Public safety & law

• Gerald Giam raised concerns about the regulations governing rail operators when they deviate from maintenance schedules recommended by train manufacturers.
• He questioned whether the Ministry of Transport would review SMRT's waiver approval system following a report indicating that waivers may be granted without proper justification.
• Jeffrey Siow referenced a previous written reply that addressed the regulatory oversight of rail operators' safety decisions, indicating that the issue has been previously discussed in Parliament.

• Mr. Low Wu Yang Andre inquired about Meta's compliance with the Implementation Directive of the Online Criminal Harms Act and the measures taken to address impersonation scams.
• The Coordinating Minister for National Security, K Shanmugam, confirmed that Meta is required to enhance its measures against impersonation scams, including removing fraudulent accounts and prioritizing user reports from Singapore.
• Meta's compliance will be evaluated by the OCHA Competent Authority after they submit documentation by 31 October 2025.
• The government is open to imposing similar requirements on other online platforms based on the prevalence of scams.

• The Minister for Manpower was questioned about plans to address driver fatigue, which is a leading cause of workplace fatalities, and to reduce injuries among SMEs in the construction sector.
• The Ministry of Manpower will promote awareness of fatigue management guidelines and encourage the use of vehicular safety technologies to enhance driver awareness and prevent accidents.
• Inspections targeting smaller construction projects have been intensified, particularly during busy periods, and companies with major injuries are required to conduct audits to prevent future incidents.
• The Ministry aims to support SMEs in improving their workplace safety capabilities through programs like StartSAFE and the adoption of technology solutions.

• Mr. Gabriel Lam inquired about plans to expand Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) and Community Rehabilitation Centre (CRC) capacities in response to potential increases in etomidate-related admissions, as well as staffing and rehabilitation program adjustments.
• He also requested information on the current capacities of DRC and CRC, trends in admissions over the past five years, and the impact of etomidate's classification under the Misuse of Drugs Act on these facilities.
• Minister K Shanmugam reported a general increase in DRC and CRC admissions from 2020 to 2024, with current capacities at 76% for DRC and 28% for CRC, and noted that no admissions for etomidate abuse had occurred as of October 2025.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs is monitoring capacity and resources closely to accommodate new admissions and is committed to enhancing rehabilitation programs and community reintegration support for released inmates.
• DRC inmates who are etomidate abusers will be placed under a supervision regime in the community post-release, with ongoing monitoring by the Ministry of Health and collaboration with community partners for effective support.

• Ms. Joan Pereira inquired about the number of cases related to deliberately wounding racial feelings over the past two years, trends, and potential punitive measures against offenders.
• Mr. Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim questioned the adequacy of existing laws like the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and the Ministry's collaboration with community partners to enhance inter-faith harmony.
• Minister K. Shanmugam highlighted that approximately 25 race- and religion-related offences are investigated annually, emphasizing the importance of a robust legal framework and community engagement in maintaining social harmony.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs is proactive in addressing threats to racial and religious harmony, including increased security measures and community initiatives following incidents like the Al-Istiqamah Mosque case.
• Community solidarity and interfaith support are crucial in reinforcing social cohesion, as demonstrated by various faith leaders condemning provocations and standing together in solidarity.

• Dr. Charlene Chen raised concerns about the effectiveness of safety campaigns for delivery riders and called for data sharing from platforms to identify risky behaviors.
• The Traffic Police currently do not track delivery rider accidents but recognize the need to understand their road habits better.
• There is a possibility of engaging platform companies for data to inform future safety interventions and campaigns.
• Investigations and enforcement actions are taken by the Traffic Police and Ministry of Manpower when accidents occur, applying existing laws to all road users.

• Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim raised concerns about protocols for mosque personnel regarding suspicious packages following recent incidents involving meat parcels.
• Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim confirmed that the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has established safety protocols for mosque staff and volunteers.
• Mosque personnel are trained to report suspicious packages to the Police, assist in investigations, and ensure public safety.
• Staff are also responsible for providing timely updates to congregants and the public when such incidents occur.

• Mr. Fadli Fawzi inquired about the number of private enforcement agencies subcontracted by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for e-vaporiser enforcement, the total staff count in those agencies, and the possibility of police involvement in enforcement.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that enforcement against e-vaporiser offences is a collaborative effort involving over 10,000 officers from various agencies, including the police.
• The HSA currently contracts around 100 staff from an external vendor to support its enforcement activities related to e-vaporisers.

• In the first half of 2025, there were approximately 730 cases of jaywalking, marking a 4% increase from the previous year.
• Nine fatal accidents involving jaywalkers occurred in the first half of 2025, up from seven in the same period the previous year.
• The Traffic Police have conducted numerous outreach events focused on road safety, particularly targeting the elderly, reaching over 100,000 individuals.
• Educational campaigns emphasize the importance of using designated crossing points and staying alert while crossing the road.
• There is a discussion on the potential for stiffer penalties to deter jaywalking.

• The debate focused on whether to define "heavy vehicles" under the Vehicle Parking Certificate (VPC) scheme by vehicular dimensions instead of weight.
• Ng Shi Xuan raised concerns about large vehicles that are not classified as heavy but cannot fit into standard parking spaces.
• Jeffrey Siow explained that heavy vehicles are categorized by Maximum Laden Weight (MLW) due to safety concerns related to steering and stopping capabilities.
• The use of MLW for categorizing vehicles is supported by practices in various countries, emphasizing the need for designated parking to mitigate road safety risks.

• Miss Rachel Ong inquired about the statistics of road accidents involving foreign Work Pass holders from 2021 to the present, including the number of accidents and fatalities.
• K Shanmugam provided data indicating an average of 1,489 road accidents annually involving foreign Work Pass holders, with an average of 15 fatalities each year.
• Foreign Work Pass holders accounted for 22% of all road accidents and 13% of all fatal accidents during the specified period.

• Mr. Low Wu Yang Andre raised concerns about the potential systemic risks to Singtel's Singapore operations following a network failure at its Australian subsidiary, Optus, particularly regarding emergency service communications.
• Mrs. Josephine Teo assured that Singapore's emergency call systems are structured differently from Australia's, mitigating similar risks.
• The Ministry emphasizes the importance of telecommunications resilience, requiring service providers to meet coverage and quality standards, conduct regular audits, and take swift action to restore services after disruptions.
• Investigations will be conducted for any incidents, with enforcement actions taken if necessary to ensure compliance and prevent future occurrences.

• The Minister for Education was asked about the number of cases of student abuse or physical assault against teachers over the past five years and the preventive measures in place.
• Physical abuse of teachers is rare, often occurring during interventions in student conflicts or with students who have Special Educational Needs.
• Schools address inappropriate behavior through established disciplinary processes and emphasize Character and Citizenship Education to promote pro-social behavior.
• Serious incidents of verbal and physical aggression are met with strong disciplinary actions, including suspension and potential legal consequences.
• Schools provide counseling and work with students and parents to rebuild respectful relationships following incidents of abuse.

• Melvin Yong Yik Chye inquired about the annual statistics of workplace fatalities and injuries among migrant domestic workers (MDWs) involved in high-rise window cleaning over the past decade and suggested the need for enhanced safety measures.
• Dr. Wan Rizal questioned the adequacy of current regulations for MDWs cleaning windows and proposed mandatory safety briefings for employers and expanded mental health support for MDWs.
• Minister Tan See Leng outlined existing safety regulations for MDWs, including restrictions on window cleaning without proper safety measures and supervision, and highlighted enforcement actions taken against negligent employers.
• The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has implemented mandatory orientation programs for first-time employers and MDWs, and provides resources for mental health support and safety compliance.
• MOM will continue to monitor incidents and may increase education and enforcement efforts to ensure the safety of MDWs in high-rise cleaning tasks.

• The Transport Sector (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2025 aims to enhance public transport safety and comfort by regulating commuter behavior and consolidating existing security measures for buses and bus interchanges.
• Key amendments include empowering the Public Transport Council to allow bus operators to withdraw from the Fuel Equalisation Fund and increasing penalties for breaches of the Public Transport Council Act to deter non-compliance.
• The Bill also introduces provisions for the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore to manage dumping sites and fees, ensuring environmental safety and operational efficiency.
• Concerns were raised regarding the implementation of security screenings for buses, including the need for clarity on operational challenges and the impact on commuter flow.
• Support for the Bill was expressed, emphasizing the importance of protecting public transport workers and ensuring their safety while enforcing new regulations.

• The Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill aims to amend various Acts to address offences related to scams and introduce new offences.
• The Bill proposes to increase penalties for certain crimes while also removing or modifying mandatory caning for specific offences.
• It includes provisions for court procedures tailored for young offenders and addresses other related criminal law matters.
• The Bill was presented by the Senior Minister of State, Ms Sim Ann, on behalf of the Minister for Home Affairs and will be discussed further in a future parliamentary sitting.

• The debate focused on the management of community disputes, particularly neighbor disputes, and the effectiveness of the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) and Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT).
• Questions were raised about the number of compulsory mediations, the escalation of disputes to violence, and the potential for residents to appeal for mediation.
• The government highlighted recent enhancements to the Community Disputes Management Framework, including the introduction of legally backed Mediation Directions to compel attendance at mediation.
• Statistics were shared regarding neighbor disputes, with a significant number of cases not proceeding to mediation due to non-compliance from one party.
• The government emphasized the importance of early intervention and community engagement to prevent disputes from escalating, while acknowledging that not all disputes can be resolved through mediation.

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked about procedures for bus captains regarding smooth braking at stops for standing or moving passengers and whether they must wait for vulnerable passengers to be seated before driving off. Jeffrey Siow responded that bus captains are trained to provide safe journeys, avoiding harsh braking, and are monitored for good driving behavior. Bus captains are required to wait for vulnerable passengers, like the elderly and pregnant, to secure themselves before departing, but they must also react to road conditions and could be required to brake suddenly for safety. Passengers are encouraged to remain seated until the bus has come to a complete stop.

Charlene Chen asked about the denial of entry for foreign-registered vehicles in Singapore due to outstanding fines or offences. K Shanmugam responded that vehicles with significant unpaid fines may be denied entry and must settle these fines to enter. There were 149, 174, and 1018 entry denials in 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively. As of August 2025, approximately 58% of fines from this period remain unpaid.

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked about the Ministry of Home Affairs' plans to address bulk order scams affecting hawkers and small retailers. He requested measures to enhance awareness, strengthen safeguards, and provide support for victims. K Shanmugam referred to a previous response given on September 26, 2025, regarding these scams and the measures in place to protect small businesses.