Public safety & law — Topics

3 Aug 2023

Frequency of Enforcement Actions against Drink-Driving

Gan Thiam Poh asked about the regularity of drink-driving enforcement actions and the number of drivers caught since the last law review.
K Shanmugam stated that the Police conducts daily roadblocks across different locations to deter and detect drink-driving offences.
He noted that penalties for drink-driving were last reviewed and enhanced in July 2019, taking effect in November 2019.
The Minister referred Gan Thiam Poh to the Annual Road Traffic Situation Report on the Singapore Police Force’s website for detailed statistics.

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3 Aug 2023

Use of Fire Extinguishers at Lift Lobbies of HDB Blocks and Steps to Improve Community Fire Safety and Response

Ms Hany Soh asked about the usage of trial fire extinguishers in HDB lift lobbies since September 2022 and steps to improve community fire safety, but Minister Shanmugam clarified the trial only begins later this year and will roll out over five years.
The trial aims to install fire extinguishers in lift lobbies of every two HDB blocks and train over 80,000 residents in their use as part of SCDF’s ongoing fire safety efforts.
SCDF promotes fire safety through public education programs like the Community Emergency Preparedness Programme and Community Resilience Days, encouraging home extinguisher installation and awareness of common-area hose reels.
Residents can access fire safety tips and emergency information via the SCDF website or the Civil Defence Emergency Handbook, with SCDF committing to continued community engagement to enhance fire response.

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3 Aug 2023

Harnessing Technology for Better Road Safety Outcomes in Singapore

The debate highlighted that Singapore's road fatality rate, while low globally, is higher than cities like Hong Kong, London, and Tokyo, with a concerning rise in motorcyclist and pillion rider deaths in early 2023.
The Member of Parliament proposed mandating proven vehicle safety technologies, such as blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking, to reduce accidents, citing their effectiveness in other regions and potential long-term cost savings.
The Senior Minister of State responded that the government is already implementing technology, road design, and behavioral measures, and is studying the feasibility of mandating additional safety features like ABS for motorcycles while considering cost and industry readiness.

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2 Aug 2023

Companies Entering and Exiting Business Under Surveillance Programme since 1 January 2023

Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Manpower about the number of companies entering and exiting the Business under Surveillance (BUS) programme since 1 January 2023.
Ten new companies across industries like construction and manufacturing have entered the programme since that date and remain in it, with an average stay of about 18 months before potential exit.
Companies enter the BUS programme after serious workplace safety incidents or poor enforcement records, and must develop robust safety systems with ministry guidance to qualify for exit.
Participation in BUS suspends a company’s bizSAFE status and, for construction firms, disqualifies them from public sector tenders until they demonstrate improved workplace safety and health performance.

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2 Aug 2023

Reintroducing Heightened Safety Period with Extended Safety Measures Given Continued Occurrence of Workplace Fatalities

Miss Rachel Ong asked if the Ministry of Manpower will reintroduce a heightened safety period with extended safety measures due to ongoing workplace fatalities.
The Minister affirmed that workplace safety remains a priority, with the Ministry maintaining its stance post-exit from the Heightened Safety Period in May 2023, and noted early signs of improvement in major injuries despite fluctuations in fatalities.
The Multi-Agency Workplace Safety Taskforce is establishing most Heightened Safety Period measures as permanent safeguards and rolling out Safety Accountability, Focus and Empowerment measures to enhance accountability, training, and penalties.
New measures include requiring Chief Executives to account for safety lapses, training for company leaders, expanding the Demerit Point System to manufacturing, and mandating video surveillance for large construction sites, with intensified inspections planned.
The Minister emphasized collective responsibility, urging employers to implement robust safety systems, workers to follow procedures, and all to report unsafe situations, aligning with this year’s National WSH Campaign theme “Reporting Saves Lives”.

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2 Aug 2023

Cases of Disputes Between Neighbours over Second-hand Smoke and Enforcement Orders Sought and Successful

The Ministry of Law recorded 79 neighbour disputes over “causing excessive smoke” from 2018 to mid-2023, but did not track second-hand smoke cases specifically, with 31 resulting in orders, 37 withdrawn, 7 dismissed, and 4 ongoing.
Of 31 CDRT orders, seven applications for Special Directions were filed and only two were granted; one of these also involved a granted Compliance Bond, while an Exclusion Order application was later withdrawn.
The government noted low numbers of enforcement order applications and emphasised reliance on mediation, community norms, and voluntary resolution over formal enforcement, reflecting a broader neighbourhood harmony policy.

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2 Aug 2023

Measures to Pre-empt Rise in Concert Ticket Scams on E-commerce Platforms

The Ministry of Home Affairs and Singapore Police Force have implemented a multifaceted approach to combat concert ticket scams, including working with platforms to remove scam content, launching the Transaction Safety Ratings to inform consumers, and passing the Online Criminal Harms Act to enable stronger regulatory actions.
The effectiveness of these measures is ongoing, with improvements noted on platforms like Shopee and Carousell, while others like Facebook Marketplace lag in implementing recommended safeguards despite repeated engagements.
Public education remains critical, with advisories issued through partners like SingPost and Ticketmaster, and the public urged to use the "Add, Check, Tell" steps to protect themselves.

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2 Aug 2023

Permission for Persons on Bail to Leave Singapore

Bail in Singapore is set to secure the accused’s attendance, with the amount and conditions—such as surrendering a passport—varying per case based on factors like offence gravity, roots in Singapore, and prior flight risk, while income and net worth are considered as part of assessing overall financial ties and flight risk.
Persons on bail may leave Singapore only with permission from law enforcement agencies or the Courts, granted after evaluating the purpose, destination, duration of travel, and likelihood of return, and may involve increased bail or additional conditions like submitting a travel itinerary and remaining contactable.
Since 2022, the number of persons on bail granted permission to leave Singapore is not specifically tracked, though it is common for such applications to be approved if the authorities are satisfied the person will return.

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2 Aug 2023

Support for Hawker Stall Operators Facing False Food Hygiene Complaints Adversely Impacting Their Reputations

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) can enforce penalties under the Environmental Public Health Act for individuals who knowingly provide false or misleading information, with fines up to $10,000 or imprisonment for repeat offenders.
Hawker stall operators who suspect deliberate contamination or malicious intent in food complaints are advised to lodge a Police report to facilitate investigation.
The government acknowledges the adverse impact of false complaints on hawker stall operators’ reputations and highlights existing legal and police mechanisms to address such cases.

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2 Aug 2023

Companies Reported for Employing "Phantom Workers"

From 2021 to June 2023, MOM received about 2,000 reports of companies using "phantom workers" to inflate foreign worker quotas, with only 10% substantiated and referred for investigation.
The top three sectors for such companies were food and beverage, personal services (e.g., beauty salons and spas), and manufacturing.
Workers who suspect incorrect income tax due to phantom CPF contributions should inform IRAS with supporting documents for review, while those receiving unknown CPF contributions should report to the CPF Board.

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2 Aug 2023

Alleged Transactions over No-public Tender Leases of Maldivian Islands in 2014 and 2015 by Hotelier Ong Beng Seng

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether CPIB investigated alleged transactions involving no-public tender leases of Maldivian islands by hotelier Ong Beng Seng in 2014 and 2015, and if not, why.
Chan Chun Sing, for the Prime Minister, stated that CPIB generally does not comment on investigations due to operational considerations, but has made an exception for the ongoing probe into Minister S Iswaran.
The response did not provide specific details on whether CPIB was aware of or had investigated the alleged transactions involving Ong Beng Seng.

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2 Aug 2023

Authenticity of Quotations for Star Rate Items in Development Project under State Courts

Murali Pillai inquired about the authenticity of quotations for star rate items in the State Courts development project, asking if they came from the contractor or subcontractors and whether there was a proactive review following the previous year’s AGO report.
K Shanmugam stated that the quotations were provided by subcontractors to the project consultant, with independent checks by the consultant and other parties to ensure fair market pricing, but due to AGO’s concerns, a police report was lodged and investigations are ongoing.
The State Courts have implemented segregated duties, independent validations, and engaged in training and reminders to officers and contractors, while also adopting additional measures from the Ministry of Finance to strengthen controls.

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2 Aug 2023

Former Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone's Alleged S$650 Million Trust in a Singapore Bank Account

Ms He Ting Ru asked whether the Singapore government received any UK requests for assistance regarding Bernie Ecclestone's alleged S$650 million trust and what support was provided, while Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis inquired if MAS was satisfied with the bank's anti-money laundering measures.
Lawrence Wong, speaking for the Prime Minister, stated that the government does not comment on specific foreign assistance requests but confirmed that MAS, the police, and the Attorney General's Chambers collaborated with UK authorities on the Ecclestone case, with Singapore proactively sharing information to aid the investigation.
MAS conducted a 2017 inspection of the bank involved, finding room for improvement in anti-money laundering processes but no systemic weaknesses, and noted the bank had enhanced monitoring of Ecclestone's account since 2013.

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2 Aug 2023

Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment No 2) Bill

The bill amends the Constitution to allow oaths, affirmations, and statutory declarations to be administered and witnessed remotely via live video or television link, replacing the traditional requirement for physical presence.
It introduces safeguards such as identity verification, quality standards for electronic communication, and provisions for electronic signatures, while allowing flexibility for in-person processes to continue if preferred.
The framework aims to modernize legal procedures, support digitalization, and ensure integrity by addressing fraud risks, with details to be specified in subsidiary legislation and guidelines from the Singapore Academy of Law.

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2 Aug 2023

CPIB Investigation Involving Minister S Iswaran and the Resignations of Former Speaker and a PAP MP

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed two major issues: the CPIB investigation involving Minister S Iswaran and the resignations of former Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and MP Cheng Li Hui, emphasizing accountability and the PAP's standards of integrity.
Minister Iswaran was placed on leave and interdicted with a reduced salary of $8,500 per month after CPIB uncovered information warranting a formal investigation, which is ongoing; the Prime Minister clarified that CPIB operates independently but seeks his concurrence for investigations involving Cabinet Ministers.
The Prime Minister explained that the affair between Tan and Cheng was mishandled, as they did not end it despite counseling, leading to their resignations; he acknowledged regret in not acting sooner to protect their families and reduce public embarrassment.
Minister Chan Chun Sing provided details on CPIB's operational disclosures, the Code of Conduct for Ministers, and Public Service whistle-blowing policies, stressing that investigations follow legal protocols and that systems are in place to address misconduct.
The debate highlighted the government's commitment to transparency, zero tolerance for corruption, and humane handling of personal misconduct, while also addressing public concerns about delayed actions and the need for continual review of governance standards.

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2 Aug 2023

Measures to Mitigate against Concert Ticket Scams

The Ministry of Home Affairs is combating concert ticket scams through a multi-faceted approach, including working with platforms to remove scam content, public advisories, the E-commerce Transaction Safety Ratings, and the Online Criminal Harms Act, while urging the public to use the "Add, Check, Tell" scam prevention steps.
Desmond Choo suggested that concert operators could implement measures like non-transferable tickets or enhanced verification to protect Singapore's reputation as an entertainment hub, and requested data on total losses from such scams over the past five years.
The Minister of State responded that efforts to improve ticket security are ongoing in collaboration with organizers and platforms, and provided estimated scam losses from 2018 to 2023, with a significant increase in recent years, including $518,000 lost up to July 2023.

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2 Aug 2023

Progress on Consultation for Transporting Migrant Workers by Buses or Other Modes of Transport

The government acknowledges the safety concerns of transporting migrant workers on lorries and has introduced measures such as mandatory front cabin occupancy, canopies, higher railings, and stricter licensing to improve safety, resulting in a reduction in fatalities and injuries.
While recognizing the impracticality of an immediate ban due to operational constraints for SMEs, which could affect projects and livelihoods, the government emphasizes a collaborative approach with industry associations, NGOs, and unions to find workable solutions.
An interagency group already engages stakeholders to address challenges, and suggestions for a new work group with broader representation are being considered to explore timelines and subsidies for safer transport alternatives.

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2 Aug 2023

Processes Related to Investigations into Political Office Holders and Civil Servants, and Updates on Recent Cases

Multiple MPs raised questions about the CPIB investigation into Minister S Iswaran, seeking clarity on timelines, the Prime Minister's concurrence for formal investigations, and differences in handling compared to other ministers.
Key concerns included the lack of immediate public disclosure of Iswaran's arrest, calls for transparent guidelines on announcements involving political office holders, and queries about whistleblowing channels and civil servant protections.
The debate also touched on the need to potentially review the Code of Conduct for Ministers and clarify disclosure thresholds for meals and gifts received by officials.

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6 Jul 2023

Instant Messaging and e-commerce Platform Owners' Responsibility for Enabling Illegal Practices

The Ministry of Communications and Information collaborates with the Ministry of Home Affairs and other agencies to assess and enforce measures against illegal online activities such as illegal carpooling and sale of food delivery rider accounts.
The Online Criminal Harms Bill is being introduced to empower law enforcement to issue directions to online services suspected of aiding criminal offences, strengthening legislative clarity on platform obligations.
The Personal Data Protection Act governs data handling by all organizations, including food delivery companies, and enforcement actions can be taken for breaches, with expectations for companies to minimize data exposure and prohibit account sales.

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6 Jul 2023

Review on Inclusion of Wildlife Crimes in Organised Crime Act 2015

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Home Affairs if the Ministry is reviewing the inclusion of wildlife crimes in the Organised Crime Act 2015 and when such a review would be completed.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, in consultation with the Ministry of National Development, is reviewing whether to list wildlife trade offences as serious offences under the Organised Crime Act 2015.
The review is examining the law-and-order need and operational arrangements required for such an inclusion.
The review is expected to be completed by early 2024, and an update will be provided once ready.

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