Christopher de Souza
Singapore
“I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. My supplementary question arises out of our deployment of our Multi-Role Tankers Transport. I think our airmen and soldiers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and MINDEF should be commended. It was a complex high-altitude mission, and it was successful.”
“Much obliged, Sir. My supplementary questions draw from the fact that the situation displays: one, how Singapore has agency; and two, how Singapore can use the situation as a catalyst.”
“It cannot be allowed to be the master. It does not moralise. Thus, as we embrace AI, we must do so with discernment. We should use it to the extent that it facilitates decision-making, but it cannot be allowed to usurp our decision-making. Innovation cannot come at the expense of trespassing on some existing IP rights.”
“In relation to the study on the drug trafficking and the death penalty. In fact, in response to that, I think there is a very good statistic that we should elaborate on in this House and also out there in education that 15 grams of diamorphine feeds 180 drug abuses for one week.”
“The Singapore Land Authority plays an important role in unlocking the value of state land for community use. As a sportsman, I have personally seen with immense joy how underutilised spaces, such as areas under flyovers, can be transformed into safe and vibrant places for sport and recreation, whether for pickleball, futsal, badminton, te…”
“To propel our status as a hub, Singapore will need infrastructure, such as exhibition facilities, to showcase mediation capabilities, breakout rooms, bilateral mediation hearing rooms as well as printers, laptops and screens for settlement agreements to be typed out.”
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“I am not willing to lose a life on the worksite. I have provided some solutions in my speech already. Sir, our economic success has been built upon how we value people and how we value life, and we cannot deviate from that. In relation to that, I believe we need better infrastructure of how we provide information and support for victims and their family members. Losing someone is always painful and particularly so when it is sudden and unexpected, which is the case with all workplace fatalities. There must be a more systematic way to inform family members if any incident has occurred so they can arrive as quickly as possible. In addition, while of course investigations have to take place and run their due course, information can be provided to the victim's families to assist in at least some partial closure in a very painful episode. Mr Speaker, Sir, by rethinking our safety culture, we can tighten our social compact by lowering workplace fatalities and providing the right care to victim's families. The second topic I would like to speak on is education. Singapore's education system is one that we can, and should, be proud of. It is world renowned for producing exceptional students across the board who are prepared to tackle the significant issues and challenges our world faces today and who consistently rank highly globally. Some may then ask, why speak about, or fix something, that is not broken. The answer is because we must focus on the true mission of education: to prepare our young for the world and give them equal opportunities to attain better lives. Rankings do not tell the full picture of our education system. Rankings have a purpose, but to an extent.”
“A culture prioritising safety is a collective effort. Designers and developers must take into consideration how something can be safely built and maintained. Clear and simplified instructions of how to implement safety regulations can ensure that employees on the ground will be up to date. We must have a framework of safety to ensure regular maintenance of all equipment and checks by MOM to see that standards are upheld by both large firms as well as SMEs. Particularly for SMEs, where manpower constraints and the difficulty of implementing such safety regulations are more apparent, we need to consider how to make the adoption of industry safety standards as straightforward and sustainable as they can be. Secondly, getting the appropriate and sufficient training as well as regular refreshers are important to ensure that all equipment are safe to use. This applies to employees as well as more senior management such that this safety culture is inculcated into each firm's core values. Especially with new workers, proper training must be given so that each worker knows how to use the relevant equipment and knows what other safety measures to abide by. Proper training imparts a culture of responsibility and watching out for other workers as well. Mr Speaker, Sir, there are two other sub-issues I would like to raise in relation to workplace safety. Firstly, COVID-19 has heightened the difficulties for many industries. There is a crunch in manpower, delays in projects causing upward pressure to work faster and many workers and constructions resuming after a long time-off. A combination of all these, along with supply chain disruption, has increased the risk of hazards. I understand these pressures. But this is a trade-off I am not willing to pay.”
“This year, there have already been five workplace fatalities in less than two months, most recently of which was the harbour pilot from PSA Marine. Additionally, the major injury rate per 100,000 workers has increased in the last few months from 16.8 to 18.7. In response to this, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has implemented a six-month heightened safety period since last September and has extended it till May this year. This is necessary and I am encouraged by it. I also acknowledge that the Government has accepted the eight key recommendations by the International Advisory Panel on improving workplace safety and health. Notwithstanding all that has been done by MOM and the relevant stakeholders, Mr Speaker, Sir, I believe there is far more we can do and we owe it to the workers to ensure their utmost safety. Let me explain and thereafter offer solutions. Our Workplace Safety and Health vision is to have workplace fatalities to be below one per 100,000 workers by 2028. I believe this is not only possible, but necessary as we continue to build and develop Singapore. The men and women working in these high-risk sectors, both locals and migrant workers, help to build and maintain our buildings and keep the infrastructure of our nation running. There are two things and two sub-issues I believe we can continue to strengthen our workplace safety. Firstly, we need to build a strong safety culture where employees are mindful of their own safety and employers take responsibility of their employees' safety. This involves all stakeholders and goes beyond the physical workplace. Many of the injuries and fatalities happen within the construction sector where there are high heights as well as the transportation and storage sector where vehicles are involved.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this year's Budget is about moving forward in a new era. Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has said that we cannot simply do the same things as we have in the past and assume success. It involves asking ourselves hard questions where solutions sometimes involve competing interests. Mr Speaker, today I would like to raise a few hard questions on two issues and consider whether the trade-offs we have made continue to measure up under examination. Instead of just raising questions on these topics, I would like to, humbly and sincerely, offer my own suggestions and solutions for this House to deliberate upon. The first issue is something deeply concerning to me and many other Singaporeans – that is, the growing number of workplace injuries and fatalities. Last year, on a Tuesday morning in December, Mr Ely Chow was struck and pinned down by a machine as it was being transferred by a forklift. He was taken unconscious to Ng Teng Fong Hospital and subsequently passed away from his injuries. I was there at his wake in Ghim Moh and it affected me deeply. Ely grew up in Ghim Moh, in Ulu Pandan, the constituency I serve, where his mother and father live. His sister, Ruth, and her husband also live in Ghim Moh. Ely was just 31 years old and was, together with his fiancé, waiting to move into their Built-To-Order (BTO) home in Ghim Moh, a stone's throw away from where he grew up. I felt the family's anguish at the wake. I promised them that I would speak up for Ely in Parliament. I am fulfilling that promise today. Ely was one of 46 workplace fatalities in 2022 – the highest number since 2016, despite a heightened safety period imposed in September.”
“Why, in my view, is the aspect of unity so important today? I offer three reasons. One, there are people in our society who hold strong views on these issues. Therefore, there is a potential here for Singapore to be torn apart by discord. Two, my hope is that Singaporeans can discuss our views on these issues peacefully. Where we disagree, let us express such disagreement respectfully and politely. What we are doing today, in this House, is to entrench what we seek to protect and remove a law that has a significant risk of being struck down. Three, by choosing to deal with this in Parliament, we are taking a deliberate and considered approach. Parliament, being made up of elected Members, has the requisite mandate to deal with these issues. And Parliament can do so with dexterity. No other institution can carry through such a legislative manoeuvre. It is hoped that the choice of deploying Parliament to deal with this issue is the best path for unity for our society. Unity – it is very important. Sir, in conclusion, while there is no perfect solution, I think the formula we are putting forward today both protects what is of vital importance to our nation and gives Singapore the best chance at unity. So, let the decorum, tone and respect that we display during this debate in this House set a good example to all Singaporeans of how to deal with such difficult and sensitive issues in future. My prayer is that we will not be torn apart by discord but, instead, stay united as one nation. In all our deliberations – present and future, In all our debates – present and future, In all our decisions – present and future, Let not the unity of our nation be lost. [Applause].”
“Seven, as for adoption, there cannot be a case where a civil union recognised overseas gives a couple in the civil union the ability to adopt under our laws. Eight and for the complete avoidance of doubt, civil unions and civil partnerships are not recognised in Singapore. Sir, this is not an easy speech for me to deliver. I have spoken with people who want section 377A to be retained at all costs. They have a right to their view. I have spoken with people who want to do away with section 377A and open the gates to changes for all institutions – marriage, adoption, the works. They too have the right to hold those views. But in the final analysis, I have to make my own decision on this difficult issue. Believe me, it is difficult. I, too, have close friends who have same-sex attraction. To take a public position on such a difficult issue is not easy. But I cannot shy away from facing difficult issues – and what I have shared in this speech is my position for Singapore. Is this decision-making a struggle? Yes. But, in this struggle is where I belong. We, all of us here, have to make a deep effort to make the right choices in Singapore and for Singapore. Sir, with your permission, I move to my second last point. What we are debating today in this House, on Singapore soil, is squarely a domestic issue. Other countries can choose how they want to shape their societies, but other countries should not impose their choices on us, no matter how well-meaning they perceive themselves to be. Speaking plainly, let us guard against covert and overt foreign influence in our domestic affairs. Allow me, Sir, to end with the need for unity. Unity has been a powerful force in modern Singapore's unprecedented history. It must remain a part of our future.”
“As the Prime Minister has said in the National Day Rally, this includes policies on public housing, education, adoption regulations, advertising standards and film classification. Such a position has been echoed by various Ministries in press statements or by Ministers in response to press questions since the National Day Rally. What does this mean? One, the only form of marriage that is recognised in Singapore is the union between one man and one woman. No other form of marriage is recognised in Singapore. A religious teacher – an ustaz, imam, priest, pastor, bishop, rabbi or men and women of any religion – cannot be prevented from teaching what their faith teaches about marriage and about homosexuality. If practising homosexuality is not condoned in a particular faith, the religious leader can state so. Two, spousal rights can only be granted within the context of a heterosexual marriage. Three, education in school, particularly sex education, should affirm heterosexual marriage as the norm and the bedrock of family. There is no room to argue that because section 377A is being repealed that this somehow provides a gateway or a licence to teachers to promote or normalise homosexuality in schools in Singapore. The repeal does not provide such a licence. Four, high age ratings will apply to all media that contains homosexual content. Advertising content should not affirm homosexual unions in any way. Five, housing policies will prioritise allocation and grants for married couples; and here, marriage means a union of a man and a woman. Six, library books for children, both physical and digital, should not have content depicting or affirming homosexual unions.”
“And then clause 3 states, "nothing in Part 4 invalidates a law enacted before, on or after the date of commencement of this Bill by reason that the law defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman". The amendment to the Constitution is clear as to what it seeks to protect. I support it. Why? Mr Speaker, I believe that the institution of marriage, as defined as the union between one man and one woman, is the basis upon which our society is built. It is something we must protect. It must not be diluted. Marriage is the union of a man and a woman. For centuries, this union has been the foundation of societies. Children and society, as a whole, flourish when marriages are supported and the resulting family unit is strong. The Prime Minister has said in 2007, 2013 and 2016 that the traditional family unit should form the "basic building block of our society". The Prime Minister stated as recently as three months ago, "we have upheld and reinforced the importance of families through many national policies and we will continue to do so." Mr Speaker, the amendment to the Constitution strengthens this foundation. It states clearly that marriage is between a man and a woman; and it follows that this is the basis on which family is built. By constitutionalising this, we are entrenching our values on what is the core, the base, the order of things from which all other relevant laws and policies in our society take bearing. It is the beacon – the guiding light. As a legislator, I see this inclusion and amendment to the Constitution as a deliberate and positive step. By making this amendment to the Constitution, it means that we are also protecting all our social policies that flow from this definition.”
“Mr Speaker, we are deciding the order of things today. Even as we are debating removing a law, we are also debating strengthening the order of things by virtue of an amendment to the Constitution. That is a very significant move. Let us pause to think about this. We are not just removing a law. We are coupling the removal of a law with an amendment to the Constitution to protect the order of things. And, what more, the Constitution is not just another law. It is the beacon from which all laws take their bearing. It sets the tone – it is the backbone of the order of things. Do I believe that there is a significant risk that section 377A will be struck down by the Courts in a future legal challenge? The Attorney-General (AG) had said so. The Minister for Law has said so. These are views that must be taken seriously. So, I have thought long and hard about this matter, and agree that there is a significant risk that section 377A will be struck down by the Courts in a future legal challenge. So, the question to ask next is: do we wait or do we move first by shouldering the legislative responsibility of making hard decisions and deciding on what needs to be protected? It is clear in my mind that we must do the latter. So, Parliament has to act now. We must analyse, deliberate, look into our own selves and make the hard legislative decisions. As Members of this House, we have a duty to decide on and reinforce what we desire to protect given the significant risk that section 377A may be struck down. For this, I now turn to the amendments of the Constitution before the House today. What does the constitutional amendment do? The Bill states, "the legislature may, by law, define, regulate, protect, safeguard, support, foster and promote the institution of marriage".”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to speak. Many Members in this House have known my long-standing support for the institutions of marriage and family. These institutions deserve continuing protection. I must discharge a duty today. Two questions follow. One, what is that duty? And two, how can I ensure that the carrying out of that duty works to the best for Singapore? My speech today will answer both those questions. For this, my starting point is to go back to 1962 and quote Mr Lee Kuan Yew. In 1962, Mr Lee Kuan Yew gave a speech to an audience from the University of Singapore. The speech was about "Law and Order". Mr Lee said that the phrase should be modified – it should read "Order and Law". Why? Because Mr Lee's view – and I think it is a correct view – is that without order, then laws become useless. Allow me to quote Mr Lee: "Those of you who are just embarking on the study of the law will learn the phrase 'law and order'". In a settled and established society, law appears to be a precursor of order. Good laws lead to good order, that is the form that you will learn. But the hard realities of keeping the peace between man and man and between authority and the individual can be more accurately described if the phrase were inverted to 'order and law', for without order the operation of law is impossible." Minister Mentor inverted the phrase "law and order" to become "order and law". By inverting the phrase, he showed how one must establish order first before laws can work. Why is this a good starting point? Because what we are debating today is the order of things and the order from which all relevant laws and policies should be construed. Some use the phrase societal norms, some use the phrase social mores. I would use the term "the order of things".”
“So, I call on MSF to provide follow-up support, engagement and bonding activities for parents of adoptive children who desire support. In conclusion, Sir, adoption is a unique journey. It will not always be smooth, but love solves all things. I hope that there will be many more adoptions in Singapore in the decades to come. To prospective adoptive parents, do take the leap of faith and walk the journey. There is a wonderful team in MSF and I admire them and am thankful to them for all their hard work. Mr Speaker, I believe we are all made for a unique purpose and I challenge each of our Members here and listeners at home to carefully consider whether your unique purpose is to adopt a child. I stand here in Parliament strongly advocating for the incredibly worthy cause of adoption. And for this reason, I support this timely Bill.”
“Surrogacy, in my view, should not be allowed in Singapore, or overseas for that matter, on account of the high possibility that women will be exploited. We should also not commodify babies. Instead of commercial surrogacy, adoption is a very real alternative. We want to promote the ideal – which is not-for-profit adoption of Singaporean babies to Singaporean couples facilitated by non-commercial VWOs and MSF. And, by "couples", I mean a husband and wife. I would also like to speak up in support of pregnant ladies who make the difficult and life-giving decision to keep their pregnancy and give their babies up for adoption. This is true selflessness. In this selfless manner, an unplanned pregnancy can create a wonderful family unit for the adoptive parents. Finally, Mr Speaker, while this is an amazing Bill, I believe we can take it to a higher level. This Bill arises out of a greater aim to create a greater space for adoption within our society. My sincere aspiration is that we, as a society, see adoption as equally attractive as having biological children and both can come hand-in-hand as routes to starting a family. This positive framing of adoption can invite more prospective adoptive parents to come forward and put their names down and also for more unplanned pregnancies to lead to adoption instead of abortions. One humble suggestion is for MSF to invite prospective adoptive parents to put their names down on a list, and also to have a list of pregnant ladies who want to give life to their babies, but cannot take care of them and would like to put them up for adoption. Then MSF can match the two lists together and facilitate more adoptions. Having a child, whether adopted or biological, is not always easy. Like all families, there are ups and downs.”
“He or she will think that perhaps, there was something to be ashamed of. A better approach, in my humble view, is for adoptive parents to explain adoption in a manner that is positive and affirming and showing the child that he or she belongs to a family and is loved equally. My wife and I have four children and all of them are treated and loved equally – no difference. They each have different personalities, but, when they are put together, they make quite a team. I would also like to emphasise that it is in the best interests of children that adoption should be reserved for stable family units, ideally with a married husband and wife. This Bill also stands to break cycles of abuse and neglect and this is very important. With record numbers of child abuse cases in 2020 and 2021, we need to work harder to protect our young because they are vulnerable and cannot speak up or defend themselves. With this Bill, more children will be able to be removed from abuse and neglect but, consequently, we will need more prospective parents willing to parent these children. Mr Speaker, I also support the desire to deter undesirable behaviour in the adoption sector. The need to protect the best interests of the child means that certain behaviour that might compromise a child's welfare should be outlawed. Alongside this, in order to protect children and also birth mothers, I also support Singapore's continued policy of, generally, not allowing commercial surrogacy. I know surrogacy is a sensitive topic. But the unavoidable fact is that commercial surrogacy invites a very high risk of exploiting the woman who rents her womb. Surrogacy also invites so many middlemen and agents' fees. Many of these women who rent out their wombs come from developing countries and do so out of desperation.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join this debate on this excellent Bill. Speaking from personal experience, what I have learnt is that the adopted child blesses and enriches the family. My wish is that everyone listening to this speech today would seriously consider adoption, regardless of whether you have biological children. I must also take this time to commend MSF for the good work they have done so far, not only in tabling this Bill, but the hard work over the years in working with stakeholders, parents and children in striving towards creating more awareness and support for adoption and facilitating the process of adoption. There are also wonderful voluntary welfare organisation (VWO) partners who do silent, selfless and courageous work in this space – such as Safe Place, Touch Community Services, aLife and so many more ground-up and committed organisations. The Bill aims to find a good home for every child identified for adoption and I stand strongly in support of this. In some cases, a baby's adoption status is treated as a secret. However, adoption can be celebrated as an act of love. In that light, I support having disclosure briefings because it is best to disclose to the child as early as possible while helping the child understand that he or she is loved. When our daughter was still young, my wife and I would tell her that she came from her "Tummy Mommy's" tummy, but she was born in our hearts. I understand that many would be concerned whether such disclosure would affect the child adversely. But I have thought about this and I believe we should tell the child about his or her adoption and do this as early as possible. Inevitably, the child will realise that he or she is adopted and will wonder why it was kept a secret.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, for SMEs, in particular, while the reality of digitalisation as the future is acknowledged, there is much practical difficulty in terms of initial costs, lack of technical expertise and assisting employees in making that transition, particularly senior employees who have worked for years within the existing system. The launch by IMDA of schemes, such as Better Data-Driven Business (BDDB), the Digital Leaders Programme (DLP) and the Chief Technology Officer (CTO)-as-a-Service, have created platforms to help many brick-and-mortar businesses pivot towards hybrid online-offline models and are, certainly, welcomed. How will MCI continue supporting businesses to build or enhance their digital capabilities, so as to take advantage of the post-COVID-19 phase of economic recovery? Digitalisation and Singapore's Resilience As we prepare for a post-pandemic future, technology can revolutionise and reinvent much of the way business is done. With hyperscale cloud providers dominating the cloud infrastructure and more industry clouds appearing, cloud computing has transformed in a way that has changed digitalisation. Other technologies, such as quantum computing, the metaverse and digital currencies, are continuing to take over the landscape and seemingly unlock more potential. How can the Government take advantage of the potential of new digital technologies and invest into it, while at the same time, watching against any potential pitfalls? This then, can enhance Singapore's competitiveness and resilience. Interest of Consumers and Small Business”
“Mr Chairman, just two short clarifications. The first is that Minister Edwin Tong talked quite a lot about therapeutic justice. But I was wondering whether or not there could be some emphasis in the justice system on restorative justice, which is, reconciliation between parties, in addition to therapeutic justice. That is the first question. For the second question, I declare that I am a lawyer in private practice and I do arbitrations. Be that as it may, may I ask what the Minister and MinLaw are doing to promote the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) rules, especially because arbitrations and hearings are increasingly being held via Zoom or online, so that the rules make all the difference to attract the case to SIAC? So, these are my two clarifications.”
“Over the years, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has done very well to convert under-utilised state land into community spaces, such as parks and even quarantine facilities during the peak of the pandemic. Furthermore, by partnering the community in engaging the public to receive feedback on how state properties can be retrofitted and adapted, we can continue to create a beautiful Singapore and maximise the usage of our land. How does MinLaw plan to continually repurpose and rejuvenate state properties to breathe new life into them?”
“This has been built upon the backbone of creating and continually updating our law and regulations and developing the relevant infrastructure to take on the flow of legal work through our borders. Additionally, we have cultivated local legal talent to become world-class arbitrators, mediators and advocates. However, the pandemic has moved many dispute resolutions online and the places having the most updated technology and best handling of the pandemic become the destinations best suited for dispute resolution. What plans does MinLaw have to maintain Singapore's position as an international dispute resolution hub today? Intellectual Property – Protection Intellectual Property, or IP, plays an increasingly important role in an innovation-driven economy, particularly with the rise of blockchain and cryptocurrency, as well as perhaps non-fungible tokens or NFTs. With the world increasingly interconnected and businesses and revenue going wherever there is the greatest protection over assets and the best environment for innovation, Singapore needs to keep pace. Having the required legal regime and infrastructure will allow for greater foreign investment into local enterprises and allow for the growth of local enterprises to explore and lead the way in blockchain and other cutting-edge developments. How has MinLaw been supporting the local enterprises in the area of IP to build infrastructure as well as to monetise their IP? State Land – Rejuvenation and Better Use Sir, despite our limited land space, Singapore has maximised much of it to build the city that it is today – including much lush greenery and parks and recreational spaces.”
“First, allow me to declare that I am a lawyer in private practice. The pandemic has shifted the legal profession to a new normal of working from home and attending hearings via Zoom. Technological advancements have made the arrangement and management of case documents easier. Additionally, clients' needs have evolved as they themselves face increasingly complex issues because of technological advances and cybercrime. How is MinLaw equipping the legal profession to better meet the evolving legal needs of our society and economy? Technology in Legal Practice Technology is becoming an increasingly important element in the practice and business of law, with Zoom hearings, Artificial Intelligence (AI) being utilised to perform due diligence and research and data analytics providing prediction, thereby, saving time. However, many law practices continue to struggle with the digitalisation journey, such as converting archive files and paperwork to digital records and having the necessary funds to upgrade computers and software to keep up to date. Furthermore, while law graduates emerging into the industry would be the most up to date, legal practitioners who have spent many years in the field and have already honed their craft might find the challenge of incorporating technological advances far too steep. How is MinLaw supporting the law practices in their digitalisation journey? Singapore – a Dispute Resolution Hub Singapore has steadily built a reputation as an international dispute resolution centre over the past few decades. Whether through arbitration, mediation or some other form of dispute resolution, Singapore is known to be even-handed and fair and transparent in its dealings.”
“Mr Chairman, may I take all my five cuts together, please?”
“That is what I wanted to say and I say that as a matter of principle and conviction. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. Yes, indeed, we will retain the First Schedule of the MDA.”
“Yes. So, my position here is that in preserving the death penalty, would MHA also share statistics about the effect of the drug and how it creates cross-generational detriment? A hundred and eighty families are one whole HDB block. And share the empirical evidence of how the death penalty does, in fact, deter? So, I just want to place on record my thanks to the Minister for going deep into a very sensitive topic notwithstanding the forces at work in the opposite direction.”
“And I want to say that as a lawmaker, it is one of the toughest decisions that I have to make for my country whenever the Misuse of Drugs act comes up, if not the toughest and I have searched my conscience and I am fully in favour of the retention of the death penalty. Why? Because 15 grammes of diamorphine – heroin – feed 180 drug abusers a week.”
“Thank you, Mr Chair. I have three clarifications. The first clarification has to do with the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA). Minister of State Faishal Ibrahim had mentioned that in order to make the Misuse of Drugs Act more flexible, in order to catch quickly and swiftly new psychoactive substances that come onto the market, they are looking at a framework that concentrates on the effect of the drug. I think that is a good move, but I would like to confirm with him that even if we were to go in that direction, which would make the MDA swifter, we would still retain the First Schedule which lists all the controlled drugs. And if you possess, deal in or consume any of those controlled drugs in the First Schedule, you will still be up for an offence. So, the deterrent effect on the controlled drugs remains. That is my first clarification. My second clarification arises out of what Minister of State Desmond Tan said on anti-terror capabilities. My question to him and my cut were really directed at what intelligence cooperation we can have across jurisdictions to ensure that there is information sharing to pre-empt a terror attack from happening in Singapore. And I had in mind collaborations with Interpol. Would he be able to confirm that MHA does work with organisations like Interpol to create a good intelligence environment to deter terrorist threats? The third clarification, Sir, really arises from the Minister's position on the death penalty. First, I want to say that it takes a lot of courage to come out and say that, because of the wave of liberal attitudes towards consumption of drugs in the globe today and in the region.”
“Despite the landscape constantly changing and security threats getting increasingly complicated, the various agencies have risen to the challenge and maintained a very high standard of efficiency and having great precision in eliminating and reducing threats. One aspect of the Home Team force in serving the public is protecting and partnering the community to face any obstacle. That includes how the public can contact the various departments and Statutory Boards to provide feedback or raise queries and concerns or seek help. That also includes the day-to-day service to the community to protect them from the myriad of potential threats. How can the partnership with communities and neighbourhoods be enhanced to deter crime?”
“Mdm Chair, my first cut. Often, those who are detained for plotting a terror attack or collaborating with overseas units to design a terror attack are misguided in their thinking and philosophy. Detaining them so as to prevent them from carrying out the act is key, but, of equal importance, is the effort to rehabilitate them such that they form their own view that violent, extreme, radical thinking manifesting in terror-plotting against the innocent is just simply incorrect. How does MHA intend to intensify its efforts in such rehabilitation and how successful has MHA been so far in rehabilitating potential terrorist threats? Anti-terrorism Capability – Intelligence Working alongside regional and global partners to combat terror and potential terror threats is key to helping prevent an incident from happening on our shores. How will MHA continue to be a key partner in the region and, indeed, the globe, in information sharing to achieve a zero-tolerance attitude towards terrorism in Singapore? Anti-terror Capability – Total Defence MHA’s and its agencies’ partnership with the community to ensure radical, violent extremism does not take root in the thinking of Singaporeans is key in ensuring, pre-emptively, that the prospect of a terror attack in Singapore is minimised. How does MHA intend to intensify its collaboration with community groups to ensure that terrorism is rejected by all communities in Singapore? Partnering the Community to Fight Crime The Home Team has served Singapore well for many years in keeping our nation safe and secure.”
“With Telegram groups often being used to illegally advertise and supply such prohibited items, the threat has evolved because of increased internet penetration and the abundance of mobile apps that allow for encrypted communications. This facilitates an environment where there is greater anonymity and suppliers have the ability to delete messages once the transaction is complete. My question, therefore is, how is the Home Team using social media to inculcate the merits of a drug-free Singapore in the minds of Singaporeans? 3.00 pm Rehabilitation of Youth Offenders”
“Madam, my first cut on deterring youth drug abuse. With 75% of young drug abuse arrests being first-time drug abusers and the number of repeat young drug abusers doubling over the last couple of years, there is a distressingly liberal attitude among young people today towards drugs and other such substances. There is a much more curious attitude towards drugs, such as cannabis, and procuring e-cigarettes to vape. Despite the stringent regulation and monitoring and much success in eliminating drugs in our nation, many young people are still able to seek out suppliers via messaging platforms and obtain drugs and drug paraphernalia. While part of the battle is to keep pace and cut off the source of drugs, what initiatives will MHA be deploying to nip the problem in the bud to prevent a drug-tolerant culture from taking root in Singapore? Drugs – Battling Psychoactive Substances New psychoactive substances are being supplied and manufactured with great speed. They are concocted in makeshift labs in the region and disseminated throughout ASEAN. How can the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) be made more flexible to quickly make illegal new variants and concoctions of new psychoactive substances before they hit the Singapore market? Drug-free Singapore – Social Media is Key Singapore has come a long way in fighting to be a drug-free nation, especially in Southeast Asia where the flow of drugs is rampant. However, we cannot take our success for granted but must continue to stay vigilant in the face of greater complexities in eliminating drugs amidst the pandemic as well as the proliferation of messaging platforms.”
“As the Home Team looks to train officers in skills that are relevant across Singapore’s public sector, there is a need to train in key tech skills so as to fight crime in the cyber realm. That can take place not only within the Home Team force, but officers can be attached to relevant technology companies and startups within the private sector so as to gain relevant experience and different skillsets. What are Home Team’s plans to continue to use technology to enhance the effectiveness of the officer’s training as well as to train them in methods and expertise to tackle cybercrime? My fourth cut. Technology – Deployment in Operations As technological advances have increased operational capability and the range of monitoring and responses to threats, the nature of the threat towards our national security and safety has evolved. Particularly, many messaging platforms, such as Telegram, have become channels facilitating an online marketplace for illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia. The Home Team needs to stay ahead of this threat by similarly taking advantage of technology to both augment and sharpen existing operational responses and capabilities. How will the Home Team deploy technology in its operations? Safe Reopening of Singapore's Borders”
“Thank you. As Singapore transforms to fulfil its vision to be a Smart Nation, the role of data has come increasingly to the forefront. 2.45 pm With increasing technological capability, the ability to collect and handle a large volume of data and analyse it is now possible, leading to the ability to make predictions and anticipate events and behaviour. In the realm of public safety and security, this is vital, especially during the pandemic. While machine learning and various software are currently available, the possibility of assessing trends in location, type of crime and likelihoods of criminal activity can allow the Home Team to better understand and prepare for future threats. How does the Home Team intend to use such data to enhance public safety and security, particularly in the monitoring of threats? Furthermore, given that the nature of much of this data is also private, there is also a need to protect and secure the data to prevent against internal abuse of the data and against cyber attacks. Technology in the Fight against Crime With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting how the Home Team’s interactions with the community might take place, it is necessary to take advantage of technology to continue to provide channels to serve the community and allow individuals to access these law enforcement services. What technology has the Home Team utilised and how has the Home Team used such technology to make its service delivery more efficient and accessible to the public? Technology – Upskilling for Officers With the use of data analytics, sensors, AI and automation, training scenarios for officers can be increasingly realistic, thereby allowing for greater preparedness of our officers.”
“Mdm Chairman, may I have your permission to take my four cuts together?”
“We were there to learn counterterrorism measures and whether Morocco's counterterror tactics could be deployed in Singapore. In between the busy schedule, Sitoh and I spoke about political succession among the 4G. Why? Because we like to play political chess games? No. The backbenchers discuss these things between themselves because we want to see Singapore succeed. Sitoh is a real fighter. He has no need to mince his words. So, we talk frankly. Sir, I have been in politics longer than many of the potential candidates for the 4G Prime Minister-ship. I entered in 2006 at the age of 30, at the request of the Prime Minister. Many of the candidates for the 4G Prime Minister entered in 2011 and 2015. I come with no personal agenda. I make this speech with no personal agenda. Here, in this Chamber, I have, for years, been pushing for causes and policy changes under the steady hands of four Speakers and under the watchful eyes of five Whips. Members, please know, in articulating these views, I have Singapore at heart. My humble message to the 4G is this: please apply your minds to succession planning and articulate swiftly your thinking and choice as regards to the leadership to Singaporeans. They deserve nothing less. In conclusion, Sir, I support the Budget but we are capable of so much more. Let us show the world what Singapore is made of. In the throes of a crisis, we can pick a future leader and the core team to take Singapore through its next chapter and beyond. That shows the world that we have mettle. That shows the world our ballast in a time of crisis. That shows the world our deep reservoir of resolve and our steely determination to persevere and fight on.”
“Again, so as not to be misunderstood, I would hope that even when the 4G is in place and holding the reins, Prime Minister, Senior Minister Teo, Senior Minister Tharman and the seniors in Cabinet will stay on as Senior Ministers or Coordinating Ministers to shepherd the new team. Allow me to move to a different but somewhat related point. Allow me to share some private-sector perspective on this. I am a lawyer at Lee & Lee. My clients, including MNCs, look very carefully at political predictability when making decisions as regards which country to invest in. Time and again, my clients have shared that Singapore's predictable political environment gives them confidence to invest their business, human capital and infrastructure long term in Singapore. Germane to that is their understanding of Singapore's political succession planning. And, here, I am talking about political succession planning within the PAP. Is this a speech better suited for a Party conference or a speech in Parliament? I would say it is an appropriate and relevant speech to be made in Parliament because the PAP and its succession planning have been organic to Singapore's success story. Along with PAP's effort, coupled with the sweat of Singaporeans, Singapore has transitioned from third world to first and become a choice destination to invest in the 2020s. It is with this belief and principle in mind that I make the propositions today, that is, the ruling party of the day – the PAP, must swiftly choose the next Prime Minister and next Deputy Prime Ministers and give them as long a runway as our current Prime Minister can manage. This reminds me of a conversation I had with hon Member Sitoh Yih Pin in Morocco.”
“I miss Amrin and Pin Min. They were exceptional Members of Parliament. Now, please do not get me wrong. I, for one, have no ambition whatsoever to be Prime Minister, in case that is already not obvious. Here is another caveat. If I did not mention a Member's name in the speech, please do not read anything into it. I only have 20 minutes to give the speech and I do not want to breach the time limit. The point I am making here, and the point behind this speech is: for us in Parliament to show the world that, in the middle of this pandemic, we can even sort out the succession plan. We do not need to think variant-to-variant, day-by-day, month-by-month; rather, Singapore plans decade-by-decade. The manifestation of such far-sightedness is our leadership renewal. We must get it right and we must make the world aware of the succession plan. Please do not mistake me. Do I think we have the best man as Prime Minister now? Yes, absolutely. Around the dinner table, when we meet over a meal, my father and mother would say to me, "Is Prime Minister alright? Is Teo Chee Hean alright?" These questions come up, especially when Singapore is going through tough times and tough spells. These are real concerns. It is a concern for the person. My response to my parents is that: "Prime Minister and Senior Minister are fighting fit but that the load is heavy to carry." Please do not misinterpret me. The point I am making is that we have solid leadership now, but we must, with utmost imperative, line up the future Prime Minister and his or her deputies, so that they get the longest runway possible before taking over the controls in the cockpit.”
“When I moved on to play for Singapore in the men's national hockey team, we chose the best person for the captaincy. It was not me. There were four or five of my teammates who were better players than the captain who was chosen. So, why was he chosen? Because he could read the game better than any one of us. He could gel a team better than any one of us and he understood his opponents and their tactics well. The point I am getting at is that we cared less about who the captain was. We were more concerned about how Singapore was faring on the scoreboard and, when we played in Malaysia and India, the matches could get very tense. Sure, choosing the right teammate to wear the captain's armband is important. But what mattered more was the whole team's performance. What mattered in any stadium we played in, whether on home soil or internationally, was what was on the scoreboard. What is Singapore's score? Is Singapore up or is Singapore down? What do we need to do better for our performance as a team? For whom? Ourselves? No. For Singapore and the Singapore flag we wore over our chest. The point I am making is that you, the 4G, can choose someone who is not necessarily the smartest, but you need to choose someone who is the best fit to bring together a team. You have in your ranks hon Members – Chan Chun Sing, Lawrence Wong, Ong Ye Kung, Tan Chuan-Jin, Desmond Lee, Edwin Tong, Tan See Leng, Indranee Rajah and many others. There was Ng Chee Meng but we had sadly lost him in Sengkang. Among the 5G, you have hon Members Sim Ann, Chee Hong Tat, Zaqy Mohamad, Janil Puthucheary, Alvin Tan, Desmond Lee, Sun Xueling and many others, first among equals – primus inter pares – team effort. We lost Amrin Amin and Lam Pin Min who would have been key members of the 5G team.”
“We carried out two leadership transitions smoothly – from the 1G to the 2G, and then from the 2G to the 3G. This has been a story of stability and progress. Of evolution, not revolution. Of patient building and improving. Of ensuring that tomorrow will be better than today. This book recounts how the PAP continuously transformed and renewed itself over the decades." So, renewal is key, Sir, and we need to concretise the plans for it. Before I go into the meat of my speech, let me respectfully ask a few questions. What if Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean were 15 years younger? What if Senior Minister Tharman were 15 years younger? They would be ideal candidates for the 4G Prime Minister-ship. Or what if Minister K Shanmugam, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan or Dr Ng Eng Hen were just 10 years younger? They, too, would be ideal candidates for the 4G Prime Minister-ship. The point I am getting at is that I can appreciate that there are many constraints in choosing a leader – age, years in politics, circumstances beyond one's control. To get my point across, let me share what leadership means to me. And here, I offer a very humble parallel through the lens of sports. In secondary school, Junior College (JC) and in the club leagues, I was asked to captain hockey teams. I accepted the invitations. Was I the best hockey player on the team? No. In every team I captained, there were three or four players better than me. So, why was I asked? Maybe because I could read the game; maybe because I had deep friendships with everyone on the team; maybe because I was able to decipher what our potential as a team was and worked our guts out to materialise that potential. Whatever the reason, I gave it my best shot and the players better than me also became part of the team's cause.”
“I quote: "There are many themes and ideas in this book and I do not have time to enumerate on all of them, but I did briefly want to highlight two points. The first is renewal – this is felt to be an urgent imperative. From the very beginning, Party files showed that Mr Lee Kuan Yew was thinking about the issue at an extraordinarily early point, from the early 1960s in fact. I really find this amazing. In this area of renewal, things that would see fruition much later, time and again, would be thought of by Mr Lee and others within the Party from a very early stage." Prime Minister was invited to launch the book and Prime Minister, too, picked up on the importance of renewal. I quote Prime Minister: "A pivotal general election had just taken place in December 1984. In that election, many of the PAP old guards either retired from politics or stepped down from leadership roles. In the new Cabinet, from the founding generation – only Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Mr S Rajaratnam and Mr EW Barker remained. After the election, the younger Ministers chose Mr Goh Chok Tong to be the leader and he became the first Deputy Prime Minister." Two Opposition candidates were elected. Mr JB Jeyaretnam in Anson re-elected and Mr Chiam See Tong in Potong Pasir for the first time. At the post-election press conference, Mr Lee interpreted the election results using a biblical reference. He described it as the inevitable transition from the Independence generation to a new generation of voters who knew not Joseph. Prime Minister went on to say, "The Party's early years, pre-1985, were full of drama and excitement, whereas the post-1985 story has been one of relative calm and stability. Year after year, Singapore continued to sustain its strong growth and rapid transformation.”
“A recently published book by Shashi Jayakumar entitled "A History of the People's Action Party, 1985-2021" was launched by the Prime Minister late last year. Dr Jayakumar is not one to mince his words. He had to be as accurate in his analysis as he could be because many of the people that he wrote about are still alive. What was a central focus of his book? Renewal – principally, leadership renewal. I was at the book launch and should at this point, declare that I have known Dr Shashi Jayakumar for 20 years. We were University mates and I count him as a close friend. But putting personal affiliations aside, there were several themes that struck me as I listened to the three speeches given at the book launch. The first speech was given by Peter Schoppert, Director of NUS Press, the publisher. Let me quote two poignant points he made which put into context why the book and themes such as renewal had to be accurately recounted. This is what Schoppert said, and I quote: "It's a brave historian who writes a contemporary history. That historian is brave on at least two fronts. First, the contemporary historian writes about people who are very much with us. You will see in the book that interviews form a very important source for the book and, of course, interviewees have their own views and they can read what you said about them, they can answer back. They might even be in the room when you launch the book. They might even be invited to launch the book for you. Secondly, the contemporary historian must give a judgement on events as they are still current, as they are still playing out." Being the author, Dr Shashi Jayakumar was invited to deliver a speech about the book at its launch. What he chose to focus on was insightful and piercing.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this was not an easy speech to draft, but I hope it will be taken in the right spirit. We can have all the right fiscal policies in place and the mettle to see them through, notwithstanding the pain and pinch, but what we have not sorted out is political succession. Singapore has the unique capability to plan decades in advance across many policies – manpower, trade, climate change, defence, to name a few. But we must ensure that we have successive generations of leaders to see those policies to fruition and, Mr Speaker, I say that political succession planning is key in this regard. Just last year, I stood here to talk about what I had hoped to see in our 5G Prime Minister. That race should not matter, that he or she should be able to lead the leaders into 2040 and beyond. I focused on 5G because at the time it looked as if the 4G Prime Minister was secured – Deputy Prime Minister Heng. Yet just a few weeks later, the bombshell came. Deputy Prime Minister Heng had taken himself out of the running citing several reasons. Do not get me wrong. I respect the Deputy Prime Minister for that. It was an act of selflessness in the face of a force majeure, being the pandemic. In short, the Deputy Prime Minister said the next Prime Minister should have a longer runway to the premiership and a long run in the premiership. That he, meaning the Deputy Prime Minister, was not getting any younger and the pandemic was still getting longer. So, Singapore was at the heart of Deputy Prime Minister's decision. I respect that but it does not solve the issue of succession. To make Singapore's long-term plans work, such as those contained in this year's Budget, Singapore must have a long-term leadership succession plan. These are not my own personal musings.”
“Our SPF officers have served with integrity, professionalism and courage. We are proud of SPF's reputation as a world-class Police Force, trusted by Singaporeans. As we look to the next 200 years, I am glad to hear from the Minister for Home Affairs that SPF is already enhancing its capabilities to meet the emerging challenges. However, even as SPF continues its transformation and capabilities, it is crucial that SPF and its officers continue to be anchored by the core values of courage, loyalty, integrity and fairness. If this is achieved, I am sure that SPF will continue to grow from strength to strength and Singaporeans will get to enjoy many more years of safety and security. Therefore, in conclusion, Madam, I invite this House to resolve to commemorate and honour the important contributions of the Singapore Police Force and its officers to nation building and to keeping Singapore as one of the safest countries in the world. [Applause.] [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, (proc text)] [(proc text) "That this House commemorates and honours the important contributions of the Singapore Police Force and its officers to nation building and to keeping Singapore as one of the safest countries in the world." (proc text)]”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank the Members, including the Minister for Home Affairs as well as the Deputy Prime Minister, for speaking on this Motion and for their support. I fully support the introduction of the Singapore Police Bicentennial 2020 Medal and Medallion for Police officers and other officers serving with SPF to honour SPF's contributions on the occasion of its bicentennial. It is a meaningful way to honour SPF's contributions and strengthen the sense of pride and identity amongst Police officers on this significant occasion. It expresses the collective appreciation of the House for all that our Police officers have done. Before I move on with my planned speech, I would like to just make reference to Ms Sylvia Lim's comments that the CNB and the ICA were not mentioned. The reason for that, really, is when Mr Murali and I proposed this Motion, it was to commemorate SPF's 200th anniversary, its bicentennial. I did a check: CNB was formed in 1971 and ICA was consolidated into the ICA in 2003. So, nothing in this Motion dilutes our appreciation to CNB and ICA. In fact, in 2017, the House debated a Motion, which I moved, on strengthening Singapore's fight against drugs. And I quote from a speech that I gave that, "the CNB and the Singapore Prisons Services are sterling institutions, staffed with dedicated and committed officers. Their effort in the fight against drugs is courageous. But the fight is not only theirs to bear. All Singaporeans have a role to play." So, nothing in this debate should be misinterpreted as being diluted appreciation to CNB and ICA. In fact, we hold them also in high esteem. Looking to the future, over the last 200 years, SPF has displayed an unwavering commitment to keep Singapore and Singaporeans safe and secure.”
“] [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“Thanks to SPF, our people are able to live, work and play in, arguably, the safest city in the world. I would like to thank all SPF officers – SPF regular officers, civilian staff, National Servicemen and Volunteer Special Constabulary officers, past and present – for their contributions to and sacrifices in safeguarding Singapore. Today, we are privileged to have in the House, 69 visitors representing the SPF family. They include Singapore's Commissioner of Police, in-service officers, full-time National Servicemen, Operationally Ready National Servicemen, Volunteer Special Constabulary officers, civilian officers, retired Police officers and two family members of a Police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Your presence here today, allows us to honour, in a special way, the whole of the Singapore Police Force and the families of our officers, past and present. To commemorate SPF's 200th anniversary and to accord recognition to SPF officers, I would like to suggest that MHA and SPF consider introducing a commemorative award for Police officers. On a more personal note, I would like to share that I have seen the dedication and courage of our Police officers at close range. In the course of my membership in the Government Parliamentary Committee or GPC for Home Affairs and Law, I have visited the Police on the ground, spoken with many officers and witnessed operational exercises, including anti-terror exercises. What always strikes me are the officers' commitment to their mission and their unwavering loyalty to Singapore. Their loyalty is truly commendable. Therefore, in conclusion, Madam, may I invite this House to show our sincere appreciation to and strong support for our men and women in the Singapore Police Force. I beg to move. [Applause.”
“SPF's tireless efforts have contributed to the successful hosting of these events, boosting the Republic of Singapore's reputation globally. SPF has also contributed significantly to combatting transnational crime through international policing work in cooperation with its foreign counterparts. SPF has mounted many successful operations in collaboration with its foreign counterparts over the years. For example, in 2020, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department collaborated with the Hong Kong Police Force to arrest five core members of a transnational online credit card fraud syndicate operating in Hong Kong. In 2020, the Commercial Affairs Department also worked with the Royal Malaysia Police to conduct a joint police operation against a transnational Internet scam syndicated in Kuala Lumpur. I am also told that our SPF has strong ties with Indonesia and its police force. Internationally, SPF has earned respect for Singapore. It is a key member of INTERPOL. In 2008, then-Commissioner of Police Khoo Boon Hui was elected as President of INTERPOL by an overwhelming majority vote. In 2015, Singapore earned the honour of hosting the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation, through which SPF collaborates with foreign law enforcement counterparts on cross-border crimes and the sharing of knowledge, intelligence and best practices. In SPF's early history, it would have been unthinkable for Singapore's Police force to be able to contribute anything substantial to international policing. Two centuries on, SPF is one of the leading police forces in the world, playing a significant role in international crime-fighting efforts. We are proud of SPF and its many achievements over the last 200 years.”
“This safety and security underpinned Singapore's remarkable growth and progress. Over the years, SPF has successfully upheld safety and security at several major events hosted by Singapore. These are complex security operations that require close coordination across different SPF teams covering various aspects of security, including patrols, monitoring the ground and being prepared to stop any threats that may arise. At the same time, SPF has to ensure that daily operational needs were not compromised even as it dedicated resources to the smooth running of these events. For example, the security operations for our National Day Parades require extensive planning and seamless execution by many SPF ground units. Members would also recall the Trump-Kim Summit which Singapore hosted in June 2018. The short lead time and volatility of plans made planning for the security operations extremely challenging. SPF made meticulous and detailed plans for the security operations in coordination with Home Team agencies and other public agencies, with many – I should emphasise "many" – different security contingency plans worked out. More than 6,900 SPF officers were deployed over a span of three days to ensure that the historic Summit proceeded smoothly without incident. SPF has also effectively managed complex security operations at many other events that bring together international guests to Singapore, such as the Shangri-La Dialogues, Formula One races and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC meetings. For each of these events, SPF assesses the security risks, crafts detailed security plans and executes these plans effectively in close coordination with other agencies, if required.”
“Unions and schools were infiltrated by communists and their supporters who instigated riots and public unrest in the Chinese middle schools. Discontent and distrust brewed between different races, resulting in racially-charged riots. The capabilities of the Police grew to meet these new challenges. For example, in 1952, after the Maria Hertogh riots, the Riot Squad in SPF – now known as the Special Operations Command – was formed so that it can respond more effectively to public order incidents. Post-Independence, SPF achieved a few major milestones. Part-time National Service was operationalised in SPF in 1967 to augment manpower resources. Two years later, the Government expanded the recruitment of Police officers and reorganised the Police Academy in 1969 to equip recruits with the skills for effective policing. In the 1980s, SPF explored new ways to directly engage residents in fighting crime. Besides the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, we also formed the National Crime Prevention Council. Neighbourhood Police Posts and Neighbourhood Police Centres were set up to bring policing to the heartlands. This transformed the image of the Police officer, not just as a person enforcing the law, but to also being a trusted member of the community. Over the last two decades, SPF has enhanced its capabilities to meet new and complex challenges beyond neighbourhood crime, such as terrorism, cybercrime, commercial crime and scams. For example, SPF established the Anti-Scam Centre in 2019 to work with stakeholders, such as banks, telephone companies and online marketplaces to disrupt scammers' operations and mitigate victims' monetary losses. All these efforts brought about the low crime rates that we enjoy today.”
“Madam, I beg to move*, "That this House commemorates and honours the important contributions of the Singapore Police Force and its officers to nation building and to keeping Singapore as one of the safest countries in the world". [(proc text) *The Motion also stood in the names of Mr Murali Pillai and Mr Patrick Tay. (proc text)] I would like to express my thanks to Mr Murali Pillai for his partnership in putting up this Motion and to Mr Patrick Tay for so willingly supporting it. I also thank all Members who have expressed their desire to voice supporting speeches. In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to the Minister for Home Affairs who was very supportive of the idea of this Motion when Mr Murali Pillai and I broached the idea of it and also for agreeing to speak on it. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has come a long way since its beginnings in 1820. Mr Francis James Bernard led Singapore's first Police force with just 12 officers. Just 12 officers. SPF has grown to a force of 45,000 regular officers, full-time National Servicemen, civilian officers, volunteers and operationally-ready National Servicemen. SPF has done a lot for Singapore over the last 200 years. In the early colonial times, Singapore faced many challenges in law and order, such as gambling, prostitution, opium abuse and secret society activities. There were conflicts and unrest between the different communities. Faction fighting, robberies, murders and the use of firearms were so rampant in the 1920s that some nicknamed Singapore the "Chicago of the East". After World War Two, there was social disorder and conflict between people of different backgrounds and ideologies.”
“These are lateral thinkers who can effectively combine different strands of thought and lessons from different contexts to produce innovative results. What we need is for both legal and judicial officers to pick up depth and breadth in a select number of specific disciplines or specialised areas in a way that allows them to synthesise skills and knowledge and, in so doing, helps the Government innovate in a fast-changing world. Given the growth in the size of the Legal Service and the growth in the complexity of the work in both the legal and the judicial branches, there are now adequate sub-specialisations within each branch that facilitate the development of such deep generalists. Having two Services allows for functional separation. Each service can develop its own policies on performance management, recruitment and training. I wish to share my humble view that if a Judicial Service Commission were to be established, movement of officers between the Judiciary, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) and the various Ministries should continue to be allowed in some form. This is because I am of the firm belief that breadth of exposure is key to the proper development and training of a Legal Service Officer. This belief is born out of my own personal experiences as an LSO in the early days of my career. I started my career as a Judicial Officer, then was posted to the AGC and then was posted back to the Judiciary. I found this movement across branches to be very valuable in providing a more rounded and more informed view of the justice system in Singapore. Therefore, if a JSC is to be established, such movements should continue to be allowed in some form. With that, Madam, I support this Motion.”
“Madam, I stand in support of the Adjournment Motion filed by the hon Mr Murali Pillai. The LSC has evolved over the years to adapt to the changing operating environment. The most significant change in recent times was in 2014 when there was a significant shift towards increasing specialisation through the introduction of Specialist Career Tracks. This Motion calls on the Government to rethink our talent management frameworks and development of LSOs. As a practitioner, I have myself seen how much the legal profession as a whole has changed. LSOs occupy a special identity. They are part of the Public Service and also form a substantial proportion of the legal profession in Singapore. It is, therefore, important that they keep pace with the changes that are disrupting the profession. For example, digital trends and technology have expanded the frontiers of law. One example of a trend needing to be checked is the proliferation of online services on the dark web which have facilitated the rise of complex cross-border cyber crime. This calls for deeper expertise, amongst not just our law enforcement agencies, but also our prosecutors. Another example is the increasing use of artificial intelligence in various fields from financial services to legal services and even healthcare. This has given rise to many novel questions of law. One need only to look at the increase in the number of law reform reports that have been published in various jurisdictions in this area. Our very own Singapore Academy of Law has published three reports in the past year in this area alone. I admit that there is a delicate balance to be drawn between specialisation and breadth of experience. As some have said, the world today needs not generalists per se, but deep generalists.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I agree with the Minister that we are starting from a position of strength. My question is in relation to the handout provided. At section 73, it says that there are enhanced penalties for offences against domestic workers, and that can be twice the maximum penalty. My question here is really that it is good that we protect our foreign domestic workers because they are in a position of vulnerability. But I think that section 73 should be widened not just to include foreign domestic workers, but people who are in a position of vulnerability because of their employment. And that can expand beyond the FDW matrix. So, if we are, indeed, wanting to protect the vulnerable, then would a reconsideration of section 73 and the widening of it be considered in this review?”