Public safety & law

Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Education about initiatives to educate students and parents on the dangers of using e-vaporisers with harmful substances and the Ministry's collaboration with social service agencies on this issue. Chan Chun Sing responded that the Ministry of Education actively addresses substance abuse through educational programs in schools that cover laws, harmful effects, and skills for self-control. The Ministry collaborates with the Central Narcotics Bureau and Health Promotion Board to promote awareness of illegal substances and works with social service agencies to rehabilitate students identified with substance abuse issues.

Tan Wu Meng asked about measures to prevent the production of illegal and unregistered weapons in Singapore using 3D printing techniques. K Shanmugam responded that manufacturing weapons without a license, including through 3D printing, is an offense under the Arms and Explosives Act, with severe penalties in place. Those aiding in the production of 3D-printed weapons can also face prosecution. In 2025, the Guns, Explosive and Weapons Control Act (GEWCA) will be implemented to enhance regulation, introducing new offenses related to unauthorized possession of digital blueprints for weapons.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked about the number of speeding violations recorded by red-light cameras since their speed enforcement function was activated on April 1, 2024. K Shanmugam reported that from April 1 to December 31, 2024, there were 20,919 speeding violations detected by these cameras.

Rachel Ong requested information on cases of elder and child abuse by domestic helpers from 2015 to 2024, along with penalties and measures to reduce such abuse. K Shanmugam explained that the Police do not track this data systematically, but from 2022 to 2024, approximately 45 cases were reported annually involving migrant domestic workers suspected of abuse, with a majority involving children. Offenders can face penalties under the Penal Code or the Children and Young Persons Act, with sentences ranging from two years to life imprisonment, particularly for offenses against vulnerable victims. The Ministry of Manpower has initiatives to educate domestic workers about laws and responsibilities, including orientation programs to promote positive relationships between workers and employers, and outreach efforts to support stress management and communication.

Leong Mun Wai questioned the Minister for Home Affairs about the lack of immediate public disclosure regarding the detention of three men under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in November 2024, and the policy for future detentions. K Shanmugam explained that the Internal Security Department publicizes ISA cases when investigations are concluded and it is operationally safe to do so. He emphasized that premature disclosure could compromise ongoing investigations, especially those related to terrorism, as it may alert individuals involved and disrupt coordination with foreign intelligence.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Home Affairs about accidents involving lorries ferrying passengers between July 2023 and January 2024, seeking information on the number of accidents and associated casualties and deaths. K Shanmugam reported that there were 49 such accidents, resulting in 168 casualties, all of whom were injured but none were seriously hurt or killed. Out of the casualties, 127 were passengers in the rear deck of the lorries.

Wan Rizal asked about support systems for adolescents using drug-laced e-vaporisers and the Ministry's collaboration with social service agencies for rehabilitation. K Shanmugam explained that different rehabilitation pathways exist for youths under 21 based on their age and risk level. Youths under 16 or first-time offenders at low risk may enter the Youth Enhanced Supervision (YES) Scheme, which offers relapse prevention skills and family support. Those aged 16 to under 21 at moderate risk are placed in the Community Rehabilitation Centre (CRC) for structured rehabilitation with educational and vocational support. Higher-risk youths and repeat offenders are sent to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) for intensive, tailored treatment that includes vocational training and community reintegration support. After completing their programs, all youths are placed on supervision orders to monitor for relapse.

Tan Wu Meng asked if the Ministry of Transport has studied or plans to study the use of artificial intelligence analytics to improve detection and auditing of near-miss accidents at traffic junctions for better road design. Chee Hong Tat responded that the Land Transport Authority uses data analytics and AI to enhance road safety at the junction of Jalan Lempeng and Faber Drive.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Home Affairs about advancing the deadline for lighter lorries to install speed limiters and prioritizing those used to transport workers. K Shanmugam referred him to a written response from a previous parliament sitting regarding the first question. He also stated that the Traffic Police and Land Transport Authority do not monitor which lorries are specifically used for transporting workers.

Christopher de Souza asked if Singapore is considering the criminalization of creating or possessing sexually explicit deepfake images and videos, similar to measures taken by South Korea and the UK. K Shanmugam responded that Singapore's laws already cover issues related to sexually explicit deepfakes, making possession and production of such content an offence under the Penal Code, with penalties of up to two years in general and harsher penalties for minors. Amendments to the Penal Code will be introduced to clarify that these offences also apply to deepfakes created using artificial intelligence.

Saktiandi Supaat asked if current regulations allow for the review of social media algorithms used to push content to users and if future regulations will address this. Josephine Teo responded that Singapore's online content regulation is outcome-based, focusing on minimizing exposure to harmful content rather than the mechanisms behind it. She noted that Singapore monitors international regulatory approaches aimed at algorithm transparency but acknowledged that these are still developing and not yet proven effective. The Code of Practice for Online Safety mandates that social media services implement user safety tools and require annual accountability reports to the Infocomm Media Development Authority regarding harmful content measures. The Ministry will continue to evaluate the online landscape and consider further regulations as needed to enhance safety.

Tan Wu Meng raised concerns about the potential impact of foreign social media platforms manipulating algorithms to influence the electoral process in Singapore, questioning whether this constitutes foreign interference under current laws. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Sun Xueling, acknowledged the risk of algorithm manipulation and indicated that such actions would be considered foreign interference, with existing legislation like the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act (FICA) able to address these issues. Sun highlighted that the government is open to engagement with academia and researchers to better understand these risks and improve information literacy among citizens. The Ministry plans to continue monitoring the online landscape and assess if additional regulations are needed to safeguard Singapore's democratic processes.

• Ms. Joan Pereira inquired about the safety measures for aircraft checks before their arrival and departure at Singapore airports.
• The Minister for Transport, Chee Hong Tat, highlighted that the International Civil Aviation Organization mandates regular inspections for all registered aircraft.
• The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has established a regulatory safety framework that includes routine inspections and audits for Singapore-registered aircraft.
• Foreign-registered aircraft operators are also required to comply with their home country's safety regulations, with CAAS conducting inspections to ensure compliance.
• Overall, CAAS ensures that both local and foreign operators maintain robust safety processes for aircraft operations.

• Concerns were raised about the potential increase in food poisoning incidents among students as schools transition to food catering due to a decline in canteen operators.
• Foodborne gastroenteritis cases in schools have been linked to both caterers and canteen stall holders, with caterers posing a higher risk due to larger food distribution volumes.
• The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) enforces strict food safety measures for licensed caterers, including training for food handlers, cleanliness standards, and mandatory food timestamps.
• Caterers are subject to inspections and can face penalties for food safety violations, with a system in place for increased surveillance of those with past infringements.
• The Ministry of Education collaborates with school canteen operators to ensure compliance with food safety standards and educates students on personal hygiene and food safety practices.

• Gerald Giam Yean Song inquired about the accessibility of judgments from the Small Claims Tribunals, Employment Claims Tribunal, and Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre, and proposed a searchable database for transparency.
• Minister K Shanmugam stated that the Courts decide which judgments to publish, and currently, judgments from the Small Claims and Employment Claims Tribunals are not published but can be accessed upon request.
• The Courts aim to balance public understanding of the law with the need for confidentiality and timely justice, and are exploring the publication of selected anonymized judgments.
• The Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre does not publish adjudication decisions due to confidentiality but provides case studies and annual reports for public learning.
• The Ministry of Manpower is reviewing the publication of Employment Claims Tribunal judgments, and feedback regarding FIDReC has been communicated to them.

• Mr. Melvin Yong Yik Chye inquired about the Traffic Police's collaboration with driving schools to combat the use of queue-jumping bots for securing driving simulator slots.
• Minister K Shanmugam reported that measures have been implemented, including restricting suspicious logins, requiring CAPTCHA authentication, and suspending accounts using bots.
• Despite these efforts, the Minister acknowledged that while the measures may deter bot usage, they cannot completely eliminate it due to the evolving sophistication of bots.

• Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned the Minister for Home Affairs about the rationale behind allowing media coverage when accused persons are taken back to crime scenes.
• K Shanmugam explained that the Police assess public interest when deciding on media coverage and identity disclosure of individuals under investigation.
• The Police facilitate media coverage to report on case developments while ensuring safety and preventing interference with investigations through strict cordons.

• Derrick Goh raised concerns about the potential rise in criminal cases and public safety issues related to gel blasters and imitation guns in Singapore.
• K Shanmugam responded that the number of cases involving imitation arms, including gel blasters, is low, with only two convictions in the past decade and no reported injuries.
• The use of imitation arms for serious crimes like robbery or extortion is punishable by significant penalties under the Arms Offences Act.

• Christopher de Souza inquired about the implementation of Red-Amber-Green arrows at an additional 200 traffic junctions and the potential to minimize discretionary right turns to enhance safety.
• The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is focusing on implementing RAG arrows at junctions near schools, Silver Zones, and areas with a history of accidents, particularly at wider junctions with higher speed limits.
• As of the end of 2024, RAG arrows have been installed at over 1,200 junctions, with site studies ongoing for the additional 200 junctions, aiming for completion by the end of 2025.

• Ms. Hany Soh proposed that the Government consider enacting enhanced penalties for offences committed through scams.
• Minister K. Shanmugam directed members to refer to a previous response regarding severe penalties for scams involving impersonation of government agencies.