Public safety & law — Topics

4 Nov 2025

Review of Definitions for Public Order Act on Gatherings Outside Istana

Mr. Yip Hon Weng proposed a review of the Public Order Act to specifically define unauthorized gatherings of more than five people outside the Istana as a chargeable offence.
Minister K Shanmugam clarified that organizing or participating in a public assembly in prohibited areas, including the Istana, is already an offence under the Public Order Act 2009.
The law applies to all gatherings in prohibited areas, regardless of the number of participants involved.

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4 Nov 2025

Follow-up Actions to Rectify Restrictions for Persons Acquitted as Scam Mules

Dennis Tan Lip Fong raised concerns about the ongoing restrictions on bank accounts for individuals acquitted of being scam mules and sought clarification on the government's actions to lift these restrictions.
He inquired about the immediate steps that would be taken to remove such restrictions and whether there are provisions for recourse if these restrictions negatively impact livelihoods.
K Shanmugam referred to a previous response regarding the issue, indicating that further details could be found in an official report from October 2025.

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4 Nov 2025

Data on Firearm Violations at Police and Auxiliary Police Units for Past 24 Months and Subsequent Enforcement Actions

Joan Pereira inquired about firearm handling violations at police and auxiliary police units over the past 24 months, including the number of incidents and enforcement measures in place.
K Shanmugam reported one case of firearm misuse by a police officer and three by auxiliary police officers, with ongoing investigations and charges filed against the auxiliary officers.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has implemented strict measures for firearm management, including security vetting, annual training, and secure storage in armouries.
There are systems in place to verify officer identity and authorization for firearm use, along with periodic checks and audits to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures.

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4 Nov 2025

Punitive Actions against Individuals Involved in Sale of Bank Accounts for Scam Purposes

A Sri Lankan student was sentenced to three months and two weeks in prison for selling her bank account to scammers, receiving nearly $18,000 in scam proceeds.
The student claimed financial difficulties and was introduced to scammers by online acquaintances, but the police could not identify these individuals.
The Minister for Home Affairs stated that tough enforcement actions will be taken against anyone facilitating scams, including middlemen, who could face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $500,000.

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4 Nov 2025

Investigations into Child Trafficking and Illegal Adoptions in Last Five Years Resulting in Prosecutions and Convictions

The Singapore Police Force investigated 59 alleged sex trafficking cases involving children over the past five years, with 34 cases leading to prosecution.
Out of the prosecuted cases, 27 resulted in convictions, while 7 are still pending in court.
There were no reported cases of child labour trafficking or trafficked children under the Adoption of Children Act 2022 during this period.
Some cases concluded with stern warnings or fines, while others are still under investigation or resulted in no further action.

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4 Nov 2025

Effectiveness of Covert versus Overt Cameras in Preventing Speeding Offences

Dennis Tan Lip Fong inquired about research on the effectiveness of covert versus overt cameras in reducing speeding offences in Singapore.
K Shanmugam responded that overt and covert cameras have distinct roles, with overt cameras providing specific deterrence and covert cameras promoting general deterrence.
The Minister indicated that the two types of cameras are not interchangeable, suggesting that comparative research may not yield useful insights.

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4 Nov 2025

Data on Scam Mule Investigations from January to June 2025 and Interim Support Measures for Unknowing Victims

Mr. Cai Yinzhou inquired about the number of individuals investigated for scam mule offences from January to June 2025 who unknowingly transferred funds or lost control of their accounts.
He also asked about interim support measures for those restricted from banking services to ensure access to salaries or government benefits.
Minister K. Shanmugam referred to a previous response regarding the recruitment of money mules by criminal syndicates, indicating that detailed information was provided in an earlier report.

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4 Nov 2025

Notifying Families of Death Row Prisoners on Executions and Permitting of Final Visits or Calls

Fadli Fawzi raised questions regarding the execution of Datchinamurthy Kataiah, including the delay, family notification, and procedures for final visits or calls.
K Shanmugam confirmed that Datchinamurthy's execution was scheduled for 25 September 2025, with his family notified in advance and allowed daily visits.
On 24 September 2025, clemency petitions were submitted, and the family was informed of this development.
The President rejected the clemency petitions on 25 September 2025, and the execution was carried out later that day as per legal requirements.

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4 Nov 2025

Ambulance Accessibility Issues at Private Condominiums and Emergency Response Mitigation Measures

Ms. Valerie Lee raised concerns about the accessibility of SCDF ambulances to private condominiums, particularly regarding height restrictions in carparks.
K Shanmugam responded that SCDF ambulances need a minimum clearance height of 3.0 metres, while many private carparks only provide 2.2 metres.
In cases of restricted access, ambulance crews coordinate with condominium management to find alternative routes to reach patients.
The SCDF and Building and Construction Authority issued a joint advisory in March 2024 to improve ambulance access, recommending a minimum clearance height of 3.0 metres for new buildings.

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4 Nov 2025

Easement of Anti-Scam Measures by Banks in "Whitelist" and/or Considerable Safe Situations

Sylvia Lim raised concerns about the need for banks to ease anti-scam measures in specific "whitelist" situations to reduce transaction friction for account holders.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has implemented safeguards to protect consumers from scams, including delaying transfers from accounts with large balances being rapidly drained.
Certain transactions, such as recurring payments and bill payments to government agencies, are exempt from these delays to facilitate legitimate transactions.
MAS and banks are monitoring the effectiveness of these measures and are open to adjustments to balance consumer protection with transaction efficiency.
Consumers are encouraged to plan ahead for large transfers, acknowledging that some inconvenience is necessary to combat scams.

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4 Nov 2025

Safeguards to Ensure Singapore Family Offices are Not Misused to Facilitate Money Laundering

Sylvia Lim raised concerns about the potential misuse of family offices in Singapore for money laundering and inquired about government measures to address this issue.
The Prime Minister's representative, Gan Kim Yong, indicated that the question would be addressed in a future parliamentary sitting on 5 November 2025, along with related inquiries.

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4 Nov 2025

Protocols for Triaging and Referral of Scam Victims with Signs of Acute Psychological Distress

Elysa Chen inquired about the existence of protocols for triaging and referring scam victims experiencing acute psychological distress.
K Shanmugam confirmed that scam victims can be referred to the Victim Care Cadre Programme for psychological support.
Trained Victim Care Officers provide psychological first aid and can connect victims to additional community and professional resources for ongoing support.

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4 Nov 2025

Singapore's Money Laundering Investigations into Cambodia-based Network Designated as Transnational Criminal Organisation

Mr. Chua Kheng Wee Louis inquired about the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) investigations into a Cambodia-based network designated as a transnational criminal organization by the US.
He specifically asked if MAS had investigated related entities and individuals affiliated with the network prior to their designation by the US Department of the Treasury.
Gan Kim Yong, speaking for the Prime Minister, stated that the question would be addressed in a future parliamentary session on 5 November 2025.

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4 Nov 2025

Data on Singaporean Victims Baited by Scam Syndicates to Work Overseas

Mr. Fadli Fawzi inquired about the number of Singaporean victims baited by scam syndicates to work overseas and the government's assistance to those affected.
The government reported nine cases since 2022 where Singaporeans were offered consular assistance related to overseas scams.
Only three individuals accepted the government's help, which included facilitating their return to Singapore.
There was insufficient evidence in these cases to determine that the individuals had been held captive or exploited by scam syndicates.

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4 Nov 2025

Standards to Deter Child Trafficking in Cross-border Adoptions in ASEAN

The debate focused on the need for common regional standards among ASEAN countries to combat child trafficking in intercountry adoptions.
Child trafficking is defined as the recruitment and transfer of children for exploitation, including illegal adoptions and other forms of abuse.
ASEAN has established frameworks, such as the Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence Against Children and the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, to address child trafficking through prevention, prosecution, protection, and partnership.
Singapore's adoption laws include safeguards like verifying identity papers and ensuring valid consent from birth parents to prevent child trafficking.
The collaboration between Singapore and ASEAN partners is emphasized as effective in addressing child trafficking issues.

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4 Nov 2025

Mental Health Assessments for Police, Police NSFs and Auxiliary Police Officers Handling Firearms

Questions were raised regarding the mental health assessments for police national servicemen (NSFs) and auxiliary police officers (APOs) authorized to carry firearms, including the frequency of assessments and the role of peer or supervisor reports in disarmament decisions.
The Minister for Home Affairs confirmed that psychological assessments are conducted during recruitment and enlistment, and ongoing evaluations are made to ensure officers' suitability to carry firearms.
The Singapore Police Force emphasizes mental well-being through a Psychological Fitness Training Framework, providing resilience training, workshops, and support systems for officers facing psychological distress.
Officers have access to a variety of psychological support services, including in-house services, peer support programs, a 24/7 helpline, and external counseling, with annual campaigns to raise mental health awareness.
Auxiliary Police Forces also offer mental health support through briefings, training, employee assistance programs, and access to professional counseling services.

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4 Nov 2025

Groups Exempted from Caning for Vaping-related Trafficking Offences

The debate focused on the introduction of caning for vaping-related trafficking offences and potential exemptions for certain demographic groups.
Yip Hon Weng raised concerns about whether juveniles, women, and the elderly would be exempt from caning and the risk of criminal syndicates exploiting these groups.
K Shanmugam clarified that caning applies to trafficking of controlled drugs, but not to e-vaporisers without controlled substances, and outlined existing exemptions under the Criminal Procedure Code.
He noted that while certain groups are exempt from caning, courts can impose additional imprisonment terms to maintain deterrence.
The discussion highlighted the challenges of preventing criminal exploitation of vulnerable groups in trafficking activities.

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4 Nov 2025

Findings from Crane Incident at HDB Worksite in Sin Ming on 10 October 2025

The debate focused on a crane incident at an HDB worksite in Sin Ming on 10 October 2025, where a worker was injured by a falling crane boom during dismantling operations.
Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng stated that investigations are ongoing, and the Ministry cannot yet disclose the root cause of the incident.
Current regulations require that dismantling of mobile cranes be conducted by approved contractors and under proper supervision, with guidance available through safety codes of practice.
The Ministry of Manpower plans to review existing safety requirements based on the investigation's findings to enhance worker protection in similar operations.

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4 Nov 2025

Tracking Knife Crimes Involving Offenders with Mental Health Issues

Dennis Tan Lip Fong raised concerns about tracking knife crimes involving offenders with mental health issues to improve prevention and intervention strategies.
The Ministry of Home Affairs does not currently track data on knife crimes related to mental health issues but emphasizes the seriousness of all knife crimes.
Legal measures are in place to regulate the sale of certain knives and impose severe penalties for carrying offensive weapons without lawful authority.
The Police are trained to handle knife crime incidents and may refer offenders with mental health issues to medical practitioners or community outreach teams for treatment.

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4 Nov 2025

Safeguarding Sensitive Information when Sharing Classified Threat Intelligence with Critical Sector Organisations

The debate focused on the government's approach to sharing classified threat intelligence with critical sector organizations and the measures in place to safeguard sensitive information.
The Minister for Digital Development and Information highlighted the increasing global threat of cyber attacks and the importance of protecting Singapore's critical information infrastructure (CII).
The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) is responsible for setting higher cybersecurity standards for CII owners and will provide tools and capabilities to help them address advanced cyber threats.
CII owners must comply with the Official Secrets Act and are ultimately accountable for their cybersecurity outcomes, while the government will support them in their defense efforts.
The government is also investing in building a strong cybersecurity workforce, with a significant increase in the number of professionals in the field over the past eight years.

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