Public safety & law

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked about the possibility of amending the Wildlife Act 1965 to prohibit advertising wildlife for sale. Desmond Lee clarified that the current Wildlife Act already makes it an offence to sell or export wildlife without written approval from the Director-General. He stated that existing provisions have been effective in enforcing laws against illegal wildlife trade, with previous prosecutions made for advertisement-related offences.

Yip Hon Weng raised several questions regarding cyberbullying, including its definition, reporting avenues for victims, enforcement actions against underaged perpetrators, and tools for identifying anonymous bullies. Josephine Teo responded by emphasizing the government's commitment to addressing online harms and outlined measures under the Broadcasting Act that require designated social media services to enhance online safety for children. These services must comply with the Online Safety Code, report incidents of cyberbullying, and take timely action on reports. Victims can apply for Protection Orders under the Protection from Harassment Act, with serious penalties for offenders breaching these orders. The government plans to introduce further legislation and a dedicated agency to better support victims of online harms in the future.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned the Minister for Home Affairs about suspicious transaction reports related to the Rivaton Group prior to arrests in Japan for money laundering, including query on investigation status and amount involved. Sun Xueling confirmed that reports were filed after Japanese media coverage in May 2024. She stated that Singapore authorities are in contact with foreign counterparts and providing assistance, but further details cannot be shared at this time.

Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant asked the Minister for Defence about the safety audits conducted by the SAF Inspector-General’s Office, common safety lapses, and preventive measures in training camps. The Senior Minister of State for Defence, Heng Chee How, stated that the SAF conducts 40 to 50 safety audits annually to assess safety standards and practices. While no systemic weaknesses have been found, efforts continue to enhance safety culture, particularly in reducing vehicular incidents through improved training and technology. Additionally, the SAF is focusing on preventing heat-related injuries by enhancing awareness and installing heat monitoring systems, resulting in a decrease in heat-related incidents from 2021 to 2023.

Lim Biow Chuan questioned the Minister for Transport about the requirement for insurance for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations against fire and damage. The Minister of State for Transport, Murali Pillai, confirmed that EV charging operators must maintain public liability insurance of at least $2 million, covering personal injury and property damage, including fire incidents. Lim expressed concerns about safety following a fire incident in Seoul and inquired about additional safety measures like sprinklers and fire extinguishers at charging stations. Murali Pillai stated that the Land Transport Authority is monitoring the situation, noting a low incidence of vehicle fires in Singapore, and clarified that the insurance covers both property damage and personal injury to third parties.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye raised concerns about workplace safety measures related to erratic weather conditions affecting outdoor workers and sought details on compliance and management strategies from the Ministry of Manpower. The Senior Minister of State for Manpower, Zaqy Mohamad, explained that the Ministry focuses on providing guidelines for risk assessments during various weather conditions but does not impose strict stop-work orders due to the diverse nature of worksite situations. Training and advisory materials regarding adverse weather are issued to employers, who are responsible for implementing safety measures tailored to their specific conditions. Both Melvin Yong and Joan Pereira proposed enhancing industry-specific best practices and feedback mechanisms for foreign workers to improve safety in adverse weather.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked if the Ministry of Transport is studying the EU mandate for Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology in new vehicles to reduce road accidents. Chee Hong Tat confirmed that the LTA is aware of the EU's requirement for ISA systems in newly registered vehicles starting July 2024. Various ISA systems are under review by EU authorities for effectiveness and reliability. The LTA will continue to monitor international developments in vehicle technologies to enhance road safety.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development about animal cruelty cases over the past five years regarding court-ordered costs for maintaining and treating animals under the Animals and Birds Act 1965. Desmond Lee responded that NParks prioritizes animal welfare and promptly treats injured or sick animals during investigations. There have been no court orders for costs over the past five years due to the time between investigation and conviction; NParks currently absorbs these costs. NParks is looking into ways to recover costs from offenders in the future.

Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Education for data on reported instances of gangsterism and violence in schools over the past five years, specifically the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles. Chan Chun Sing responded that this question was previously addressed in an oral reply on 14 October 2024, and suggested referring to the transcript for detailed information.

Yip Hon Weng raised concerns about the accountability of lawyers involved with companies linked to a Japanese money-laundering syndicate and questioned if the current verification processes for client background checks would be reviewed. K Shanmugam responded that the Ministry of Law and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority are investigating the matter. He clarified that both lawyers and corporate service providers must adhere to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements, which include conducting due diligence and reporting suspicious transactions. Singapore's AML/CFT verification processes are regularly reviewed to align with international standards.

Ms. See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Law about simplifying the enforcement process for awards from the Small Claims Tribunal and Employment Claims Tribunal against companies, and proposed amending the law to impose criminal penalties for non-compliance. K Shanmugam responded that the enforcement process is regulated by the Rules of Court, and the Ministry of Law is reforming these processes to enhance effectiveness and simplicity. He noted that existing laws already provide for potential committal proceedings and penalties for those who intentionally disobey court orders.

Yip Hon Weng questioned the Minister for Home Affairs about the entry of members of a Japanese money laundering syndicate into Singapore, seeking clarification on their detection, prior information on their criminal activities, and communication from Japanese authorities regarding a wanted notice issued in August 2024. K Shanmugam responded that the fugitives were not known to be wanted by foreign authorities upon their entry into Singapore. He also mentioned ongoing communication with foreign counterparts while indicating that further details could not be disclosed at this time.

Gan Thiam Poh inquired about the resolution of high-rise littering cases in Fernvale under the new presumption of guilt framework implemented on July 1, 2023. Grace Fu Hai Yien reported that over 30 acts of high-rise littering from 14 flats were recorded, with enforcement actions taken against five offenders. One individual was charged but had their charges reduced due to compassionate grounds; the others admitted to their offenses. NEA has conducted over 1,500 camera deployments island-wide and will focus on areas with persistent littering issues while encouraging public submissions of video evidence.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned the Minister for Defence about the cause of a collision between two Hunter armoured fighting vehicles during Exercise Wallaby, which resulted in 12 servicemen being injured. Ng Eng Hen reported that the accident occurred due to one vehicle rear-ending another in low visibility conditions caused by dust clouds, but all injured servicemen were assessed with mild injuries and returned to training the next day. A safety pause was initiated, and drivers were reminded to maintain safe distances under poor visibility, with protocols reiterated to troops. A formal investigation is underway to determine lessons learned and implement safety recommendations.

Hazel Poa raised inquiries regarding the reporting of physical violence resulting in injuries in primary and secondary schools over the past five years, as well as the use of corporal punishment for violent behavior. She also requested information about standard operating procedures for handling bullying complaints, victim protection during investigations, and avenues for recourse if bullying persists despite interventions. Chan Chun Sing indicated that these questions were addressed during a previous Parliamentary session on 14 October 2024 and referred Hazel Poa to the transcript of that discussion.

Sylvia Lim questioned the Prime Minister regarding updates on the implementation of the Shared Responsibility Framework for certain phishing scams and a compensatory framework for scams involving malware fraud. Gan Kim Yong confirmed that the Shared Responsibility Framework is set to be implemented this year, with responses to public feedback forthcoming. He noted a significant decrease in malware-enabled scams due to enhancements in blocking access to banking apps when malware is detected. The Monetary Authority of Singapore expects banks to treat customers fairly and provide support to victims of various scams, while emphasizing the importance of public education on cybersecurity and consumer vigilance.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong raised concerns regarding training and support for prison officers managing inmates with intellectual disabilities, as well as the measures in place for these inmates to report abuse or mistreatment. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, responded that prison officers receive training on handling special needs inmates and that Singapore Prison Service collaborates with the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled to enhance this training. Inmates with intellectual disabilities receive tailored rehabilitation support and are engaged frequently to address their emotional needs, while a multidisciplinary team approach is used for more complex cases. Inmates can report abuse through various channels, including direct communication with prison officers and using distress intercoms in their cells. Tan also inquired about specific monitoring protocols for these vulnerable prisoners, to which the Minister assured that a holistic approach is taken to address individual inmate needs.

• Melvin Yong highlighted recent workplace safety incidents at LTA worksites, including a fatal one in September 2024, and asked about existing safety measures and plans to enhance them.
• Chee Hong Tat affirmed LTA’s commitment to workplace safety, noting multi-pronged approaches like mandatory training, adoption of taskforce recommendations, and intensified inspections.
• LTA launched the Zero-accident Action Plan 2.0 in July 2024 to strengthen safety fundamentals through enhanced supervision at worksites.
• The ministry continues to work closely with contractors to ensure worker safety, with no specific new standards announced beyond existing measures.

• The Ministry of Law does not track the annual percentage of Small Claims Tribunal orders that require enforcement.
• From 2019 to August 2024, there were about 880 applications for enforcement of SCT orders.
• The Ministry does not track the average enforcement cost for consumers, as fees are case-specific and agreed between the consumer and their lawyer.
• Consumers can seek free legal advice from the State Courts’ Community Justice Centre or other legal clinics for assistance with enforcement.

• Ms Hany Soh asked the Minister for Home Affairs about any rejections of licence applications under the Debt Collection Act since its commencement on 1 December 2023.
• As of 30 September 2024, the Police have rejected six applications for a debt collection licence.
• The rejected applicants and key appointment holders did not meet the fit and proper criteria, including due to criminal antecedents in unlicensed moneylending and voluntarily causing hurt to others.