Public safety & law — Topics

28 Nov 2022

Annual Cases of Abuse and Assaults against Bus Captains

The Ministry of Transport reported 26 substantiated abuse cases against bus captains in 2018, rising to 52 in 2019, 50 in 2020, 35 in 2021, and 27 in 2022, with perpetrators facing penalties under the Protection from Harassment Act and Penal Code, including jail and fines.
Protective barriers in buses were trialed but discontinued due to driver feedback about glare posing safety risks, while the government emphasized a zero-tolerance stance and a tripartite approach with operators and unions to deter abuse.
Transport workers’ union representative Melvin Yong noted a downward trend but raised concerns about recent cases and suggested reviewing penalties, with the ministry indicating openness to reviewing deterrents if needed and promoting a more gracious commuting culture.

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28 Nov 2022

Measures to Prevent and Manage Risks from Crowd Surges during Festive Periods and Public Events

The Singapore Police Force collaborates with event organizers under the Public Order Act, requiring notification for large public or private events, and implements crowd management plans that include monitoring, deploying security personnel, and regulating crowd flow at key areas.
Indoor venues are regulated by the Singapore Civil Defence Force under the Fire Code, which sets occupant load limits and requires sufficient egress capacity, with higher-risk premises needing a Fire Safety Manager.
Authorities analyze global incidents and regularly review policies to enhance safety, emphasizing proactive crowd monitoring, use of technology, and public awareness campaigns to prevent overcrowding and ensure safe dispersal after events.

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28 Nov 2022

Regulation of Ownership of Personal Mobility Aids to Prevent Their Misuse and Abuse

Ms. Carrie Tan asked how the ownership of personal mobility aids (PMAs) is regulated, what steps will be taken to tighten ownership requirements to prevent misuse, how compliance with safety standards is monitored, how the public can report misuse, and what enforcement actions follow such reports.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary explained that LTA regulates PMAs for safety on public paths, setting speed limits and seat requirements, with enforcement actions including fines up to $10,000 and device impoundment; the public can report misuse via the MyTransport.SG app or email, and the Active Mobility Advisory Panel will review PMA rules.
Ms. Tan sought clarification on reporting specific misuse cases, such as ferrying passengers, and the subsequent enforcement actions, to which the response detailed that reports can include videos, photos, or information, leading LTA to identify hotspots for targeted enforcement.

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9 Nov 2022

Including Mandatory Treatment Order in Sentencing Options for Animal Cruelty and Abuse Cases

Mr. Louis Ng asked the Ministry for National Development to consider including Mandatory Treatment Orders (MTOs) as a sentencing option for animal cruelty and abuse cases.
Desmond Lee explained that MTOs are already a sentencing option for offenders with psychiatric conditions that contributed to the offence, subject to meeting certain conditions.
He noted that MTOs have been used in past animal cruelty cases, with the courts deciding on their appropriateness on a case-by-case basis.

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9 Nov 2022

Ensuring Fair Outcomes for Individuals Facing Corporate Claims at Small Claims Tribunal

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked if studies have been conducted on the education and English literacy levels of individual respondents in Small Claims Tribunal cases, and what measures ensure fair outcomes when such individuals face corporate entities with legal resources.
Minister K Shanmugam stated no studies are known on respondents' educational background or English literacy, and highlighted that SCT processes are designed to be fair regardless of parties' access to external legal advice or resources.
Legal representation is not permitted in SCT, proceedings are Judge-led, and the Judge guides parties on relevant issues and evidence, even if not raised by the parties.
In limited cases, SCT may allow representation for individuals unable to present their own case due to age, illiteracy, or infirmity, and parties may seek assistance from family, friends, or pro bono agencies for preparation, support, or note-taking.
Individual claimants or respondents can access free legal advice via the State Courts’ Community Justice Centre, Law Society Pro Bono Services, or community centres, and can get information from the Judiciary website or State Courts hotline and registry.

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9 Nov 2022

Review of Section 366(2)(i) of Companies Act 1967

Murali Pillai questioned whether section 366(2)(i) of the Companies Act should be reviewed to ensure foreign companies investing or holding property in Singapore are subject to disclosure requirements on beneficial ownership to combat money laundering.
Lawrence Wong explained that foreign companies are only required to register with ACRA and disclose beneficial ownership if they actively carry on business in Singapore, with passive investment or property holding exempted under the current calibrated approach.
He emphasized that the government maintains other safeguards, such as requiring financial institutions and professionals to collect beneficial ownership information, which law enforcement agencies can access to deter money laundering.

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9 Nov 2022

Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill

The Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill aims to regulate online communication services, such as social media platforms, to protect users—especially children—from harmful or "egregious" content, including material promoting suicide, violence, terrorism, and cyberbullying, by requiring platforms to implement safety measures and comply with government directions to disable access to such content.
During the debate, members of parliament broadly supported the bill but raised concerns about the practical implementation, such as defining "egregious" content, regulating private messaging, enforcing compliance on foreign platforms, and ensuring swift removal of harmful material, while emphasizing the need for age verification and public education to complement legislation.
The Minister for Communications and Information responded by clarifying that the bill targets widely used services with significant reach in Singapore, excludes private communications due to privacy concerns, and plans ongoing consultations and updates to address evolving online risks, while highlighting existing support systems for victims and public-private partnerships for online safety education.

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9 Nov 2022

Educating Businesses on Protection of Customers' Data and Enhancing Punishment Against Hacking

Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether IMDA can do more to educate businesses on protecting customer data from hacking and if penalties for illegal hackers can be enhanced.
The Senior Minister of State responded that existing laws and agencies like PDPC and CSA provide resources, toolkits, and programs to guide businesses on data protection, and penalties under the Computer Misuse Act include fines and imprisonment, with stricter penalties for repeat offenders.
Lim Biow Chuan raised concerns about ongoing data breaches and asked if enough is being done, prompting a reply that the PDPA was updated in 2020 to increase penalties and emphasize accountability, with PDPC publishing breach decisions to promote transparency and best practices.
When asked specifically about hackers being caught and punishments, the Senior Minister of State noted the Computer Misuse Act was last amended in 2018 and offered to address specific cases via a separate parliamentary question.

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8 Nov 2022

Average Number of Fines Issued Each Year for Failure to Wear Seat Belts

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the average number of fines issued each year for failing to wear seat belts in front and rear seats for 2010, 2015, and 2020 to 2022.
K Shanmugam replied that from 2010 to 2022, an average of about 2,639 fines per year were issued for failing to wear seat belts, combining composition sums by Traffic Police and court fines.
The government does not track whether offenders were seated in the front or rear of the vehicle, so separate averages for front and rear seats are unavailable.

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8 Nov 2022

Share of Violent Offences Committed by Juveniles and Gang-related from 2000 to 2020

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim requested statistics from 2000 to 2020 on the share of violent offences committed by juveniles and those that were gang-related.
Minister K Shanmugam clarified that violent offences are defined as rioting-related offences and serious hurt under specific Penal Code sections, with statistics only available from 2009 onward.
Data from 2009 to 2021 shows a general decline in violent offences, with juvenile involvement decreasing but rising in 2021, and gang-related offences hovering between 15% and 25%.

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8 Nov 2022

Bringing Forward Decision to Increase Home Team Officers' Retirement Age to 58 by 2030

Murali Pillai suggested accelerating the planned increase to the Home Team officers' retirement age of 58 by 2030 to address manpower shortages.
K Shanmugam explained that the retirement age is being raised progressively from 55 to 56, with full implementation by 2030, to manage manpower flow, hiring, and organizational renewal, while offering re-employment where needed.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is using technology and community partnerships to enhance productivity, but still requires a sufficiently sized workforce to maintain Singapore's safety and security.

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8 Nov 2022

Staff Turnover Rate amongst White-collar Crime Investigation Officers

The average staff turnover rate among white-collar crime investigation officers in the Commercial Affairs Department over the past five years was 6%, with 94% of departures due to resignations and 6% due to retirements, half of whom were re-employed.
The Singapore Police Force provides extensive training and development opportunities, including specialized courses and external postings, while also offering competitive compensation with a recent salary adjustment of 3% to 10%.
To manage heavy caseloads and support retention, the Police have introduced tools like the Digital Forensic Kiosk to improve efficiency in investigating complex cases.

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8 Nov 2022

Mean and Median Time between Arrest for Capital Offence and Access to Counsel Given

The Minister for Home Affairs stated that the Home Team does not track data on the mean or median time between arrest for a capital offence and access to counsel.
The right to counsel must be granted within a "reasonable time," which is determined case-by-case to balance the accused's rights with the need for thorough investigations.
Safeguards include video-recorded interviews for certain crimes, the Public Defender's Office, and existing schemes like CLAS and LASCO to provide legal aid.
The criminal justice system aims to uncover the truth, expecting accused persons to tell the truth and law enforcement to conduct fair and objective investigations.

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8 Nov 2022

Impounding Passports of Ex-inmates Released from Prison

Law enforcement agencies may impound passports under section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code to facilitate investigations if there are reasonable grounds to believe the individual has committed an offence.
Passports can also be impounded as a condition of bail or personal bond under section 94 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The power to impound passports extends to recovering duties or taxes under Acts such as the Stamp Duties Act, Income Tax Act, and Goods and Services Tax Act.
These provisions apply to all individuals, including ex-inmates, and any application for release is assessed case by case.

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8 Nov 2022

Mandating Use of Fire-rated Glass for Windows of High-rise Buildings and HDB Flats

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether HDB should use or mandate fire-rated glass for windows of high-rise buildings and HDB flats to prevent glass shatter during fires.
The Fire Code currently requires fire-rated glass only for building features that compartmentalise spaces, such as doors and interior partitions, not for windows.
The Ministry explained that windows are not considered a fire spread risk, and SCDF records show no injuries from glass shatter during fires, as incident sites are cordoned off.
Therefore, the government does not plan to mandate fire-rated glass for windows in high-rise buildings or HDB flats.

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8 Nov 2022

Enhancing ScamShield with Improved Anti-scam Measures and Accessibility to Vulnerable Groups

The Minister confirmed that ScamShield remains relevant as an additional protective layer alongside telco-implemented anti-scam filters, with ongoing enhancements to improve its reporting and blocking capabilities.
The Government is actively promoting ScamShield downloads among vulnerable groups through grassroots outreach, senior citizen engagement sessions, and public publicity campaigns.
To support businesses, the Singapore SMS Sender ID Registry (SSIR) will become mandatory from 31 January 2023, with reduced registration fees to make it more affordable for smaller organisations.

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8 Nov 2022

Impact of Warnings from Law Enforcement Agencies and Acquittals in Criminal Cases on Migrant Workers' Ability to Work in Singapore

Leon Perera asked whether migrant workers who received warnings from law enforcement or were acquitted in criminal cases are automatically barred from working in Singapore.
The Ministry of Manpower emphasized that Singapore’s law and order takes precedence over the interests of foreign work pass holders.
Migrant workers are not automatically barred, but MOM assesses each case based on the circumstances and seriousness of the actions leading to a warning or acquittal.

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8 Nov 2022

Sale of Counterfeit Healthcare Products in Online Marketplaces

Over the past five years, the Health Sciences Authority received an average of about three complaints per year regarding the sale of counterfeit healthcare products on online marketplaces.
Consumers who have been duped into buying these products can lodge a complaint with the Consumer Association of Singapore or take civil legal action against the seller in the Small Claims Tribunals or Singapore Courts.
Anyone caught selling counterfeit health products online can be fined up to $100,000 and/or jailed for up to three years, indicating enforcement action is taken against the seller.

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8 Nov 2022

Rest Period for Workers Designated to Drive Their Colleagues

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked how the Ministry of Manpower will enforce a 30-minute rest period for workers who drive colleagues after six hours of onsite work, what penalties apply for non-compliance, and what constitutes a rest period.
Tan See Leng stated that compliance will be monitored through workplace safety inspections, accident investigations, and joint checks with the Land Transport Authority and Traffic Police, with regulations enhanced by January 2023.
Employers who fail to provide the rest period face financial penalties of up to $20,000 under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, and workers can report issues confidentially to MOM or the Migrant Workers Centre.
The mandated 30-minute rest period is a protected time for dual-role drivers to rest physically and mentally, without performing any work-related tasks.

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8 Nov 2022

Review of Penalties for Animal Abuse Offences under Animals and Birds Act

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for an update on the review of penalties for animal cruelty and abuse under the Animals and Birds Act and when it would be completed.
Desmond Lee confirmed that the government is reviewing the Act to strengthen safeguards for animal health, welfare, and public safety, which includes reviewing penalties to deter cruelty.
The review will involve public and stakeholder consultations with veterinarians, animal-related businesses, and animal welfare groups.
Further details on the review proposals and timeline will be shared once they are ready.

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