Public safety & law — Topics

4 Jul 2023

Safeguards to Prevent Loss of CPF Savings Through Malware-related Scams

Since January 2023, over 700 malware scam reports have been received, with nine cases involving CPF withdrawals and a net loss of $124,000, leading to added safeguards like Singpass Face Verification for CPF e-services.
The scams typically involve victims downloading malware-infected apps from unauthorised sites and enabling accessibility services, which allows scammers to control their phones and steal credentials for unauthorised withdrawals.
The government is working with banks and other agencies on parallel initiatives, including a Shared Responsibility Framework and a public consultation paper in Q3 2024, to further protect against such frauds and explore insurance options.
Victims of these scams are primarily aged 55 to 80, and while the new face verification measure may add some inconvenience, it is deemed necessary to prevent losses, with ongoing public education on vigilance and safe app downloads.

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3 Jul 2023

Measures to Protect Elderly CPF Members against Scams Using Stolen Singpass Credentials via Remote Access

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked about measures to protect elderly CPF members from scams involving stolen Singpass credentials and remote access, including two-factor authentication or notifications before withdrawals.
Tan See Leng responded that the Ministry of Manpower will address malware-related scams in Parliament on 4 July, directing to an official report for details.
The debate highlighted concerns over CPF account security for the elderly and potential safeguards like additional authentication steps.
The response indicated that specific measures will be discussed in an upcoming parliamentary session.
The exchange underscores the need for enhanced protections against credential theft and unauthorized access to CPF funds.

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3 Jul 2023

Study on Spate of Technical Issues Affecting Scoot Airlines

Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Transport if CAAS has studied the recent technical issues affecting Scoot Airlines and what the findings were, and whether CAAS is working with Scoot to improve safety.
The Minister of Transport responded that MOT and CAAS take aviation safety seriously and investigate all incidents thoroughly to ensure safe operations.
The Minister stated that Scoot's current safety incident rate is similar to its pre-COVID rate and to the average of other Singapore carriers.
CAAS will continue to monitor, conduct safety audits, and inspect Singapore air carriers to maintain high safety standards.

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3 Jul 2023

Enforcement Actions against Errant Cyclists and PMD Riders in Orchard Road Area

Melvin Yong asked for statistics on enforcement actions against errant cyclists and PMD riders in Orchard Road over three years, the number involving foreign nationals, and plans to enhance safety awareness among these users.
Between June 2020 and May 2023, about 180 errant riding offences were detected in Orchard Road, including PABs and PMDs on footpaths, speeding, and riding pedal bicycles without handbrakes.
Of 100 identified offenders, only one was a foreign national, with other cases pending investigation.
The Land Transport Authority has run public education campaigns since 2016, such as the annual Move Happy campaign, and collaborates with the Singapore Tourism Board to educate tourists on riding rules.
The Ministry plans to continue these campaigns to promote safe riding norms and active mobility guidelines.

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3 Jul 2023

Assistance for Elderly Living Alone on Installation of Residual Current Circuit Breakers

The Minister outlined that all residential premises must have Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCBs) installed by July 1, 2025, with a grace period and potential fines for non-compliance.
HDB has conducted door-to-door inspections and free RCCB installations for older 1-room and 2-room flats built before 1985, with follow-ups for non-responsive residents.
The government will collaborate with grassroots leaders to assist elderly residents who may struggle with understanding notifications or instructions regarding RCCB installation.

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3 Jul 2023

Feedback on Implementation of Rules of Court 2021

Hany Soh asked whether the Ministry of Law has engaged legal practitioners for feedback on the Rules of Court 2021 and if it would share a consolidated report on its application.
K Shanmugam explained that the Rules Committee, chaired by the Chief Justice, oversees the rules, and MinLaw relays feedback to it while engaging the Bar on broader legal matters.
The Registries in the Supreme and State Courts have been engaging with the Bar through dialogues, conferences, and a Pro Tem Focus Group to gather and respond to feedback on the rules.
Feedback received is being reviewed, and where appropriate, refinements may be implemented through amendments to the Rules of Court 2021 and Practice Directions.

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3 Jul 2023

Persons Convicted of Assaulting Children in Learning Centres

From 2013 to 2022, 1,794 persons were convicted of serious hurt, ill-treatment, or sexual offences against children under 16 in Singapore.
Approximately 2% of these convicted persons were personnel in educational settings like schools, learning centres, tuition centres, or enrichment centres at the time of the offence.
The Minister for Home Affairs provided a yearly breakdown of the convictions in a table.

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3 Jul 2023

Actions Against Abuse of Public Healthcare Workers

Louis Ng asked the Minister for Home Affairs for data from the past five years on reported harassment or abuse of public healthcare workers, including the number of stern warnings, convictions, and protection orders issued.
K Shanmugam responded that there were 315 police reports from 2018 to 2022 but noted the Ministry of Home Affairs does not have data on protection orders, as victims apply separately to the Protection from Harassment Court.
The Minister provided a table with the breakdown of cases involving stern warnings and convictions but did not have figures for protection orders.
The debate highlighted challenges in tracking protection orders due to the separate judicial process involved.
Both speakers engaged on the issue of protecting healthcare workers, with the Minister providing available data while clarifying limitations on certain information.

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3 Jul 2023

Revocation of Car Insurance Policy for Non-payment of Insurance Premium Instalments

Lim Biow Chuan questioned if motor insurance companies can revoke policies for unpaid premium instalments and whether this leads to uninsured driving, noting that drivers found uninsured face fines, jail, or driving disqualification.
S Iswaran confirmed that insurers may cancel policies for breaches like non-payment after reminders or grace periods, and highlighted penalties for uninsured driving.
The debate underscores that policy revocation for non-payment is legally permitted and results in serious consequences for motorists who drive without insurance.

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3 Jul 2023

Rate of Recalcitrant Drink Drivers Caught for Drink Driving Resulting in Fatal Accidents, Injuries and Damage to Property

Melvin Yong asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the annual rate of recalcitrant drink drivers caught over the past five years and how many of those incidents led to fatal accidents, injuries, or property damage.
The Minister responded that the annual rate of repeat drink drivers was 22% in 2018, 24% in 2019, 20% in 2020, 21% in 2021, and 24% in 2022.
In the last five years, three repeat drink drivers were involved in fatal accidents, and 139 were involved in injury-causing accidents.
The Ministry does not track the number of drink-driving incidents that result only in damage to property.

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3 Jul 2023

Misuse of Personal Mobility Devices for Food Delivery Service

Murali Pillai asked whether there has been upstream engagement with food delivery platforms to address able-bodied riders misusing personal mobility aids meant for the elderly and handicapped, and what measures exist to discourage such misuse.
S Iswaran stated that the Land Transport Authority enforces rules to ensure safe use of personal mobility aids, including prohibiting road use and imposing a 10 km/h speed limit on public paths.
He added that the Active Mobility Advisory Panel is reviewing regulations for personal mobility aids and has engaged stakeholders, including food delivery platforms, to complete the review by year-end.

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3 Jul 2023

Oaths, Declarations and Notarisations (Remote Methods) Bill

The bill seeks to amend existing legislation to allow statutory declarations, certain oaths, affirmations, and notarial functions to be conducted remotely via video link, television link, or other electronic means.
The amendments aim to modernize legal processes by enabling remote participation, enhancing accessibility and convenience for the public.
The bill was presented by the Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Law and read for the first time, with a second reading scheduled for the next available sitting after August 1, 2023.

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3 Jul 2023

Update on CPIB Investigation into Seatrium

CPIB is investigating Seatrium and individuals for alleged corruption offences in Brazil, but no further details can be provided as the probe is ongoing, with the government reaffirming its zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
Temasek's capital injection into Sembcorp Marine during the pandemic was based on public disclosures and due diligence, with the decision driven by commercial considerations to protect jobs and value, without prior knowledge of the specific Brazilian allegations.
The government emphasises ongoing vigilance and engagement with portfolio companies like Seatrium to enforce anti-corruption standards, acknowledging that while controls are in place, corruption can remain hidden and requires constant review.

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10 May 2023

Campaign to Remind Pedestrians not to Use Mobile Phones and Electronic Devices While on the Roads

Lim Biow Chuan asked if the Land Transport Authority (LTA) would launch a continuous nationwide campaign to discourage pedestrians from using mobile phones or electronic devices on roads.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary responded that LTA, Traffic Police, and the Singapore Road Safety Council already run extensive education programs, including campaigns like the Move Happy Campaign and events targeting seniors, to promote pedestrian alertness.
Lim Biow Chuan raised concerns about the adequacy of current road safety education, citing recent court cases and driver feedback about distracted pedestrians increasing accident risks.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary agreed that more can be done, emphasizing a holistic approach that combines public education, road design improvements like Silver Zones, and shared responsibility among all road users.
Both sides stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance safety culture and reduce accidents through coordinated actions between agencies and the public.

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10 May 2023

Suspicious Property Transaction Reports Filed and Cases Linked to Money Laundering

Member of Parliament Louis Chua asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the number of suspicious real estate transaction reports filed and money laundering convictions linked to residential and commercial properties over the past five years.
The Minister of State for Home Affairs responded that the Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office does not publicly release detailed statistics on suspicious transaction reports and that the police do not track money laundering convictions by asset class.
Chua raised a supplementary question about safeguards for secondary market transactions once new anti-money laundering rules for developers take effect in June 2023, noting potential risks if bad actors shift to secondary markets.
The Minister explained that licensed housing developers must report suspicious transactions under the Developers (Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2018, which aligns with existing legal requirements to disclose matters suspected to involve proceeds of crime.

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10 May 2023

Number of Fatalities and Injuries from Falls onto LRT Tracks

Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked about the number of fatalities and injuries from falls onto LRT tracks in the past 10 years, and the Minister for Transport replied that there were two fatalities and one injury.
Ms Yeo raised concerns about safety at Punggol LRT stations, noting the installation of glass panels since 2018 but the absence of automatic doors due to space and technical constraints, and requested updates on technical breakthroughs or additional safety measures.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport confirmed that safety is a priority, with fixed barriers, tactile warnings, emergency equipment, and increased signage already in place, but platform screen doors are not currently feasible due to space limitations.
The Ministry is exploring new technologies for platform screen doors and is considering video analytics for early alerts if a commuter intrudes onto the tracks.

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9 May 2023

Inspections to Ensure Adequate Safety Measures to Prevent Heat Injuries and Punishments Meted Out

In response to Ms He Ting Ru’s questions, Minister Tan See Leng stated that routine and targeted inspections on heat stress management are conducted by MOM, with 497 worksites inspected in 2022 and enforcement actions taken against 25 companies.
He highlighted that heat stress management is a growing focus due to climate change, with checks on measures like shaded areas, water access, acclimatisation programmes, and worker training.
The Minister noted that work-related heat disorder cases have remained low at five or fewer annually over the past five years, and MOM will continue monitoring and engaging industries through forums and guidelines.

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9 May 2023

Data on Cyclists Taking up Third-party Liability Insurance

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked whether LTA tracks cyclists taking up third-party liability insurance since AMAP's 2021 recommendation and what steps are being taken to encourage its uptake.
Minister S Iswaran replied that LTA does not track such insurance take-up but mandates businesses to ensure their riders have coverage while providing educational materials to all riders.
He noted that education and enforcement efforts have contributed to a decrease in accidents involving active mobility devices from 162 in 2020 to 101 in 2022.

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9 May 2023

Plans to Raise Awareness Among Cyclists on Highway Code and Guideline for On-road Cycling Groups

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked about plans to raise cyclist awareness of traffic rules and guidelines for on-road cycling groups.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that cyclists must follow the Road Traffic Act, with penalties for unsafe riding, and noted stricter cycling rules introduced in January 2022.
The Traffic Police conduct outreach, such as partnering the Singapore Cycling Federation, and carry out enforcement with the Land Transport Authority.
The government will monitor the situation and increase outreach or enforcement as needed.

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9 May 2023

Result of Probe into 16 April 2023 Accident at Upper Thomson Road Involving Two Groups of Cyclists

Dennis Tan asked about measures to enhance cyclists' safety after an accident involving two groups, focusing on enforcing rules for group cycling and sufficient space when overtaking.
K Shanmugam stated that all road users, including cyclists, must use roads safely under the Road Traffic Act, with penalties for unsafe cycling ranging from fines and imprisonment to harsher punishments for injury-causing incidents.
Stricter on-road cycling rules were introduced in January 2022, including limits on group sizes and cycling abreast, with increased composition sums, and outreach efforts have been conducted to educate cyclists.
The Traffic Police and Land Transport Authority carry out enforcement operations against errant cyclists and will monitor the situation to increase outreach or enforcement as needed.

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