Public safety & law — Topics

18 Apr 2023

Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill

The Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill was introduced to amend the Computer Misuse Act 1993.
The Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mrs Josephine Teo, presented the bill for its first reading.
The bill is scheduled for a second reading at the next available Parliament sitting and will be printed.

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18 Apr 2023

Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) (Amendment) Bill

The Bill aims to amend the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 and introduce related changes to other legislation.
It was presented by the Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mrs Josephine Teo, and read for the first time in Parliament.
The Bill is scheduled for a second reading at the next available parliamentary sitting and will be printed for further deliberation.

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10 Apr 2023

Ministry of Law

The Ministry of Law is enhancing Singapore's Rule of Law and legal institutions by strengthening the legal system, improving access to justice, and supporting economic development, including joining international conventions and organizations to uphold a rules-based order.
Recent reforms include empowering courts with remote hearings through the Courts (Civil and Criminal Justice) Reform Act 2021, establishing the Public Defender's Office to expand criminal defense aid, and simplifying family justice proceedings to reduce acrimony and safeguard children's welfare.
Efforts are underway to improve access to justice through mandatory mediation for neighbor disputes, a one-stop legal information portal, and industry programs for legal workforce development, including secondments and education reforms to prepare lawyers for the future economy.
Singapore is bolstering its legal and dispute resolution hub by deepening international relations, promoting the Singapore Convention Week, and updating IP and intangible assets legislation to support innovation and create economic value.
The ministry is leveraging technology, such as enhancing the Legal Technology Platform and developing a Digital Conveyancing Portal, while maximizing state property value through partnerships and rejuvenation projects to meet social and economic objectives.

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10 Apr 2023

Ministry of Home Affairs

The Ministry of Home Affairs outlined its strategy to address emerging threats including terrorism, sophisticated online scams and cybercrimes, psychoactive substances, and threats to racial and religious harmony, and is updating laws and forming new regulatory bodies to address these challenges.
The Home Team will leverage technology such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and automated clearance processes to enhance operational effectiveness, reduce risks, and improve efficiency across agencies like the Police, Prisons, and SCDF.
New legislation will be introduced to better protect against online criminal activity and to maintain racial harmony, while community engagement through SGSecure, anti-scam campaigns, and volunteer networks will be strengthened to bolster public vigilance and support rehabilitation of ex-offenders.

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22 Mar 2023

Ministerial Statement on Police Disclosure

Minister Shanmugam criticized Leong Mun Wai for making misrepresentations on Facebook after failing to respond during the parliamentary debate, and demanded he delete the post and apologize for abusing parliamentary privilege.
The debate centered on the disclosure of investigations into Lee Hsien Yang and Mrs Lee Suet Fern, with the Minister asserting they have absconded and lied under oath, while Leong argued the government applied a double standard by not naming individuals in the Keppel case.
Leong defended his use of the phrase "muddy the waters" as a call to focus on the core issue of fairness, but refused to withdraw his allegation, leading the Minister to consider further action for breach of parliamentary rules.

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22 Mar 2023

Rejection of Applications for Vocational Drivers' Licences due to Criminal Record

In 2022, 226 vocational licence applications (about 1.5% of 15,000) were rejected due to criminal records, and 72 out of 169 appeals against such rejections were approved, with LTA balancing public safety and applicants' chances to reintegrate.
LTA screens all vocational licence applications to safeguard commuters, considering the severity and nature of offences, but does not apply a fixed list of disqualifying offences beyond rape, murder, and kidnapping.
Appeals are assessed case-by-case based on factors like offence severity, timing, and mitigating circumstances, aiming to provide a second chance while ensuring passenger safety and public confidence.

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21 Mar 2023

Clarification by Minister of State for Home Affairs

The Minister of State for Home Affairs clarified a statement made during the Second Reading of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill on 21 March 2023.
The original statement indicated that arrests would not be made without confirmation, but this was corrected to specify that arrests would not proceed without reasonable suspicion.
The clarification emphasizes the importance of existing capabilities for quick testing while acknowledging that new substances require reasonable suspicion before action is taken.
The correction was formally circulated in Parliament to ensure accuracy in the official record.
The debate focuses on the procedural and legal standards for handling new and previously detected drugs under the amendment bill.

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21 Mar 2023

Forgery of In-principle Approval Letters for Migrant Workers

Louis Ng asked whether the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) investigates collusion between Singapore employers or agencies and overseas agents in forging in-principle approval (IPA) letters for migrant workers, and if not, whether it will start doing so.
MOM stated it conducts thorough investigations to identify parties involved in forgery cases and will check for collusion between local employers or agencies and overseas agents.
From 2018 to 2022, only one local employer was charged and convicted for forging IPA letters, and MOM will take enforcement action against any errant parties found complicit.

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21 Mar 2023

Traffic Accidents Involving Food Delivery or Courier Riders

Melvin Yong asked whether the Ministry of Home Affairs will collect data on traffic accidents involving motorcycles, power-assisted bicycles, and personal mobility devices used by food delivery or courier riders, and if the Traffic Police will increase road safety campaigns for these users.
K Shanmugam responded that the Traffic Police do not currently track the occupation of accident-involved road users but are enhancing public education efforts through partnerships with the National Delivery Champions Association and delivery companies like Grab and foodpanda.
The Traffic Police collaborate with the Ministry of Manpower, Workplace Safety and Health Council, and Land Transport Authority, including the Delivery Safety Workgroup, which released guidelines for delivery companies to improve rider safety through telematics, engagement, and risk reduction measures.

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21 Mar 2023

Motorists Charged for Obstructing Emergency Vehicles

Member He Ting Ru asked for statistics on motorists charged for obstructing emergency vehicles and a breakdown by vehicle type over the past three years.
Minister K Shanmugam explained the legal penalties, including composition sums and demerit points, and noted that no court charges were brought between 2020 and 2022.
The number of motorists offered composition sums was four in 2020, two in 2021, and zero in 2022, with a breakdown by vehicle type provided.

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21 Mar 2023

Outcome of Cases under Chapter 11 of Penal Code

From 2018 to 2022, Police investigated 389 cases under Chapter 11 of the Penal Code, with 61 prosecuted in Court while the rest were under investigation, issued warnings, or had no further action taken.
Police do not track the median time taken to investigate such cases, as duration depends on factors like case complexity and witness availability.
The Minister did not provide a breakdown of case outcomes beyond the number of cases prosecuted, as other outcomes such as warnings or no further action are part of the remaining cases.

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21 Mar 2023

Outcome of Children and Young Persons Investigated for Offences

Louis Ng Kok Kwang requested statistics from the Minister for Home Affairs on the outcomes for children and young persons investigated for offences over the last three years, specifically the numbers issued stern warnings, conditional warnings, charged with discharge amounting to acquittal, charged with discharge not amounting to acquittal, and convicted.
K Shanmugam provided data for 2020 to 2022, showing an annual average of 873 young persons under 16 issued stern or conditional warnings and 94 charged and convicted.
The Minister confirmed that no children or young persons were charged and obtained a discharge, whether amounting or not amounting to an acquittal, during the period.
The debate focused on accountability measures for youth offenders, highlighting the use of warnings as a primary intervention and the absence of discharge outcomes.
The statistics underscored the approach of balancing rehabilitation with legal accountability for minors in Singapore.

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21 Mar 2023

Circumstances under which Law Enforcement Agencies will Reveal Names of Persons Associated with Ongoing Investigation

Leon Perera asked about the circumstances under which law enforcement agencies disclose names of individuals linked to ongoing investigations and the safeguards in place when such information is publicly revealed.
K Shanmugam stated that the question had already been addressed in a previous oral reply in Parliament on 20 March 2023, referring to the specific case involving Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Mrs Lee Suet Fern.
The debate highlighted the need for transparency balanced with the protection of investigations and individuals, with official references provided for further details.

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21 Mar 2023

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill

The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill introduces a new framework to control psychoactive substances based on their effect rather than chemical structure, enabling faster enforcement against new psychoactive substances (NPS) and providing for their treatment and rehabilitation.
It also establishes a tiered punishment system for possession of selected controlled drugs (e.g., cannabis, heroin, methamphetamine), with higher penalties including caning for larger quantities to deter syndicates and address evolving drug trends.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill allows the Finance Minister to reduce the Contingencies Fund balance from $16 billion to $6 billion, ensuring fiscal discipline while maintaining readiness for urgent needs, with reports to be presented to Parliament.

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21 Mar 2023

Strengthening Governance of Madrasahs in light of Developments Relating to Recent Police Report Made by Madrasah Irsyad

The Minister outlined a series of governance and audit failures at Madrasah Irsyad, where unauthorised transactions between the madrasah and the related Irsyad Trust Limited led to a police report and court charges, prompting the madrasah to file a civil claim to recover losses.
MUIS has introduced sector-wide measures including a shared financial services centre, mandatory audit reporting, frequent leadership rotations, a whistleblowing procedure, and a pilot IT and data policy manual to strengthen governance across madrasahs.
A follow-up question raised concerns about the timeline from the 2014 transactions to the 2021 police report and the pace of implementing IT security measures, with the Minister explaining that discoveries were made through periodic audits and that IT upgrades are ongoing.

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20 Mar 2023

Investigation into Cause of Explosion at Audi Service Centre at 55 Ubi Road 1

Melvin Yong asked whether MOM is investigating unsafe workplace practices behind the 7 March 2023 Audi service centre explosion and when investigations might conclude.
Tan See Leng confirmed that MOM, BCA, and SCDF are jointly investigating, with the process expected to take a few months and possible prosecutions if wrongdoing is found.
MOM has instructed Premium Automobiles to halt all work with automotive oils and fluids and appoint a safety auditor to review their systems.
A WSH alert will be issued to workshops nationwide to remind them of safe handling practices for automotive oils and fluids.
Key learning points from the incident will be shared with the industry once the investigation is complete.

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20 Mar 2023

Mandatory Treatment Orders Issued in Animal Cruelty and Abuse Cases

Louis Ng asked the Minister for National Development about the number of Mandatory Treatment Orders (MTOs) issued for animal cruelty cases in each of the past five years.
Desmond Lee explained that MTOs are a sentencing option for offenders with treatable psychiatric conditions that contributed to their crime, and courts may impose them in appropriate animal cruelty cases.
The Minister provided a table showing the number of MTOs issued against animal cruelty offenders from 2018 to 2022.
The response clarified that MTOs are intended to address underlying mental health issues that may lead to animal abuse.
The debate highlighted the legal and therapeutic approach to handling animal cruelty cases through court-ordered treatment.

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20 Mar 2023

Efforts to Prevent Jaywalking and Improve Traffic Infrastructure for Safety of Elderly Pedestrians

Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Home Affairs how the Ministry would collaborate with LTA to prevent jaywalking and enhance traffic infrastructure, such as by adding more lifts in pedestrian overhead bridges, to improve safety for elderly pedestrians.
K Shanmugam noted that while accidents involving elderly pedestrians rose from 2021 to 2022, the 2022 figures are comparable to pre-pandemic levels and referenced past replies on Traffic Police and LTA cooperation to deter jaywalking.
He also mentioned that LTA has plans to progressively install more lifts at overhead bridges across Singapore to address safety concerns.

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20 Mar 2023

Data on Types and Sources of Reporting of Child Abuse Cases

The Ministry of Social and Family Development investigated about 2,070 child abuse cases in 2022, with 20% involving emotional or psychological abuse and 45% reported through the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline.
Child Protective Service refers cases to the Police for criminal investigation but does not make recommendations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for prosecution; aggravating factors like active concealment may affect sentencing if convicted.
Penalties for child abuse offences were last revised in 2020, with maximum penalties for offences against children under 14 enhanced to twice the standard Penal Code penalties.

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20 Mar 2023

Reporting Potential Unsafe Workplace Practices through OneService Mobile Application

Melvin Yong asked if the Ministry of Manpower will simplify public reporting of unsafe workplace practices through the OneService mobile app.
The Minister stated that reporting options already exist, such as the MOM hotline, WSH e-feedback portal, and LifeSG app.
MOM is exploring additional convenient reporting methods, including the OneService app suggestion.
Feedback from other government apps will be routed to MOM under the "No Wrong Door" policy.

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