Public safety & law — Topics

11 Jan 2022

Non-compliant Personal Mobility Devices Detected Every Month and Efforts to Ensure Compliance with Device Requirements

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Transport about the average monthly number of reported non-compliant battery installations in PMDs over the past year and the Ministry's efforts to ensure approved vendors do not sell non-compliant batteries.
S Iswaran replied that since July 2020, motorised PMDs must comply with UL2272 standards, with an average of 46 monthly detections of non-compliant devices in 2021, down from initial levels, and noted that replacing batteries with different models is illegal and subject to penalties.
LTA requires new e-scooters to undergo inspection before registration and every two years, and all imported motorised PMDs must have valid approval since 2021, with PMD fires decreasing annually since 2019.
LTA and SCDF conduct regular public education to discourage device modification and promote using original components, alongside enforcement and review of penalties.

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11 Jan 2022

Data on Road Traffic Offences Made Against Foreign-registered Vehicles in Singapore in Past Four Years

From December 2017 to November 2021, Traffic Police detected 112,331 traffic violations by foreign-registered vehicles, with 107,071 compounded and the rest issued court summonses.
Of the composition fines issued, 76% (81,838) remain unpaid due to jurisdictional challenges in enforcing fines on foreign vehicles.
To ensure compliance, foreign-registered vehicles with a threshold of outstanding vehicular-related fines are denied entry into Singapore until payments are made.

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11 Jan 2022

Take-up Rate and Reports Submitted through ScamShield To-date

From November 2020 to December 2021, approximately 229,000 users downloaded the ScamShield app, with 3.4 million calls and SMSes reported as potential scams during that period.
Eighty-seven percent of scam reports were automatically detected by the app, while the remaining were submitted by users through ScamShield.
The Android version of ScamShield, initially planned for end-2021, has been delayed due to resource reprioritization for COVID-19 response but is expected to launch in the first half of the year.

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11 Jan 2022

Protecting Individuals from Internet-related Scams

The Minister for Home Affairs outlined a multi-pronged approach to combat internet scams, which include strengthening enforcement by collaborating with foreign law enforcement agencies and setting up dedicated units like the Anti-Scam Division.
The government is working with financial institutions, e-commerce platforms, and telecom companies through initiatives like Project FRONTIER and ScamShield to disrupt scam operations and enhance public safety.
A strong emphasis is placed on public education, including the “Spot the Signs. Stop the Crimes.” campaign and partnerships with banks to educate customers on avoiding scams.
The public is urged to be vigilant, not share personal details like Singpass or passwords, and practice healthy skepticism before responding to requests for information.
The government continues to bolster efforts to protect individuals from scams through a combination of enforcement, cooperation with private sector partners, and public awareness initiatives.

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11 Jan 2022

Efforts to Raise Awareness of Outrage of Modesty Cases on Public Transport and Self-protection

The Ministry of Home Affairs works with public transport operators and the National Crime Prevention Council to educate commuters on recognizing and responding to outrage of modesty (OM) cases through posters, videos, and digital advisories.
The Riders-on-Watch scheme, now part of the Community Watch Scheme, encourages commuters to act as "eyes and ears" for police by reporting suspicious activities and receiving regular crime advisories.
Police enforce a tough stance on OM cases and urge victims to report incidents promptly to aid in the identification and arrest of perpetrators.

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11 Jan 2022

Enforcement Action against Website and Companies that Enable Online Procurement of Sexual and Pornographic Services

Dr Shahira Abdullah inquired about data on Singapore students subscribing to Sugarbook, the website’s prevalence among youths, and police enforcement actions against platforms enabling sexual services procurement.
The Minister responded that the government opposes such websites as they commodify relationships and target vulnerable youths, but does not track user numbers and currently lacks evidence to enforce laws against the websites directly.
Enforcement is possible only if there is proof of the sites facilitating paid sexual services or transmitting obscene material, and so far, no such evidence exists to warrant action.
The government emphasizes education and awareness through school curricula and family guidance, alongside whole-of-society efforts like the Sunlight Alliance for Action, to promote respect and online safety.

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11 Jan 2022

Number of Cases where Foreigners Purchased Restricted Residential Properties Through Singaporeans

Since 2017, authorities have investigated one confirmed case of a Singaporean buying restricted landed properties for foreigners, and another potential case in 2020 that did not lead to charges due to insufficient evidence.
The illegal purchases involved landed residential properties, which are restricted under the Residential Property Act, with violators facing fines up to $100,000, imprisonment up to three years, or both.
The government assesses that such incidents have not materially impacted broader landed residential property prices or the private housing market.

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11 Jan 2022

Workplace Fatalities Related to Overwork

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked if the Ministry of Manpower tracks workplace fatalities related to overwork and how many cases have been recorded in the past five years.
Tan See Leng stated that investigations found an average of five suspected overwork-related fatalities per year over the past five years, but no evidence linked long hours or fatigue to any workplace accidents.
He added that working hours are regulated under the Employment Act, with fines for violations, and that the Workplace Safety and Health Council promotes fatigue prevention through programs and campaigns.

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11 Jan 2022

Measures to Protect Youths from Falling Prey to Cryptocurrency Game Scams

The government has stepped up public education efforts, including advisories and campaigns like MoneySense, to teach youths and the public about cryptocurrency risks and how to “Ask, Check, and Confirm” before transacting.
A Police cryptocurrency taskforce was established in 2018 to improve investigations, build overseas cooperation, and work with regulators like MAS to address scams.
Since many scammers are based overseas, recovery of funds is difficult, so prevention through public awareness and dealing only with MAS-regulated entities is emphasized.

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11 Jan 2022

Number of Illegal Online Betting Offences since Onset of COVID-19

Seah Kian Peng asked whether illegal online betting offences increased since COVID-19 began and for the extent of any rise.
K Shanmugam stated that arrests for illegal online gambling have risen since 2015 due to factors like internet penetration and enforcement, not solely the pandemic.
Arrests were 145 in 2018, 210 in 2019, 205 in 2020, and 280 in 2021, showing a slight drop in 2020 followed by an increase in 2021.

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11 Jan 2022

Amounts Involved in Cases of Misuse of COVID-19 Government Grants and Payouts Currently Under Investigation

From March 2020 to December 2021, police received 57 reports involving abuse or fraudulent application of COVID-19 grants, with $1.7 million in government funds at issue, of which not all was disbursed due to early detection.
Investigations into 17 cases have concluded, involving $68,000 in funds, with $7,000 recovered from the approximately $31,000 that had been disbursed; 42 people have been arrested and 8 convicted.
The Ministry stated that a separate agency is unnecessary as the Commercial Affairs Department's Public Institutional Fraud Division already handles such cases, and existing police and agency channels are sufficient for whistle-blowers.

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11 Jan 2022

Steps for Singaporeans and Migrant Workers to Ensure Donations to Charities Based Overseas Do Not Support Terrorism Financing

The Minister for Home Affairs advised donors to channel donations through registered charities regulated by the Commissioner of Charities or through entities with a Fund-Raising for Foreign Charitable Purposes permit, to avoid unverified charities that may be linked to terrorism financing.
To ensure safe online giving, the public should use crowdfunding platforms that adhere to the industry Code of Practice for Online Charitable Fund-raising Appeals, which sets best practices for trusted intermediaries.
Donors are urged to exercise due diligence by questioning the use of funds, checking charity legitimacy via the Charity Portal (www.charities.gov.sg), and seeking updates on beneficiaries to ensure donations support genuine charitable purposes.
The Police have charged 10 migrant workers under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act, highlighting that any support for terrorism-related activities, regardless of source or amount, threatens national security.

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11 Jan 2022

Measures to Enhance Cybersecurity to Counter State-backed Entities

The Minister emphasized that cyberspace is borderless, so cyber resilience measures are essential regardless of the attacker's identity, and highlighted the 2021 surge in cyber threats like the Log4Shell vulnerability.
In response, the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) took immediate action for Log4Shell by convening emergency meetings with Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) sectors, issuing advisories, and promoting a "zero-trust" posture to verify all network activities and maintain constant vigilance.
To strengthen cybersecurity, CSA is developing the CII Supply Chain Programme for international best practices and providing toolkits through the SG Cyber Safe Programme to help businesses improve their defenses.
The Minister stressed that the best defense is a vigilant population and responsible organizations, urging regular software updates, incident response planning, and good cyber hygiene like avoiding phishing links to safely participate in the digital domain.

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11 Jan 2022

Prisons (Amendment) Bill

The amendment clarifies that prison authorities will only withhold inmate correspondence if it threatens prison security or incites offences, with affected inmates informed and allowed to rewrite letters.
The bill confirms that existing protocols for processing inmate-family communications remain unchanged and that financial literacy and employment support programmes for inmates are already in place and working.
Ministers assured that inmate correspondence with lawyers is protected under current law and will not be shared with third parties like the AGC for legal advantage.

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11 Jan 2022

Prisons (Amendment) Bill

The Minister of State outlined the Employment Preparation Scheme (EmPS), emphasizing family support, phase progression, and eligibility criteria, while noting that inmates without strong family support can still receive time-off but may not transition to home leave phases.
The EmPS is designed to be complementary with other schemes like the Home Detention Scheme and Mandatory Aftercare Scheme, with safeguards to balance rehabilitation and public safety, including strict supervision conditions such as electronic tagging and curfew.
The Young Refugee and Support Group (YRSG) provides employment matching, skills training, and career coaching for inmates, with over 5,600 employers engaged and initiatives like TAP and Grow to address manpower shortages in key sectors.
The government supports inmates and employers through measures like the Jobs Growth Incentive, fair employment practices, and assistance for inmates facing discrimination, while also addressing digital literacy and the use of electronic devices for training.
The debate covered operational aspects such as the handling of prison offences, the deferral of release for court-ordered punishments, and the recidivism rates of inmates on work release schemes, with SPS implementing measures to manage abscondment and support reintegration.

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11 Jan 2022

Prisons (Amendment) Bill

The Bill introduces the Employment Preparation Scheme to replace the Work Release Scheme, allowing inmates to work, receive skills training, or pursue education in the community under supervision to improve employability and reduce recidivism.
Amendments enhance administrative flexibility for the Singapore Prison Service, including extending the period for deferring inmate release to carry out court-ordered punishments and updating prison offences to reflect current practices.
New regulations empower the Minister to restrict inmate correspondence and require undertakings from visitors to maintain prison security, while also granting prison officers powers to obtain information for investigations and providing legal protection for officers acting in good faith.

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10 Jan 2022

Measures to Ensure Companies Engage Licensed IT vendors to Minimise Risk of Data Breaches and Leaks

The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) mandates all companies to protect personal data, with trustmark certifications like the Data Protection Trustmark (DPTM) and the upcoming SG Cyber Safe Trustmark helping identify IT vendors with strong data and cybersecurity practices.
While companies are not required to engage certified vendors, the government strongly encourages it and provides guidelines from the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) to help evaluate potential IT vendors' data protection policies.
Additional measures include regular cybersecurity advisories via SingCERT to help businesses mitigate risks, and the government supports these efforts without imposing mandatory licensing for IT vendors.

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10 Jan 2022

Plans for Teachers and Students to be More Equipped to Deal with Online Harms

MOE has refreshed its Character and Citizenship Education curriculum to focus on building healthy self-esteem and positive self-identity, with progressive implementation from 2021 to help students manage online harms like sexual abuse and grooming.
Primary students are taught about online dangers, protective measures, and relevant laws, while secondary and pre-university students learn to evaluate self-perception, address unhealthy social media expectations, and differentiate healthy relationships from sexual grooming.
The curriculum emphasizes peer support and seeking help from trusted adults for issues such as online harassment and grooming, and teachers and school staff are trained to identify and support students in distress.

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10 Jan 2022

Enforcement Tickets Issued Against Delivery Riders/Drivers for Illegal Parking in Past Three Years

LTA issued 59,990, 41,132, and 53,499 enforcement tickets for illegal parking in 2019, 2020, and 2021 respectively, covering motorcycles, vans, and lorries used for deliveries.
Tickets are recorded by the nearest road to the offence, not by proximity to commercial malls, so data on summonses near malls is not distinguished.
Illegal parking creates safety risks and disamenities, prompting agencies to monitor the situation and engage mall operators to provide temporary parking for deliveries.

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10 Jan 2022

Serious Accidents Involving Cyclists on Roads and Park Connectors in Last Five Years and Effectiveness of Safety Regulations

From 2017 to 2021, there was an average of about 560 serious cyclist accidents on roads and about 90 on shared paths like park connectors each year.
Regulations such as speed limits of 25 km/h on cycling paths and 10 km/h on footpaths were revised in 2018, though their direct impact on safety is hard to assess.
The number of serious accidents has remained stable despite the rising popularity of cycling, with ongoing efforts in education and enforcement to promote safe practices.

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