Goh Pei Ming
Singapore
“I would like to thank the Member for his questions. Specifically, like I said in my response earlier, we have noticed an increase in the number of such posts, especially given the use of AI enabling the creation of such posts.”
“They have been generally effective as the social media companies have worked with us and complied with the directions issued by the Government. Of course, we will from time to time continue to review the laws to ensure that they are fit for purpose, to continue to be proactive in this space.”
“We have also put in place a penalty framework to deter scam mules. Fourth, public education – extensive public education, including for our seniors – to make sure that we share the latest modus operandi as well as the best anti-scam preventive practices that our citizens and our seniors can adopt.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the clarification. Yes, indeed, the Police do track the amount of scam proceeds recovered. We just do not track them by age group. Yes, the amount of scam proceeds that have been recovered are a small proportion compared to the overall amount of monies that is lost.”
“So, we know the number is healthy but we will want to do more, and we think the final reminder and the various public information announcements are useful in that regard. I would like to take the opportunity to also share with the House, with Members, that in this year's Budget, we also announced a further tranche of CLC.”
“In the first quarter of this year, the numbers have continued that trend; we are slightly heartened. But it is too early for us to celebrate, way too early. There is a lot more work that we need to continue to do on this front. Like I mentioned earlier, further anti-scam measures are coming out later this year.”
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“The number of GOIS [Government Official Impersonation Scams] cases reported in 2025 more than doubled to over 3,000. It is among the top five most reported scam types in 2025. Compared to other scam types, GOIS had the most and highest average amount lost per case at more than $72,000. [Please refer to "Committee of Supply – Head P (Ministry of Home Affairs)", Official Report, 27 February 2026, Vol 96, Issue 21, Budget section.] [(proc text) Written statement by Mr Goh Pei Ming circulated with the leave of the Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5). (proc text)] I wish to make the following factual correction to my speech given during the Parliament Sitting of 27 February 2026. My speech should read as follows:”
“Mr Chairman, I thank the Member for the question. Indeed, it is MHA and SPF priority to try and return the funds as quickly as possible. However, in many of these financial crime cases, including cryptocurrency, including scams, the money trace often is very, very complex. So, what the Police needs to do is they will freeze all the assets – the bank accounts, the properties – and for as long as it takes to fully investigate and track where the monies come from, they will have to do so. Only when they have fully resolved and the frozen assets are no longer required to be frozen, can they then apply to the Court for the property to be returned to the rightful owners. The key thing here, as much as we want to simplify the process, it is also difficult, because more often at times, many of the seized proceeds and many of the cases are not just about scams. It also involves illegal money laundering, legal money lending. And therefore, many of times the assets – be it assets, cash or property – are often commingled and therefore, it is actually very difficult for us to directly apportion this amount was from this case and that was from another case. That adds to the complexity of scam cases. But I acknowledge indeed that this is something the public is keen and, of course, every single victim, and we have many victims, will be keen to see the process being simplified and shortened, and we will look at what else we can do to make it faster and simpler.”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. I would like to respond to Mr Jackson Lam's question. There is not just a drugs problem, but actually there is also a scam angle to his question. I have personally received quite a few messages on platforms, such as Telegram, for example. I have also received messages forwarded from fellow Members of the House, telling me that actually they have received such messages, peddling soft drugs, from their own residents, highlighting that this is a concern, especially if youths who tend to be more on social media receive such messages and are tempted that it is easy to get, seemingly affordable and anonymous. But actually, when I forwarded it to our CNB colleagues for them to follow up, they came back to say that actually, for many of these text messages, be it on WhatsApp or Telegram, these are not really drug offers but actually it is a scam whereby potential clients, after making payment do not and will not actually receive the products that are promised to them. The key thing here is, for many of these victims, because of the nature of the transaction, will also not report this to the authorities. So, I would just like to use this opportunity to also highlight to members of the public, especially our youths out there, not to believe such messages when they do receive it. It is likely a scam.”
“On MHA's end, the SPF has also built up its cryptocurrency competencies. A crypto tracing team was established in the Anti-Scam Command since March last year. The team has since followed up on over 1,800 cases involving the dissipation of cryptocurrencies associated with scams. Leveraging on advanced blockchain analytics and a network of industry partners, the team successfully recovered cryptocurrencies valued at approximately $22.8 million. But as I mentioned earlier, a vigilant public is still the most important line of defence. I urge all members of the public to think twice. When an unknown third party asks you to send money, especially via crypto for investment opportunities, always check the claim and ask ourselves, is this legitimate? Should I consult a family member? Should I call 1799 to check if this is a scam? I would like to urge members of the public as well to remember that MAS has also repeatedly cautioned retail investors against investing in cryptocurrencies. The old maxim remains true, including in crypto: "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is".”
“Mr Chairman, the Member is right. In recent years, the Government has observed scammers pivoting to cryptocurrency as a new money-laundering conduit. Scammers exploit the speed and ease of crypto transactions to frustrate the Police's asset recovery efforts. They also make use of the anonymity features of certain crypto transactions to hide their trails. This shift in modus operandi is evident from the SPF's annual statistics on scams, which was released recently. While overall scam cases decreased in 2025, cases involving crypto transactions increased by over 150%. Crypto losses accounted for about $182 million, or about 20% of total scam losses in 2025. On the other hand, the scam losses recovered through cryptocurrency only amounted to about 16% of scam losses. As the Member mentioned, scammers do make use of the public's relative unfamiliarity – given that crypto is still fairly new, relatively speaking – to induce victims to make fiat transfers to crypto accounts. One case that I know about involved a 75-year-old man who fell victim to an investment scam after seeing a deepfake video of a Singapore Minister, one of our Ministers, endorsing a crypto scheme. He was added to a WhatsApp group and was convinced by group discussions and the fake video to invest over $4,000 from his Central Provident Funds. In terms of specific cryptocurrencies that scam victims reported losing, Tether, Ethereum and Bitcoin account for about 92% of total crypto scam losses. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has been working with regulated digital payment token service providers to strengthen their anti-scam controls. Measures include stepping up fraud surveillance to detect mule accounts and introducing friction and anti-scam warnings to safeguard crypto account holders.”
“After verification by the authorities, these numbers will be added to the blocked list to prevent more people from becoming victims. Using ScamShield is one simple move. You can protect you and your loved ones from scam harm. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Xie Yao Quan) in the Chair] (In English): Let me conclude. Scams are very difficult to eradicate because they prey on human emotions and our lifestyles. But we must also make it very difficult for the perpetrator to get their way. The Government has for several years now built defences across the lifecycle of a scam. From upstream prevention to more efficient and coordinated enforcement and asset recovery. From tougher laws and penalties against the bad actors to extensive education to inform and inoculate the public. We remain committed to this mission to better protect Singaporeans against scams.”
“Today, the helpline receives about 500 calls daily and around 85% are made to check on a potential scam. Mr Chairman, I would like to conclude my speech with some comments in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The scam situation in 2025 has improved compared to 2024. Scam cases decreased by approximately 27% and losses from scams reduced by around $200 million. However, the situation remains concerning. The total amount of scam losses is still very high, exceeding $900 million. Among these, impersonation of Government official cases has increased and the average loss per case exceeds $72,000, which is of particular concern to us. The victims of such scam cases are mostly seniors. So, I hope to remind the seniors to be especially vigilant. If in doubt, please call the ScamShield hotline 1799 to verify. The Government is determined to work with Singaporeans to combat scams. In 2026, we will address the issue at source by working with industry partners to introduce anti-scam measures, such as implementing stricter user identity verification and preventing criminals from impersonating Government officials. We will strengthen investigation and strengthen enforcement efforts through cooperation with international partners, leveraging technology to identify and combat scam activities at their roots. We will also strengthen legislation, including authorising the Police to take action against money mules who abuse online accounts. Here, I would like to appeal to Singaporeans to download ScamShield and do their part in the fight against scams. ScamShield's functions include setting up features on your mobile phone to block scam calls and filter scam text messages. It also reports suspicious phone numbers.”
“Countries increasingly realise that they must cooperate if they want to deal with scams more decisively in their own jurisdiction. The Government will leverage this momentum to actively seek out collaboration opportunities, including encouraging more countries to join FRONTIER+. Closer to home, we are also stepping up collaboration within the region. As the ASEAN Lead Shepherd for Cybercrime, Singapore has worked with fellow members states to develop the Cybercrime Roadmap since 2022. Arising from the roadmap, at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in September 2025, Singapore tabled an ASEAN Declaration on Cybercrime and Online Scams to deepen law enforcement coordination to tackle cybercrimes and online scams. Last but not least, public education. Mr Vikram Nair and Ms Cassandra Lee spoke about the need to strengthen public education and foster greater personal responsibility and digital vigilance. A vigilant and well-informed public is truly our most important and final line of defence. We have seen encouraging signs that the public has been adopting the Add, Check, Tell (ACT) mindset. The ScamShield mobile application now has 1.5 million downloads. Through the application, the public can report scam-related phone numbers, SMSes and emails, so we can take action and warn others about them. In other words, by using the application, you not only protect yourself from scams, you also prevent a fellow Singaporean from being the next victim. The public can also call and check with the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 when they are unsure if something is a scam. Since the launch of the helpline in September 2024, it has received more than 220,000 calls.”
“This will provide our partners with additional information on known scam enablers, such as bank accounts, phone lines, online accounts as well as the identity of culprits behind these scam enablers. With this information, the banks can proactively uncover and suspend more potential scam enablers even before they are used for scams. The banks can then share information on these enablers with the Police, who can in turn investigate further and identify even more scam enablers, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of our anti-scam efforts. We will be introducing legislation later this year to enable and safeguard these data sharing arrangements. Ms Sylvia Lim asked about the state of collaboration with our international and regional partners. Mr Alex Yeo asked if there are any plans to expand FRONTIER+. In 2025, the close collaboration between the Anti-Scam Command and overseas law enforcement agencies resulted in the successful takedown of 17 transnational scam syndicates. These are by no means isolated operations. They are the result of years of intelligence sharing through international platforms like FRONTIER+, which has expanded from an alliance of anti-scams units in six jurisdictions in 2024 to now covering 13 jurisdictions across four continents, with countries like Canada, Australia and South Africa joining us in the past year. Specific to ASEAN, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei are part of the network. The setup of FRONTIER+, mooted by the SPF, has also expedited fund tracing and recovery transnationally. Leveraging this platform, two iterations of Operation FRONTIER+ were carried out in 2025, resulting in approximately $28.2 million seized from over 36,000 frozen bank accounts in seven jurisdictions.”
“They include enhancing existing OCHA Codes of Practice to require stricter user verification and to impose a response time for platforms to act on user reports on scams. Second, MHA is exploring new legislation to enable the Police to enforce against mules who obtain or supply online accounts to facilitate scams and other crimes. Collaboration with our industry partners is a key part of the Government's strategy to fight scams. The improvement in the scam situation in Singapore would not have been possible without our industry partners. The co-location of representatives from seven major banks at the Anti-Scam Centre has allowed the SPF to stop scam transactions more effectively. I thank our industry partners for their strong support. Dr Wan Rizal asked about the Government's plans to work even more closely with the private sector while Ms Kuah Boon Theng asked about systemic changes to provide more tools to combat scams. Mr Vikram Nair spoke about harnessing technology to improve our response to scams. I agree with the Members. One feedback that our partners have raised is that they lack the information to detect and disrupt scam-related activities upstream, before the transactions take place and the monies are lost. To overcome this challenge, MHA has started sharing more data with our partners and we have seen the benefits. For example, in October 2025, Carousell identified more than 250 scam accounts from SPF's sharing of suspicious mobile numbers. To fully reap the benefit of such data sharing, HTX and the SPF are developing a platform known as the National Scams List. That will facilitate the automatic real-time exchange of information between the Government and our partners.”
“MHA will work with the interagency Sentencing Advisory Panel to introduce sentencing guidelines for the misuse of SIM cards. These sentencing guidelines will provide a framework on the factors to be considered in sentencing, to ensure that the sentences meted out for egregious cases are sufficiently deterrent. Ms Sylvia Lim asked about the Government’s assessment of the efficacy of OCHA. OCHA enables the Police to direct online service providers to disable access to online criminal content like scams. Online service providers have acted on all directions, generally within 24 hours. More than 150,000 instances of online criminal content, accounts and activities have been disrupted since OCHA's operationalisation in 2024. OCHA also allows the Government to direct online platforms to implement measures that we believe are necessary to prevent scams. We could not do this prior to OCHA. We have since seen positive results. Scams on platforms of online service providers designated in 2024 have declined by 36.5% in 2025. In essence, OCHA strengthens the Government's ability to tackle online criminal content and has contributed to the improved scam situation. Notwithstanding, scammers continue to approach victims predominantly through online platforms, like Facebook and Carousell. In 2025, this was the approach for more than 80% of the scam cases. Accounts on these online platforms are often obtained through fraudulent means. For example, people relinquishing their Singpass-verified Carousell accounts to scammers to make a quick buck. 7.00 pm MHA will adopt a multipronged approach to tackle this. First, as Dr Wan Rizal mentioned, we will work with online platforms to strengthen anti-scam measures.”
“Meta has put in place measures required in the Implementation Directive issued in September 2025. The SPF is assessing the platforms' compliance with the Implementation Directives issued in November 2025 and January 2026. This year, we will require online platforms to put in place more anti-scam measures, as Dr Wan Rizal asked about. Similar to Apple and Google, we will soon require WhatsApp to implement measures against the spoofing of "gov.sg" and Singapore Government agencies. We will also help Singaporeans identify legitimate calls from Government agencies. The SPF is working with Open Government Product and the Infocomm Media Development Authority to introduce a single, easily recognisable prefixed number which all SPF officers will use to call members of the public. Going forward, if you receive an unknown phone call and the caller claims to be a SPF officer, it is likely a scam. My colleague from MDDI, Minister of State Jasmin Lau, will share more details about this measure and its implementation across Government agencies. Ms Kuah Boon Theng, Mr Alex Yeo, Ms Cassandra Lee and Mr Vikram Nair spoke about legislative levers to allow the Government to take more decisive action against perpetrators. Members will be aware that many scammers are based overseas and have exploited local mules to perpetrate their crimes in Singapore. This is why we have introduced several new offences to punish mules. In 2025, we operationalised the offences criminalising the misuse of SIM cards. Since then, the SPF has charged 79 offenders under the new offences. We also introduced caning to punish scammers and mules. This is necessary given the harms they cause to victims and for strong deterrence. But those who are deceived into being scam mules will not be penalised with caning.”
“As every case is unique and the time to investigate each case defers, the Police will then update the victims when there are significant developments to the case. As Mr Vikram Nair mentioned, the highly sophisticated use of AI and social engineering by scammers is of concern. For example, the Police have seen scammers impersonating high-ranking executives and Government officials using deepfakes in live video calls and instructing the victims to transfer funds under the pretext of business payments. Despite the overall decrease in scam cases and losses last year, more Singaporeans fell prey to Government officials Impersonation Scams (GOIS). The number of GOIS cases reported in 2025 more than doubled to over 3,000. It is among the top five most reported scam types in 2025. Compared to other scam types, GOIS had the most and highest average amount lost per case at more than $72,000. [Please refer to "Clarification by Minister of State for Home Affairs", Official Report, 27 February 2026, Vol 96, Issue 21, Correction By Written Statement section.] MHA has taken upstream steps to curb GOIS. Since September 2025, we issued four Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) Implementation Directives to Meta, Apple and Google. The Implementation Directives issued to Meta in September 2025 and January 2026 required Meta to implement measures to remove scam advertisements, accounts, profiles and pages that impersonate Singapore Government office holders and persons assessed by the SPF to be at high risk of being impersonated. For Apple and Google, the Implementation Directives were issued to them in November 2025 to require them to put in place measures to prevent spoofing of Government agencies.”
“Mr Chairman, scams are a global threat. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, scammers globally stole over $1.26 trillion in 2025. In Singapore, we have been striking back at scammers, and the scams situation in Singapore improved last year. Compared to 2024, scam losses decreased by about $200 million or 18%. The SPF's Anti-Scam Command also recovered more than $140 million in scam losses. And together with its partners, the SPF helped victims avert at least another $339 million in potential losses. But the situation remains of severe concern. In 2025, there were more than 37,000 scam cases and total scam losses exceeded $900 million, which works out to roughly $100,000 every hour. Anyone can fall prey, the young, old, from all walks of life. Ms Sylvia Lim asked about law enforcement's response to scam victims who may suffer psychological distress. To support them, the Police may refer them to the Victim Care Cadre Programme where Victim Care Officers, or VCOs, provide psychological first aid and crisis intervention. The VCOs may also refer the victims to community and professional resources for longer-term psychological and financial support. Members will know that while the Victim Care Cadre Programme is available for all victims, it would generally require consent for their participation. Last year, more than 150 victims had taken up the programme. Even for cases where the VCOs are not activated, the Police will provide information on the community support options and the steps that victims could take if they fall prey to scams. Ms Sylvia Lim also asked about the guidelines on updating victims on the status of investigations. Victims will receive an acknowledgement letter or email within seven days after the report is lodged.”
“Yes, Speaker. Thank you very much. It is $40 a month. 10.31 am”
“Speaker, I thank the Member for his question. Actually, I recognise the Member's concern for our lower-income families and that we are also acutely aware of this segment of society that we especially need to take good care of. I wish to highlight and inform the Member that the Childminding Pilot is actually a pilot. We only offer it at two centres currently and taking care of no more than 100 infants at this current juncture. The objective of the pilot really is for us to explore how to do this well and to scale this across the country, including how to make it even more inclusive for all children, for all income types as well as to understand what operators need to do to keep this a viable model. Therefore, currently, we only provide supply-side subsidies to the operators as well as on the CDA monies. We recognise that for lower-income families, if they really need the infant care or childminding support, we do recommend them to go for our many, many infant care preschools. Our low-income families when they enrol in our Government-supported preschools, they will, as the Member is aware, receive a lot more subsidy options, including means-tested subsidies. With fee caps in our Government preschools, after preschool subsidies, our lower-income families can actually pay as low as $40 for full-day infant care in Anchor Operator preschools.”
“First, of course, there may be lower parental demand. It may be the case, as we have observed, that flexible arrangements is setting in. More parents do get those flexible arrangements from their employers and therefore, there is not such a need for that. The preschools may also face very real manpower constraints, such as preschool educators themselves or educators themselves having to go back to their own families and their own children at 7.00 pm. Another reason may also be because parents themselves recognise that it is important for them to spend enough time with their children and not leave the children in the preschools for too long a period. I reference a study made in 2024. This is the Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG LEADS) that found that the longer the children stayed in preschools, beyond 40 hours and significantly beyond, we start to observe that their literacy, their numeracy achievements do have some impact. And I think generally, parents do recognise that too many hours in the preschool is not a good thing. More family time is useful. From MSF's perspective, we strongly encourage our parents to spend enough quality time with their children.”
“Speaker, I thank the Member for his questions. I think the first point with regard to employees ending at 6.00 pm and having to make it to the preschool to pick up their children, I empathise and I understand that some employees, some parents will face that constraint. Which is why I think the emphasis on FWAs is all the more important. I think we want to get to a state whereby the relationship and the common understanding between employers and employees, as a society, is as such – that we do support the caregiving needs of all our working adults, especially working parents. So, I wish to double down on the need and the emphasis on FWAs. I thank the Member for his suggestion of setting a preschool per estate that operates on extended hours. I do not think ECDA or the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will have a firm view either way on this. I think the key thing here is that the decision to extend operating hours is a business decision that we have left to the preschool operators. The preschools today are actually free to charge. They are available and they are allowed to charge for the extra hours beyond 7.00 pm, depending. This is because we understand and we recognise that for the preschools to run beyond the operating hours, there will be additional demands on them, staffing requirements, additional resources, costs. And therefore, they can charge. However, we have not seen that. The data over the last five years bears itself that the number of preschools offering that has actually come down, which may suggest that there may not be a demand for that. And I will highlight that 20 preschools is actually lesser than the number of constituencies that we have. I think the decrease, based on what ECDA understands, can be due to a variety of factors.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the question. I think the question that the Member has raised is specific to the 2023 incident. I do not have the details of the incident and cannot respond to this case. I think how ECDA responds to every incident will depend on the context, and what the Court rules and decides on. If it is in the interest of all parents and the public to know about the incident, and the Court has not imposed a gag order, we will make a deliberate decision whether or not to release such information. But in this case, like what the Member has mentioned, there was a gag order and therefore, in such cases, we will typically not share information. I want to reiterate the fact that, especially for parents who are concerned about safety, we do note the importance, and that all parents want a safe, nurturing and conducive environment for all our children to grow up in. ECDA's mission is exactly that. We regulate the sector through the Early Childhood Development Centres Act. We have a Code of Practice, which is regularly updated and stipulates the minimum licensing requirements, regulatory requirements to ensure safety and well-being of our children. We cover aspects from safety to health, to nutrition, hygiene, curriculum, incident management, staff deployment, even administrative processes. A most recent addition was the requirement for closed-circuit television to be installed in the centres. I think these are done in consultation with the industry, as well as taking into consideration international best practices. These are what we do to ensure that we have a tight regime and control, to ensure safety in all our preschools. We also come together regularly as a sector to share best practices and also take feedback from all our operators.”
“Mr Speaker, we note the Member's suggestion. We will take a look at it.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for her supplementary question. I believe the Member can appreciate that the scope of responsibility required of a deputy is much broader. The Member made comparisons to the LPA process. Indeed, for deputies, they do have to exercise quite a lot more responsibilities and these can vary quite widely depending on what the Court decides upon. Having said so, I acknowledge the comments and feedback from the Member. We thank the Member for the feedback. We welcome that. We regularly and continuously engage key stakeholders, including deputies and prospective deputies, as well as members of the public. We will continuously review how we can improve both the application process and the reporting process, as well as the overall user experience in going through the deputyship journey.”
“I thank the Member for the two supplementary questions. Generally, it pertains to feedback and making sure that we stay close to the ground. I would like to reassure the Member that ECDA and MSF are in close contact with the preschools, as well as in close contact with the various family service centres and social service agencies on the ground. We do hear from them in terms of the feedback, whether the means testing processes are streamlined, effective and really serve our residents. We will not shy away from making necessary changes when we do get some feedback.”
“Allow me to clarify. I mentioned that the agencies operate on a commercial basis. However, we do have guidelines telling the agencies what they can and cannot do, and what is due diligence on their part. If we do uncover that agencies are aware that the children they are bringing in are of unknown and suspicious origin and despite so, bring them in, they will be taken to task. We will take the necessary actions against those agencies. We expect the agencies to do due diligence and to bring in children of correct background and origin, having done all the due checks prior to bringing them in. Having said so, there may still be cases whereby something may have been done in the country of origin, with the agencies in Singapore not knowing of what that background may be. I do not think we should comment further specific to this case. It is under investigation. We should let the investigation run its course, before I comment further.”
“I would just like to explain that we keep the adoption process and the citizenship process separate because they are governed by different legal frameworks and policy considerations. Adoption establishes the legal parent-to-child nexus and it is assessed primarily based on the child's welfare and suitability of the adoptive parents. Whereas the citizenship process, on the other hand, establishes the immigration considerations and evaluates based on that. Without adoption, there will be no legal nexus for the Singapore parent and the foreign child; whereas an adoption is necessary to formally establish that relationship in the eyes of the law before we can proceed with establishing the legal status of the child and applying for citizenship for the child. Not all adoption applications will get approved for citizenship. All prospective adoptive parents are also informed of this process during the social investigation procedure, MSF will inform them of that – that the adoption and the citizenship processes are actually delinked processes and the granting of citizenship is not automatic following the adoption order. We also inform them that the citizenship process can take up to 12 months. This is to ensure that the families proceed with a clear understanding of the processes and the potential outcomes. Having said so, MSF recognises the emotional stress and especially the financial strain, like what the Member has highlighted. If the adoptive parents do need financial assistance, they may approach MSF and we will assess every case based on the circumstances.”
“I thank the Member for the questions. Let me take the three questions, one by one. MSF empathises with the parents and we understand that the uncertainty may cause a little bit of anxiety for the affected families. Investigations are still underway and we are trying our very best to work closely because this involves not just within Singapore, but also with the Indonesian authorities. Therefore, we are trying to proceed as expeditiously as possible and to give the families resolution. We are unable to comment on a timeline at this juncture. In terms of public confidence in the process and especially in terms of whether there are certain things that we are looking into the process or the agencies involved, I think adoptive parents are informed of the process and they proceed with adoption under the framework that has been put out. There are certain processes in place to ensure that agencies abide by certain procedures to ensure the babies are of the correct origin, appropriate sources. But at the same time, agencies which parents approach for such child-matching services, many of them – in fact, all of them – operate on a commercial basis. Therefore, the onus is on adoptive parents to try their best and ensure that children are identified, matched and placed in accordance with the prevailing laws of both Singapore as well as the child's origin country. For the third question in terms of process, I would just like to explain that we recognise that navigating both the adoption process as well as the citizenship process can be a long process, especially because we understand that the parents would have already made commitment, enduring commitment and it is also an emotional commitment to the child.”
“At the same time, enforcement must be complemented by public awareness and education. In this regard, the Active Mobility Fire Safety Taskforce, co-chaired by LTA and SCDF, will continue to outreach to AMD owners under the Be Device-Safe programme, especially on safe charging practices and the dangers of non-compliant AMDs. While the Government continues to review our policies, programmes and regulations constantly, the best defence against home fires is an informed and prepared public. SCDF continues to work with Government agencies, as well as Town Councils and various community partners, to strengthen public education and outreach on public fire safety and emergency preparedness. Ultimately, fire safety is a collective responsibility. Only when everyone comes together and remains vigilant, will we be able to further bring down the incidence of fires. We will continue to work hand in hand with Singaporeans, with residents, to make our homes safe. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." (proc text)]”
“However, their lithium-ion batteries pose fire risks and hazards that can result in AMD fires burning hotter and spreading more rapidly. Even though AMDs accounted for less than 5% of residential fires over the past five years, they accounted for more than 10% of fire-related injuries and 25% of fatalities. This disproportionate impact is concerning. The risks are even higher with devices that do not comply with the relevant safety standards. Between 2022 and 2025, of all AMD-related residential fires, more than 70% involved devices that were either not certified or tested to the relevant standards or had been illegally modified. That is why the Government takes a strict enforcement approach towards the import, sale and use of non-compliant AMDs. Since June 2021, local retailers must seek the Land Transport Authority's (LTA's) approval for the import of Personal Mobility Devices and Power Assisted Bicycles, and these devices must be compliant with safety standards. LTA also conducts regular enforcement operations against non-compliant AMDs on public footpaths, as well as retailers selling non-compliant AMDs. In the last five years, LTA detected over 5,000 cases of non-compliant AMDs and took action against offenders including riders, owners and retailers. To keep non-compliant AMDs away from our homes, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) earlier today, introduced the Land Transport and Related Matters Bill for the First Reading. This Bill makes it an offence to keep unsafe devices, such as non-UL2272 certified e-scooters. MOT is also looking to strengthen regulations on the online sale of AMDs and targets to make the necessary legislative amendments later this year. I believe this graduated scaling-up in terms of our measures against AMDs is adequate at this juncture.”
“I have touched on strong fire safety design and on enforcement. In addition to that, what is useful is early detection and response measures. Since 2018, HFADs have been mandatory in all new homes. For existing homes, we have adopted a risk-calibrated, practical approach, and we have mandated it for homes which are carrying out fire safety related addition and alteration works. Nonetheless, we strongly encourage all homeowners to install HFADs and homeowners can actually tap on the HIP and the Enhancement for Active Seniors programme to install HFADs at heavily subsidised rates. HFADs are fully funded for public rental flats. I would like to inform the House that as of June last year, close to 200,000 HDB flats already have HFADs installed across Singapore through our subsidised schemes. Through the years, SCDF has continuously enhanced its firefighting capabilities. Technologies, such as aerial appliances and surveillance drones, are a key enabler when deployed to tackle high-rise fires. However, I would like to highlight that residents can also play a part in firefighting response, prior to SCDF's arrival. To this end, we have improved access to firefighting equipment so that residents can better tackle minor fires. Singaporeans would notice that we have fire extinguishers and AEDs installed in almost every other HDB block. Hose reels and fire extinguishers are also available in common spaces such as coffee shops, car parks and roof gardens, as required under the Fire Code. Let me move on to AMDs. While we continue to strengthen our collective response, we also regularly review the overall landscape for emerging risks of which one area of concern is indeed AMDs. AMDs have improved mobility and independence for many residents.”
“The older point blocks require a single exit staircase as stipulated by the Fire Code then, and based on the risk analysis, we believe that is wearable because there are only a few units per floor, so the number of evacuees are much reduced. Also, from a practical perspective, adding a second staircase in many of these are simply not practical because of the layout. I think more importantly, over the years, what HDB has also done is to carry out various programmes to improve fire safety in some of these older point blocks to bring them up to date with the Fire Code requirements at the point of upgrade, and we will keep doing that as a principle, where we can practically. Effective enforcement is also a necessary complement to a robust Fire Code. SCDF works very closely with the Town Councils and MCSTs to keep up with the inspection and enforcement regimes in our housing estates. The Member mentioned about the fire in Toa Payoh, where it was perceived, it was observed, that the dry risers may not be working as intended. This is something that we are looking into, but the key here is, it is not that the Fire Code is not working, but that the testing and inspection regime may be something that the Member is suggesting we increase the frequency of. Currently, we do have a regular annual inspection regime for these dry risers to make sure they are functional, but again, it is the practicality of striking a balance between how frequent we want to do it and making sure that it is operationally ready. Of course, our objective is to make sure that it is ready every time, all the time, but we do need to strike a balance because of the number of flats around the island, and we do believe the current frequency of the inspection regime is adequate.”
“Fire Code provisions are most effectively implemented in new developments at the design stage. It will be practically difficult to retrofit older buildings with newer building design requirements, such as widening the width of corridors, and I think the Member can appreciate why. Even if feasible, it will cause significant disruption and cost to both taxpayers and residents, and therefore, we apply the Fire Code to developments at the point of approval. Existing flats will be subjected to SCDF's strict regulatory oversight and inspections. Where feasible, we upgrade older HDB flats with the latest and practical fire safety measures where we can. And we have done so, such as the installation of dry risers and the replacement of main entrance doors with fire-rated doors. We believe that is a much better way to keep units as well as the overall corridors and floors safe. This approach has served us well and allows us to strike a balance between providing a robust fire safety regime and practicality. I would like to reiterate that the introduction of more recent Fire Code safety provisions does not mean older flats are unsafe, and based on what I shared in terms of the most likely causes of fires, human behaviours and human practices tend to be the leading cause, and not infrastructure. The Member also touched on fire safety in older point blocks. Specifically on older point blocks, which is where I grew up in, so I feel for the point, especially acutely. However, under the Fire Code, most residential buildings currently require two exit staircases to provide means of escape in case of evacuation – and that is valid for today's Fire Code for new projects.”
“It did not spread as extensively and this is, in large regard, because of the compartmentalisation principle. The Member also mentioned locks, windows and these are important considerations, but I think the principle here that I would like to highlight is we often have to trade off practicality as well. In this regard, security is also something that I think Singaporeans will prioritise and value. At the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), we often say low crime does not mean no crime, and I think it is important for us to also ensure that we afford residents, Singaporeans, their choice, in terms of what kinds of locks for their doors and windows will be. And I think from SCDF's perspective, from MHA's perspective, the fire compartmentalisation principle is good enough for us to proceed. In addition, we believe residents probably know how to exit their house in the quickest manner because it is an environment that they are very familiar with, and they get out every single day, multiple times a day. Having said so, the Fire Code is periodically updated. We continuously make sure that it is updated with the latest advances in building design, technologies, and also an evolving understanding of fire risks. Additional provisions have been introduced over the years, such as adequate exit staircases to support swift evacuation, as well as fire engine access roads and rising mains to support SCDF's firefighting operations. I would like to highlight that the introduction of more recent Fire Code provisions does not mean that older flats are unsafe. I think it is something that is very important to emphasise. We recognise that fire safety regulations must strike a balance, once again, between risk reduction, practicality and cost.”
“This means that the majority of fire incidents stem from human behaviour and practices, and are preventable. Of course, we know every fire is one too many, and every death is one too many. Fires escalate very quickly, place lives at risk and can have devastating and long-lasting consequences to both the individual, their families and even their neighbours, and we must do our utmost to stay vigilant and minimise the risks – so in those regard, I agree with the Member. The SCDF adopts a risk-based and pragmatic approach towards fire safety. Fire safety in residential buildings begin with good fire safety design, supported by enforcement, early detection, early warning of fires, effective firefighting response and public preparedness. We need all the different layers to come together, working in concert to be able to effectively reduce the overall risk of fires. All residential buildings in Singapore are designed and built in accordance with the prevailing Fire Code. I thank the Member for agreeing that the existing Fire Code is robust. The Fire Code stipulates requirements, and in particular, I would like to highlight that a key principle is how every unit is a standalone fire compartment to limit fire spread prior to SCDF's arrival. On this, our view is that we want to contain and keep the fire within the unit and that is how we mitigate risk at a systemic level. Based on statistics, based on what we have observed, based on the fires that have taken place in recent years, this fire compartmentalisation principle is effective. The Member cited a few examples – the cases in Toa Payoh and Bukit Merah – the fires were indeed intense, but it was relatively contained within either that unit or within that floor or one floor above.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his Adjournment Motion. I think that today, we have touched quite a bit on the topic of fire safety in our homes earlier in Question Time, as well as now during the Adjournment Motion. I agree that fire safety in our homes is an important topic, it is one that Singaporeans care deeply about and therefore, I thank the Member for his Adjournment Motion. I agree with the central theme of his Adjournment Motion, that we must continue to be vigilant with risks, especially as our living environments, technologies, lifestyles and our demographics change. Allow me to address his concerns in three parts. First, the overall residential fire situation I mentioned earlier and approach towards fire safety. Second, risks relating to AMDs; and third, our community efforts. I shared earlier during Question Time that the residential fire situation in Singapore is stable over the past five years. The number of fatalities has also remained low, fewer than six on average per year in the past five years. I raise a correction – the Member mentioned that there were eight fatalities in 2025, by August 2025. That is inaccurate. We had six in the whole of 2025. In terms of Singapore's overall fire fatality rate, it remains one of the lowest internationally. It is something that we watch very carefully and this statistic is provided by a 2025 report by the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services. Over the past five years, I would like to share that the top three causes of residential fires in Singapore have been unattended cooking fires, which account for about a third of cases, fires of electrical origin and those arising from naked flames, such as candles.”
“And I think this is a very good example of how the community can work very closely with the SCDF to especially reach out to those in need.”
“And of course, in the event that these firefighting provisions are not in a serviceable condition, this is where SCDF will face some challenges in firefighting operations and these challenges may slow the firefighters down. But there will be other additional manual firefighting processes that the firefighters will then have to adopt to fight the fire. But this can take a little bit more time and requires other additional steps. In terms of public education programmes to better prepare our residents, and especially with regard to our ageing population, I thank the Member for raising this because, indeed, our ageing population has brought about new challenges. We see an increasing number of households comprising seniors, especially some of them living independently. Our elderly may also have mobility challenges and in times of emergency, they could be vulnerable. We have strengthened our levers to support the elderly households in being better prepared for some of these fires. First, Home Fire Alarm Devices (HFADs). We have encouraged HFADs to be installed in the homes of our seniors. This is subsidised under the Enhancement for Active Seniors Programme. Having these fire alarm devices will allow for our seniors to have earlier notice of fires and give them more time to evacuate safely. We have also worked very closely with the community to better support seniors in need. For example, in the Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency, I understand that there is a Fire Safety Kakis initiative that has been launched, where a network of neighbours is involved to assist with the evacuation of the elderly and the vulnerable in the event of a fire in their home and block.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his three questions. Let me take them one by one. First, in terms of the response time for SCDF, the SCDF is able to respond to most fire and rescue incidents within eight minutes, and this includes fire incidents in high-rise buildings. Upon arrival, resources, assets will be deployed to fight fires at the earliest instance. In accordance with the Fire Code, all high-rise structures above 24 metres, or about eight storeys, are required to have fire lifts which can be switched to manual operations to facilitate the SCDF's firefighting operations for prompt access to the higher floors, and additional fire lifts are required for high-rise residential buildings 40 storeys and above. And as part of the SCDF's high-rise firefighting procedures, the SCDF works very closely with the building management team, which includes having on-site incident management teams and the manning of the fire lifts to support the SCDF officers' operations. In terms of the second question, practical operational limits faced by SCDF, indeed, I thank the Member for raising this because firefighting operations in high-rise buildings can be dynamic and challenging for SCDF officers. But that said, the SCDF has incorporated specific fire safety requirements into the Fire Code precisely to overcome some of these challenges and to enable them to fight fires more expediently and more safely. This includes ensuring water supply through the provision of the dry or wet rising mains, the provision of the fire lifts I just mentioned to affected floors, requirement of having fire-rated walls or doors to limit the spread to adjacent units – these are to help slow down the fire prior to SCDF's arrival.”
“And I am glad to share that from January 2024 to August 2025, we have had more than 60,000 individuals participating in the Responders Plus Programme.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his question. There are two parts to the question, so let me address the first one first, and this is with regard to precautions for construction. Any construction and maintenance works done in Singapore must adhere to the safety requirements set out in the Fire Code, and the Workplace Safety and Health Regulations. For example, any hoarding used during construction must be made of non-combustible material and all fire safety systems must remain functional. It is also a requirement to ensure proper supervision that hot works are separated from flammable materials. The use of bamboo as scaffolding is not allowed in Singapore. At the same time, SCDF also runs programmes and is willing to work with employers in terms of how to best educate their workers to be fire-safe. At the same time, SCDF regularly reviews the Fire Code to ensure that fire safety measures for buildings, including those undergoing construction maintenance, are robust and up-to-date with the best practices. With regard to the Member's second question, what I mentioned earlier, in terms of the various programmes, are available. I think what is most important is that beyond just having those programmes in place, there is significant take-up which shows constituencies, residents and grassroots leaders take these programmes seriously and participate fully. I am glad to share with the House that SCDF conducts about 16 Community Resilience Days every year, working closely with People's Association and with the support of various Government agencies. The Responder Plus Programme that I mentioned earlier is actually held both in-person and online, so as to ensure accessibility for all participants.”
“Statistics show that the main primary cause of fires is actually unattended cooking. So, actually, it is about individual responsibility. And if you are able to get everyone aware that these can cause fires, I think that solves a part, a big part of the problem. I will take the comments from the Member seriously. And if there are any further suggestions, we will be happy to work together with the constituencies.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his question and comments. I fully agree with the Member's emphasis on public preparedness and public education. These are important and the SCDF works very, very closely with all the respective agencies, including with the constituencies and the grassroots leaders nationwide, actually, to help raise public awareness. It is important for the public to know what they can do and what they need to do to play their part. And as I mentioned earlier in my reply, a prepared and ready public is actually our best line of defence against fires. Indeed, with regard to the cases that the Member mentioned, it is regretful and every fire, every death, is one too many, and we deeply regret that. And I think that is the reason why all the more we do need to step up. The SCDF spares no effort in making sure that not only is the SCDF best prepared to fight fires operationally, but in terms of working together with the public. Let me amplify some of the community engagement efforts. Beyond what I mentioned earlier – Community Resilience Days, "Be-Device-Safe" campaigns, the "Better Awareness, Safer Homes" campaigns – we have various Responder Plus Programmes that the SCDF does across the country in the various constituencies, to work with and educate our residents in terms of how they can play their part in their homes, how to use fire extinguishers, AEDs, for example. And these are not just initial education programmes, but also refresher training courses to ensure that everyone can play their part. It is also about raising the overall awareness and sensitivity to danger. It is that sense of awareness that is initially most important. So, the "Better Awareness, Safer Homes" campaign is the initial education effort to get people aware.”
“Last, SCDF conducts regular outreach through campaigns, such as the Community Resilience Days, to educate residents on fire prevention and fire safety, and provide free hands-on training on the use of fire extinguishers, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). SCDF also collaborates with other Government agencies and stakeholders to promote fire safety awareness, such as through the recent "Better Awareness, Safer Homes" programme jointly launched with the People's Association and National Fire and Emergency Preparedness Council, as well as the "Be-Device-Safe" programme with the Land Transport Authority. Fire safety is a collective responsibility. We must work together, each doing our part, if we are to keep our homes safe from fires.”
“Other fire safety provisions include adequate staircases to support swift evacuation, fire engine access roads and rising mains to support SCDF’s firefighting operations. It is important for building owners to fully comply with the Fire Code and ensure that fire safety provisions are kept in good working order. In this regard, Town Councils and Management Corporation Strata Titles (MCSTs) are responsible for managing the common areas within Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates and the strata-titled residential developments respectively, including ensuring compliance with SCDF’s fire safety requirements. They work closely with SCDF to regulate and rectify obstructions at common areas that may be fire hazards. And if fire hazards are detected during SCDF’s checks, SCDF will take enforcement action against the Town Council or MCST. The SCDF constantly reviews its firefighting tactics and equipment, and the fire safety requirements for high-rise buildings. This includes exploring new technologies and studying international best practices. To effectively conduct firefighting and rescue operations in high-rise settings, the SCDF has capabilities, such as aerial appliances, that can reach up to 90 metres, as well as surveillance drones. High-rise buildings are required to have additional fire safety provisions, such as more fire lifts and rising mains, to ensure that SCDF can conduct operations on the upper floors effectively. In addition, high-rise residential buildings that exceed 40 storeys in height require at least one refuge floor per 20 storeys. The refuge floor is designed to provide evacuees with quick access to a safe holding space in the event of a fire.”
“Mr Speaker, my response will also cover the question raised by Mr Lee Hong Chuang1, which is scheduled for a subsequent Sitting. And I invite Mr Lee to seek clarifications today, if need be. If his question has been addressed, it may not be necessary to proceed with his question subsequently. In 2025, there were 1,051 residential building fires. This is up from 968 in 2024. This is a slight increase amidst a stable trend of residential building fires over the past five years. The statistics should also be viewed in the context of Singapore’s housing stock. The percentage of fires vis-à-vis our total dwelling stock has actually decreased, from 0.067% in 2021 to 0.065% in 2025. However, recent tragic events remind us that we cannot afford to be complacent about fire safety. The Wang Fuk Court fire in Hong Kong last November is a grim example. The Government has started reviewing the early observations from Hong Kong’s ongoing investigations and is studying whether we need to strengthen the relevant regulations for works during the construction and maintenance of residential buildings. This will allow us to better manage fire risks, and the outcome of this ongoing review will be announced in due course. Allow me to share more about the multi-faceted approach we take towards fire safety in Singapore, namely, good fire safety design, enforcement against fire safety non-compliance, effective firefighting response and public preparedness. All buildings in Singapore are designed and built in accordance with the prevailing Fire Code, which stipulates fire safety requirements, such as the compartmentalisation of residential units to limit fire spread, prior to Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF’s) arrival.”
“Speaker, I thank the Member for his supplementary question. Indeed, the recent mid-year statistics on overall road accidents have indicated that the number of accidents involving motorcyclists increased about 9.5% from about 1,900 in the first half of last year, to about 2,088 in the first half of this year. The number of motorcyclists who get involved in traffic accidents is high, and in fact they constitute a disproportionately larger proportion of overall accidents in Singapore. I quote, specifically 54.7% of accidents in the first half of 2025 involved motorcyclists and pillion riders. So, it is an area of concern for us and we do want to keep our motorcyclists, our riders safe. A whole series of measures are in place. Both the Ministry of Home Affairs as well as our TP colleagues have been working very hard, be it from the aspect of public education, going upstream; be it in terms of licensing; be it in terms of penalties downstream; be it in terms of putting in place reminders on the roads, reminder messages in terms of getting people to pay attention to the speed, to ride safe and be considerate, for example, as well as enforcement measures on the streets, we have put in all the measures that we think are effective. As I mentioned in my earlier response, some of these measures are effective, but there will still be accidents that will take place. The two initiatives that we recently promoted in terms of the standards for the motorcyclist helmets, as well as the ABS are the newest initiatives that we are putting out to do our part to make sure that we bring the accident numbers down. We will continue to review whether there are new technologies available in the market for us to adopt. I welcome the Member to share if there are other suggestions.”
“I thank the Member for the two questions. Firstly, in terms of all the lanes, as I have said earlier my response, all the lanes are enabled for QR code and passport clearances. We are still in the process of encouraging more members of public to use QR code, because QR code clearance is faster than passport clearance. We do find that having to designate, perhaps QR code only or passport only clearances is not the most practicable, because there are certain members of public who may not have gotten the QR code application done properly and actually, the process of going back to using only passport takes even longer. I reassure the Member of the House that the ICA is constantly reviewing our operational processes to ensure that checkpoint operations are smooth and that we will do as much as we can to enhance the traveller experience. All these, taking into account the need to balance and make sure that we do not compromise border security.”
“Speaker, earlier in my initial PQ reply, I mentioned that the Police had made several enhancements, one of which was the introduction of the Family Violence Training Package for all frontline and IOs. I may have misspoken, citing that the year this was introduced was 2020. I wish to correct myself. It should be 2022. Thank you. 12.29 pm”
“I mentioned earlier, we are always, especially as a professional force, eagerly looking into how we can better adopt technology to enhance our processes, our procedures, improve efficiency and in fact, even shorten what we can do to close every single case and to get back to every single resident. I think that is the first. The second is, overall manpower allocation, we are also looking into how we can best allocate and optimise manpower assignments in terms of what are the areas of priority, areas of emphasis and to make the corresponding allocations or to grow the force where we need to.”
“I thank the Member for his compliments and acknowledging that the work that the Police force does is a very difficult one. The load is heavy. The responsibility is heavy and at the same time every police officer signs on knowing that it is a mission that he has to do for his fellow citizens and deliver that duty to the people who respect the uniform and respect the Police force for what they do. So, I thank the Member very much for the compliments for the professionalism and the commitment of all our police officers out there. I know every police officer will strive to do his best. Every case is important, and they have sworn to protect lives and to keep the nation, Singapore and Singaporeans, safe and secure. At the same time, I think what the organisation and what I guess Members of Parliament can also help to do, is to acknowledge the hard work that they do. All Members of Parliament also have close relationship with police officers in your own constituencies. And I think that relationship, the close communication, understanding what are the challenges, the progress of work and perhaps, supporting if there is a need for them at the ground is important. From the Ministry, we will continue to support and make sure that feedback loops are closed. We will make sure that we hear and listen to the Police officers. From time to time we do surveys. And through the appraisal reports, for example, we do get feedback and how we can best support our officers. Two areas of immediate follow-up. One is in terms of the overall technology adoption.”
“In this case, the lapse arose because two officers, who were under pressure, did not follow the established operating procedure. It was a serious breach, and it resulted in a tragic outcome. The Police will learn from this, and reinforce procedures and training for its officers.”
“Specialised training is provided to FVT officers to equip them with the knowledge and skillsets to handle these cases, such as how to engage the victims sensitively, as well as how to work closely and more integrated with other agencies. In particular, when Police come across a case of suspected child abuse, or when MSF receives an urgent report on high-risk cases through their National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH), the Police will work with MSF Protective Service for safety planning and social intervention for the family and child. This may include the activation of MSF's Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team (DVERT), a round-the-clock service launched in 2023 to provide immediate help to high-risk domestic violence cases with immediate safety concerns. DVERT officers would respond on-site to conduct a professional assessment and make urgent arrangements for the victims to be relocated or placed in alternative care for their safety, if necessary. DVERT officers are also empowered under the Women's Charter to issue Emergency Orders (EOs) at the scene and to provide immediate safety for the victim. To strengthen IOs' efficiency and supervisory capabilities, the Police have also harnessed technology for the review of cases. They have implemented technological solutions to trigger automatic notifications to IOs and their supervisors to complete time-sensitive tasks promptly. Our frontline Police Officers bear a heavy responsibility to protect lives. They take this responsibility seriously and perform their duties with commitment and professionalism. The demands on our Police Officers continue to increase. They often have to make difficult judgement calls every day in the course of their duties. When under pressure, mistakes can happen.”