Public safety & law

Ng Chee Meng raised concerns about two fatal fall-from-height incidents during the Jurong Region Line construction, asking about identified safety lapses and future measures for fall prevention. Tan See Leng responded that investigations are ongoing and specific details about the incidents are not yet available. Work-at-height activities must adhere to the Workplace Safety and Health Regulations, which include safety provisions such as guardrails and a fall prevention plan. The Ministry of Manpower will learn from these incidents to enhance safety measures as necessary.

Xie Yao Quan asked about the status of individuals injured in the bus accident on Jurong West Avenue 1 on 14 December 2025, including their discharge and financial support. Jeffrey Siow confirmed that all injured individuals have been discharged from the hospital. The bus operators are assisting with medical claims for the injured passengers. Ongoing investigations are being conducted, and the Land Transport Authority will provide updates as they progress.

Yeo Wan Ling asked about the applicability of film classification and censorship to short-form reel-style content on social media. Josephine Teo explained that Singapore's film classification framework does not cover such videos, but the Government has implemented online safety measures to protect users. The Infocomm Media Development Authority can direct social media platforms to remove egregious content, and designated services must mitigate exposure to harmful material, particularly for children. Additionally, public education initiatives, such as the Positive Use Guide on Technology and Social Media, aim to help Singaporeans navigate digital risks.

Jackson Lam questioned the Minister for Home Affairs on the speed of flagging suspected mule activities, coordination among agencies, and the status of real-time alerts and automated freezes. K Shanmugam responded that the Anti-Scam Centre coordinates with banks and telecommunications companies to quickly trace and freeze accounts involved in scams, typically within a day. Proactive measures are in place, using fraud analytics to detect mule activities and prevent the misuse of phone lines and bank accounts. About 1,200 individuals and 50 corporate entities have faced restrictions, with effectiveness still being evaluated, and restrictions lasting from one to three years based on the offender's history.

Deputy Leader of the House Mr. Zaqy Mohamad called for the Parliament to adjourn, leading to Non-Constituency Member Low Wu Yang Andre addressing fire safety in homes, citing international fire tragedies as reminders of the ongoing risks. He highlighted a rise in fire fatalities in Singapore, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and proposing improvements in housing safety, including revising exit door regulations, upgrading security measures to enhance egress during emergencies, and addressing fire risks associated with lithium-ion battery-powered devices. Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming responded, affirming the importance of fire safety, discussing the government's measures to enforce compliance for active mobility devices, and recognizing the need for public education on fire prevention and safety.

• The Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, Mr. K Shanmugam, clarified a previous written answer regarding the SGSecure movement.
• The clarification corrected the percentage of respondents who felt alert to suspicious behavior from 77% to 74% based on the SGSecure Public Perception Survey of 2024.
• The clarification was in response to a Parliamentary Question from Mr. Saktiandi Supaat.

• The debate focused on whether Singapore's review of the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act will include lessons from the recent fire incident at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong.
• The Senior Minister of State for National Development confirmed that the Singapore government is reviewing early observations from the Hong Kong fire and will incorporate relevant findings into the legislative framework.
• Concerns were raised about potential corruption in management councils overseeing large-scale repairs, prompting a discussion on strengthening oversight in this area.
• The Minister indicated that the review will consider the powers of the Management Corporation Strata Title and promised to provide more information in the future.

• In 2025, Singapore experienced a slight increase in residential building fires, with 1,051 incidents compared to 968 in 2024, although the overall percentage of fires relative to housing stock has decreased.
• The government is reviewing fire safety regulations in light of recent high-rise fires, such as the one in Hong Kong, to enhance compliance and inspection measures for residential buildings.
• Public education and preparedness are emphasized as critical components of fire safety, with initiatives like Community Resilience Days and training programs to educate residents on fire prevention and emergency response.
• The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is committed to improving firefighting capabilities in high-rise buildings, including the use of fire lifts and regular reviews of fire safety codes.
• Community engagement efforts, such as the Fire Safety Kakis initiative, aim to support vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, in understanding evacuation procedures and ensuring their safety during emergencies.

Cai Yinzhou raised concerns regarding the criteria for distinguishing between excessive discipline and severe abuse in cases necessitating child removal from the family, including the role of educators in requesting health assessments. He also inquired about how the Singapore Police Force locates uncontactable parents or caregivers in suspected abuse cases and the inter-agency protocols in place for urgent searches. Foo Cexiang asked the Minister about the differences in police investigative actions in two specific child protection cases that resulted in different outcomes. The Minister mentioned that details had been previously addressed in an oral reply related to the review of the Megan Khung case, highlighting lessons learned and new processes for police case resolution.

Gerald Giam Yean Song questioned the average time for the Traffic Police to issue summonses after speeding offences, as well as operational constraints causing delays and the potential for system reviews. K Shanmugam stated that it typically takes about two weeks to issue a notice to the registered vehicle owner after verifying the offence, but a backlog has emerged due to an increase in violations and a ransomware attack on a vendor. This backlog may extend the process to about a month before the notice is received by the owner, and the Traffic Police are working to resolve these issues.

Cai Yinzhou requested information on legal and institutional protections for frontline professionals, such as teachers and police officers, to safeguard them from liability and public condemnation when making challenging decisions regarding child safety. Low Wu Yang Andre inquired about steps to review past child protection cases and measures to establish a "safe reporting culture" for social service professionals, following a review of a fatal child incident. Masagos Zulkifli indicated that these questions had been addressed in a prior response during a Parliamentary session on 5 November 2025.

Ng Shi Xuan asked if the Ministry for Social and Family Development would consider using AI technologies for reviewing CCTV footage in preschools and mandating tamper-proof recording systems. Masagos Zulkifli explained that all preschools are required to install CCTV cameras and comply with regulatory guidelines, but there is no specific mandate for tamper-proof systems. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is exploring AI solutions for detecting safety hazards and potential misconduct and will use AI to enhance investigations. Regular reviews of CCTV footage are not mandated to avoid overburdening educators, emphasizing that CCTV is one of multiple measures for child safety in preschools.

Low Wu Yang Andre questioned the Minister for Home Affairs concerning failures by SPF officers to adhere to established processes in the investigation of Megan Khung's fatal child abuse incident. K Shanmugam acknowledged the tragedy and detailed that lapses occurred due to a failure to escalate the case for proper review and monitoring, leading to complications in the investigation. The Police conducted internal reviews and disciplined those involved, reinforcing procedures and training to prevent future occurrences. Enhancements include the introduction of specialized training for handling family violence cases and the formation of dedicated Family Violence Teams to provide focused support. The Minister emphasized the ongoing need for supervision, review processes, and the use of technology to improve officers' efficiency and adherence to protocols.

Lee Hui Ying questioned the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment about NEA's enforcement actions against repeated high-rise littering and responses to uncooperative suspects. Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that NEA first advises residents when littering feedback is received, and if it persists, they may deploy surveillance cameras to identify offenders. A statutory presumption introduced in July 2023 places responsibility on flat owners to prevent littering and facilitates enforcement despite uncooperative behaviour. Penalties for high-rise littering include fines up to $2,000 for first-time offenders, escalating to $10,000 for repeat offenders, with possible Corrective Work Orders for public cleaning. NEA also considers individual circumstances like mental health issues and collaborates with community stakeholders to provide support and preventive measures.

He Ting Ru asked the Minister for National Development about the effectiveness of penalties under the Animals and Birds Act 1965 in deterring animal abuse and the consideration of research linking animal abuse to psychological disorders. Chee Hong Tat indicated that this topic was previously addressed in replies to questions from other parliament members regarding the review of the penalty framework for animal cruelty and measures to manage high-risk individuals exhibiting violence towards animals.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis questioned the Minister about the benchmarks for road traffic fatality rates and measures to reduce motorcycle accidents, which have increased despite a decline in speeding-related incidents. The Minister of State for Home Affairs highlighted that the government aims for zero tolerance towards accidents while acknowledging their inevitability in society. The Traffic Police updated motorcycle helmet standards, effective November 2025, and mandated Anti-Lock Braking Systems for newly registered motorcycles by April 2027 to enhance safety. Public education campaigns have also been launched to promote safe riding habits among motorcyclists amidst rising accident statistics.