Public safety & law — Topics

18 Sep 2023

Data Related to Safe Transportation of Workers on Back of Lorries

Miss Rachel Ong questioned whether data on worker transport safety, such as accident and fatality statistics, is included in Workplace Safety and Health assessments and bizSAFE renewal criteria, and if not, why and whether it could be incorporated.
The Minister for Manpower responded that such data helps employers conduct risk assessments but is not sufficient on its own; comprehensive risk management must follow the Risk Management Code of Practice, which covers hazard identification and risk minimization.
The Minister noted that bizSAFE renewal involves auditing a company's risk management, including whether they consider relevant data like safe transport information in their risk assessments.

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18 Sep 2023

Limit of 12 Hours a Day for Workers Driving Lorries with Workers in Rear Deck

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked how the Ministry for Manpower determines the 12-hour daily work limit for drivers of lorries carrying workers in the rear deck.
Dual-role drivers are covered under Part 4 of the Employment Act, which sets a 12-hour work limit per day and requires breaks after six continuous hours.
The Workplace Safety and Health Act mandates a 30-minute rest before driving workers in the rear deck and requires employers to manage fatigue risk with scheduled breaks.
Employers must conduct risk assessments and adjust work hours as needed based on the nature and intensity of the driver’s work.
Guidelines recommend shifts not exceeding 12 hours and advise rest breaks of 15 minutes for every two hours of driving.

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18 Sep 2023

Mandatory Installation of Close-circuit Television Cameras in Institutions Involving Children and Vulnerable Persons

Syed Harun Alhabsyi questioned if the mandatory CCTV installation in preschools and early intervention centres would be extended to other institutions serving children and vulnerable persons.
Masagos Zulkifli confirmed that residential facilities run, funded, or licensed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development already have CCTV cameras in common or high-risk areas, including those for children, persons with disabilities, vulnerable adults, and crisis accommodation.
For Day Activity Centres and Sheltered Workshops, almost all have CCTV cameras in common areas, with the remaining two planning to install them soon.

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18 Sep 2023

Sexual Offences Committed against Students in Schools and Penalties and Support Efforts in Place

Mr Alex Yam Ziming raised questions about the incidence, reporting obligations, penalties, support measures, and stakeholder collaboration in schools regarding sexual offences against students.
Minister Chan Chun Sing reported low numbers of such cases between 2018 and 2022, confirmed that schools must report offences to Police regardless of the perpetrator’s age, and outlined educational and corrective measures including suspension and counselling for offenders.
Schools provide timely counselling and support for victims, working with parents and partners like REACH to ensure intervention and monitoring.

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18 Sep 2023

Incidence and Causes of Heavy Vehicle Fires

Mr Melvin Yong asked about the annual number of heavy vehicle fires over the past five years, their typical causes, and whether the recent September 2023 fires shared common causes.
The Minister provided data showing lower fire counts in 2020 and 2021 likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with typical causes including frictional heat from worn brake pads, overheating components, or electrical issues.
Investigations into three unrelated heavy vehicle fires in September 2023 at West Coast Highway, Killiney Road, and Kranji Expressway are ongoing, so specific causes cannot yet be disclosed.

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18 Sep 2023

Police Officers Charged on 11 August 2023 for Criminal Breach of Trust-related Offences

Two police officers were charged on 11 August 2023 for criminal breach of trust by a public servant, with investigations starting on 13 July 2020 for Mohamed Bin Mohamed Jalil and 17 October 2020 for Mohamad Danial Bin Mohamad Nazali.
Mohamed Bin Mohamed Jalil was interdicted on half-pay from 16 July 2020 and Mohamad Danial Bin Mohamad Nazali from 22 October 2020, consistent with similar cases.
The interdiction on half-pay applied during the investigation period, but specific salary cut percentages or additional disciplinary actions were not detailed in the response.

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18 Sep 2023

Number of Motorcycle Casualties from January 2022 to June 2023 Involving Young Riders

Ms See Jinli Jean asked for the number and proportion of motorcycle casualties among young riders aged 18–24 and 25–29 from January to December 2022 and January to June 2023.
Minister K Shanmugam provided a table with the exact casualty figures for both age groups and periods.
The response included the proportion of young rider casualties relative to total motorcycle casualties for each period.
The debate focused on highlighting the impact of motorcycle accidents on younger riders in Singapore.
The exchange underscores the government's commitment to tracking and addressing road safety for young motorcyclists.

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18 Sep 2023

Tracking and Identifying Suspicious Transactions Involving Money Laundering Activities

Multiple MPs raised concerns about tracking and preventing money laundering through high-value retail, auctions, luxury goods, property, yachts, and other non-traditional assets, asking about current measures and additional steps.
Questions were posed about enhancing inter-agency and cross-border cooperation, including extending the COSMIC platform to regional banks and forming a multi-Ministry task force to strengthen monitoring.
Specific queries addressed the verification of employment pass applications, the use of landed homes in Sentosa Cove, and the role of professionals like estate agents, lawyers, and accountants in preventing money laundering.
Requests were made for data on suspicious transaction reports and prosecutions, as well as for better tools and training for real estate agents to conduct customer due diligence.
The Minister indicated that a comprehensive Ministerial Statement would be issued in October 2023 to address all the queries on Singapore's anti-money laundering framework.

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18 Sep 2023

Law Enforcement Officers Found Guilty of Corruption or Bribery-related Misconduct

Over the 2013 to 2022 period, 18 law enforcement officers were convicted of corruption or bribery-related offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Of the 18 convicted officers, seven were from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and seven were from the Singapore Police Force.
One officer from the Land Transport Authority was convicted, while none from the Central Narcotics Bureau were convicted during this period.

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18 Sep 2023

Probe into Suspicious Zakat Transactions at Al-Istiqamah Mosque

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim queried how suspicious zakat transactions at Al-Istiqamah Mosque were detected, the number and total value involved, and the measures to ensure proper accounting at the mosque and other centres.
MUIS detected the suspicious cash transactions on 19 June 2023 and is unable to disclose further details due to ongoing police investigations.
Governance rules and standard operating procedures for cash and digital zakat payments are in place, with regular training, audits, and reviews to maintain compliance.
Al-Istiqamah Mosque has temporarily suspended over-the-counter zakat collection, and MUIS will review and strengthen SOPs after the police investigation concludes.
MUIS encourages zakat payers to use cashless methods where possible to enhance security and accountability.

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18 Sep 2023

Investigation into Vehicular Accidents Upon Request Especially when Parties are Not Cooperating in Insurance Claims Process

Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked if Traffic Police will investigate vehicular accidents without injuries when parties do not cooperate in insurance claims.
K Shanmugam stated that police resources are limited and must focus on criminal offences and law and order.
He clarified that police should not handle civil matters like insurance claim disputes without injuries.

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18 Sep 2023

Update on Causes and Impact of 9 August Scrambling of Two RSAF F-16 Aircraft

The incident involved a Malaysia-registered civilian helicopter entering Singapore airspace without notification, prompting the RSAF to scramble two F-16 jets in accordance with standard operating procedures.
The helicopter was instructed to exit Singapore airspace, and while there was no imminent safety threat, the airspace closure around Changi Airport delayed 36 arriving and 8 departing flights.
Authorities assessed that the incident resulted from a navigational error rather than malicious intent, as the helicopter was contracted for photography near an oil rig.

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18 Sep 2023

Losses from Scams and Malware Fraud: Doing Right by Bank Customers

Ms. Sylvia Lim highlighted the rising prevalence and devastating impact of scams, urging the government to ensure banks treat customers fairly and expedite the long-awaited Shared Responsibility Framework for loss-sharing.
She proposed that Singapore adopt a model similar to the UK’s, where banks are required to fully reimburse scam victims (except in cases of gross negligence), and suggested additional safeguards such as reintroducing physical tokens for authentication and imposing stricter checks on high-risk transfers.
Minister of State Alvin Tan acknowledged the seriousness of scams and outlined Singapore’s three-pronged strategy (upstream measures, downstream bank actions, and public education), while noting that the government aims to release a consultation paper on the loss-sharing framework in the coming month.

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18 Sep 2023

Immigration (Amendment) Bill

The Bill introduces the New Clearance Concept to digitalise and automate immigration clearance using biometrics, aiming for faster and more secure processing at checkpoints and Changi Airport, while ensuring data privacy and accommodations for travellers with special needs.
It strengthens border controls by expanding the collection of advance passenger information to include bus operators, enabling No-Boarding Directives to prevent undesirable individuals from boarding conveyances to Singapore, and clarifying the Minister’s power to restrict entry for public health or security reasons.
The Bill removes the statutory right of appeal for Permanent Residents against certain decisions, aligning with other immigration passes, and clarifies the legal framework for losing PR status if a Re-Entry Permit expires without renewal within a prescribed period.

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18 Sep 2023

Bank Accounts Frozen for Suspected Involvement in Scam Activities

Mr Sharael Taha asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of bank accounts frozen for suspected scam involvement, how many belonged to individuals with only one account, how many were confirmed as involved in scams, and whether there is data on court applications to access frozen funds for basic expenses.
The Minister of State for Home Affairs stated that the Singapore Police Force freezes accounts only when there is suspicion of illicit activity and does not track whether frozen accounts are the owner's sole account or the time taken to unfreeze accounts after investigations conclude.
The Minister of State noted that account holders can apply to the Courts to withdraw money for legitimate expenses under the Criminal Procedure Code and advised those affected to approach their Investigation Officer for guidance on accessing funds for daily living.

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18 Sep 2023

Update on Investigations into Alleged Mistreatment of Children at Centres of Preschool Chain

The Ministry of State for Social and Family Development, Ms Sun Xueling, outlined a multi-layered safeguard system involving regulations, training, and enforcement, while announcing mandatory CCTV installation in all preschools by July 2024 to enhance child safety and investigation capabilities.
In response to the Kinderland incidents, ECDA will strengthen investigation protocols, review and potentially enhance penalties for errant operators, and work with training providers to improve educator training on prohibited and positive child management strategies.
The Ministry emphasized support for educators' well-being, including salary uplifts, removal of Saturday operations from 2025, and reviews of non-contact time, while ensuring whistleblowing channels remain accessible and that policies do not hinder reporting of wrongdoing.

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18 Sep 2023

Queries into and Lessons from Recent Billion-dollar Money Laundering Case

Multiple MPs raised pointed questions on the S$1 billion money laundering case, querying how such offences occurred despite robust laws, the effectiveness of suspicious transaction reports, and the adequacy of checks on high-risk individuals and properties.
The Minister of State for Home Affairs indicated that a comprehensive Ministerial Statement would be issued in October to address the wide-ranging queries across ministries, covering anti-money laundering framework enhancements, international cooperation, and public education.
Concerns were highlighted regarding the potential impact on Singapore's reputation as a wealth management hub, the need to balance anti-money laundering measures with business facilitation, and comparisons with other jurisdictions' regimes.

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3 Aug 2023

Construction of Higher Road Divider Barriers in Accident-prone Areas

Melvin Yong asked the Minister for Transport whether LTA will consider building higher road divider barriers in accident-prone areas to prevent serious injuries and fatalities from speeding vehicles.
The Minister, represented by Chee Hong Tat, stated that LTA regularly reviews accident data to identify high-risk areas and conducts detailed investigations for additional safety measures.
These measures include road improvements like traffic calming, signage, and safety barriers to prevent vehicles from crossing over, as well as education campaigns to promote safer behavior.
LTA and the Traffic Police will also collaborate to increase enforcement at these locations to deter dangerous driving and ensure compliance with traffic rules.

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3 Aug 2023

Conditions Determining Impounding of Arrested Person's Passport

Police may impound the passport of an arrested person if they are deemed a flight risk.
Flight risk is assessed based on factors such as the gravity of the alleged offence, the person’s roots in Singapore, their behaviour during investigations, and any prior attempts to abscond.
The decision aims to ensure the person remains available for legal proceedings.

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3 Aug 2023

Monies Lost to Concert Ticket Scams

Minister K Shanmugam reported that monies lost to concert ticket scams in Singapore were $84,000 in 2018, $66,000 in 2019, $9,000 in 2020, $3,000 in 2021, and $175,000 in 2022.
Losses from these scams have spiked in 2023, exceeding $518,000 between 1 January and 10 July alone.
The Ministry intends to educate the public and prevent such scams by referring to earlier written answers detailing measures to pre-empt the rise in concert ticket scams on e-commerce platforms.

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