Public safety & law

• The Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mr S Iswaran, introduced the Fire Safety (Amendment) Bill to amend the Fire Safety Act and make related amendments to the Civil Defence Act.
• The bill was presented, read for the first time, and scheduled for a second reading on or after 1 April 2013, with instructions for it to be printed.

• The Minister assured that the hacking of the People's Association's websites is under police investigation, with no evidence of personal information leakage, and the affected sites were restored with enhanced security measures.
• The Government has existing cybersecurity protocols, including regular monitoring, audits, and a Cyber Watch Centre, and is working to fix vulnerabilities and prevent similar attacks across all agencies.
• Following the incident, the Government is reviewing and potentially enhancing cybersecurity guidelines and parameters for periodic reviews to prevent future attacks.
• The security of SingPass transactions was reaffirmed as robust, with ongoing monitoring and no indication of compromise from this incident.
• A lapse in software maintenance was identified as the cause, and agencies have been instructed to improve their maintenance regimes to ensure timely checks and audits.

• The Minister confirmed that training safety and health are already assessed in a commander’s annual performance appraisal and in the evaluation for the SAF Best Unit and Best NS Unit competitions, with units required to achieve a minimum 90% safety score to qualify.
• A strong safety culture is emphasized, with commanders held accountable for safety as a command responsibility and serious consequences for those who flout rules or allow unsafe practices.
• Despite existing measures, the Member raised concern about the persistence of severe training accidents, questioning whether the safety culture is being internalized sufficiently or if the metrics need stronger weighting.
• The Minister acknowledged ongoing concerns and noted that while SAF injury rates are comparatively low, the goal remains “nil” incidents, with continuous system reviews and safety culture enhancements in response to any incidents.

• Foreign despatch riders using foreign-registered vehicles must hold valid work passes under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act and comply with LTA insurance rules; violators face fines up to $20,000 and two years' imprisonment.
• The Ministry of Manpower has not recorded any recent cases of employers being prosecuted for hiring foreign despatch riders without work permits, and all workers are covered under the Work Injury Compensation Act.
• Employers are responsible for ensuring their foreign despatch riders have proper work passes and insurance, with LTA requiring compulsory insurance for foreign-registered vehicles used commercially.

• The Bill strengthens regulatory and enforcement measures for casinos, including higher financial penalties for operators and new offences for casino-related crimes like cheating and collusion.
• It introduces a casino visit limit regime to protect financially vulnerable locals, alongside enhancements to the existing exclusion system managed by the National Council on Problem Gambling.
• An independent Evaluation Panel will be appointed to assess the integrated resorts' contributions to tourism and the economy when casino licences are granted or renewed.

• Foo Mee Har inquired about vehicle inspection failure rates at different car ages, the impact of poor maintenance on breakdowns and accidents, and the possibility of reducing inspection frequency to save costs and time for car owners.
• The Minister for Transport responded that inspection failure rates over the last 10 years were 6.3% for three- and five-year-old cars, and 7.1% and 8.7% for seven- and nine-year-old cars respectively.
• The Ministry noted it lacks data linking breakdowns and accidents directly to poor maintenance but emphasized the importance of vehicle inspections for road safety, with regular reviews of inspection standards in line with international practices.

• The MAS updates the Investor Alert List (IAL) and works with media to publicize unlicensed entities, providing consumer tips and educational resources through MoneySENSE to help the public assess investment risks.
• Deputy Prime Minister Tharman emphasized that consumers must exercise caution, verify licensing status via the MAS website, and critically evaluate the realism of returns and potential recourse, noting ongoing investigations into certain gold buy-back schemes like Genneva Pte Ltd.
• Members of Parliament suggested expanding outreach to non-English speaking and elderly populations, including collaborations with organizations like the Consumers' Association and using bank channels such as ATMs, which MAS is considering.
• MAS is exploring tighter advertising rules with other agencies to prevent misleading claims on investment schemes, reinforcing the message that if returns seem too good to be true, they likely are.

• Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene asked about the estimated number of at-risk youths, the national plan and strategy, and whether it avoids excessive focus on delinquency and crime.
• Mr Chan Chun Sing responded that there is no single definitive figure, but indicators like school dropout and juvenile delinquency rates are monitored, and the National Committee on Youth Guidance and Rehabilitation leads a coordinated approach focusing on prevention and early intervention.
• Asst Prof Tan raised concerns about the mobility of at-risk youths and the potential negative impact of policing, and Mr Chan explained outreach efforts through activities like sports and community programs, emphasizing upstream measures and a decline in youth crime arrests.
• Alex Yam asked for updates on pilot programs like Youth Goal and Streetwise, and statistics on children referred to children care courts, to which Mr Chan replied he would provide the statistics if needed.

• Zaqy Mohamad inquired about the US Intelligence Committee's report on Chinese telecom firms, the risk to Singapore's infrastructure, and any feedback from multinational corporations on security concerns.
• Teo Chee Hean acknowledged the US report and affirmed Singapore's serious approach to cybersecurity, emphasizing robust measures without discriminating by brand or country of origin.
• The government evaluates and monitors infocomm infrastructure for security compliance, implements safeguards, and works with IDA to strengthen internet security through mandatory codes and audits.
• MHA and IDA are collaborating on additional risk mitigation measures to protect infrastructure from foreign threats, with penalties for non-compliance by service providers.
• Singapore will continue to enhance its security regime, adapting to new technologies and risks to ensure national security and economic interests.

• The bill amends criminal procedure to ensure that appeals against conviction and sentence are filed and heard together, with the appeal period starting only after the sentence is passed.
• It introduces a new requirement for the Court of Appeal to confirm all death sentences, including in cases where no appeal is filed, adding an automatic safeguard in capital punishment.
• Clarifications were raised about the trial judge’s report on death sentences and the discretion for the Court of Appeal to hear parties during confirmation, with the Minister confirming no substantive change to the judge’s role and emphasizing the court’s flexibility.
• Supporting members acknowledged the additional safeguard and respect for life, while some questioned procedural details and the President’s role, which remains advisory under the Constitution.

• The Penal Code (Amendment) Bill introduces judicial discretion for sentencing non-intentional murder, allowing life imprisonment with caning as alternatives to the mandatory death penalty, while retaining the mandatory death sentence for intentional killing under section 300(a).
• Ministers and Members of Parliament support the amendment as a balanced move to enhance sentencing fairness, acknowledging that mandatory sentences are exceptions and should be reviewed where practical without compromising public safety.
• The reform includes transitional provisions for re-sentencing existing cases, appeals processes, and public education to ensure understanding, while calls for further law reform on homicide provisions and other mandatory sentences were noted for future review.

• Two separate training deaths occurred involving PTE Lee and 3SG Tan, with Committees of Inquiry finding clear breaches of safety regulations in both cases.
• In PTE Lee’s case, excessive smoke grenade use led to fatal inhalation; in 3SG Tan’s, an unlicensed driver and lack of safety gear caused a fatal jeep overturn.
• MINDEF announced immediate actions, including suspending zinc chloride smoke grenades in training, tightening vehicle controls, and deploying more safety officers.
• Systemic changes were introduced, including an Army Safety Review Board and an SAF Inspectorate to strengthen safety culture and oversight across the military.
• The SAF emphasized transparency and accountability, with legal proceedings pending for those found negligent and a commitment to preventing future incidents.

• The bill maintains Singapore's strict anti-drug stance, keeping the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking while introducing limited exceptions for couriers who provide substantive assistance to authorities or have diminished responsibility due to mental abnormalities.
• Ministers emphasized that the mandatory death penalty is a key deterrent, citing historical success in reducing kidnapping and firearms offenses, and warned that weakening it could increase drug trafficking and endanger society, as illustrated by case studies of victims like "Nonoi" and "Ricky."
• Debaters discussed the balance between mercy for offenders and protection for society, with concerns raised about whether amendments might send a softening signal, but the government clarified that the changes aim to enhance enforcement while maintaining a tough overall regime.
• Some members proposed alternative sentencing approaches, such as presumptive death sentences with judicial discretion, but the government argued that broad discretion could undermine deterrence and that the current framework is the most effective based on extensive consultation.
• The bill includes new offenses and increased penalties for targeting youths and vulnerable persons, with a focus on comprehensive drug control through education, enforcement, and rehabilitation, urging societal partnership to reinforce anti-drug messages.

The government reaffirms a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, emphasizing a comprehensive approach that includes stricter penalties for repeat traffickers, new offenses for planning drug gatherings, and enhanced rehabilitation and supervision regimes, particularly for young abusers.
The debate highlights the mandatory death penalty as a key deterrent against drug trafficking, with the government arguing that judicial discretion could undermine its effectiveness due to the organized and exploitative nature of drug syndicates.
Substantive assistance by couriers can spare them the death penalty, with the Public Prosecutor assessing cooperation to balance fairness and operational effectiveness while protecting intelligence and law enforcement methods.
The government commits to strengthening preventive education, community involvement, and support for ex-abusers, while addressing concerns about the disproportionate impact on the Malay community through national, rather than community-specific, initiatives.
Members of Parliament express varied views on judicial discretion, the death penalty, and the definition of substantive assistance, but overall support the tough stance against drugs while seeking clarity on implementation and safeguards.

• Ms Sylvia Lim asked about housebreakings and thefts by foreigners in 2012, including their entry permits and whether authorities had strategies to address this, with the Senior Minister of State responding that 18% of those arrested in the first nine months were non-citizens, mostly on Social Visit Passes or Work Permits, and that a holistic approach to crime prevention is taken.
• The Senior Minister of State stated that police data up to September 2012 showed a 15% decrease in housebreaking cases compared to the same period in 2011, with a 91.6% case resolution rate, and emphasized sensitive operational measures but declined to specify details on Latin American groups without a formal parliamentary question.
• Ms Lim highlighted media reports on foreign burglary syndicates, including Latin American and Hong Kong groups, and questioned if Singapore was a target destination, while the Senior Minister of State noted no surge in foreign syndicates, attributed success to strong deterrence, and urged residents to take proactive security measures.

• Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for Law about a legal framework for neighbour disputes and how it can work with community mediation to encourage mutual understanding.
• The Minister for Law highlighted that traditional legal processes are often adversarial and costly, and suggested enhancing community mediation, establishing conduct norms, and calibrating sanctions, while stressing that legislation has limits.
• Liang Eng Hwa suggested local regulation and penalties for persistent nuisance neighbours, citing Hong Kong's demerit point system, and asked if similar measures could be considered for Singapore.
• The Minister confirmed that options like a demerit point system are being studied conceptually but no decisions have been made, noting the need for workable solutions before implementation.
• Foo Mee Har asked about a time frame for the framework, but the Minister stated he was not responsible for the relevant ministries and suggested directing the question to the appropriate minister.

• Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene inquired about the timeline for introducing legislation to formalize plea bargaining in Singapore’s legal system.
• Minister K Shanmugam stated that the Ministry of Law and the Attorney-General’s Chambers are discussing whether and how to introduce a plea bargaining system, but no firm conclusions have been reached.

• Ellen Lee questioned whether red light cameras would be installed at all traffic junctions due to the rising number of motorists beating red lights.
• Teo Chee Hean explained that the Traffic Police uses a targeted approach, deploying cameras at problematic junctions based on accident data and feedback, while using mobile enforcement elsewhere.
• The Traffic Police reviews camera deployment periodically and plans to upgrade to digital technology for more effective enforcement.
• The minister emphasized the need for both enforcement and education to promote road safety.

• The Minister outlined current measures including Enhanced School Zones with red textured surfaces and signs, traffic impact studies for new schools, regular road safety talks for students, and staff deployment at school grounds and external areas during arrival and dismissal times.
• Following recent accidents, schools conducted fresh risk assessments, leading to specific enhancements such as raising a zebra crossing and installing railings at Dunman Secondary School in collaboration with LTA.
• MOE and schools will continue working with LTA and Traffic Police to review the adequacy of road safety measures around schools, emphasizing shared responsibility among motorists, teachers, parents, and students.

• Since 2011, taxi operators received 84 complaints of physical and verbal abuse against taxi drivers, with six criminal charges filed, while public bus operators reported 67 cases of physical abuse against bus drivers, resulting in 41 criminal charges.
• Operators and authorities treat abuse seriously, providing training for drivers to handle difficult passengers and ensuring emergency assistance mechanisms are in place.
• Taxi drivers can activate a distress button or use walkie-talkies to alert their call centre, which may contact the police if needed, and bus drivers can use an emergency button to alert the Bus Operation Control Centre for police assistance and on-site support.