Public safety & law

• Saktiandi Supaat asked for statistics on fatal accidents caused by reversing large vehicles over the past 10 years and suggested mandating safety features like blind spot cameras and warning sirens on large vehicles.
• K Shanmugam stated that the Traffic Police does not track data specifically on fatal accidents involving reversing large vehicles.
• K Shanmugam noted that the Land Transport Authority already requires heavy goods vehicles and buses to install devices like blind spot mirrors and camera systems, with penalties for non-compliance.

• LTA will convert footpaths adjacent to cycling paths into pedestrian-only paths with physical markings and a grace period before enforcement from 1 July 2025.
• Enforcement will use patrols and mobile CCTVs, with discretion for temporary use like overtaking or transitioning between paths.
• First-time offenders may face fines up to $2,000 or imprisonment up to three months, based on existing rules for pedestrian-only paths.

• The Government has established multiple laws to combat online hate speech and false content, including the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and the forthcoming Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill, which enable Restraining Orders to remove inflammatory material and halt related communications.
• Authorities like the Infocomm Media Development Authority and the Ministry of Home Affairs can use the Broadcasting Act, the Online Criminal Harms Act, and the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act to disable or remove content that threatens racial or religious harmony.
• Beyond legal measures, efforts are underway to promote respectful online discourse through community partnerships and digital literacy programs aimed at fostering responsible Internet use and social cohesion.

• Between 2019 and 2023, there were about 10 cases annually of rioting with deadly weapons under section 148 of the Penal Code, with slightly more than half involving offenders under 21 years old.
• Police investigate all rioting reports, including those involving youths, and if the Attorney-General's Chambers prosecutes, cases are handled in the Youth Court or another appropriate court based on the nature of the case and the suspect's age.
• Measures are in place for young offenders under 18 during investigations, such as the Appropriate Adult Scheme, which ensures emotional support and facilitates communication during interviews.

• The Payment Services Act 2019 prohibits unlicensed persons from providing payment services, and selling WorldCoin accounts as a business may require a license, with police currently investigating seven individuals for such suspected offences.
• Authorities have issued public advisories warning that selling WorldCoin accounts could lead to misuse for criminal activities like money laundering and terrorism financing.
• The Personal Data Protection Act governs the handling of personal and biometric data, requiring organisations to implement strong data protection and security measures.
• Consumers are cautioned against transferring access to their digital payment token wallets or World IDs due to risks of misuse by third parties.

• In the past two years, the Singapore Police Force recovered approximately $300 million in scam losses through enforcement operations.
• The government does not track the number of victims who have recovered their losses from law enforcement or compensation.
• The recovery amount reflects investigations and enforcement efforts between 2022 and June 2024.
• The response clarifies that compensation from banks and other entities is not separately quantified in the recovery figures.

• Minister Desmond Lee stated that investigations into the corgi's death at a grooming salon on 24 July 2024 are ongoing and it is inappropriate to comment on the specific case.
• Currently, there is no licensing regime for pet groomers, but all animal-related businesses are expected to uphold high animal welfare standards, with penalties under the Animals and Birds Act for cruelty or negligence.
• The law imposes up to two years' imprisonment or a $40,000 fine for first offences, with harsher penalties for reoffenders, and courts may issue disqualification orders.
• A Code of Animal Welfare sets minimum standards for pet businesses, including grooming facilities, and failure to meet these can be used as evidence for enforcement.
• The government is reviewing the Animals and Birds Act to enhance penalties and safeguards for animal welfare, with details to be shared later.

• The Ministry of Home Affairs adopts a whole-of-society approach involving government agencies, schools, and community partners to counter radicalisation among youths, using legislative tools like the Online Safety Act to block harmful online content and public education to raise awareness.
• Key initiatives include training for school staff on early signs of radicalisation, educational curricula on social cohesion and critical thinking, and peer support structures in schools to foster inclusivity and resilience against extremist ideologies.
• Community partnerships, such as with the Religious Rehabilitation Group and Inter-Agency Aftercare Group, provide outreach, counselling, and rehabilitation programmes for at-risk youths, including digital campaigns and youth forums to promote countering violent extremism.
• Efforts like the SGSecure movement, which features a "True Friend" persona, and dialogues facilitated by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth aim to strengthen community vigilance and support networks for identifying and assisting youths at risk.
• Rehabilitation and reintegration programmes have shown success, with some radicalised youths released from detention or restriction orders lapsing, underscoring the importance of collective vigilance and unity in preventing radicalisation.

• Leong Mun Wai asked whether the number or percentage of Chinese social visit pass holders arrested has increased since the visa exemption in February 2024 and whether automated immigration lanes raise security risks, to which the Minister of State for Home Affairs replied that there has been no increase in arrests and that Singapore’s multi-layered security checks, including pre-arrival screening and biometric systems, effectively manage risks without closing borders due to the economic importance of tourism and open borders.
• The Minister highlighted that the visa exemption with China was a carefully assessed decision balancing security risks with significant economic and bilateral benefits, and that automated clearance has actually improved risk assessment by freeing up officers for profiling and enabling more upstream screening.
• In a supplementary question, Leong Mun Wai clarified that his party does not advocate closed borders but seeks additional measures to protect security as foreign visitor numbers grow, specifically asking if the government is considering tougher penalties for cross-border crimes like scams, money laundering, and burglaries committed by Chinese nationals.
• The Minister responded that the government continuously reviews and updates laws, such as the Criminal Procedure Code and Penal Code, to address evolving transnational crimes, including online scams, and acknowledges the need for stronger deterrents as visitor numbers and technology use increase.

• The debate centered on a case where a foreign preacher, Amir Hamza, entered Singapore using a passport with a different name and delivered an extremist sermon without a permit, prompting questions on border security and dormitory regulations.
• The Minister outlined multi-layered border safeguards, including visa requirements, pre-arrival risk assessments, watchlist screening, and biometric systems, noting that about 2,500 travelers are refused entry monthly and that no system is foolproof.
• Authorities are investigating the dormitory operator and others for offences under the Public Order Act, Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, and Foreign Employee Dormitories Act, with the Minister emphasizing rare occurrences of unauthorized events in dormitories.
• The Minister highlighted the balance between security and facilitation, with technology like AI and biometrics assisting but not replacing human judgment, and noted ongoing efforts to review visa processes and enhance detection of watchlisted individuals.

• The Senior Minister of State outlined that the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) sets and enforces strict hygiene standards, uses a data-driven risk-based approach, and takes action such as suspension or prosecution for violations, with a current review of penalties underway for the upcoming Food Safety and Security Bill.
• The government collaborates with sectoral agencies like the Early Childhood Development Agency and the Ministry of Health to protect vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly through specific guidelines and regulations.
• SFA implements a Points Demerit System that can lead to licence suspension or cancellation for breaches and may suspend operations of businesses involved in foodborne illness outbreaks to contain spread.
• The debate emphasized a shared responsibility for food safety, where industry and consumers also play a role by adopting safe practices and vigilant food choices.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye questioned the Minister for Transport about regulations regarding vehicles displaying decals that resemble those of police or government agency vehicles. Chee Hong Tat confirmed that vehicles cannot use such decals to avoid misleading the public. He referenced specific laws prohibiting unauthorized use of the Land Transport Authority's symbol and police insignia to prevent impersonation.

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked if the LTA has reviewed traffic junctions prone to fatal accidents and if awareness measures can be increased. Chee Hong Tat responded that the LTA continuously analyzes traffic accident data and community feedback to enhance road safety, including implementing Red-Amber-Green arrows at over 1,200 junctions, which have reduced accidents by 40%. The LTA, Traffic Police, and Singapore Road Safety Council are actively placing road safety signs and organizing campaigns to promote safer driving and pedestrian behavior.

He Ting Ru questioned the Minister for Digital Development and Information about the accuracy of the Government's deepfake detection technologies, the differentiation between harmful deepfakes and legitimate satire, and the protocol for wrongly identified videos. Josephine Teo explained that the Government utilizes various tools for detecting manipulated content but does not disclose accuracy rates to prevent exploitation by malicious actors. The Government can act against online falsehoods under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) if the content violates public interest, while satire or parody is exempt unless harmful. There is ongoing study regarding potential safeguards against the misuse of AI and deepfakes, particularly during elections.

Wan Rizal questioned the Minister for Home Affairs about how the Ministry monitors and addresses foreign interference, the success rate of these interventions, and public education on the risks involved. K Shanmugam responded that the Government employs frameworks like the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act and Internal Security Act to manage these risks, although specific details and success rates are not disclosed for operational reasons. He emphasized the importance of an informed and vigilant public as the primary defense against foreign interference. The Government is promoting information literacy through campaigns like the S.U.R.E 2.0 initiative and conducting various outreach efforts to raise awareness among citizens, including public servants and students.

Yip Hon Weng raised questions regarding the training and qualifications of foreign auxiliary police officers in Singapore, their understanding of local cultural norms, and the impact on the local workforce in security roles. K Shanmugam confirmed that all Auxiliary Police Officers must meet specific physical, educational, and integrity requirements set by the Singapore Police Force, including training courses and physical tests. The Auxiliary Police Forces have initiatives to help foreign officers understand local norms, including briefings and appointing cultural liaison officers. Efforts are being made to attract more Singaporeans to security roles through competitive salaries and bonuses, but challenges remain due to broader workforce opportunities.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye proposed that all electric vehicles in Singapore should have special licence plates to help first responders identify them during accidents. Chee Hong Tat responded that electric vehicles can already be recognized by their unique features, such as specific manufacturer logos and lack of exhaust piping. The Ministry is considering the need for special licence plates for electric vehicles in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

Joan Pereira raised concerns about measures to minimize risks of cross-border scams and fraud in instant money transfer initiatives, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly. Gan Kim Yong stated that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has established real-time payment linkages with India, Malaysia, and Thailand for low-value payments, enabling users to make instant, low-cost transactions. Financial institutions involved have implemented anti-scam controls, including a transaction notification threshold of $100 and a daily limit of $1,000 to mitigate scam risks. Users are encouraged to remain vigilant and adopt good online banking practices to protect themselves against fraud.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked about the enforcement of disqualification orders under the Animal and Birds Act and the checks for employment or purchasing animals by disqualified individuals. Desmond Lee explained that disqualification orders can be issued to those convicted of animal cruelty, preventing them from owning animals or operating animal-related businesses for up to 12 months. National Parks Board (NParks) revokes licenses for businesses under disqualification, and individuals must surrender pets and are blocked from obtaining pet licenses. Breaching these orders is a criminal offense, and the public can report violations to NParks for investigation.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for an update on the review regarding a ban on transporting workers in the back of lorries and the expected timeline for such a ban. Chee Hong Tat responded that they are collaborating with relevant stakeholders to enhance safety for workers and other road users, and further updates will be provided when available.