Pass, S Pass, and Work Permit holders in 2025, including the number of appeals and their outcomes. K Shanmugam responded that around 2,500 foreign nationals were deported for criminal offenses or undesirable presence in Singapore. Seventeen appeals were made regarding deportations, but none were successful, and details on the appeal decisions were not disclosed.

Joan Pereira inquired about the number of motor vehicles affected by safety recalls over the last decade, the possibility of suspending unrectified vehicles from road use, and measures to improve cooperation with importers and dealers regarding faulty vehicles. Jeffrey Siow revealed that approximately 500,000 vehicles registered in Singapore were impacted by safety-related recalls from 2016 to 2025. Vehicle manufacturers and dealers are required to notify owners of affected vehicles, with enforcement actions for non-compliance. Most defects do not pose immediate danger, but serious safety risks warrant advisories against driving unrectified vehicles.

Dr. Choo Pei Ling raised concerns about the risks posed by advancements in generative AI, specifically regarding potential deepfake campaigns targeting Singapore. Mrs. Josephine Teo acknowledged the risk of generative AI being misused for spreading falsehoods and manipulating public opinion. The government has implemented safeguards like the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act and the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act to address these issues. Singapore is enhancing its detection capabilities for malicious AI-generated content and is promoting public education initiatives to foster citizen vigilance. These measures are ongoing as the nation prepares for the upcoming 2025 General Elections.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked if the Government has assessed the adequacy of existing laws to penalize serious road behavior resulting in death and if a specific vehicular homicide offense would be considered. K Shanmugam responded that current laws allow for murder and culpable homicide charges in traffic-related deaths, dependent on the offender's intent and state of mind. He noted that most cases are prosecuted under the Road Traffic Act due to a lack of intent to kill. The Ministry of Home Affairs is reviewing the possibility of new offenses related to dangerous driving, but offenders would not face the death penalty.

The number of Government Official Impersonation Scam (GOIS) cases reported in 2025 exceeded 3,000, marking a more than double increase and making it one of the top five most reported scam types that year. The average amount lost per GOIS case was reported to be over $72,000, the highest among scam types. Following the initial speech, a correction was issued stating that GOIS had the second highest average amount lost per case instead of the highest.