Public safety & law — Topics

14 Feb 2022

Update on Status of CPIB Investigation into Singaporeans Involved in Keppel Offshore & Marine Corruption Case and Actions Taken

The Prime Minister, via Indranee Rajah, stated that the Keppel Offshore & Marine case is complex and transnational, involving multiple foreign authorities and overseas witnesses.
Mutual Legal Assistance requests have been made to foreign authorities for additional information, and responses are still pending, with progress dependent on those authorities.
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau will continue to spare no effort in completing investigations against the individuals involved.

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14 Feb 2022

SMS Phishing Scams on Bank Account Holders and How Rapid Digitalisations in Financial Sector Could be Achieved without Compromising Security Against Potential Frauds and Scams

Sitoh Yih Pin inquired about the status of investigations into recent SMS phishing scams on bank accounts and the preventive steps regulatory authorities plan to take.
Liang Eng Hwa asked about lessons learned from the scams and how rapid digitalisation in the financial sector can proceed without compromising security against fraud.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam stated that the Prime Minister’s questions would be addressed through upcoming ministerial statements by Lawrence Wong, Josephine Teo, and Desmond Tan.

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14 Feb 2022

Requirement for Online Service Providers to Insert Advisories on Severe Penalty for Posts Relating to Illegal Drugs and Their Trafficking into Singapore

Gan Thiam Poh asked if online service providers could be required to insert advisories on posts about illegal drugs, highlighting the drugs' harmful effects and the severe penalties for trafficking into Singapore.
Josephine Teo affirmed Singapore’s strict zero-tolerance policy, noting that the Misuse of Drugs Act criminalizes trafficking and unauthorized import/export, including facilitation via digital means.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority blocks websites promoting illegal drugs, while social media platforms have policies against such content and users can report problematic posts.
Singapore’s strategy includes preventive drug education through the Central Narcotics Bureau, which offers programs, toolkits, and community advocacy to raise awareness and discourage drug use.
The government complements regulatory measures with public education to enhance vigilance against online drug-related content and support the anti-drug cause.

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14 Feb 2022

Number of Requests for Exemption from Vaccination Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS) at Workplace and Existence of VDS as Subsidiary Legislation

Mr Leong Mun Wai asked about the number of exemption requests from workplace Vaccination Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS) and the Ministry for Manpower's responses to them.
He also questioned whether the workplace VDS exists as subsidiary legislation and why it was introduced without parliamentary debate.
Minister Tan See Leng confirmed that the Workforce Vaccination Measures are subsidiary legislation under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, presented to Parliament in January 2022, following established practice for delegating details to Ministers.
The measures aim to ensure workplace safety by requiring vaccination for employees, with exemptions only for those medically ineligible, while unvaccinated employees may be redeployed or placed on no-pay leave instead of facing termination.
The Ministry strongly encourages unvaccinated but medically eligible employees to get vaccinated to protect their health and workplace safety.

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14 Feb 2022

Reported Cases of Sexual Harassment at Workplace in Past Five Years

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Manpower about the number of workplace sexual harassment cases reported in the past five years and the actions taken.
The Police handled 378 workplace sexual harassment cases between January and September 2021, investigating 305 and completing 154 cases, with 70 resulting in warnings and two in convictions.
TAFEP handles cases not meeting legal thresholds, requiring employer investigations and cooperation, and has managed about 10 reports annually since 2019, with all employers taking corrective measures.
The government urges employees to approach TAFEP or the Police for assistance with workplace harassment.

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14 Feb 2022

Number of Fights Amongst Migrant Workers in Dormitories in Last Two Years and Measures and Protocols in Place to Maintain Law and Order

There were about 550 cases of hurt, including affray and rioting, among migrant workers in dormitories from 2020 to 2021.
Dormitory operators must implement security measures like access control, CCTV, and security officers under MOM licensing conditions, while police collaborate with them on crime prevention and resident engagement.
Police assess situations upon response and take actions like physically separating parties to prevent escalation when tensions are high.

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14 Feb 2022

Hijacking of Aircraft and Protection of Aircraft and International Airports (Amendment) Bill

The Bill aims to modernise Singapore’s aviation security laws by acceding to the Beijing Convention and Protocol, which expand criminal offences to include using aircraft as weapons, transporting dangerous materials, and cyber attacks on aviation systems.
Key amendments broaden the scope of hijacking to cover aircraft “in service” and include technological means, introduce new offences for acts endangering aviation safety, and extend extradition and mutual legal assistance provisions.
Members supported the Bill but raised clarifications on industry compliance, penalties, and cross-agency coordination, with the Ministry affirming that existing security measures and the whole-of-Government approach would ensure effective implementation.

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14 Feb 2022

Gambling Control Bill

The Gambling Control Bill aims to consolidate and update Singapore’s gambling laws by repealing four outdated acts, including the Betting Act 1960 and the Remote Gambling Act 2014.
It introduces a unified legal framework to suppress unlawful gambling while regulating authorized gambling services outside casinos.
The bill also makes related amendments to the Casino Control Act 2006 and other relevant statutes to align with the new consolidated approach.

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14 Feb 2022

Update on Internal Investigations into Police Officers Involved in Parti Liyani v PP 2020 SGHC 187 Case

The Minister reported that the Internal Affairs Office completed investigations into the police officers involved in the Parti Liyani case, finding both the Investigation Officer and his supervisor neglected their duties, leading to a medium-range financial penalty and forfeiture of increments, concurred by the Public Service Commission.
The Minister emphasized that disciplinary actions are taken without scapegoating, considering officers' discretion and workload pressures, and stressed the need for fair treatment to maintain public confidence and a strong institution.
In response to concerns about officer workload and stress, the Minister acknowledged manpower challenges and high morale, highlighting existing avenues for feedback and leadership support, but noted limited additional measures due to resource constraints.

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14 Feb 2022

Enhancing Security of Digital Banking Following Recent Scams

Multiple MPs raised urgent questions about helping scam victims, enhancing digital banking security, and reconsidering the use of one-time passwords following recent phishing scams targeting bank customers.
Concerns were voiced about the need for better consumer protection, including a review of liability frameworks, mandatory SMS sender ID registries, and 24-hour hotlines for reporting fraud.
Ministers are set to deliver statements outlining government actions, including regulatory reviews, cooperation with banks and telcos, and public education efforts to combat scams and restore confidence in digital banking.

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12 Jan 2022

Cases Prosecuted for Illegal Import and Export of Endangered Species in Last Five Years

Between 2017 and 2021, 18 cases were prosecuted for illegal trade of endangered species under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act.
One of these cases involved illegal transit through Singapore, while the rest were for illegal import into Singapore.
The Minister confirmed that all cases were either for illegal transit or illegal import, with no mention of export cases.
The data addresses the member's query on the number of cases where Singapore was a transit point or final destination.
The response provides a clear breakdown of prosecution outcomes over the five-year period.

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12 Jan 2022

Rationale for Requirement in Organised Crime Act 2015 for At Least Three Individuals to Form A Group

The Organised Crime Act 2015 requires at least three individuals to form a group to strengthen law enforcement against criminal syndicates that often operate across borders.
This aligns with international practices, such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, which defines an organised criminal group as three persons or more.
Other jurisdictions like Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom also adopt the three-person threshold for defining organised criminal groups.

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12 Jan 2022

Liability of Owners of Ill-maintained Vehicles That Are Involved in Injury-causing Accidents

Murali Pillai asked for an update on a potential review to make owners of ill-maintained vehicles criminally liable for accidents caused by mechanical failures.
K Shanmugam stated that current law already allows for criminal liability if a vehicle owner's negligence in maintenance is the proximate cause of an accident.
The Ministry of Home Affairs views the current legal threshold as fair, emphasizing that liability requires proof of negligence directly causing the accident.
Most road accidents are due to behavioral factors, not poor vehicle maintenance, supported by a robust regulatory system with mandatory vehicle inspections by the Land Transport Authority.

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12 Jan 2022

Raising Public's Awareness about Scams Related to Hotel Bookings for Staycations

Wan Rizal asked if awareness campaigns specifically target staycation planners and whether efforts are made to involve local influencers against hotel booking scams.
K Shanmugam outlined ongoing police actions, including arrests, collaborations with Carousell for in-app advisories, and social media alerts during school holidays.
The SPF and NCPC have engaged content creators for scam awareness campaigns, though not exclusively for hotel booking scams, and run regular outreach like the "Spot the Signs. Stop the Crimes." initiative.
The Minister emphasized the importance of public vigilance and skepticism in online transactions, urging verification of sellers and deals.

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12 Jan 2022

Proposal to Ban "OnlyFans" Website due to Its Distribution of Obscene Material

Dr Shahira Abdullah asked whether the government would consider banning OnlyFans due to its potential for distributing obscene material.
The Minister for Communications and Information explained that OnlyFans is an overseas content subscription service with age restrictions and content rules, and Singaporean law already prohibits transmitting obscene material electronically, with enforcement examples such as a recent arrest.
The government emphasized a holistic approach to online safety, including internet filtering services, cyber wellness education, public campaigns, and multi-sector alliances, rather than focusing solely on banning specific platforms.

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12 Jan 2022

Annual Number of Personal Protection Orders that are Breached and Remedies to Protect Victims from Such Breaches

The Minister reported that from 2016 to 2020, approximately 1,100 Personal Protection Orders (PPOs) were issued annually, with an average of 60 criminal cases per year for PPO breaches, and all breaches are arrestable offences under the Women’s Charter.
To address unreported breaches and encourage reporting, MSF runs the “Break the Silence” campaign and the National Anti-Violence Helpline, while social service agencies assist survivors in lodging police reports and creating safety plans.
Remedies for protecting victims include increasing maximum penalties for PPO breaches and empowering courts to issue additional orders prohibiting contact or entry into specific areas, with breaches of such orders also constituting criminal offences.

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11 Jan 2022

Prosecution of Illegal Trade of Endangered Species in Past Five Years

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development about prosecutions for illegal trade of endangered species in the past five years, specifically how many cases involved runners and syndicate leaders.
Desmond Lee responded that between 2017 and 2021, 18 cases were prosecuted under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act.
None of the persons prosecuted were found to be associated with organised crime in Singapore or overseas.

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11 Jan 2022

Outcome on Access Enforcement Applications Filed in Family Justice Courts over Past Three Years

The Ministry for Social and Family Development does not have specific data on access enforcement applications filed in the Family Justice Courts over the past three years.
Committal applications, which are used as a proxy for child access enforcement cases, numbered 297 from 2018 to 2020 out of about 14,000 summonses received by the Family Justice Courts.
Detailed breakdowns of these applications by gender of the applicant or cases resolved amicably at mediation are not available.

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11 Jan 2022

Disputes and Enforcement Action Taken Against Persons Who Breach Vaccinated-Differentiated Safe Management Measures at Hawker Centres

Mr Melvin Yong asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment about the number of disputes and unvaccinated diners since COVID-19 vaccination entry checks began at hawker centres.
Since 23 November 2021, there have been four cases where patrons were uncooperative, requiring Police assistance, and 24 cases of unvaccinated or partially vaccinated persons found dining in.
Enforcement action is taken against those breaching Vaccinated-Differentiated Safe Management Measures, with first-time offenders liable to a $300 fine.

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11 Jan 2022

Promote Use of Front and Rear Lights on All Bicycles to Enhance Visibility and Safety

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport whether the Land Transport Authority (LTA) promoted the use of front and rear lights on bicycles during recent enforcement and public outreach efforts to enhance safety.
Minister S Iswaran confirmed that all bicycles, including power-assisted ones, must have visible white front lights and red rear lights or reflectors when ridden between 7 pm and 7 am on public paths and roads.
The LTA includes light usage in public education campaigns, such as the graciousness campaign and the revamped “Confidence on Wheels” programme, to promote safe riding practices.
During joint enforcement operations with the Traffic Police, the LTA distributes educational materials to raise awareness of lighting rules and improve overall safety for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists.

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