Public safety & law — Topics

3 Apr 2024

Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill

The Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill was introduced to amend the Cybersecurity Act 2018 and was presented by the Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, Dr Janil Puthucheary, on behalf of the Minister.
The bill underwent its First Reading and was scheduled for a Second Reading on or after 7 May 2024, with instructions for it to be printed.
The debate focused on the procedural and legislative steps necessary to update the existing cybersecurity framework in Singapore.

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3 Apr 2024

Trend in Number of Artificial Intelligence Voice-cloning Scams

The Minister of State for Home Affairs confirmed that the Singapore Police Force does not track specific voice-cloning scam numbers, as reports alleging such techniques are few, but highlighted broader anti-scam efforts like terminating thousands of fraudulent mobile and WhatsApp lines and imposing SIM card limits.
Emphasized a whole-of-society approach, urging public vigilance through the "Add, Check, Tell" strategy, while noting industry responsibilities like enhancing user verification on social platforms and messaging apps.
In response to supplementary questions, the Minister outlined ongoing educational and technological initiatives, including developing AI-based detection tools for deepfakes and voice cloning, and launching a Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety to bolster online safety capabilities.

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2 Apr 2024

Effectiveness of Sniffer Dogs' Detection of Wildlife Trafficking at Border Checkpoints

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang requested an update on the effectiveness of sniffer dogs in detecting wildlife trafficking and the number of illegal shipments detected.
The National Parks Board established a K9 Unit in 2021 at Singapore's border checkpoints to combat illegal wildlife trade.
The sniffer dogs and their handlers have contributed to detecting illegal shipments, including a notable 2022 seizure of 34kg of rhinoceros horns.

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2 Apr 2024

Statistics on Enhanced Care and Protection Orders Issued by Youth Court

Louis Ng asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development for the number of Enhanced Care and Protection Orders (ECPOs) applied for and ordered by the Youth Court each year over the past five years.
Masagos Zulkifli stated that since ECPOs took effect in July 2020, an annual average of about 27 ECPOs were applied for and about 26 were ordered by the Youth Court.

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2 Apr 2024

Measures to Ensure Educators Are Not Involved in Illegal Activities such as Drug-related Offences

The Ministry of Education expects educators to uphold professional integrity and will take disciplinary action, including dismissal, for breaches related to drug offences.
New teachers and staff in higher education institutions are briefed on zero-tolerance policies and codes of conduct, with regular reminders to report suspected drug abuse.
MOE collaborates with the Central Narcotics Bureau on outreach, appointing DrugFreeSG Champions and using preventive education platforms to reinforce anti-drug messaging.

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2 Apr 2024

Data on Migrant Workers Who Have Been Scam Victims and Measures to Raise Awareness of Scams Among Migrant Workers

In 2023, 500 migrant domestic workers in Singapore were scam victims, an 18% increase from 423 in 2022.
The Ministry of Manpower and Police run the Settling-In Programme to educate migrant domestic workers on scam prevention upon arrival.
Anti-scam education continues for those already working, covering latest scam trends to help them detect and report scams.
The Ministry uses social media and bus stop ads for anti-scam campaigns, while the Police run the Domestic Guardians Programme for crime and scam prevention training.
These measures aim to equip migrant domestic workers with awareness and advocacy skills to protect themselves and their communities from scams.

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2 Apr 2024

Trend Analysis of Women Involved in Substance Abuse and Measures to Tackle Substance Abuse among Young Women and Young Mothers

The Minister for Home Affairs stated that arrested women drug abusers share similar trends with men, primarily being Malays aged 20-39, and commonly abusing methamphetamine, heroin, and cannabis.
The Singapore Prison Service uses a gender-responsive, trauma-informed approach in rehabilitation, focusing on relationships, emotion regulation, and tailored psychological programmes for women.
Upstream interventions are provided for incarcerated mothers with children under 18, including family assessments and referrals to community resources through partnerships with organizations like New Life Stories and Women In Recovery Association.
Additional programmes aim to strengthen women’s pro-social identities as mothers, offering parenting skills and support groups to aid reintegration and reduce re-offending.
The approach combines general interventions like family and education programmes with specialized support to address the unique needs of women and young mothers in substance abuse rehabilitation.

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2 Apr 2024

Regulating Lane Splitting and Addressing Growing Problem of Aggressive Road Culture

Member Yip Hon Weng questioned the legality of lane splitting by motorcyclists, asked if it would be banned or regulated for safety, and sought measures to promote defensive riding as well as any study on aggressive road culture.
Minister Shanmugam stated that banning lane splitting is impractical and hard to enforce, and instead emphasized enhancing safety awareness and encouraging safe riding habits among motorcyclists.
The minister highlighted that other motorists must also be vigilant by checking blind spots and signaling intentions, making road safety a shared responsibility among all road users.
Defensive riding courses are available at driving centres and incorporated into safety advisories and campaigns, with no study on road culture conducted so far, relying on existing measures to deter aggressive behavior.

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2 Apr 2024

Update on CPIB Investigations into Seatrium

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau has completed its investigation into Seatrium and its individuals, resulting in two people being charged with corruption offences related to bribes for Brazilian beneficiaries and one facing an obstruction of justice charge.
The Public Prosecutor is negotiating a deferred prosecution agreement with Seatrium, which would require the company to pay a US$110 million financial penalty, with up to US$53 million potentially offsetting a settlement with Brazilian authorities.
Any finalized deferred prosecution agreement must be approved by the High Court, and further details are available in the joint press release dated 28 March 2024.

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2 Apr 2024

Drivers Who Refuse to Take Traffic Police's Breath Evidential Analyser Test for Alcohol Consumption

Over the past decade, an average of 22 drivers per year refused the preliminary breath test and 7 per year refused the Breath Evidential Analyser (BEA) test when directed by traffic police.
Drivers who delay taking the BEA test to reduce alcohol readings can be investigated, arrested without a warrant, and face fines of up to $10,000 and imprisonment for up to 12 months, with harsher penalties for repeat offenders.
Conviction for refusing the BEA test carries the same penalties as drink-driving, including potential disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence.

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2 Apr 2024

Auditing Preschools for Compliance with Incident Reporting Policies

Joan Pereira asked whether ECDA audits preschool compliance with incident reporting policies and investigates staff dismissals for potential abuse cases.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that ECDA checks during unannounced visits if preschools have processes to report serious incidents and holds them accountable if they fail.
He explained that ECDA does not require reporting of staff dismissals as termination can be due to various reasons, but instead focuses on reporting serious incidents to bar errant staff from the sector.
ECDA's actions are independent of a preschool’s staff discipline decisions and aim to ensure child safety.

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2 Apr 2024

Reports of Deepfake-related Scams

The Singapore Police Force has not tracked specific numbers of deepfake-related scam reports in 2023, noting only a low number of allegations received.
Scams involving deepfakes have been reported across various media types, including live video, voice, and uploaded video, though detailed breakdowns are not provided.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing targeted measures for the elderly, including the SG Cyber Safe Seniors Programme, digital ambassador outreach, and updated educational materials in multiple languages to raise awareness and cyber hygiene.
Collaborative efforts with agencies like the People’s Association and grassroots organizations ensure timely alerts and education for the elderly on emerging scam variants, including deepfakes.
The government emphasizes proactive updates to scam awareness programs to address growing threats like deepfake scams, focusing on practical steps for seniors to protect themselves.

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2 Apr 2024

Framework for Assessing Suitability of Planned Overseas Destinations for School and Institutes of Higher Learning Trips

The Ministry of Education does not have a single standard framework, but IHLs and schools conduct risk assessments using travel advisories and guidance from government agencies, with staff recce trips as needed.
IHLs and schools receive support through travel insurance, contingency plans, administrative and pastoral care, safety briefings, and e-registration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for updates.
Safety measures include accompanying staff on trips, on-site support for longer exchanges, and close coordination with Singaporean embassies and consulates during emergencies.

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2 Apr 2024

Domestic Disputes Involving Use of Knives or Other Weapons and Where Minors Were Present

Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of domestic disputes involving knives or other weapons in the past three years and how many involved a child or minor.
The Minister, K Shanmugam, responded that the Police do not track such specific figures.
The debate highlighted a lack of data on domestic disputes involving weapons and minors.
It underscored the need for more detailed tracking of such incidents to inform policy and safety measures.

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2 Apr 2024

Requiring Attorney-General's Chambers to Indicate Plea Offer and Sentencing Position Early

Ms Hany Soh proposed that the Attorney-General’s Chambers indicate its plea offer and sentencing position at Stage One of court proceedings and that the 12-week timeline for guilty pleas start from that indication.
The Ministry of Law explained that the current guidelines already encourage early guilty pleas by offering sentencing reductions based on the stage of proceedings, with Stage One ending 12 weeks after the prosecution announces the case is ready.
The 12-week timeline is designed to give accused persons sufficient time to consider plea offers, engage a lawyer, and seek legal advice, with flexibility for delays due to circumstances beyond their control.
The Ministry noted that while the prosecution often communicates its sentencing position early, it may not always be possible in complex cases, and prosecutorial discretion must be preserved.
The Ministry concluded that it cannot mandate early disclosure of sentencing positions in all cases, as this would undermine the flexibility needed for effective prosecution.

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2 Apr 2024

Measures with Customs Authority to Prevent Import of Non-compliant Active Mobility Devices and Batteries

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) requires prior approval for importing non-compliant active mobility devices and works with Singapore Customs and immigration authorities to enforce regulations, having investigated 51 cases and forfeited 48 devices by end-2023.
Penalties for importing such devices without approval include fines up to $5,000 or imprisonment up to six months, while use on public paths carries fines up to $10,000 and retailer display violations up to $20,000.
From 2020 to 2023, LTA detected about 5,100 offences involving non-compliant devices on paths and roads, and about 100 violations from operations against retailers.

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2 Apr 2024

Law Enforcement and Other Matters Bill

The Bill introduces new offences to combat scams by targeting the misuse of local SIM cards, penalizing irresponsible subscribers, middlemen, and errant retailers with fines and imprisonment, while providing safeguards for those genuinely tricked or acting for legitimate purposes.
It enhances Home Team operations by clarifying police powers to apprehend individuals with mental disorders who pose a danger to themselves or others, even if the threat is not imminent, and by streamlining procedures for non-arrestable offences and bail processes.
The Bill amends laws to allow simulated phishing exercises for legitimate purposes and strengthens protections for Yellow Ribbon Singapore's symbols to prevent misuse for fraudulent activities.

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2 Apr 2024

Unveiling of Shared Responsibility Framework for Phishing Scams

The Shared Responsibility Framework (SRF) for phishing scams is expected to be implemented later this year after reviewing public feedback, with the government studying international models to avoid unintended consequences like moral hazard.
The Money Lock feature, which protects a portion of funds from digital scams, has seen significant uptake with over 78,000 accounts and S$6.6 billion locked, with awareness efforts targeting all age groups, especially seniors.
MAS has no plans to mandate Money Lock for all banks, as most retail banks will offer it by mid-2024, while the SRF will consider evolving scam types like deepfakes and incorporate parliamentary suggestions.

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2 Apr 2024

Employment and Deployment Restrictions on Healthcare Professionals Undergoing Investigations for Patient Abuse Charges

Miss Rachel Ong inquired about employment restrictions for healthcare professionals under investigation for patient abuse, annual charges since 2010, and how many continued working in Singapore.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary stated that healthcare institutions must report abuse allegations and may reassign professionals to non-clinical roles or require leave during investigations, with possible referral to police and professional boards.
Since 2010, four healthcare professionals were convicted of patient abuse; all faced disciplinary actions like suspension or being struck off, with three no longer practicing and one returning after a 15-month suspension.

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2 Apr 2024

Probe into Incident Where Private Military Conference Call at Singapore Hotel was Intercepted

The government emphasized that it does not typically provide secured communications for international events, as foreign participants usually arrange their own encryption and security measures.
The Ministry of Defence implements proactive cybersecurity measures for Singapore-organized sensitive events, including vulnerability assessments, but does not cover foreign militaries' internal meetings.
Officials highlighted that open communication lines used by visitors are not the government's responsibility, and encouraged everyone to practice cyber hygiene, especially when using public Wi-Fi.

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