Public safety & law

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked about the effectiveness of the Dadah Itu Haram (DIH) campaign targeting Malay/Muslim youth, specifically regarding perception studies and metrics for assessing the campaign's impact. K Shanmugam explained that the DIH campaign has been active since 2017, collaborating with community leaders and mosques to raise awareness of drug harms. A 2020 survey indicated a 75% awareness rate among the Malay community, with 71% holding a positive view of the campaign. The campaign has evolved to promote mutual care and a drug-free lifestyle, and regular surveys by the Ministry of Home Affairs indicate a growing conservative attitude towards drug abuse among youths.

Diana Pang Li Yen asked the Minister for Law about the number of legally aided persons ordered to pay costs by courts in the past five years and the measures in place to prevent unmeritorious cases from receiving aid. Edwin Tong reported that four legally aided persons were ordered to pay costs from 2021 to 2025, amid approximately 5,500 civil cases that received aid. He emphasized the rigorous legal merits test conducted before granting aid, assessing the likelihood of success in court and the necessity for representation. Aid can be canceled if case viability changes or if the applicant's approach to proceedings becomes unreasonable.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned the Government's collaboration with technology vendors to address zero-day vulnerabilities in light of the UNC3886 cyberattacks. Josephine Teo acknowledged that zero-day vulnerabilities cannot be fully eliminated but stated that measures are in place to detect and prevent significant damage to key systems. The Cyber Security Agency and GovTech work with vendors to confirm incidents and expedite remediation when credible information is received. Critical system owners are required to perform regular security testing and threat hunting to enhance detection and remediation efforts. A layered defense approach is emphasized, involving perimeter controls and internal threat detection to mitigate risks effectively.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat questioned the criteria used by the Police for investigating reports of Voluntarily Causing Hurt (VCH) versus referring victims to a Magistrate's Complaint, including considerations for repeat assaults. K Shanmugam responded that investigations are initiated when public safety is at risk, victims are vulnerable, or there are aggravating circumstances, including repeat offenses. In the past three years, approximately 14,000 VCH cases were reported annually, with about 30% investigated, but the Police do not distinguish between police-initiated investigations and those directed by a Magistrate.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis requested data on dangerous and careless driving offences over the past five years and asked about measures to address these issues. K Shanmugam reported an annual average of about 190 dangerous driving and close to 18,000 careless driving offences recorded by the Traffic Police from 2021 to 2025. The Government employs a four-pronged approach to improve road safety, including enforcement, penalties, public education, and infrastructure enhancements, such as activating speed enforcement in red-light cameras and deploying Traffic Violation Enforcement Cameras in accident-prone areas. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also increased fines and demerit points for speeding violations, with further measures under consideration.

Jessica Tan Soon Neo raised concerns about fire safety and evacuation risks associated with the temporary relaxation of the occupancy cap for private residences, questioning the safeguards in place due to increased occupancy. Dr. Syed Harun Alhabsyi assured that fire safety standards remain adequate with the higher occupancy cap and outlined that larger properties must register with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to qualify for increased occupancy. He emphasized the role of Management Corporations Strata Title (MCSTs) in monitoring liveability and safety standards within residential estates, alongside public education efforts by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to raise awareness and preparedness among residents.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked if the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) collects data on the mental health history of arrested drug abusers and the proportion of first-time abusers with prior mental health diagnoses since 2021. K Shanmugam responded that the CNB does not collect such data. The Singapore Prison Service assesses inmates' physical and mental health upon admission, using the National Electronic Health Record System and a screening questionnaire. As of December 2024, approximately 10% of the total inmate population had been diagnosed with a mental health condition.

Diana Pang Li Yen asked about the number of directions issued under the Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act and the Online Criminal Harms Act over the last three years to remove content promoting radical or extremist acts, and if these measures are being reviewed due to trends in youth self-radicalization. K Shanmugam responded that no directions have been issued under these acts to remove such content, as online platforms often remove it themselves based on their community guidelines. He mentioned that while legal measures are currently unnecessary, they are ready to act if required.

Cai Yinzhou asked about enforcement actions regarding the disposal of lit cigarette butts in refuse chutes from 2020 to 2025, the use of surveillance and thermal imaging for identifying offenders, and measures for applying the statutory presumption for littering. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the National Environment Agency does not monitor refuse chutes for such cases and has not taken any enforcement actions against individuals for this issue. She clarified that the statutory presumption for littering applies only to high-rise littering into public spaces, not to refuse chutes, and urged smokers to responsibly extinguish cigarette butts before disposal.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik raised concerns about enforcement measures to prevent reckless cycling and requested statistics on penalties for dangerous riding without accidents, along with potential surveillance improvements in high-risk areas. Jeffrey Siow responded that cyclists must adhere to speed limits of 10 km/h on footpaths and 25 km/h on shared paths, noting over 650 cyclists were penalized for disorderly riding from 2023 to 2025. Enforcement actions include joint operations by the LTA and Singapore Police Force, targeted operations in hotspots, deployment of deterrent technologies, and community patrols to raise awareness of safe riding practices.

Tin Pei Ling questioned if the conversion requirements for foreign driving licenses would be reviewed and potentially tightened. K Shanmugam responded that the Traffic Police will monitor road traffic trends concerning these conversions and will review the requirements as needed.

Yip Hon Weng questioned the Minister for Defence about the number of security threats against national security sites in the past year, the resources spent on investigations, the number of hoaxes, and their primary motives. Chan Chun Sing affirmed the Singapore Armed Forces' commitment to security with multi-layered processes for deterrence, detection, and response to threats, including patrols and surveillance systems. He emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to potential threats and detailed response measures for credible risks, such as evacuations and bomb sweeps. The SAF collaborated with the Singapore Police Force during a recent bomb hoax incident at Paya Lebar Air Base, which is under ongoing investigation.

Christopher de Souza raised concerns about the need for strengthened safety and handover protocols for self-driving shuttle buses, as well as about tightening liability and insurance regimes. Jeffrey Siow explained that Autonomous Vehicle (AV) operators must submit detailed safety and operational plans, which are evaluated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and NTU's CETRAN before deployment. AV trials are conducted under a regulatory framework, including the Road Traffic Act and specific rules for autonomous vehicles, with operators required to maintain liability insurance. The Government is collaborating with stakeholders to review and potentially reform liability and insurance systems for AVs.

Christopher de Souza asked about government measures to support residents facing disturbances from uncooperative neighbors, citing concerns over the cost of existing legal remedies. Edwin Tong outlined enhancements in the Community Disputes Management Framework (CDMF) introduced by the upcoming Community Disputes Resolution (Amendment) Act 2024. The Act allows for mediation directions to compel neighbors to mediate and establishes a Community Relations Unit (CRU) with powers to intervene in disputes. Residents can file a claim at the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals with low fees, and in severe cases, HDB may consider compulsory acquisition of offending flats. Residents feeling threatened should contact the Police for immediate intervention.

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Law about various metrics concerning the Community Justice and Tribunals System, including unique SingPass logins, successful claim submissions, application abandonment rates, and median submission times. Edwin Tong Chun Fai reported that approximately 394 claims were filed via SingPass or CJTSPass between 2023 and 2024. He added that the Community Justice and Tribunals System does not track the other requested metrics.

Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked about the 2,136 spousal abuse cases in 2024, specifically regarding counter-reports, assessment protocols for identifying the primary aggressor, and safeguards against coercive control tactics. Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that detailed data on counter-reports is not available due to varying agency recording practices. Protection Specialist Centres and Family Service Centres utilize frameworks to assess domestic violence dynamics through structured interviews and case history reviews, aiming for objective assessments. The public is encouraged to seek help through the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline or online reporting.

Joan Pereira asked about the potential for increased penalties for fake security threats, accountability of social media platforms under the Broadcasting Act, and government outreach on proper reporting channels. K Shanmugam stated that making false security threats can lead to a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment and a $50,000 fine, which he deems adequate. The Online Criminal Harms Act allows the government to prevent online activities related to such offences. The Ministry of Home Affairs is actively engaging the public through the SGSecure Movement to educate them on reporting suspicious activities and adapts communication strategies regularly.

Low Wu Yang Andre asked about the number of business entities facing repeated police reports over sales practices classified as civil disputes in the past five years and whether the Police monitor such reports for signs of criminal conduct. K Shanmugam responded that the Police do not track civil cases and make assessments based on facts, consulting the Attorney-General's Chambers when determining potential criminality for prosecution.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked about the number of appeals received by the Traffic Police regarding fines for illegal U-turns influenced by GPS navigation apps and whether the Police collaborates with these companies to address the issues. K Shanmugam responded that the Traffic Police does not track such appeals and emphasizes that motorists must follow road signs, not just GPS prompts. He acknowledged the suggestion to notify navigation companies about erroneous GPS prompts and expressed a willingness to explore this further.

Cai Yinzhou asked about the incidence of crimes or traffic violations involving deregistered vehicles in 2025, their sources, and inter-agency coordination to prevent their illegal use. Jeffrey Siow stated that vehicle owners must scrap or export deregistered vehicles within one month and that failure to do so is punishable by fines or imprisonment, with recent amendments increasing penalties for such offenses. In 2025, over 80 cases involving deregistered vehicles were reported. The Land Transport Authority collaborates with other agencies to share intelligence and conduct joint operations to address this issue.