Amrin Amin
Singapore
“The Police have taken this very seriously and have taken stern measures. The law is quite strict on this and I think it is adequate deterrence for those who persist in such conduct. We have, in addition to the law, also taken complementary measures such as advisories and various other measures.”
“The Police take a serious view of all reports of falsehoods regarding the COVID-19 situation, including those that claim “partial lockdown”, as these may cause public alarm. The Police will investigate such cases and take firm action against the culprits.”
“The offences under the Miscellaneous Offences Act and POFMA while similar, involve different elements which the prosecution is required to prove. Every case of communication of false message is assessed based on the findings rising from investigations and the Public Prosecutor exercises his discretion on the most appropriate charge.”
“Police operational deployments are confidential and are driven by an assessment of the law and order situation. The Police deploy a significant number of Auxiliary Police Officers and Security Officers to patrol Little India during peak periods such as weekend nights, eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays.”
“The Government has announced legislation that will allow entities, including societies, to adopt prescribed alternative arrangements so that meetings can be conducted in a manner compliant with the safe distancing measures announced on 24 March 2020.”
“Patrol deployment plans are calibrated based on the crime trends as well as the crowd footfall. We note the Member's feedback but just to let the Member know, the patrol team does patrol common areas as well as specific areas of concern.”
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Every one of 359 lines we hold for Amrin Amin, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 8.
“Dr Chia Shi-Lu and Ms Joan Pereira suggested that we place greater onus on logistics companies to curb the importation of prohibited products. We have been reaching out to major logistics companies, as well as the Singapore Aircargo Agents Association, to educate and remind the industry of the ban on emerging and imitation tobacco products. Dr Chia Shi-Lu also asked if we can remove the ceilings for fines for sale, distribution and import of ENDS and to base the penalties on the quantity and value of the products seized. Fines that are meted out for such offences will generally take into account the volume and potential profit that could be made. We note Dr Chia's suggestion and will consider it when we next review the penalty framework of the Act. Public education remains a key pillar of our tobacco control programme and it is vital to make the public aware of the harms of smoking, including prohibited products, such as ENDS. A number of Members have asked MOH to enhance our public education. Through portals like the Health Hub as well as the Healthy Lifestyle Festival Singapore, we raise awareness among smokers on how their habit has an impact on their children and motivate them to stay smoke-free. We will continue to explore ways to improve and are reviewing our public education and outreach strategy. Ms Joan Pereira and Ms K Thanaletchimi highlighted the importance of stemming social supply for underage smokers. Supplying tobacco to underage persons is already an offence under the Act. You can be fined up to $1,000 for giving tobacco products to an underage person, and up to $5,000 for buying for them. We will look into ways to raise greater public awareness of this and to educate older family members and friends on this.”
“A number of Members have raised concerns on the online sales and smuggling for ENDS. MOH is similarly concerned. HSA enlists the help of e-commerce sites to shut down listings for prohibited products, such as ENDS and their refill liquids and cartridges. ICA and Singapore Post also assist to conduct regular checks for prohibited products. Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked if we can take action if sellers are not within our jurisdiction. This is a challenge because we have limited powers to act against parties located outside Singapore. But we are doing what we can. Persons who purchase prohibited products from overseas will be liable for an offence even if the seller is based outside Singapore. We also take action against Singapore-based sellers. Since 2012, HSA has prosecuted 14 sellers of e-cigarettes and other types of vaporisers. Dr Chia Shi-Lu highlighted the possible impact of the MLA increase on retailers, in particular, how employees who are below 21 will not be allowed to handle tobacco sales. We have met with retailers and have heard their concerns. I would like to clarify that businesses can still continue to hire persons below 21 but they just cannot participate in selling tobacco. Current employees who are above 18 will not be affected as the MLA increase would be phased in. We have also conducted a survey among tobacco retailers. We have found that 5% of retailers currently hire employees who are aged 18 to 21 to sell tobacco products. Thus, a small number of businesses will face challenges after the MLA is implemented. We seek the support of the industry in supporting the MLA policy. This is to ensure we achieve our wider public health objectives. We will continue to work with tobacco retailers to ensure the smooth implementation of the MLA increase.”
“I am sure Mr Leon Perera does not want to put our smokers who are trying very hard to quit at risk. Of note also is that e-cigarettes are still not available to the UK National Health Service for Smoking Cessation. No electronic cigarette has been licensed by the UK Medicine and Health Regulatory Agency. Why? The World Health Organization does not recognise e-cigarettes as a legitimate cessation aid. Why? It is because there is no conclusive scientific evidence proving the product's safety and efficacy. Australia, too, does not recommend ENDS until there is more evidence on safety. And Australia also does not recommend ENDS until there is more evidence on its effectiveness in smoking cessation. Some tobacco companies are pivoting from smoke-producing cigarettes to smoke-free but nicotine-containing products, such as e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn tobacco products. They hire researchers and lobbyists to help them with this pivot. The form of nicotine delivery may differ. Smokeless, electronic, but make no mistake, the revenue-generating base product is still nicotine. ENDS are marketed as "healthier" alternatives and youths are targeted. We must not let our guard down and we must protect our young. Our goal is not just a smoke-free future, but a nicotine-free one. So-called lesser-harm tobacco products still expose the user to toxic and addictive ways that are harmful to health. In response to Mr Leon Perera, we are open to evidence proving that ENDS are safe and effective for smoking cessation. ENDS manufacturers, as I have mentioned earlier, can submit evidence for us to evaluate their products for registration as smoking cessation therapy under the Health Products Act. But, so far, none has done so.”
“Mr Leon Perera has asked whether e-cigarettes are as harmful or more harmful than conventional cigarettes. That is the wrong question to ask. The correct question should be whether e-cigarettes are harmful to health, and the answer is yes. E-cigarettes expose users to chemicals and toxins that cause adverse health effects. Mr Louis Ng and Mr Leon Perera asked about MOH's stance on tobacco harm reduction. We opt for high and precautionary levels of public health protection. While there are studies to claim that there is no gateway effect, there are as many, more authoritative, studies which point to a gateway effect. In response to Mr Leon Perera and Mr Louis Ng's comment on other countries allowing ENDS, there is actually no consensus among public health authorities. While the UK has advocated for e-cigarettes to have a central role in smoking cessation, the US is pushing for tighter regulation of ENDS and, in other countries, sale of ENDS remains banned. We have looked at the claim that ENDS are "95% safer than cigarettes" made in a 2015 report by Public Health England and repeated by the Royal College of Physicians. A number of studies used by the report were of limited quality. In fact, an editorial in the Lancet, a leading medical journal, has criticised the report for using weak evidence. Mr Leon Perera cited the Cochrane Review to support the claim that e-cigarettes can help smokers to quit. We have studied the report, I have read the report, but what he did not emphasise was the report found that the overall quality of evidence that e-cigarettes can help smokers to quit is low. The report mentioned about the small number of trials, low-event rates and wide confidence intervals. The study concluded that the long-term safety of the use of ENDS was unknown.”
“In response to Er Dr Lee Bee Wah's question, there are Student Health Advisors trained in smoking cessation who are stationed full-time in 50 schools and Institutes of Higher Learning. And Er Dr Lee Bee Wah will be happy to know that there are also Student Health Advisors stationed in schools in Yishun. Since 2015, HPB's smoking cessation programmes have reached out to more than 4,400 youths. We also work closely with MOE to incorporate anti-tobacco messages into the curriculum. HPB conducts additional educational programmes in schools and, in 2016, we reached out to close to 50,000 youths. Youths are also taught skills to refuse cigarette offers in social settings. In response to Mr Louis Ng, we have looked at Prof Linda Bauld's study in detail. It was actually a cross-sectional study that looked at the situation at one point in time. This study design is not suitable for studying the gateway effect. There have been studies in the US, the UK and Canada, which followed up with more than 40,000 youths over time and found that e-cigarette users had a greater risk of becoming cigarette smokers. All these studies have found evidence to support the gateway effect. On Mr Leon Perera's question regarding standardised packaging, we are still studying standardised packaging. Our final decision on whether to proceed with the measure will be made only after the upcoming public consultation. The decision on whether to proceed on standardised packaging would be based on several considerations, including public health, intellectual property and international law perspectives. We will ensure that any measure, if introduced, is consistent with our domestic law and international obligations.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank Members for speaking up in support of the Bill. I will now address Members' queries on the Bill. Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Ms Joan Pereira asked about the effectiveness of our current measures. MOH tobacco control measures are based on best practices recommended by the World Health Organization and are designed to work at multiple levels. No single measure operates on its own. Collectively, the measures work together to reduce smoking prevalence in the longer term. As tobacco use is an addiction, we also do not expect to see significant drops in prevalence immediately after new measures are introduced. Our smoking rates have fallen from 18% in 1992 but they have remained at about 12%-14% for the last decade. Progress has been made but we need to do more. Dr Chia Shi Lu, Mr Alex Yam and Ms Joan Pereira suggested to raise the MLA to 21 with immediate effect. I understand their concerns. However, we are mindful of the impact on current smokers between the ages of 18 and 21. Smoking is an addiction and, even as we encourage smokers to stop smoking, they need some time. The phased implementation provides a realistic timeframe. Raising the MLA alone will not eliminate youth smoking. We will continue to send a strong message to young people to stay away from cigarettes. Educational efforts and support for youth smokers to quit must complement legislative measures. I agree with what Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar has shared. We must encourage our youths to devote their time, effort, mind and energy to useful and meaningful activities and stay away from tobacco products. This is, indeed, the holistic approach which we have adopted. HPB's smoking cessation programmes for youths adopt a strengths-based approach to build confidence for behaviour change.”
“This amendment eliminates the need for HSA to specify the location of the point of sale in each licence issued. Clause 2 of the Bill inserts new definitions of "tobacco product" and "tobacco substitute" to improve clarity. Clause 6 repeals section 15(6) of the Act, to align the definition of smoking for section 15 with the general definition of "smoking" in section 2(1). Clause 10 of the Bill amends section 35 to state that composition sums collected shall be paid into the Consolidation Fund, instead of being retained by HSA. Clause 11 of the Bill inserts a new definition of section 35A, which provides that persons involved in the administration, collection and enforcement of payment of any composition sum collected under section 34 shall be treated as public officers for the purposes of the Financial Procedure Act. Mr Speaker, Sir, smoking is a major cause of premature death in Singapore. The changes proposed in this Bill will go towards protecting our population and, especially the young, from the harms of tobacco products. There is mounting pressure, especially from self-interested parties, to relax our position on ENDS. Our interest is in protecting our people. I seek the Members' support for this Bill. Mr Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 2.38 pm”
“Another study showed that among more than 19,000 Canadians, aged 14 to 18 years old, those who used ENDS were twice as likely to go on to regular smoking. Other studies in England, Scotland and Poland similarly support this "gateway effect". MOH has received feedback arguing that we should consider allowing the use of ENDS by smokers to quit smoking. There are also views that offering a less harmful product like ENDS is a way to reduce the harm of smoking-related diseases in smokers. We have considered these arguments, but are not persuaded. We have already approved nicotine replacement therapies, such as nicotine inhalers, gum and patches, to help smokers quit. These are registered as therapeutic products under the Health Products Act. Such products have undergone stringent evaluation of their safety, quality and efficacy as a smoking cessation therapy prior to registration. They are exempted from the Tobacco Act. While there are some studies which suggest that e-cigarettes may help smokers to quit, the current limited evidence is neither robust nor conclusive. If any ENDS manufacturer has supporting data from credible and robust scientific studies, it can submit its product for evaluation as a smoking cessation therapy. Till now, none has done so. If registered under the Health Products Act, the product will be exempted from the ban in the Tobacco Act. For smokers who wish to quit, there are proven methods and products, and ENDS have not been proven to be one of them. Next, I will turn to other amendments in the Bill. Clause 8 of the Bill provides for a technical amendment to section 18 of the Act, to specifically restrict every licensed retail outlet to having only one point of sale.”
“Why are we taking this step? First, ENDS and all tobacco products are harmful to health. ENDS produce toxic substances in the vapour, including carcinogens, which increase the risk of cancer of the throat, stomach and bladder. ENDS also contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. It is well-known that nicotine has harmful effects on fetuses and brain development in adolescents. There are claims that ENDS are less harmful than cigarettes. Some of these actually come from research sponsored by the tobacco industry. So-called lesser-harm tobacco products still expose the user to toxic substances that are harmful to health and keep the user addicted to nicotine. Second, we do not want ENDS or other emerging tobacco products to become entrenched in Singapore. We have seen an exponential increase in the number of people using ENDS in other countries. For example, an estimated 2.8 million adults in Great Britain used e-cigarettes in 2016, representing a four-fold increase from 700,000 users in 2012. The use of e-cigarettes among students has also increased significantly in countries, such as New Zealand and the United States. Overseas, tobacco companies are increasingly marketing ENDS the same way as tobacco products were marketed. There is also growing evidence that ENDS manufacturers are targeting the youth market, for example, by using flavours, such as chocolate, strawberry and mint, and with sleek videos and marketing them as trendy choices. Third, ENDS can be a gateway or "starter product" which gets the user hooked on nicotine and lead to cigarette use later. A systematic review of nine studies involving more than 17,000 youths in the United States found that e-cigarette users were three times more likely to become cigarette smokers compared to non-users.”
“The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) will be distributing the new "no-sale of tobacco to underaged persons" signages and educational materials to all tobacco retailers. We will continue to work together with tobacco retailers, schools, Institutes of Higher Learning and agencies like MINDEF and MHA to ensure smooth implementation of the MLA increase. During the public consultation, some have raised concerns that youths will turn to the illicit market for cigarettes if they are unable to buy cigarettes legally. We will work with Customs and relevant agencies to monitor the situation regarding illicit trade and step up enforcement and educational efforts. Next, MOH will further tighten control over emerging and imitation tobacco products to protect our young and the general community. At present, the importation, sale and distribution of shisha and other emerging tobacco products, such as smokeless tobacco, as well as imitation tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes and other types of vaporisers, collectively known as Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems or ENDS, are prohibited. The purchase, use and possession of these products are, however, not prohibited currently. The World Health Organization has urged countries to regulate ENDS, including banning them where feasible. Twenty-eight countries, including Australia, Brunei and Switzerland, currently ban the sale of ENDS. To tighten regulation of emerging and imitation tobacco products in Singapore, clauses 6 and 7 of the Bill provide for new subsections under sections 15 and 16 of the Act respectively to prohibit the purchase, use and possession of these products. Effectively, the importation, sale, distribution, purchase, use and possession of emerging and imitation tobacco products shall be prohibited with this Bill.”
“The 2012 US Surgeon-General's report also showed that the younger someone tries smoking, the higher the probability of him becoming a regular smoker. Smokers who start earlier also find it harder to quit smoking later in life. Secondly, our data shows that we need to do more to discourage smoking among our young. Close to 95% of smokers had their first puff before they turned 21, 45% of smokers became regular smokers between their 18th and 21st birthdays. Based on HPB's student health surveys, among youths below 18, two-thirds of smokers get their tobacco from friends and schoolmates. Raising the MLA to 21 will mean that retailers cannot sell tobacco to youths between their 18th and 21st birthdays, thereby denying such youths and those in their social circles easy access to tobacco. We know that social and peer pressures strongly influence youths to start smoking. By raising the MLA, we are further denormalising smoking, particularly for those below 21. This will further reduce opportunities for youths to be tempted and take up smoking before they reach the age of 21. We have consulted extensively on the MLA increase. There is strong support from all segments of society, from youths, parents and businesses. The MLA will be progressively raised over a period of three years to minimise impact on smokers currently between the ages of 18 and 21. We plan to raise the MLA to 19 on 1 January 2019, 20 on 1 January 2020 and, finally, to 21 on 1 January 2021. Nonetheless, during the transitional years from now till 2021, we will encourage all youths to refrain from smoking as smoking is harmful. Quitting is a journey and it will take time for smokers to successfully quit. The phased implementation recognises this.”
“Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Minister for Health, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Smoking continues to be a significant public health problem in Singapore. While smoking rates have decreased from over 18% in the 1990s, they have stagnated at around 12% to 14% in the last decade. Twenty-three percent, or one in four, Singaporean men still smoke, much higher than in countries, such as Australia, which stands at 14.5% and the US at 15.6%. Every day, six Singaporeans die prematurely from smoking-related diseases. Singapore adopts a multi-pronged approach to tackle tobacco addiction. This includes public education, taxes, tobacco control laws, regulations on smoke-free areas and help for smokers to quit. In recent years, we have enhanced our control measures. Our goal is to denormalise the use of tobacco products over time. Mr Speaker, please now allow me to highlight the major provisions of the Bill. First, let me elaborate on the proposed increase in the Minimum Legal Age (MLA) for tobacco from age 18 to 21 for the purchase, use, possession, sale and supply of tobacco products. Clause 2 of the Bill inserts a new definition of "under-aged person" in section 2 of the Act, to provide for a phased increase in the MLA. Consequently, provisions in the Act that refer to "persons aged below 18 years old" would be amended to an "under-aged person". The details of the changes are in clauses 3, 4, 5 and 9 of the Bill. We are increasing the MLA for tobacco for several reasons. First, adolescent brains are especially vulnerable to nicotine addiction. This is according to a 2015 report by the US Institute of Medicine.”
“Yes, we will include fire engines and the Police in the review.”
“MHA is updating the Highway Code to include pointers on how motorists should respond when they encounter emergency vehicles. We will also continue to raise public awareness. For instance, SCDF has worked with LTA to display "Give way to emergency vehicles" messages on electronic signboards located along expressways. Motorists who refuse to give way to emergency vehicles are liable for four demerit points and a composition fine. If there are aggravating factors, the offenders will be prosecuted in Court.”
“Today, the law does not expressly provide for ambulances to run red lights in an emergency. However, SCDF officers are given the discretion to do so when responding to life-threatening emergencies, such as cardiac arrest and stroke, where every second counts. Similar discretion is given for the drivers to make U-turns at places where it is not authorised by traffic rules. To reduce the likelihood of an accident, SCDF has in place operating procedures. An ambulance driver who intends to run a red light or make an unauthorised U-turn is required to sound the siren and activate the blinker lights to alert other road users. When approaching the traffic junction, the driver must slow down and come to a complete halt, so that he can make a situational assessment of the traffic conditions before proceeding further. Should an SCDF driver be issued a "Notice of Traffic Offence" for running a red light or making an unauthorised U-turn, an appeal will be lodged and Traffic Police will evaluate the case. They will waive the offence if the driver was responding to a life-threatening emergency. This appeal and waiver process can be avoided by providing legislative clarity that SCDF's ambulance drivers are allowed to run red lights and make unauthorised U-turns, where necessary. To this end, MHA is working towards exempting SCDF's ambulances from the legislative provision that prohibits red-light running and unauthorised U-turns. Such exemptions already exist in foreign jurisdictions, such as California and the United Kingdom. Other road users must play their part. They should exercise civic responsibility and give way to SCDF's emergency vehicles, as this can make a real difference in saving lives.”
“HPB is also working with voluntary welfare organisations, such as Free Food for All, involved in food donation drives to improve their menus with healthier food options, as well as with National Trades Union Congress SilverAce to organise regular cooking demonstrations on simple yet tasty healthier meals for their needy beneficiaries. In addition, we are looking at more ways to reach out to beneficiaries under the public assistance scheme to promote healthy living. Healthy living is not just about healthier diet. It is also about adopting an active lifestyle and appropriate health screening. For example, HPB's National Steps Challenge has reached out to more than 500,000 Singaporeans to encourage them to remain physically active. Screen For Life subsidies have been enhanced from 1 September 2017. Eligible Singaporeans will pay no more than $5, CHAS cardholders will only pay $2, while Pioneer Generation cardholders need not pay. We will continue our efforts to ensure that all Singaporeans can choose to live healthily.”
“Data on diabetes incidence by income level is not available. However, studies in other countries have shown that those in the lowest-income group tend to have higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes. We expect a similar trend in Singapore. Our priority is to help Singaporeans from all walks of life to live healthily. This means to eat healthily, exercise regularly and go for routine health screening. Healthier eating means being more discerning about our diet, reducing our intake of sugar, salt and fats, and eating moderate meal portions. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has rolled out various initiatives to inform the public of affordable, tasty and healthier food options. These include information on Healthy Meals, Healthy Hawker Hacks and Healthy Meals for the Entire Family. Through HPB's Healthier Choice Symbol, Singaporeans can find a wide variety of healthier food products that suit different budget needs. Supermarkets have also made available affordable healthier options under their house brands. For example, in our local supermarkets, house brand wholemeal bread is cheaper than some brands of white bread. As part of our ongoing efforts to reach out to lower-income households, HPB is collaborating with the Food Bank Singapore to develop a Healthier Corporate Food Bundle, which includes whole grain staple products and healthier oils. These bundles are donated by corporate donors to families in need, through the Food Bank's community partners.”
“I thank the Member for raising the issue. It is an issue that we take seriously and we will work closely with the Ministry of Transport to conduct enforcement action. Where necessary, we will take punitive action to deter such acts.”
“The Police will conduct an investigation if a case is reported and a criminal offence is committed. Based on the facts of the case, the Police will consult the Attorney-General's Chambers, who will decide whether to prosecute the persons involved, whether the offender is a hirer or not. This approach is no different from how we deal with other offences. For example, last month, the Police investigated two cases at Jalan Tenteram and Upper Boon Keng, where rental bicycles were thrown from buildings. The person arrested for the Upper Boon Keng case was charged in Court and he was convicted of a rash act and sentenced to nine weeks' jail. For the Jalan Tenteram case, an arrest was also made and investigations are ongoing. However, prosecution by itself will not eliminate the problem of misuse or abuse of the rental bicycles. The bicycle rental companies and the hirers have to take responsibility to ensure the appropriate use of the rental bicycles.”
“] (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“In my earlier speech, I mentioned briefly that following our review, the Police will also work closely with the industry to promote more responsible business operations. Mr Louis Ng asked whether these industry standards have already been drafted, whether they will be published and eventually will be legislated. SNBA and European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) have recently announced that they are working together to improve standards in the PE industry, including exploring a formal industry-led accreditation framework. This is an important effort by the industry to voluntarily adopt higher standards to ensure that PE establishments are operated in a responsible manner. The laws are adequate, but if the industry wants to do more, they should be encouraged and we welcome it. Assoc Prof Randolph Tan suggested that PE establishments put in effort to promote good drinking etiquette. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah suggested to have additional training for staff to manage disputes. Ms Thanaletchimi suggested we enhance our public education efforts. We will work with the industry on these. Ms Thanaletchimi asked for clarification on the separation of public meetings from PEs as a result of the change to the title of the Act. As I have mentioned in my earlier speech, we are removing "Meetings" from the title, as meetings, rallies and forums have been regulated under the Public Order Act since 2009. Mdm Speaker, I believe I have covered all the points raised by Members. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Amrin Amin.”
“The Appeal Board decides based on simple majority, and its decision on the merits of the case is final. On whether an appealable decision by the Police will take effect even while the appeal is ongoing, this is not a new provision; it already exists in the current section 16(4) of the Act. However, the Appeal Board may decide on a case-by-case basis to specify that the appealable decision should not take effect while the appeal is being considered. The Appeal Board will strive to hear appeals expeditiously, but time taken depends on various factors, including the complexity of the matter. The Minister for Home Affairs will prescribe the classes of PE establishment licensees that will have their appeals heard by the Appeal Board. The current intention is to prescribe all licensees of PE establishments be heard by the Appeal Board but the Minister can prescribe otherwise in future. The Appeal Board would consider the Licensing Officer's considerations regarding the regulation of the PE establishment's operations as well as the appellant's business concerns. The relevant Ministers will hear appealable decisions from all other licensees that are not prescribed to be heard by the Appeal Board, such as organisers of large-scale, one-off events. Appeals from such licensees tend to involve security and policy considerations and are more complex, and these are matters of governance where the Minister should decide. Mr Melvin Yong asked if the Appeal Board will also hear appeals from residents against the approval or renewal of licences for PE establishments. Our assessment is that there is no need for that. The Police already take into account residents' and Members' representations on such matters.”
“APOs today are required to attend basic modules, which include training on checks on persons and bags, and incident management, and they will receive additional training before being deployed to inspect PE establishments. On the powers of forced entry for Licensing Officers and Police Officers, Ms Sylvia Lim asked why such powers were needed now. The Police have encountered PE establishments that locked their premises on arrival of enforcement officers. This provides them opportunity to dispose of evidence and lead time to stop any lawful activities. Currently, a search warrant from the Courts is needed before the Police can gain entry into the premises for the purpose of licensing checks. The new power of forced entry will allow the Police to take swift and effective action to detect and enforce licensing breaches. Mdm Speaker, I will now address queries on appeal processes. Mr Louis Ng, Ms Denise Phua, Ms Thanaletchimi, Mr Murali Pillai and Ms Sylvia Lim sought clarifications on the structure, processes and terms of reference of the PE Appeal Board. The Appeal Board will largely mirror the structure and processes of the existing Liquor Appeal Board under the Liquor Control Act. The Minister for Home Affairs will appoint the members of the PE Appeal Board from a range of fields, such as legal, education and business. This ensures that the Appeal Board considers a range of perspectives on issues pertaining to operational matters of PE establishments. To maintain independence, the Appeal Board members cannot have any dealings or be in any way concerned with the provision of PE. Appellants only send written representations to the Board and they can engage lawyers to prepare the representations.”
“Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked how much resources are committed to regulating PE establishments. The six Police Land Divisions regularly conduct enforcement checks on PE establishments under their jurisdiction to deter and detect illegal activities. In 2016, the Police conducted over 1,000 such checks. Clause 5 of the Bill allows the Police to appoint authorised persons to support such checks, in particular, checks of a more routine or preventive nature. This provision gives the Police operational flexibility to deploy manpower more effectively or conduct more frequent checks should the need arise. Authorised persons are also subject to supervisory controls by the Police. Dr Intan Mokhtar, Mr Louis Ng, Mr Murali Pillai, Ms Denise Phua and Ms Sylvia Lim asked about "suitably trained" authorised persons and their powers. Examples of "suitably trained" persons include APOs or retired Police Officers who have the requisite skills and experience. Authorised persons can only exercise the powers of inspection created by clause 17. These powers of inspection are tightly scoped to include only the basic powers they need for routine inspections, such as making copies of documents, taking photos or requesting for explanations. Any licensing breaches detected and reported by authorised persons will be investigated by the Police. On Ms Sylvia Lim's and Ms Denise Phua's points, routine inspections, such as checks on staff records, are usually uneventful. But in the event of escalation of violence, authorised officers drawn from the ranks of APOs and retired Police Officers would have received training and have experience in managing licensing inspections and managing difficult situations generally, and they can also call for Police back-up.”
“This will deter crimes in and around the PE establishment as well as facilitate investigations into any such crimes that take place. Many responsible PE establishments have already installed such CCTVs. Some Members have suggested that the Police also hold the licensees responsible for fights and crime that take place outside of their establishments. Mr Melvin Yong also suggested that demerit points be awarded if security personnel of the establishment are involved in fights, or if they ask patrons to fight or smoke outside. We are exploring new licensing conditions with appropriate demerit points to address the issue of law and order incidents originating from PE establishments. Licensees should take reasonable steps to respond to incidents that originate from their premises, even if they spill out of the premises. For security officers who are found to be the cause of fights, their licence under the Private Security Industry Act could be revoked. For serious criminal offences, they would also be charged in Court. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah also suggested that the Police impose conditions on PE establishments to prohibit their employees from being scantily-clad. Such conditions are already in place. Employees have to be decently attired when carrying out their duties. To address the more fundamental issue of establishments that facilitate or attract vice activities, there are licensing conditions to curb such illegal activities. I also spoke earlier about the new powers to suspend a licence if the licensee or relevant persons have been charged for serious offences in the Second Schedule. The Second Schedule includes vice-related offences under the Women's Charter. If there is any information on breaches, please call our hotline.”
“The penalties will add up for egregious offenders who brazenly flout the law. Further, such offenders will not be considered should they seek to apply for PE licences in future, given their history of non-compliance. Mdm Speaker, I will next address queries on the enhanced powers against errant establishments. Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef, Mr Louis Ng and Ms Joan Pereira have spoken in support of clause 10, which allows the Licensing Officer to immediately suspend a PE licence, if proceedings have commenced against the licensee or a relevant person of the business for serious crimes. Mr Murali Pillai asked what type of "proceedings" would trigger suspensions. The intention is to suspend licences when the licensee or relevant person is charged in Court for a serious crime under the Second Schedule. If the licensee or relevant person is not charged, but has other proceedings, such as confiscation orders under the Organised Crime Act outstanding against him, the Police can consider suspending or cancelling the licence under the "fit and proper" framework. The same applies for foreign proceedings. Ms Thanaletchimi asked generally about the basis for suspending or cancelling licences. Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar also asked about how the demerit points system works. I have addressed these points in my earlier speech. Dr Lee Bee Wah, Assoc Prof Randolph Tan, Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, Ms Joan Pereira and Mr Melvin Yong have raised concerns about fights and disamenities in and around PE establishments. They have also suggested various measures to deal with these issues. MHA shares these concerns. Going forward, the Police will also require all nightclubs to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at entrances and exits.”
“Today, the Police coordinate and work closely with agencies, such as HDB and URA, in assessing applications, and also consider feedback from residents and stakeholders. The Police also impose conditions to mitigate potential disamenities to the community, such as acceptable noise limits and limiting operating hours, including limiting the liquor serving hours, if they have a liquor licence. This Bill will strengthen the Police's regulatory levers against errant PE establishments. I welcome Members to work with their grassroots leaders to engage the Ministry and the relevant Government agencies on how we can use these levers better to manage concerns regarding PE establishments in their constituencies. Ms Thanaletchimi asked whether the proposal to raise the penalty for providing unlicensed PE is due to the rising incidence of unlicensed PE. In 2016, there were only 12 cases of unlicensed PE establishments. We are proposing to raise the fine for unlicensed PE as a matter of principle. A person who disregards the law entirely should be dealt with more harshly than a licensed person who breached licence conditions. Today, the maximum fine for these offences is the same at $10,000. The Bill increases the maximum fine for providing unlicensed PE to $20,000. Mr Louis Ng asked if a $20,000 fine is a sufficient deterrent for errant operators who try to circumvent our controls and safeguards altogether by operating PE establishments without valid licences. If an unlicensed operator is caught but continues to operate illegally while being investigated by the Police, he can be charged for multiple counts of the offence. In addition, such operators may also be liable for other offences, for example, the unlicensed sale of liquor under the Liquor Control Act.”
“There are also regular checks that the Police conduct on PE establishments and the operators after the licence application. Clause 6 of the Bill will also allow the Police to apply certain criteria and requirements on not only the applicant, but also relevant persons, such as responsible officers of the business entity and any person who has substantial interest in or control over the business. The Police can reject the application, or cancel an issued licence, if any of these relevant persons do not meet the Police's criteria and requirements. Mr Murali Pillai asked what these criteria and requirements would be. The criteria include an assessment of honesty, integrity, reputation, competence and capability of the applicant and relevant persons, much like the Liquor Control Act. For example, we will consider whether the applicant and relevant persons have been convicted of serious crimes and their track records of complying with regulatory requirements. The criteria will be published on the Police website when the amendments to the Act take effect. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, Ms Denise Phua and Mr Melvin Yong asked whether there are minimum-distance requirements for the approval of PE establishments near residences, religious places, schools or in mixed-use developments. Ms Denise Phua also asked for a whole-of-Government approach to determining siting for PE establishments. Singapore has a highly dense urban environment and it is difficult to impose minimum distances between PE and other land use types. A case-by-case approach is taken in such matters. Specific cases in the Member's constituencies can be taken up separately.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Members who have spoken on this Bill and for their support. Senior Minister of State Janil has addressed the issues raised by Members relating to arts entertainment regulation. I will now focus on the issues relating to the regulation of PE. Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef and Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked about the number and seriousness of PE licensing breaches and violent crime in PE establishments. In 2016, there were over 600 PE licensing breaches committed. These were committed by about 20% of the 2,700 PE establishment licensees. About 90% of these breaches were minor, such as failing to maintain a proper record of all employees or failing to ensure that performers do not mingle with patrons. The remaining 10% were major breaches, such as overcrowding, which pose a public safety risk. There were 38 incidents of violent crime, which include serious hurt and rioting, in PE establishments. The situation is under control and Members have also noted this in their speeches. We are proactively managing the situation, and this Bill strengthens our regulatory levers to ensure that the situation continues to be well-managed. As such, we are adopting a calibrated risk-based regulatory regime. Some Members asked for clarifications on the measures to prevent operation of PE establishments by unsuitable persons or businesses or operated in unsuitable locations. Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef and Mr Melvin Yong asked if we can better identify unsuitable persons that hide behind proxies when applying for new licences. This is an issue which we take seriously. At the point of licence application, the Police will screen the applicant's background carefully to ascertain if he has links to errant establishments, as well as the applicant's general records.”
“These amendments will ensure consistency in the regulation of arts entertainment regardless of whether it comes under a PE licence by the Police or a licence by IMDA. There will be no changes to existing arts entertainment content standards under AECC or IMDA's arts entertainment classification and licensing processes. I will now touch briefly on other amendments of the Bill. Clause 21 confers personal immunity on Licensing Officers, Police Officers and authorised persons acting with reasonable care and in good faith in the execution or purported execution of the Bill. Clause 16 clarifies that the Ministers charged with the responsibility for PEs and arts entertainments respectively have the powers to make exemptions for their respective areas. Finally, clauses 2, 3 and 24 of the Bill amend the title of the Act from the "Public Entertainments and Meetings Act" to the "Public Entertainments Act". The regulation of meetings, such as rallies, talks and forums, now falls under the Public Order Act, which was enacted in 2009. In conclusion, the amendments to the Act will strengthen MHA's and MCI's regulatory frameworks for PEs and arts entertainments respectively and keep the Act relevant to today's operating environment. Mdm Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“However, for arts entertainment held at PE establishments or events, IMDA will not be able to impose such conditions within the PE licence issued by the Police. Clause 12 allows IMDA to impose the conditions as part of IMDA's classification of the arts entertainment held at PE establishments or events, thereby giving these conditions the same effect as licensing conditions imposed by IMDA. The second set of amendments involves arts entertainment content that exceeds the maximum R18 rating under the Arts Entertainment Classification Code (AECC). Currently, IMDA will not issue arts entertainment licences for such arts entertainment content. However, this does not apply for PE establishments or events. Clause 13 clarifies that IMDA may refuse to classify such arts entertainment content regardless of whether it is held at PE establishments or events or at other venues. Under the Bill, an arts entertainment that has not been classified cannot be staged. This will thus ensure consistency in the treatment of arts entertainment exceeding the maximum R18 rating, regardless of whether it comes under a PE licence by the Police or a licence by IMDA. The third set of amendments relates to appeals against IMDA's classification decisions. Clause 15 clarifies that any licensee, including those holding PE licences issued by the Police, may appeal against IMDA's classification decisions for arts entertainment. Appealable decisions refer to IMDA's classification ratings, its refusal to classify content that exceeds the maximum R18 rating under AECC and the imposition of conditions as part of its classification of arts entertainment.”
“Clause 17 empowers authorised persons to conduct inspections at PE establishments and events. Authorised persons will not be given the more specialised powers that Licensing Officer and Police officers have, for example, powers of forced entry and arrest. These provisions give the Police operational flexibility to deploy manpower more effectively or conduct more frequent checks if the need arises. Clause 18 empowers Licensing Officers and Police Officers to enter premises, including using necessary force, if there is reasonable suspicion that offences under the Bill are being or has been committed within. Today, appeals against the decision of the Licensing Officer are heard by the relevant Minister. Clause 15 of the Bill will set up an appeal board to hear appeals by classes of applicants or licensees that the Minister may prescribe. The PE Appeal Board will operate like the Liquor Appeal Board under the Liquor Control Act. The Minister for Home Affairs will appoint the members of the Board. The intent is to appoint members from diverse fields, including legal, education and business. The Appeal Board will receive representations from the Licensing Officer and the appellant, and make a decision based on simple majority. Its decision on the merits of the case will be final. On behalf of the Minister responsible for arts entertainment, I will now address MCI's proposed amendments in the Bill. The first two sets of amendments by MCI deal with the classification of arts entertainment, while the third relates to appeals against IMDA's classification decisions. For arts entertainment licensed by IMDA under the Bill, IMDA may impose conditions as part of the arts entertainment licence.”
“Clause 11 of the Bill now allows demerit points to be given in respect of charges that are taken into consideration by the Court, since the licensee has admitted to committing the licensing breaches. The Demerit Point System provides early warning for minor breaches and encourages the licensee to exercise self-discipline. However, the Licensing Officer may immediately suspend or cancel the licence where the need arises. The existing section 14 enables this. Even so, section 14, subsection 1 only applies where the PE provided is problematic. For example, it does not apply if illegal acts carried out by the licensee or his employees are not associated with the PE provided at the establishment. Therefore, clause 10 of the Bill expands on section 14, to allow the Licensing Officer to immediately suspend a PE licence, if the licensee or a relevant person of the business is charged in Court for serious crimes arising out of or in connection with any activity in the licensed establishment. These serious crimes must have a nexus with the establishment, but not necessarily the PE provided in the establishment. This includes offences, such as drug offences, trafficking-in-persons and offences under the Organised Crime Act. The list of serious crimes is specified in the new Second Schedule to the Bill. This will allow the Police to immediately suspend PE establishments which are being used for such serious crimes, instead of waiting for Court trials on the cases to conclude. This also deters other operators from using their establishments for unlawful activities. The third set of amendments enhances Police operational effectiveness in enforcing the Act. Clause 5 of the Bill allows the Licensing Officer to appoint suitably trained individuals as "authorised persons".”
“Clause 20 of the Bill increases the maximum fine for providing PE without a licence or while the licence is suspended, from the existing $10,000 to $20,000. This amendment differentiates offences by licensees who contravene licence conditions or the Act, and such offences are currently subject to a maximum fine of $10,000. The offender who disregarded the law entirely has to be treated more harshly than the offender who had obtained a licence but was not fully compliant with its conditions or the Act. The maximum fine for providing PE without a valid licence will be raised to $20,000. In cases where licensees do not comply with licensing conditions or become unsuitable to operate a PE establishment, the Police must have the powers to deal effectively with them. The second set of amendments will strengthen these powers. The Demerit Point System, introduced in 2000, allows the Police to adopt a graduated enforcement approach against licensees who infringe licence conditions. Licensees are given demerit points for breaches, and appropriate action is taken depending on the number of demerit points accumulated over a two-year period. A licence will be suspended for one month at 21 demerit points, and cancelled altogether at 24 demerit points. The Police impose demerit points for licensing breaches that are compounded, or for which the licensee is convicted in Court. If the licensee is charged for multiple licensing breaches, it is usual for the Court to take into consideration a proportion of the charges for the purpose of sentencing, rather than convict the licensee for all charges. Charges that are taken into consideration for purposes of sentencing currently do not attract demerit points.”
“Under the current section 5 of the Act, the Licensing Officer may require an applicant for a PE licence to satisfy certain criteria and requirements. This existing provision allows the Licensing Officer to assess whether the applicant is fit and proper to carry on a PE business and prevent unsuitable persons from doing so. Clause 6 of the Bill expands this assessment of applicant suitability to include persons who are related to the applicant, namely, the responsible officers and individuals with substantial interest in, or control or direction over the business of the applicant. Clause 4 of the Bill defines "responsible officer" and it will cover directors of body corporates, partners of partnerships, and officers of unincorporated associations, as the case may be. This ensures that all persons who can influence the decisions of the business are duly assessed and are not working behind the scenes to operate the PE establishment. The Police have reviewed the criteria and requirements to be applied to both applicants and their related persons, and the updated criteria and requirements will be published on the Police's website in due course. One key objective of PEMA is to ensure that PE is carried out at suitable places. Clause 4 creates a new provision that requires the Licensing Officer to take into account the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA's) planning considerations in approving a place to operate a PE establishment. For example, a Licensing Officer cannot approve applications for pubs and bars in a conservation area, to maintain the character of historic districts. The Bill also proposes to increase the penalties for errant operators who try to circumvent our controls and safeguards altogether, by operating PE establishments without valid licences.”
“For instance, MHA will introduce licences with longer validity periods than the standard one-year licences that are issued to all PE establishments today. The Police will also work closely with the industry to promote more responsible business operations. On the other hand, we need to strengthen regulatory levers against errant PE establishments. The Bill proposes to make the necessary legislative amendments to support this enhanced regulatory regime. As part of the review, MHA consulted the PE industry through the Singapore Nightlife Business Association (SNBA). We reached out to close to 180 nightlife establishments. SNBA and these establishments support the proposed amendments in the Bill. MCI has also reviewed the arts entertainment-related provisions for greater consistency between the regulation of arts entertainment held at public entertainment establishments or events, which are licensable by the Police, and the regulation of arts entertainments held at other venues. The amendments are intended to clarify that arts entertainment will be regulated in the same manner, regardless of whether it is held at PE establishments or events licensable by the Police, or at other venues. The amendments do not entail any changes to existing arts entertainment content standards or the Info-Communications Media Development Authority's (IMDA's) arts entertainment classification and licensing processes. MCI has engaged both the PE industry and the arts community on these amendments. Let me now take Members through the key provisions of the Bill. The first set of amendments seeks to prevent the operation of PE establishments that are either operated by unsuitable persons or businesses or operated in unsuitable locations.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Public Entertainments and Meetings Act (PEMA) regulates public entertainment. It ensures that public entertainment is carried out in a lawful and orderly manner, in line with standards of public decency, and at suitable places. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) share the administration of the Act. MHA regulates public entertainment (PE) establishments, such as nightclubs, billiard saloons and gaming centres and public entertainment events, while MCI regulates arts entertainment, such as plays, musicals and exhibitions. Singapore's public entertainment industry is dynamic. Consumer preferences change and business models evolve rapidly. We have to constantly finetune the public entertainment regulatory regime to stay current and effective. Currently, about four in five PE establishments have good track records of complying with licence conditions. A small group of errant establishments breach these conditions, do not cooperate with the Police and create law and order problems. MHA last amended PEMA in 2000 to improve the administration of public entertainment licences. MCI amended PEMA in 2014 to establish a framework for greater clarity and consistency in the regulation of arts entertainment. It is timely to update PEMA and ensure its relevancy. MHA has reviewed its approach to regulating PE establishments and will put in place a more calibrated, risk-based regulatory regime. For the vast majority of licensees who are law-abiding, we will take a lighter touch to support the continued vibrancy of the industry.”
“That is a very valid concern and we have a taskforce working with various agencies, including MOM, to see what we can do to engage the heavy vehicle drivers. The main causes of accidents involving heavy vehicles were failure to keep a proper look-out, failure to give way to traffic and failure to maintain proper control. It may have been a result of fatigue but it may also be other factors and that is where we have to target on a holistic basis.”
“I thank the Member for the questions. On the first point, starting from 1 January 2016, foreign vocational drivers are required to obtain a Singapore driving licence within six months of the issuance of their Work Pass as compared to one year previously. The licence will have to be renewed every five years. This ensures that foreign vocational drivers are subjected to the same requirements as locals before they are allowed to drive heavy vehicles here. On the second question, speed limiters were introduced in Singapore in July 1999 to reduce the number of speed-related accidents caused by heavy vehicles. However, the TP has encountered cases where heavy vehicles travelled above the speed limit. This could have happened because the speed limiters of these vehicles were faulty or have been tampered with. TP has been stepping up enforcement efforts by conducting operations to detect and deter the tampering of speed limiters in heavy vehicles and driving with a faulty speed limiter. Any person who tampers with speed limiters of heavy vehicles or who drives a heavy vehicle with a faulty speed limiter can be jailed up to three months or fined up to $1,000.”
“In the last five years, there were, on average, each year 791 injuries and 39 fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles, including buses and goods vehicles. For accidents in which the heavy vehicle drivers were found to be at fault, around 45% of the drivers were foreigners, including work permit and S Pass holders. The Traffic Police (TP) leverages technology, for example, speeding and red-running cameras, to bolster its enforcement efforts. Clear warning signs are erected before the TP camera enforcement zones to remind motorists to be careful and slow down. Next year, TP will be deploying Average Speed Cameras to detect and compute the average speed of a vehicle as it enters and exits the enforcement zones. These cameras will ensure that motorists drive at safe speeds along the entire stretch of the road. TP will also conduct a tachograph trial on heavy vehicles this year. The tachograph tracks and records vehicles' speed and other driving information. Companies that are involved in the trial will be able to track their drivers' tachograph records and improve the drivers' driving behaviour. Public education is also key to improving road safety. TP educates and engages heavy vehicle drivers on road safety and good driving practices. One example is the "Use Your RoadSense" movement, which was launched two years ago. Through regular dialogues and social media platforms, the movement encourages good driving behaviour and personal responsibility amongst different road users, including heavy vehicle drivers.”
“Mdm Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Muslim community's monthly contributions to the Mosque Building and MENDAKI Fund (MBMF) was reviewed and increased last year. Can the Minister clarify how the increase has spurred the construction and upgrading of mosques to fulfil the community's socio-religious needs? Last year, our community celebrated the construction of the Maarof Mosque in Jurong West. This year, we are looking forward to the opening of the Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands. Can the Minister inform us when the Yusof Ishak Mosque will be officially opened? Update on Administration of Muslim Law Act”
“Providing a helping hand should not just be the job of social workers or VWOs. I believe all of us can be our brothers or sisters' keepers. As we continue to professionalise the social service sector, what are the plans to tap on the wider community of volunteers? Volunteers can supplement the tight manpower in the social service sector. I hope we can empower and encourage more Singaporeans to play a part, no matter how small, to reach out to Singaporeans in need of assistance. Indispensable Role of Community”
“Our demographics, in terms of families, are changing and our economy is changing as well. This confluence places great stress and pressure on families and this may strain relationships. Sadly, some may resort to violence. It is important that we keep our family ties strong. What are MSF's plans to identify vulnerable families and intervene to strengthen the relationship and prevent escalation to family violence? What programmes are there to guide, counsel and support family members? Getting Out of the Debt Spiral”
“Under this initiative, PPIS will help spread the anti-drug message to their clients who are participating in their support programmes. PERGAS (Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association), also shared our concern over drug offending. Recently, they met and counselled young drug offenders during the pilot run of the Insan Mukmin programme. PERGAS is very concerned that our youths lack awareness about the danger of drugs and how drug abuse runs counter to the teachings of Islam. They shared with me that they planned to organise a campaign to raise more awareness on this front. I would like to encourage more community partners to join the Home Team in our efforts to reduce the number of drug offenders. (In English): Mdm Chair, to conclude, the Home Team is committed to achieve a drug-free Singapore and will increase our efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate ex-offenders and will partner the community to safeguard the safety and security of Singapore.”
“And SCORE informs inmates about SkillsFuture programmes and works with halfway house operators to encourage residents to attend courses. In 2016, SCORE also worked with employers to pilot a new initiative where ex-offenders are sent for further skills upgrading if they perform well at work. So far, more than 260 ex-offenders have benefited from this. Through the multiple rehabilitation programmes, we help inmates and their family cope with their difficult situation. Ms Rahayu Mahzam asked about our partnerships with Malay/Muslim organisations to tackle offending, re-offending and drug abuse. Madam Chair, I will now speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] MHA has formed close partnerships with the Malay/Muslim community to tackle the issue of offending and re-offending. We have achieved good progress in recent years. I am encouraged by the progress made by our Malay/Muslim community. The strong support of our Malay/Muslim volunteers is invaluable in helping our ex-offenders start afresh. Many people from our community have stepped forward to play a role in supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration efforts of offenders and repeat offenders. For example, SPS is working closely with the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) on a rehabilitation programme for Muslim offenders. This includes religious, family and financial literacy programmes during their incarceration, as well as case management and family support services after they are released. The programme will be piloted with about 100 drug offenders later this year. MHA is also partnering the Singapore Muslim Women's Association (PPIS) to enhance drug prevention education efforts within the community.”
“Sure. Besides family support, employment is another critical factor for successful reintegration. Employment provides the ex-offenders with a sense of purpose and income to help meet their families' needs. The Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE), its partners and employers play key roles by providing training and job opportunities for inmates. Dr Tan Wu Meng and Mr Leon Perera asked about skills training for offenders during and after incarceration. SPS and SCORE conduct training programmes that are aligned with the Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework. This year, SCORE will commence the WSQ Advanced Training for inmates during incarceration. Courses include the Certified Operations Professional training where inmates are trained to be operations professionals in the manufacturing industry or technical supervisors in other industries. Completing these courses also helps inmates to pursue WSQ Diploma courses upon their release. 3.30 pm To keep up with increased automation in our workplaces, SCORE will introduce courses for inmates on the use of workplace smart devices, such as tablets. These skills will help inmates to be more competitive when they join the workforce upon their release. SPS and SCORE work together with agencies, such as Workforce Singapore, to fund these courses for inmates. The combination of training and employer support have helped many inmates re-enter the workforce. And over the last three years, more than 95% of inmates referred to SCORE successfully secured jobs before their release. Inmates can use their SkillsFuture credits during their stay at halfway houses or after their release.”
“The SPS partners Fei Yue Family Services and Lakeside Family Services to provide structured family programmes for inmates − workshops to help better understand the impact of their crimes on their families and build their parenting and communication skills. SPS also works with community partners like the Salvation Army to conduct family sessions in prison. During these sessions, family members are allowed to enter the Prison to spend time with the inmates, and they are designed to encourage bonding between inmates and their children, and they serve as powerful reminders to inmates that they need to turn their lives around. These family sessions are also held during special occasions, such as Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day and Children's Day. Other than helping the inmate, SPS also helps their families. The grassroots-led Yellow Ribbon Community Project (YRCP) was established to help the families and children of inmates cope by connecting them to the national social support networks. YRCP has assisted more than 5,000 families. We recognise that family ties are vital to the inmates' rehabilitation, and family support is especially important after the inmates' release. Thus, the community's long-term involvement is vital to ensure continuity in these efforts. Madam, I understand that my time on the clock has run out. Can I proceed to finish up my answer?”
“However, when someone starts to abuse drugs, we must help them to stop. And it is vital that we curb the vicious cycle of re-offending and prevent the spread of drug to non-abusers. Last year, CNB arrested a man for drug trafficking. He mixed with bad company, picked up drugs and never successfully quit. What happened next was worse. He taught his two young sons, aged 19 and 20, to smoke "ice". He got them addicted and even supplied their habit. We share Dr Tan Wu Meng's concern on the impact of drug abuse on the family. If we do not succeed rehabilitating offenders, their families, including their children, may end up becoming victims or offenders. Curbing intergenerational offending starts upstream, and this applies to both drug abuse and crime. This is an area which we are working with other agencies to better understand and tackle. The rehabilitation process starts upon admission. Inmates are assessed for their risk of re-offending and severity of drug abuse and, depending on risk levels, inmates undergo different programmes which address criminal thinking and addiction issues. They also undergo family support programmes, religious programmes and skills training. To ease their transition back into the community, they can later be emplaced in a halfway house or on home detention. Under the Day Release Scheme introduced last year, first-time lower-risk inmates can also go out to work and study during the day. We hope these measures help inmates better reintegrate into society. Mr Louis Ng asked about the role of family support in rehabilitation. Indeed, this is one of the key factors that motivates ex-offenders to rebuild their lives and to keep themselves away from re-offending.”
“They read about the legalisation of cannabis overseas and they hear that drugs like cannabis are less harmful and addictive. But this is not true. A review conducted by experts at Singapore's IMH found that cannabis is both harmful and addictive, and chronic exposure to cannabis during adolescence is linked to lower intelligence quotient and possibly irreversible decline in cognitive performance lasting into adulthood. The World Health Organization has also compiled research which found that regular cannabis users were more likely to take other drugs like heroin and cocaine. To better engage youths and extend outreach, CNB has developed a multi-pronged strategy. First, CNB has been increasing their social media presence and they have produced videos to convey accurate information on the harms of drugs. These are shared online, as well as during drug prevention talks and roadshows. Second, CNB is piloting a new initiative to establish positive "influencers" in peer circles. Youths from the Institutes of Technical Education, polytechnics and universities have signed up for the pilot of an Anti-Drug Advocate (ADA) Programme. These youths will learn about the harmful effects of drugs and Singapore's drug policies. They will visit halfway houses and DRCs, hearing first-hand accounts from ex-abusers on how hard it is to kick the drug habit. These youths will see what is really at stake if they try drugs. We hope the experience will encourage them to start their own initiatives to spread the anti-drug message to their friends. We need more people to step forward to spread the anti-drug message. Prevention is our first line of defence, and a key part of the battle is won if we keep our people away from drugs.”
“Mdm Chair, I thank Members for their support for the Home Team's work and I will speak on two areas: first, the scourge of drugs; and second, the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders. Mr Christopher de Souza asked about our drug situation and the strategies to combat this trend. The overall drug abuse situation in Singapore is under control. In 2016, there was a 3% drop in the number of drug abusers arrested compared to 2015, but there are areas of concern. Close to two-thirds of the new drug abusers arrested were below the age of 30, and we are also seeing more cases of students abusing drugs. Therefore, we cannot take our foot off the pedal in the fight against drugs. Even with our tough drug laws and active enforcement, we remain vulnerable to the global and regional drug trade. Minister Shanmugam highlighted the situation in the Golden Triangle, as well as the cross-border drug syndicate activities. We must continue to strengthen our enforcement efforts and regional cooperation. CNB works closely with its foreign partners to target syndicates which attempt to supply drugs to Singapore. For example, last December, CNB and the Malaysian Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) coordinated operations to successfully nab an elusive Malaysian and his associates who were supplying a sizeable amount of drugs into Singapore. At the same time, we need to reduce demand and step up preventive drug education so that Singaporeans know the dangers of drugs. Dr Tan Wu Meng highlighted the growing movement overseas to sugar-coat the drug problem. Our youths are not immune from this influence. On the Internet, our youths see drugs being glamourised.”