Public safety & law — Topics

22 Nov 2023

Lessons from Seven-hour Disruption to Websites of Major Public Healthcare Institutions on 1 November 2023

The seven-hour disruption to public healthcare websites on 1 November 2023 was caused by a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack that overwhelmed firewalls, but patient care and critical clinical systems remained unaffected with no data breaches.
The incident highlighted rising DPGS threats and the need for evolving defences, prompting public healthcare to review and improve its DPGS mitigation, incident response, and recovery processes.
Measures will be implemented to prevent reoccurrence, including enhancing DPGS protections, updating response protocols, and ensuring resilience of internet-reliant services without compromising healthcare operations.

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22 Nov 2023

Enhancing Resilience from Lessons of Extended Large-scale Distributed Denial-of-Service Attack on Public Healthcare Institutions on 1 November 2023

The Government acknowledges that increasing digitalisation makes Singapore more vulnerable to cyber incidents and service disruptions, and emphasises that while some disruption is inevitable, prolonged outages should not be the norm.
Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) and key systems are prioritised for hardening, with minimum availability targets (e.g., 99.5% uptime) and regulatory requirements imposed by sector regulators to ensure service resilience across sectors like healthcare, banking, and telecommunications.
The Cyber Security Agency (CSA) and Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) are reviewing measures, including the Cybersecurity Act, to expand protection to other important digital infrastructure and services, with more details to be provided once ready.

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22 Nov 2023

Construction Companies Transporting Workers in Rear Decks of bizSAFE Level 3-certified Lorries and Risk Management Audits Carried Out

Miss Rachel Ong asked whether the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has data on construction companies transporting workers in the rear decks of bizSAFE Level 3-certified lorries, if risk management audits for bizSAFE certification incorporate checks on the new legal requirements effective 1 January 2023, and whether companies certified before that date will be re-audited.
MOM does not collect specific data on the percentage of such companies but noted that over 50% of construction companies are at least bizSAFE Level 3-certified, with renewal required every three years.
The bizSAFE audit focuses on risk management systems and may or may not include lorry transport risks depending on the company's activities, while MOM conducts inspections to ensure compliance with legal requirements introduced from 1 January 2023, such as appointing a "Vehicle Buddy" and ensuring dual-role drivers take rest breaks.
Additional safety requirements from the Land Transport Authority and the Inter-Agency Advisory on Safe Transport of Workers are also applicable, but bizSAFE audits do not mandate re-audits for companies certified before 1 January 2023 solely to check new requirements.

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22 Nov 2023

Banking Solutions for Singaporeans with Frozen Bank Accounts on Law Enforcement Grounds to Receive E-payment of Salary and Government Support

The Singapore Police Force froze over 16,700 bank accounts in 2022 on suspicion of involvement in criminal activities, primarily scams, but does not track specifics such as the nationality of account holders or reasons other than scams.
Banks may offer restricted accounts with limited access to certain facilities but which still allow individuals to receive salaries and government support; however, they may decline new accounts for those deemed high-risk, such as those involved in serious crimes like terrorism financing.
Individuals with frozen accounts can apply to the Courts to withdraw money for reasonable living or legitimate expenses.

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22 Nov 2023

High-rise Littering Cases Reported and Individuals Charged Since Introduction of Presumption Sections in Environmental Public Health Act 1987

The statutory presumption provision for high-rise littering from residential flats took effect on 1 July 2023, and the National Environment Agency received nearly 7,800 feedback cases on such littering between 1 July and 8 October 2023.
Surveillance cameras recorded about 140 acts of high-rise littering from over 80 residential flats in the same period.
Enforcement action was taken against 36 offenders, and four individuals were charged under the presumption provision after failing to justify why it should not apply to them.
The Minister affirmed that high-rise littering is a serious offence and the agency will continue swift and firm enforcement against offenders.

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22 Nov 2023

Enhanced Action Against Drivers of Vehicles with Illegally Modified Exhaust Systems

Lim Biow Chuan asked whether the Traffic Police will monitor and take enhanced action against drivers of vehicles with illegally modified exhaust systems causing noise pollution on expressways like East Coast Parkway.
The Minister of State for Home Affairs clarified that enforcement is led by the Land Transport Authority, with penalties including fines up to $5,000 and possible imprisonment, and Traffic Police refer cases to LTA.
Lim Biow Chuan highlighted ongoing complaints from residents about noise from modified vehicles and suggested stricter enforcement or additional regulations to deter such behavior.
The Minister of State responded that agencies conduct joint operations and work with communities to address specific area complaints, with the National Environment Agency adopting more stringent noise guidelines.
Gan Thiam Poh inquired about noise level guidelines between modified vehicles and sports cars, and the Minister confirmed existing guidelines and stressed inter-agency collaboration.

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22 Nov 2023

Measures to Tackle Rising Number of Telegram Channels Selling Sexually Explicit Materials

The Government has updated laws, including the Online Criminal Harms Act, to allow police to issue directions to online platforms like Telegram to disable access to non-consensual sexually explicit materials in Singapore, with penalties for non-compliance.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority enforces a Code of Practice for Online Safety, requiring designated social media services to minimize harmful content, and may expand this to include Telegram if necessary.
There is a need for upstream measures, such as education and campaigns to foster respectful culture between genders and support for survivors of sexual crimes, alongside specialized police units for better victim management.
Parliamentary questions raised include exploring age verification mechanisms to protect minors from accessing harmful apps, which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Communications and Information and IMDA.

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22 Nov 2023

Allowing Private Hire Car and Taxi Drivers to Install Passenger Facing Video Recorders with Audio Functions

The Land Transport Authority already allows drivers to install authorized passenger-facing video recorders with audio functions, provided they are installed at approved centers and with prior permission.
To protect privacy, recordings can only be accessed for official investigations and must be stored securely, while vehicles must display notices to inform passengers of the devices.
Drivers are prohibited from using unauthorized devices like personal phones to record, and passengers must be informed so they can choose not to use such a vehicle.
The government encourages mutual respect between drivers and commuters, and drivers can seek recourse under harassment laws if passengers record and share videos without consent.

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22 Nov 2023

Adoption Rate and Effectiveness of ScamShield in Preventing Scams

ScamShield has been launched on iOS and Android, with about 750,000 downloads by October 2023, and has blocked approximately 80,000 scam-tainted phone numbers and flagged around five million potential scam SMSes since March 2022.
The government is enhancing ScamShield to improve user reporting and detection accuracy, and it works alongside telcos and other agencies to block scam calls and lines, with over 3,700 mobile lines and 180 million scam calls blocked in the first half of 2023.
While ScamShield does not cover social media or email platforms, the government uses other measures like the Online Criminal Harms Act and coordination with platform operators to remove scam accounts, and it complements banking apps’ anti-malware features to protect users from different scam vectors.

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7 Nov 2023

Checks on Foreigners Working Illegally as Food Delivery Riders

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked about routine checks, penalties for platforms, stricter penalties for abettors, and the number of cases of illegal food delivery by foreigners apprehended to date.
Minister Tan See Leng stated that the Ministry of Manpower relies mainly on complaints to detect illegal foreign food delivery riders, with 163 complaints received from 2018 to 18 October 2023, leading to enforcement actions against 10 foreigners.
Platforms or parties that abet illegal employment face penalties including a fine of up to $20,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

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7 Nov 2023

Regulating Do-it-yourself Aesthetic Injectable Kits

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked if the Health Sciences Authority will regulate do-it-yourself aesthetic injectable kits and require qualified medical practitioners to administer them for patient safety.
Ong Ye Kung stated that dermal fillers and botulinum toxin injections are registered health products and must only be administered by qualified medical practitioners to ensure safety, advising against DIY kits.
The Health Sciences Authority monitors websites and e-commerce platforms to remove listings of DIY injectable kits, with penalties including fines up to $50,000 and/or two years' imprisonment under the Health Products Act.

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7 Nov 2023

Impact of Public Defender's Office on Cases Taken Up by Criminal Legal Aid Scheme

Ms He Ting Ru asked about the impact of the Public Defender's Office on the number of cases taken by the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.
Minister K Shanmugam referred to a previous reply on November 7, 2023, for the answer.
The previous reply details the cases undertaken by the Public Defender's Office.
The discussion highlights the interaction between the two legal aid services.
The response indicates the matter was previously addressed in parliamentary records.

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7 Nov 2023

Ratio of Full-time SPF National Servicemen to Population and Statistics of Volunteer Special Constabulary Officers

Murali Pillai asked for the ratio of local population to full-time SPF National Servicemen and the number of Volunteer Special Constabulary (VSC) officers recruited annually since 2018.
The Minister provided Table 1 showing the ratio of full-time national servicemen to population each year from 2018 onward.
Table 2 listed the total number of VSC and VSC (Community) officers recruited each year since 2018.
The VSC (Community) vocation, launched in 2018, aims to expand public participation in volunteer policing, focusing on patrol, crowd control, and community engagement.

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7 Nov 2023

Collaborations with Foreign Counterparts Against Scams

The Ministry of Home Affairs is engaging foreign counterparts bilaterally and through multilateral forums like ASEAN, INTERPOL, and the Global Anti-Scam Summit to combat scams and recover funds.
Efforts focus on enhancing cross-border enforcement and asset recovery by sharing Singapore’s Anti-Scam Command model to enable quicker seizure of funds across jurisdictions.
The ministry is urging online platforms to implement upstream safeguards like user verification and seeks international collaboration to collectively pressure these platforms.
Singapore continues to exchange information on emerging scam tactics and strategies with foreign partners to strengthen global anti-scam measures.
The transnational nature of scams requires cooperation beyond public and private sectors, necessitating joint action across different countries.

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7 Nov 2023

Coverage of Shared Responsibility Framework Against Phishing Scams

Ms Sylvia Lim asked about banks' compliance with the four anti-scam duties under the Shared Responsibility Framework (SRF) and the number of phishing scam cases involving potential breaches by banks in the past two years, as well as the average and median losses for victims.
Lawrence Wong, for the Prime Minister, explained that the SRF assigns a "waterfall" of accountability where financial institutions (FIs) and telcos are primarily responsible for compensating victims if they breach duties, with customers only bearing losses if both parties fully discharge their duties.
MAS estimated 15,000 phishing scam cases from 2021 to mid-2023, with an average loss of about $3,900 per case, but does not currently track cases involving potential FI breaches—this will be monitored under the SRF going forward.
The government noted that while phishing scams have risen, their proportion of total scams has declined, and average losses have decreased by 20%, with banks also offering discretionary goodwill payments beyond the SRF framework.
The SRF is part of broader measures to combat scams, including bank initiatives and MAS oversight, with ongoing efforts to enhance security for all customers, including seniors with limited digital literacy.

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7 Nov 2023

Timeline to Ban Transport of Workers on Back of Lorries

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for an update on a timeline to ban workers from being transported on the back of lorries after a meeting in October 2023.
Chee Hong Tat responded on behalf of the Minister for Transport, reaffirming the government's commitment to improving road user safety.
He stated that the government is working with industry and civil society to develop practical solutions for the issue.
He indicated that further updates will be provided once ready, without committing to a specific timeline.

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7 Nov 2023

Hardware Tokens as Option for Bank Customers to Enhance Security of Online Banking

Sylvia Lim asked which retail banks in Singapore have phased out hardware tokens and whether the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) should mandate their availability to enhance online banking security.
Lawrence Wong, speaking for the Prime Minister, stated that major local and foreign banks in Singapore, including DBS, OCBC, UOB, Maybank, and HSBC, still offer hardware tokens upon customer request, so MAS does not need to mandate their provision.
He noted that hardware tokens are not foolproof, as they can still be compromised through phishing where users are tricked into sharing one-time passwords with scammers.
MAS is collaborating with the banking industry to strengthen online banking security and has directed banks to adopt authentication methods more resistant to both phishing and malware attacks.

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7 Nov 2023

Review of Procedures, Equipment and Training Following Death of Late SCDF NSF SGT1 Edward Go

The Minister confirmed that a detailed After-Action Review was conducted into the firefighting operation that led to the death of NSF SGT1 Edward Go, which also audited over 260 recent operations and found some individual lapses in safety compliance.
New measures were implemented, including establishing Staging and Breathing Apparatus Control Officer control points for all residential fires, and issuing Body Worn Cameras to all Section Commanders by March 2024 to improve post-incident review and real-time sensemaking.
The SCDF will progressively deploy next-generation breathing apparatus with telemetry and automatic distress alerts from mid-2024, enhancing monitoring of firefighters' air capacity and safety.
Enhancements are being made to the selection and training of ground commanders, including stress-testing command-and-control capabilities and reinforcing command responsibility.
NSFs deployed as firefighters must meet specific medical and physical fitness standards, with training conducted using live fire simulators and ongoing proficiency tests to ensure safety and readiness.

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7 Nov 2023

Investigation into Potential Poisoning of Dogs at Parry Avenue Field

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development about steps to investigate the potential poisoning of dogs at Parry Avenue Field and whether the findings would be made public.
Desmond Lee stated that investigations into the dog deaths linked to the field are ongoing, with NParks collaborating with agencies to collect environmental samples and monitor the area.
NParks has spoken with affected dog owners and veterinarians to gather medical and epidemiological information and reached out to other local veterinarians and dog owners but has received no reports of similar cases.
The government aims to complete investigations as soon as possible and will share the findings with the public when ready.

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7 Nov 2023

Fraud Related to Issuance of bizSAFE Certificates for Workplace Safety

Melvin Yong asked the Minister for Manpower about the number of fraud cases, trends, and prevention plans related to bizSAFE certificates for workplace safety over the past five years.
The Ministry of Manpower and Workplace Safety and Health Council reported only one case of forged bizSAFE certificates in the past five years, which is under police investigation.
Both agencies take fraud seriously as it undermines workplace safety standards and misleads companies and the public, and they have issued a bulletin advising companies to verify bizSAFE status through the official portal and report discrepancies.

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