Public safety & law

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about the number of vehicle fire cases in 2025 and their causes. K Shanmugam reported 152 vehicle fires in the first eight months, with main causes being engine overheating, electrical faults, and ignition sparks from collisions. The Singapore Civil Defence Force does not monitor whether vehicles were stationary or in operation during these incidents.

Alex Yeo asked about the progress of investigations into cases of alleged impersonation of SAF personnel making fraudulent bulk orders and the Police's plans to advise small businesses on necessary precautions. K Shanmugam referred Yeo to a previous response given on 26 September 2025 regarding the increase in fake bulk order scams and measures to protect small businesses.

Lee Hong Chuang asked about how the SCDF will enhance emergency response capabilities and community engagement in light of rising fire outbreaks. K Shanmugam responded that the SCDF conducts regular outreach, such as the Responder Plus Programme, which provides free training on fire extinguishers, CPR, and AEDs, integrated with the SGSecure movement. The SCDF, in collaboration with the Temasek Foundation, HDB, and Town Councils, has begun installing fire extinguishers at Lifesavers' Emergency Points in residential HDB blocks, with over 5,000 set up to date and a goal to complete the rollout by 2028.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik raised questions regarding the Debt Collection Act that began on 1 December 2023, specifically about complaints and misconduct related to debt collection agencies. K Shanmugam responded that there have been eight cases of unlicensed debt collection activities since the Act's commencement, with police issuing stern warnings to three companies while investigations continue for the others. The police do not track the customers of debt collection agencies, and none of the cases reported involve debts from public hospitals.

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked about the conversion of zebra crossings to courtesy crossings in HDB estates, including the number converted, the rationale for this policy, and concerns about pedestrian safety. Chee Hong Tat indicated that 37 zebra crossings were converted to courtesy crossings between 2022 and 2024 due to feedback about safety concerns, as some zebra crossings did not provide pedestrians a clear line of sight for safe crossing. The conversion aims to enhance safety by encouraging mutual caution among pedestrians and motorists and is supported by additional traffic calming measures where possible.

Yip Hon Weng raised questions about the safety of Active Mobility Devices (AMDs) concerning fires in HDB flats, penalties for non-compliant devices, and proactive measures for fire prevention. K Shanmugam reported that there were 187 fires involving AMDs in the past five years, accounting for about 4% of total fires in HDB estates, and over 6,000 cases of non-compliant AMDs were detected by the Land Transport Authority. The Active Mobility Fire Safety Taskforce plans to enhance public education through the “Be Device-Safe” programme and is considering increased enforcement actions against the use and sale of non-compliant AMDs to improve safety.

Saktiandi Supaat asked about the effectiveness of the SGSecure movement since its 2016 launch, the Ministry's plans to address safety perception gaps as revealed by recent social experiments, and how to raise terror awareness without alarming the public. K Shanmugam explained that success is measured through surveys and citizen engagement metrics, reflecting on a significant disparity between perceived vigilance and actual response to perceived threats observed in social experiments conducted in June 2025. These tests revealed that while 77% felt alert to suspicious activities, only 17% noticed simulated threats, and merely 5% acted to report them. To bridge this perception gap, the Ministry aims to enhance communication strategies and engage with the public through social media platforms targeted at younger audiences, emphasizing the importance of public vigilance in the face of potential terror threats.

Vikram Nair raised questions about the temporary classification of etomidate as a Class C drug and the possibility of making this classification permanent. The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs explained that the Ministry of Home Affairs carefully evaluates substances before listing them under the Misuse of Drugs Act, requiring robust evidence of harm and addictiveness. Due to the recent emergence of etomidate abuse, it has been temporarily listed to enhance legislative measures while further research is conducted. Nair also inquired about the adverse effects of etomidate and suggested a flexible system for classifying drugs with serious effects, even if long-term studies are lacking. The Minister acknowledged significant psychiatric and physical harms associated with etomidate and indicated that ongoing discussions and evaluations are necessary in response to evolving substance misuse trends.

Charlene Chen raised multiple questions regarding the evaluation of enforcement on pedestrian paths and cycling lanes, tracking safety feedback, and future measures to enhance pedestrian safety. The Minister of State for Transport, Baey Yam Keng, explained that the Land Transport Authority uses path markings and signage to differentiate cycling and pedestrian areas, while implementing safety measures like convex mirrors and community education campaigns. Enforcement officers monitor compliance and issue warnings or fines for violations, focusing on problematic areas based on resident feedback. Chen also inquired about recourse for pedestrians injured by cyclists, with the Minister mentioning the necessity for riders to assist accident victims and third-party insurance requirements for commercial riders. Lastly, while licensing cyclists was discussed, the Minister emphasized the preference for educational initiatives to ensure safe riding practices.

Elysa Chen asked the Minister for Manpower about annual cases of foreigners working without valid employment passes over the last five years and the outcomes of these cases. The Minister of State for Manpower reported an average of about 450 illegal workers annually from 2020 to 2024, with few prosecutions and fines, while most faced warnings and repatriation. Chen followed up on measures to enhance detection and deterrence of illegal employment, particularly in sectors like wedding photography and Traditional Chinese Medicine, emphasizing the need for collaboration with other agencies. The Minister highlighted proactive and reactive inspection regimes, noting the prevalence of illegal employment in services and construction, and reassured that the Ministry seeks to avoid penalizing misled workers while focusing enforcement on perpetrators.

Jackson Lam raised concerns about the rise of fake bulk order scams impersonating SAF personnel since May 2025, inquiring about reports, protective measures for small businesses, and plans for additional safeguards. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Goh Pei Ming, reported that six scam cases have been documented and described how scammers exploit businesses through fake orders before defrauding them. The police have adopted a tough stance on such crimes, with some arrests made, but emphasized the need for businesses to remain vigilant and verify transactional identities. Awareness initiatives are being implemented among industry stakeholders to educate them about the signs of these scams and encourage caution, particularly not to make advance payments without verification.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik raised questions about coordination protocols between the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) regarding passports that have been impounded during investigations. K Shanmugam confirmed that SPF and ICA have established protocols for handling such cases, including processes for issuing new passports when original ones are under police custody.

He Ting Ru questioned the Minister for National Development about previous measures to prevent and assess sinkhole risks, the regularity of tests conducted by BCA on underground structures, and any potential updates after the July 2025 sinkhole incident. Chee Hong Tat responded that the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has strict regulations for underground works, requiring project owners and contractors to monitor ground movement during construction. Investigations into the July 2025 sinkhole incident are ongoing, and BCA will review its assessment measures post-investigation.

Rachel Ong queried the National Development Minister about updates on using location-based SMS notifications for missing persons alerts via the OneService app and suggested directing SMS recipients to view more details. Chee Hong Tat responded that the Municipal Services Office currently supports Dementia Singapore by broadcasting missing persons reports through push notifications on the OS App, which link to in-app details. The Ministry assessed that notifications via SMS would not be pursued, as the necessary information can be effectively provided through the OS App.

Fadli Fawzi asked if individuals can verify their criminal records with the government, especially concerning factors that may affect obtaining licenses like the Security Officer's Licence. K Shanmugam responded that individuals can check if their records are spent through an online police service. He clarified that license applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account various criteria beyond just the criminal record, including bankruptcy status and involvement in unlawful activities.

Cai Yinzhou raised a question about the possibility of tracking the occupation and employer identity of road users involved in work-related traffic accidents to enable targeted interventions. K Shanmugam responded that the Traffic Police do not collect this data as it is not relevant to investigations. The Ministry of Manpower monitors work-related traffic injuries reported by employers and platform operators. Traffic Police focus their interventions and communications based on the weight of vehicles, which is strongly linked to injury severity and fatality risk in accidents.

Cai Yinzhou questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about enforcement operations against non-compliant battery or motor modifications for active mobility devices from 2024 to August 2025. Jeffrey Siow reported that the LTA conducted 15 enforcement operations during this period, investigating 14 retailers. Of these, five were prosecuted, leading to four convictions with fines ranging from $600 to $4,000, while one retailer received a composition sum for non-compliance. Investigations for additional cases are ongoing, with some pending charges and others closed due to insufficient evidence. The LTA plans to continue monitoring and taking action against errant retailers.

Poh Li San asked about alternative punishments for drink driving to enhance deterrence beyond imprisonment and license suspension. K Shanmugam outlined current penalties, including fines and imprisonment for both first-time and repeat offenders, alongside mandatory disqualification from driving. The Ministry is also reviewing the allowable breath and blood alcohol concentration limits to further deter drink driving, emphasizing the message that drinking and driving should not occur.

David Hoe asked about implementing multi-language support for the ScamShield helpline, including multilingual outreach materials and timelines for rollout. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Goh Pei Ming, responded that the helpline will allow navigation in all four official languages by 2026, while currently operators can assist in preferred languages when available. Multilingual education materials on scams are being distributed, and seniors have resources like the website and app to help with scam inquiries. Hoe suggested a "senior mode" for slower speech, which Goh acknowledged as a consideration for improvement.

Gerald Giam Yean Song raised concerns about the Singapore Prison Service's ability to manage inmates with serious health conditions and infections. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim affirmed that the Prison Service's healthcare system meets national standards, providing primary care and specialized treatment through partnerships with public healthcare institutions when necessary. Sylvia Lim asked supplementary questions regarding the adequacy of the system in preventing infections, the perception of ill health as a mitigating factor for crime, and whether the Minister had ever exercised the option to place seriously ill prisoners in more suitable facilities. The Senior Minister of State reassured that infection control protocols are in place, and he emphasized the commitment to care for inmates and continuously enhance the healthcare provided to them.