Public safety & law — Topics

10 Jan 2022

Safety at Traffic Junctions where Discretionary Right Turns are Replaced with Red Amber Green Signals

The replacement of discretionary right turns with Red Amber Green signals has led to a 40% reduction in accidents involving right turns at junctions where they have been implemented.
Red Amber Green signals are introduced at junctions with higher accident risks, while discretionary turns remain useful for optimizing traffic flow at lower-traffic locations.
The Land Transport Authority enhances junction safety through additional measures such as road markings, lighted studs, countdown timers, and signage.

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10 Jan 2022

Number of Debtors Committed by Court to Civil Prison in Past 10 Years

Murali Pillai asked for the number of debtors committed to civil prison under specific sections of the Debtors Act over the past 10 years ending 31 December 2021.
The Minister for Law, K Shanmugam, stated that such committal orders are not specifically tracked and a manual review found no records from 2013 to date under those sections.
Data on applications under the Debtors Act prior to 2013 is not readily available.

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10 Jan 2022

Police Officers' Interaction with Victims of Sexual Misconduct

The Minister for Home Affairs confirmed that Investigation Officers handling sexual crimes receive specialized training in victim management to avoid re-traumatization, and all police officers undergo regular sensitivity training.
When complaints are made against the police regarding interactions with victims of sexual misconduct, they are investigated; most are unsubstantiated, but substantiated cases result in action against the officer and process improvements.
The Ministry does not track data on similar complaints in other countries for comparative purposes.

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10 Jan 2022

Data on Insurance Fraud and Efforts to Combat Such Fraud

Darryl David asked for an update on insurance fraud in Singapore, including trends over the past three years, joint efforts by police and the General Insurance Association (GIA), and actions against industry professionals who collude with fraudsters.
K Shanmugam reported an increase in insurance fraud cases from 20 in 2018 to 71 in 2020, largely driven by a spike in fraudulent health insurance claims linked to a single case involving an Indonesian national who was arrested and sentenced.
The police and GIA collaborate through the Insurance Fraud Committee and the Specialised Fraud Insurance Branch to share information, refine fraud detection systems, and alert insurers to new fraud variants, while the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) requires insurers to have robust fraud risk management frameworks and conducts regular reviews.
Individuals who file or collude in fraudulent insurance claims can face criminal charges under the Penal Code with imprisonment terms of up to 10 years, and industry professionals may also face regulatory penalties such as prohibition orders from MAS.
MAS’s oversight includes on-site inspections to identify control gaps and ensure insurers address vulnerabilities, with the GIA’s Fraud Management System using data analytics to detect and prevent fraudulent and duplicate claims.

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10 Jan 2022

Proposal for Opt-in Default Cooling-off Period for Cross-border Fund Transfers of Large Amounts to Prevent Fraud

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim proposed a default opt-in cooling-off period for large cross-border fund transfers to help recover fraudulent transactions quickly.
The Government, through the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and other agencies, is actively tackling rising online scams and exploring measures like cooling-off periods to mitigate risks without compromising payment speed.
Progress has been made in freezing domestic accounts linked to scams, but international cooperation remains challenging; efforts with overseas law enforcement have led to busting transnational syndicates.
MAS is considering additional upstream measures such as lowering transaction limits and enhancing fraud surveillance, with a public consultation planned to clarify responsibilities and liability for fraudulent transactions.
The Government urges public vigilance, emphasizing caution with online deals, avoiding unverified links, protecting banking credentials, and monitoring transactions to aid scam recovery.

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10 Jan 2022

Grassroot Leaders Who were Convicted Appointed by People’s Association

The Minister defended the role and trustworthiness of grassroots leaders (GRLs) appointed by the People’s Association, noting their extensive community contributions, including during crises like COVID-19.
He argued that the premise of the question unfairly singles out GRLs and undermines their long-built trust, stating there is no evidence they are more involved in crime than the general public.
The government has sound appointment processes, including observation periods and due diligence, though no system can predict future criminal behavior.
GRLs accused or convicted of crimes that undermine their role are suspended or immediately removed from their appointments.

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10 Jan 2022

Abuse of Public Healthcare Workers and Measures to Protect Them

There has been a clear rise in reported abuse and harassment cases in public healthcare institutions over the last four years, with numbers increasing from about 1,080 in 2018 to about 1,400 as of November 2021.
The rising trend is attributed to factors such as increased patient volume, higher expectations for quality care, and frustrations from COVID-19 visitation restrictions.
The Ministry of Health and public healthcare institutions enforce a zero-tolerance policy, providing staff with preventive strategies, clear escalation processes, and enhanced legal protection under the Protection from Harassment Act.

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10 Jan 2022

Cases of Unauthorised Sale of Personal Data Investigated by Personal Data Protection Commission in Past Five Years

Over the past five years, the Personal Data Protection Commission investigated three cases of alleged unauthorised sale of personal data.
Two cases were found in breach of the Personal Data Protection Act for failing to notify and obtain consent before selling data for telemarketing, resulting in fines of $48,000 and $6,000 respectively.
A third case was investigated but no breach was found, though the company was advised on improving data practices and privacy communication.
The PDPC takes a firm stance against unauthorised sales to protect against identity theft and unsolicited calls.
Organisations buying contact lists must ensure the sale is authorised and the data is accurate and updated.

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10 Jan 2022

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

The Hijacking of Aircraft and Protection of Aircraft and International Airports (Amendment) Bill was introduced to amend the existing 1978 Act.
The bill was presented by Minister for Transport Mr S Iswaran and received its First Reading in Parliament.
The bill is scheduled for its Second Reading at the next available parliamentary sitting and will be printed thereafter.

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3 Nov 2021

Breakdown of Number of Declarations, Directives, Orders and Notices Issued under Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act to-date by Ministries

The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act has been invoked in 32 instances since its enactment, with more than half related to COVID-19 falsehoods.
A breakdown shows all directions issued were for corrections, not takedowns, and were distributed across various ministries.
Four Facebook pages were declared online locations and faced access disabling orders, while one website received an access blocking order for non-compliance.

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3 Nov 2021

Breakdown on Calls Reporting Cases of Violence through 24-hour National Anti-Violence Helpline by Demographics

The 24-hour National Anti-Violence Helpline received 6,300 calls from January to end-September 2021, with 70% being reports of alleged violence and 30% general enquiries.
Almost all calls involved violence in a family setting, while calls relating to non-family intimate partner violence constituted less than 1%.
The helpline does not record callers’ demographic details such as age or gender to focus on expeditiously attending to reports and providing referrals.

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3 Nov 2021

Number of Cyclists Booked for Riding on Right Side of Motor Vehicles in Past Five Years and Cyclists Riding on Right Side of Bus Lane

Mr Dennis Tan asked the Minister for Transport about the number of cyclists booked for riding on the right side of motor vehicles in the past five years and whether cyclists can ride on the lane to the right of a bus lane without overtaking or turning right.
Minister S Iswaran referred to his previous written replies on 2 November 2021, which addressed similar questions about cyclist enforcement and safety measures.
The debate highlights concerns about cyclist behavior and regulations on road use, with officials pointing to existing documentation for answers.

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3 Nov 2021

Usage of Data Captured from Deployment of Surveillance Technologies for Crime Prevention and Addressing Concerns of Those Who Feel Their Privacy Is Invaded

Mr Yip Hon Weng questioned how captured surveillance data will be used, protected from theft or misuse, whether there are areas where surveillance will not be deployed, and how privacy concerns will be addressed.
Minister K Shanmugam explained that police cameras are deployed in public spaces to deter and solve crimes, with surveys indicating public support for increased safety.
He noted that surveillance is limited to public areas to respect private spaces, and strict data protection controls ensure only authorized personnel can access footage.
The Minister emphasized that unauthorized access to surveillance data will be severely dealt with to prevent misuse or theft.

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3 Nov 2021

Regulations to Monitor or Uncover Any Illicit Activities of Offshore Financial Service Providers with Offices Registered in Singapore in Light of Pandora Papers Leaks

Miss Cheryl Chan asked whether current regulations are sufficient to monitor or uncover illicit activities by offshore financial service providers in Singapore, if stricter compliance is imposed on violators, and if repeated independent audits would be required.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, responding for the Prime Minister, stated that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) continually monitors money laundering and terrorism financing risks, using various sources of information, and has engaged financial institutions following the Pandora Papers disclosures.
MAS found no significant concerns with the anti-money laundering controls of Singapore-based financial institutions from the Pandora Papers but is assessing if tighter controls are needed, with clear requirements for identifying beneficial owners and scrutinizing unusual transactions.
Two licensed trust companies mentioned in the Pandora Papers—Asiaciti Trust and Trident Trust—had already faced MAS enforcement actions, including penalties and remediation directions, prior to the leaks.

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3 Nov 2021

False Allegations of Employer Abuse Made by Migrant Domestic Workers and Applicable Penalties

From 2019 to 2020, an average of 300 MDW abuse reports were made to Police annually, with 17 MDWs found to have made false allegations and 13 blacklisted from working in Singapore.
MDWs who provide false statements face penalties including fines, up to two years’ imprisonment, or both upon conviction, followed by repatriation and a ban from employment in Singapore.
Employers who are genuinely wronged may suffer financial and reputational losses, though specific loss figures were not detailed in the response.
The Police and Ministry of Manpower investigate all abuse allegations thoroughly and fairly to determine if claims are substantiated.
The Ministry did not explicitly commit to reviewing the sentencing framework but emphasized a serious and fair approach to handling false allegations.

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3 Nov 2021

Safeguards to Prevent Serious Assault Case Involving Inmates at Changi Prison Complex

The Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, detailed that the recent assault at Changi Prison Complex involved two inmates attacking another in the medical centre, with officers responding within 20 seconds to stop it, leading to charges and sentencing.
The Singapore Prison Service employs measures such as actively monitoring for conflicts, offering programs to address violent behavior in high-risk inmates, and encouraging inmates to report safety concerns.
Technology is being expanded, including more surveillance cameras and video analytics to detect abnormal or aggressive behavior, enabling quicker officer alerts and responses to incidents like fights or emergencies.
SPS emphasizes taking assault cases seriously, with ongoing reviews to enhance operational capabilities to deter violence and improve rapid detection and response.
The response aligns with the query about additional safeguards, including advancing the "Prisons without Guards" concept through technology, while maintaining current human-led intervention protocols.

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3 Nov 2021

Scams Resulting from Integration of Cross-border E-payment Services

Minister K Shanmugam reported that since the April 2021 integration of Singapore's PayNow and Thailand's PromptPay, no scams have been recorded in Singapore using this system, but at least one overseas e-commerce scam case involving the linkage was identified.
The same safeguards for domestic PayNow transfers apply to cross-border transfers, including the use of online banking credentials, customizable daily transfer limits, and a system-imposed S$1,000 daily cap.
Users can verify the recipient's identity using their mobile number before transferring, and are urged to practice skepticism, use available safeguards, and confirm transactions to avoid scams.

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3 Nov 2021

Judicial Service (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill

The Judicial Service (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill was moved for Second Reading by the Second Minister for Law, Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai, who reiterated the reasons for the amendments previously outlined.
The Bill was read a Second time, committed to a Committee of the whole House, and immediately considered in Committee without amendment.
The Bill was subsequently reported without amendment, read a Third time, and passed by the House.

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3 Nov 2021

Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill

The bill establishes a separate Judicial Service Commission to oversee judicial officers, while the existing Legal Service Commission will be reconstituted to manage legal officers in other public agencies, aiming to enhance specialization and better address future legal complexities.
Both government and opposition members expressed broad support for the restructuring, highlighting the need for a dedicated judicial track to improve judicial independence, talent retention, and the handling of increasingly complex cases, while also emphasizing the continued importance of cross-service secondments to maintain a broad perspective.
The amendments will take effect from January 2022, following overwhelming parliamentary approval with 85 votes in favor, reflecting bipartisan consensus on strengthening Singapore’s legal institutions for future challenges.

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3 Nov 2021

Accidents and Violations Involving Heavy Vehicles

From January 2018 to June 2021, there were 2,160 road accidents and 57,639 traffic violations involving heavy vehicles, with accidents declining annually and violations peaking in 2019.
The Traffic Police does not track if accidents involved lorries ferrying workers, but the top three violations for heavy vehicles are speeding, red light running, and careless driving.
The government employs a three-pronged approach of education, engagement, and enforcement to improve road safety, including partnerships for technologies like Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and grant support for their installation.
In response to concerns, the government will review proposals to add speed limiters to lorries and consider dedicated transport for workers instead of co-mingling with goods.

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