Public safety & law — Topics

6 Nov 2023

Review Procedures at Singapore Sports School to Protect Safety and Well-being of Students

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum asked the Minister to confirm if the Ministry is reviewing Singapore Sports School (SSP) policies to ensure student safety, staff training, and breach detection mechanisms.
Edwin Tong recounted the tragic death of student-athlete Pranav Madhaik, who suffered a cardiac arrest after a training session, and stated the coach was dismissed for failing to follow safety protocols.
MCCY and SSP affirmed their commitment to student-athlete safety, detailing existing policies, staff certifications, and safety validations, but acknowledged a need for further review following the incident.
An expert panel is being formed to conduct a thorough review of SSP's safety policies and protocols, with aims to strengthen areas like pre-admission screening and implementation, to be completed by year-end.
The Minister expressed condolences to Pranav's family and emphasized ongoing support for the student-athletes and staff, with progressive implementation of any improvements identified.

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4 Oct 2023

Offences under Part 3B of Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act 2003

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Trade and Industry about the number of prosecutions and the average and highest fines for offences under Part 3B of the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act 2003 over the past five years.
Part 3B of the Act deals with offences related to obstructing the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore’s investigation into potential unfair business practices.
The Minister, Gan Kim Yong, stated that to date, no supplier has been prosecuted in Court for an offence under Part 3B of the Act.
Consequently, there have been no cases to report on for the number of prosecutions, the average fines, or the highest fines meted out by the Court.
The response effectively answers that the count of prosecutions and the associated fines are zero due to the absence of any prosecutions to date.

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4 Oct 2023

Requirement for Building Owners and MCSTs with EV Charging Stations to Implement Additional Fire Prevention and Mitigation Measures

Melvin Yong asked whether building owners and MCSTs with EV charging stations will be required to implement additional fire prevention and mitigation measures amid the growing number of EVs and charging stations.
K Shanmugam responded that EV charging stations are assessed to be of low fire risk, with safety standards under Technical Reference 25 mandating regular maintenance, inspections, and automatic cut-off features during malfunctions.
The Fire Code already requires emergency isolation switches near EV stations and incorporates fire compartmentation, ventilation, and sprinkler systems in car parks to mitigate fire spread and support firefighting efforts.

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4 Oct 2023

Entitlement of Prisoners Serving Less Than 12 Months' Sentence to Vote in General Elections and Presidential Elections

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether prisoners serving sentences under 12 months can vote in General and Presidential Elections.
Chan Chun Sing, for the Prime Minister, responded that such prisoners are not entitled to vote due to safety, security, and operational concerns.
The government stated that providing voting facilities in prisons is currently not feasible.

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4 Oct 2023

White-collar Crimes, Scams and Cybercrime as Proportion of All Cases Reported to Police

From January to June 2023, white-collar crimes, scams, and cybercrimes made up about 75% of the 34,605 crimes reported to the Police.
The Police do not track the number of officers specifically assigned to investigate these crimes, but the force is lean and stretched, with one of the lowest officer-to-population ratios globally.
The number of such crimes, especially scams, has surged by over 400% in five years, while investigator numbers have only increased by about 7%, creating a resource disparity.
Investigations are complex due to sophisticated, transnational criminal networks using technology to move funds and evade detection, exemplified by large-scale cases like the recent money laundering operation.
The Police face challenges including officer burnout and the need to balance heavy workloads, and the trend of rising crime volumes is expected to continue without sufficient resource adjustments.

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4 Oct 2023

Inflation Impact on Assets Resulting from Billion-dollar Money Laundering Case Currently under Investigation

Mr Saktiandi Supaat questioned whether studies would be initiated to examine the inflation impact of the billion-dollar money laundering case on assets like real estate, and if not, why not.
Mrs Josephine Teo responded that the query relates to recent anti-money laundering operations and Singapore's framework, and referred to a previous Ministerial Statement dated 3 October 2023 that addressed the issue.
The debate highlighted concerns about potential asset price distortions from seized proceeds but did not indicate any new studies being planned by the authorities.

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4 Oct 2023

Police Reports Relating to Buskers

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of Police reports relating to buskers over the past five years and whether the Ministry reviews such reports for patterns of harassment or unfair business disadvantage.
K Shanmugam responded that the Police do not track the number of reports specifically related to buskers, as each report is assessed individually for law and order concerns.
He added that making a false report with the intent to annoy another person may lead to liability under section 182 of the Penal Code 1871.

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4 Oct 2023

Enhancing Awareness among Youths about Risks and Consequences Associated with Becoming Money Mules

The Minister outlined that the Police conduct public education events like the "Youths Against Scams" competition and collaborate with the Ministry of Education on school talks and events such as the Anti-Scam and Cybersecurity Makeathon to raise awareness about the risks of becoming money mules.
The Government has amended the Corruption, Drug Trafficking, and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act to strengthen enforcement against money mules, with the Police and Monetary Authority of Singapore working with banks to enhance advisories for customers, including youths, about account misuse liabilities.
Collaborative measures with financial institutions include enhancing advisory messages during bank account openings to deter youths from engaging in such activities, such as flagging risks when individuals open multiple accounts across different banks in a short period.

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4 Oct 2023

Measures to Address Irresponsible and Drink-driving in view of Hike in Road Accidents in 1H 2023

Murali Pillai questioned whether the 2019 deterrence strategy against irresponsible driving is effective given the rise in road accidents and fatalities in early 2023, and asked for specific steps to tackle drink-driving and protect elderly pedestrians and motorcyclists.
K Shanmugam responded that a longer monitoring period is needed to assess the 2019 amendments’ effectiveness but acknowledged the concerning increase in accidents and fatalities.
He stated that the Traffic Police have intensified a three-pronged approach of education, engagement, and enforcement to address the trends.
The government previously outlined measures in response to similar concerns raised by Melvin Yong in October 2023.
The debate emphasizes ongoing efforts to curb irresponsible and drink-driving while protecting vulnerable road users.

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4 Oct 2023

Societies (Amendment) Bill

The Minister of State for Home Affairs introduced the Societies (Amendment) Bill to strengthen the regulation of societies, enhance national security, and provide clearer public guidelines, citing the need to address gaps in the current Automatic Route for registration.
Amendments include empowering the Registrar to inquire into and reject Automatic Route applications if they pose national security risks, requiring specified societies to amend their rules for registration, and increasing penalties for offences.
Parliament members largely supported the Bill but raised concerns about constitutional alignment, potential overreach, foreign interference, and the impact on legitimate societies, with the Minister clarifying that most Automatic Route applications will still be processed without delays and that safeguards exist to protect national interests.

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4 Oct 2023

Free Trade Zones (Amendment) Bill

The Free Trade Zones (Amendment) Bill introduces a licensing regime for FTZ operators, regulates cargo handlers and agents with new data submission requirements, and enhances enforcement powers for customs officers to combat illicit activities like money laundering and trade-based crime.
The amendments aim to balance improved security and oversight with maintaining Singapore's pro-business environment, with phased implementation and transitional periods to minimize costs and operational disruptions for businesses, including SMEs.
While supporting the bill, some parliamentarians raised concerns about potential increases in business costs, the adequacy of penalties, the need for clear guidelines on suspicious activities, and ensuring the amendments effectively address evolving threats without undermining competitiveness.

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4 Oct 2023

E-bike Models Approved to Date

As of August 2023, 66 e-bike models have been approved, with 17 new models approved since January 2023, and about 26,300 e-bikes were registered from 2020 to 2022.
In the same period, 3,000 non-compliant e-bikes were detected, 10,900 riders were caught riding illegally on prohibited paths, and there were 380 road and 50 off-road accidents involving e-bikes.
The government is working with suppliers to increase approved models, enforcing fines for illegal use, and expanding cycling paths to 1,300 km by 2030, with construction starting in areas like Nanyang from 2024.

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3 Oct 2023

Security Measures to Prevent Scams Siphoning Off Funds from CPF Accounts

Leong Mun Wai questioned the CPF Board's reimbursement framework for scam victims, the lack of bank-like security measures such as transaction limits and kill switches, and suggested implementing proactive screening, transaction delays, and the ability to freeze online transactions.
Tan See Leng stated that Singpass Face Verification has been added for CPF e-services, withdrawals above the Full Retirement Sum are paid to verified bank accounts with SMS/email notifications, and no CPF savings have been lost directly from the system.
The CPF Board is considering further security measures based on industry solutions and public suggestions, but cannot disclose details for security reasons, and will continue collaborating with other agencies and banks to enhance member protection.
For victims of unauthorized CPF withdrawals, the CPF Board is assisting the Police with investigations to track down those responsible for the scams.

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3 Oct 2023

Youths Seeking Counselling and Mental Health Support after Succumbing to Scams

The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, stated that while data shows about 10,000 youths aged 10 to 29 were scam victims in 2022, neither the police nor the Ministry tracks how many actively seek mental health support afterward, making the true scale of the problem unclear.
Support for scam victims includes the Singapore Police Force’s Victim Care Cadre programme, which offers psychological first aid and referrals to community or professional resources, while youths with mental health needs can access various outreach teams and school counsellors.
There is no direct mention of a formal collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Home Affairs specifically for addressing the link between scams and mental health distress, though existing police and health systems provide indirect support.

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3 Oct 2023

Singaporean Prison Inmates Aged 21 and Above Serving Sentence of 12 Months or Less

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the number of Singaporean prison inmates aged 21 and above serving sentences of 12 months or less and not sentenced to death.
K Shanmugam responded that as of 31 August 2023, there were 418 such inmates.

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3 Oct 2023

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Singapore Police Force's Enforcement Work

Desmond Choo asked how the Singapore Police Force uses AI in enforcement, whether it has improved outcomes, and what its future role might be.
K Shanmugam responded that SPF uses AI to enhance operational effectiveness, such as analyzing seized devices for child sexual abuse materials and operating the ScamShield Bot to detect scam messages on WhatsApp.
He added that SPF will continue collaborating with agencies like the Home Team Science and Technology Agency and GovTech to explore and apply AI in its mission.

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3 Oct 2023

Steps to Prevent Money Launderers from Purchasing Luxury Cars in Singapore to Launder Money

Mr Murali Pillai inquired about measures to stop money launderers from using luxury car purchases in Singapore for laundering.
Mrs Josephine Teo directed the query to a prior Ministerial Statement on Singapore’s Anti-Money Laundering Regime dated 3 October 2023.
The referenced statement is expected to detail existing steps or planned actions to prevent such transactions.
This highlights reliance on established anti-money laundering frameworks and legislative updates to address specific vulnerabilities.
The exchange emphasizes parliamentary efficiency by referencing comprehensive prior responses rather than reiterating details.

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3 Oct 2023

Immigration Checks on Hand-carried and Checked Baggage of Travellers Arriving via Private Jets

Don Wee inquired whether the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority inspects both hand-carried and checked baggage of private jet travellers.
K Shanmugam confirmed that all such travellers are screened and their baggage may be examined.
He added that advance passenger information allows authorities to flag high-risk individuals for more thorough checks upon arrival.

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3 Oct 2023

Measures to Detect Ownership of Movement of Foreign Shares to Foreigners with Securities Accounts in Singapore

Don Wee questioned the Prime Minister on whether MAS requires SGX to monitor the transfer of foreign shares to foreigners with Singapore securities accounts and their subsequent encashment.
Lawrence Wong, responding for the Prime Minister, clarified that SGX's Central Depository only handles shares traded on SGX, not foreign shares traded on foreign venues.
He stated that securities brokers in Singapore must implement robust anti-money laundering measures, including customer due diligence and monitoring of suspicious transactions.
These brokers are also required to report any suspicious activities to the authorities in a timely manner.

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3 Oct 2023

Safety Precautions Adopted by Other Countries that Permit Passengers to be Ferried in Rear Deck of Lorries

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether the Ministry of Transport has studied safety precautions and restrictions in countries that allow passengers to be ferried in the rear deck of goods vehicles and if so, what they are and if they can be applied in Singapore.
Chee Hong Tat, for the Minister for Transport, responded that policies vary internationally, with countries like Thailand and some jurisdictions in the US and Canada allowing it subject to safety requirements such as passengers seated away from the vehicle edge.
He noted that Singapore has imposed additional safety measures since 2011, like canopies and higher side railings on lorries, which are not mandated in those countries.
The Land Transport Authority regularly studies international best practices and adapts them to Singapore's context, considering local circumstances.

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