K Shanmugam
Singapore
“Bank accounts are frozen when there is reason to suspect that the bank accounts are involved in illicit activities, including money laundering activities.”
“The Singapore Police Force does not track the requested data. Distinguishing artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content typically requires more detailed forensic examination which may not be necessary in every investigation and may also not be conclusive as to whether AI-generative tools were used.”
“The Building and Construction Authority’s Code on Accessibility provides baseline requirements for accessible and inclusive buildings. It stipulates a minimum width of 1.5 metres or 1.8 metres for primary accessible routes, depending on the building type.”
“The Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licence) Rules under the Road Traffic Act set out the scope of the medical assessment required for motorists aged 65 and above who wish to retain their driving licences.”
“When a Police report has been made, the Police will investigate to determine if a criminal offence has been committed. If there is reasonable suspicion that a case is scam-related, the Police can direct online service providers to restrict Singapore users' access to the relevant online activity under the Online Criminal Harms Act.”
“Through intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement actions, the cross-border operation disrupted a transnational drug trafficking syndicate and downstream drug trafficking activities, with the UK arresting seven persons so far and further investigations underway.”
The complete record
Every one of 4,552 lines we hold for K Shanmugam, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 19 of 92.
“The Public Trustee (PT) receives from the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board the CPF monies of CPF members who pass on without nominating any beneficiaries and distributes the un-nominated CPF monies in accordance with the provisions of either the Intestate Succession Act 1967 or the Administration of Muslim Law Act 1966, whichever applies. The work done to administer these CPF monies includes tracing and identifying the next-of-kin of a deceased CPF member, determining all eligible beneficiaries by confirming the familial relationships between the next-of-kin and the deceased CPF member, and making distributions. PT charges a statutory fee to cover the costs of all such work. Without this fee, which is kept very low, taxpayers would bear the cost of the work done. The fee model is prescribed in the Public Trustee (Fees) Rules 2010 and follows a tiered scale so that cases involving larger sums of un-nominated CPF monies will bear a bigger share of the costs. The Public Trustee’s Office does not track average fees. It is not feasible or meaningful to do so because different cases have different levels of complexity. For example, in some cases, significant time and effort may be required to trace the beneficiaries. To save on the fees entirely, CPF members should exercise their choice and nominate the recipients of their CPF monies. This way, the PT need not be involved in distributing the monies or collect fees for doing so. There are no costs involved in making a CPF nomination and no fees chargeable when the CPF Board distributes the monies directly to adult nominees. CPF members can make a nomination via the CPF Board’s online nomination service.”
“The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) amended the Private Security Industry Act (PSIA) in October 2021 to enhance protection for security officers against abuse and harassment in their course of work. The amendments have been in force since May 2022. Since May 2022, there has been an average of 27 cases of abuse or harassment reported each month. This is higher than the average of 13 reported cases per month between 2018 and 2021. MHA understands that the enhanced protections afforded to security officers have encouraged more of them, their employers and the Union of Security Employees, to come forward to report incidents of abuse or harassment. As it has only been slightly over a year since the amendments to the PSIA came into force, MHA will continue to monitor the situation for now.”
“In July 2023, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) jointly organised an inaugural “Crimes Against Children” Regional Forum with the United States Homeland Security Investigations to share enforcement strategies and investigative practices and strengthen collaboration across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Member may wish to refer to the SPF press release on the forum dated 11 July 2023 and the opening address by Minister of State for Home Affairs and for Social and Family Development, Ms Sun Xueling, for SPF’s approach to tackle online child sexual exploitation.”
“The Traffic Police (TP) is only able to provide data on accidents involving lorries that were ferrying passengers and which resulted in casualties or deaths. TP does not track the occupation of the passengers, if they are workers or otherwise, or if they were seated in the front or the rear of the lorry. TP also does not track whether the accident was attributed to fatigue. Over the past five years, for all accidents involving lorries with passengers which resulted in casualties or deaths, the fault in about 45% of the accidents laid with the lorry driver, while the fault in about 56% of the accidents laid with the driver of the other vehicle. The percentages do not add up to 100% because there are accidents where fault is attributed to both the lorry driver and the driver of the other vehicle. There are also cases where fault could not be attributed due to insufficient evidence.”
“Further, sentences cannot be reduced below any mandatory minimum sentence prescribed in law. Also, the Court retains the discretion to not apply the Guidelines in specific cases, if there are good reasons not to do so. The Guidelines expressly provide that, where the Court is of the view that it would be contrary to the public interest for the Guidelines to be applied, the Court does not need to do so and may instead apply a reduction that is just and proportionate.”
“The Guidelines on Reduction in Sentences for Guilty Pleas were issued by the inter-agency Sentencing Advisory Panel on 15 August 2023. These Guidelines do not fundamentally change our present sentencing practice. Currently, the Courts can and do reduce sentences, in appropriate cases, if accused persons plead guilty. Such reductions are granted by the Court in recognition that a plea of guilt by an accused person may have significant benefits, including allowing victims to find closure early and sparing victims and witnesses the need to prepare for a trial and testify in Court. It also allows for a faster resolution of cases. The Guidelines build on and provide greater structure to the existing practice by setting out clearly the ranges of reduction in sentence that a Court may consider granting, based on when an accused person pleads guilty. This is intended to provide increased consistency, clarity and transparency to the existing sentencing practice. The recommended ranges of reduction set out in the Guidelines are set out in broad terms, to provide the Court with flexibility and discretion. Based on the circumstances, the Court may calibrate the sentence according to the facts of the case. The Guidelines would not result in "criminals getting away with much lighter sentences". As mentioned earlier, our Courts already grant reductions in sentences where accused persons plead guilty, in appropriate cases. The Guidelines build on this existing practice and do not introduce an additional or new layer of reduction in sentence. The Guidelines also provide that they are not intended to result in reductions in sentences over and above the existing judicial guidelines or precedents in cases where offenders have pleaded guilty.”
“Sir, as the discussions are going on, I looked at the PPIPA and SOs quickly. My suggestion to my colleagues, Ms Poa and Mr Leong is that they have gotten it completely wrong. I do not know whether they have taken legal advice or whether they have read the provisions. But sections 19 and 20 of PPIPA set out the grounds for expulsion. Section 19 refers to the SOs. If you look at the SOs, the only relevant SO is SO59. SO59, subsections (1) to (4) set out the grounds on which there can be expulsion. Subsection (5) is a saving provision. It does not give you a substantive power. If you are right, then all the carefully drafted provisions in PPIPA setting out when exactly Parliament can suspend an MP are irrelevant. They are otiose. And the carefully drafted SO59 is also irrelevant. Because whenever Parliament does not like someone, we can pass a resolution by majority and throw the person out or suspend that person. I do not know if you have understood how the provisions work together. This is a serious matter. I would suggest you go and read it carefully before Ms Poa concludes. I should have addressed you, Speaker, Sir. My apologies.”
“The table below shows the annual number of fires involving heavy vehicles, defined as trucks, trailer trucks, prime movers and construction vehicles over the past five years. The lower number of fires involving heavy vehicles in 2020 and 2021 could be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Heavy vehicle fires are typically caused by excessive frictional heat from wheel assemblies, for example, due to worn brake pads, overheating of vehicle components or issues of electrical origin. In early September 2023, there were three unrelated fires involving heavy vehicles that took place at West Coast Highway, Killiney Road and Kranji Expressway. As investigations are ongoing, we are unable to share the cause of these fires at this point in time.”
“Two Police Officers, Mohamed Bin Mohamed Jalil and Mohamad Danial Bin Mohamad Nazali were charged on 11 August 2023 for criminal breach of trust by a public servant. Investigations had commenced on 13 July 2020 for Mohamed Bin Mohamed Jalil and 17 October 2020 for Mohamad Danial Bin Mohamad Nazali. Mohamed Bin Mohamed Jalil has been interdicted since 16 July 2020 and Mohamad Danial Bin Mohamad Nazali since 22 October 2020. They were interdicted on half-pay, consistent with how other Police Officers in a similar situation have been dealt with.”
“The figures requested by the Member are as shown in the table below.”
“The investments of the Dynamic, Balanced, Stable and Lifecycle Funds are fully managed by external fund managers under our Outsourced Chief Investment Officer model. The current asset-class composition and their reference portfolio are shown in the tables below.”
“Police resources are very tight and need to be focused on investigating criminal offences and ensuring law and order. They should not be asked to deal with civil matters like insurance claim disputes where there are no injuries.”
“All officers are informed of these reporting channels when they join MHA, during onboarding sessions for new officers, and during subsequent training programmes. There are also periodic reminders through internal communications, such as emails and at dialogues and forums with management. This information is also available on the Ministry’s intranet. MHA also conducts six-monthly Pulse Surveys, biennial Public Service Employee Engagement Surveys and triennial 360 Degree Surveys of supervisors, during which the officers are able to also provide anonymous comments and feedback, including on workplace issues. Every piece of feedback is taken seriously and investigated where necessary. In the last five years, the Home Team Departments and Ministry headquarters have investigated 310 cases, nine of which were reported directly to the Public Service Division and Ministry headquarters. One hundred and thirty one cases were substantiated and the offending officers were subjected to disciplinary actions. At the same time, we encourage responsible reporting. We must not let develop a culture of spurious, poison-letter allegations, which can demoralise the wider population of officers and create a toxic environment. If a report is made in bad faith, disciplinary action may be taken against the officer who made the false report.”
“The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) takes a firm stance against workplace discrimination. All allegations of such nature are treated seriously and investigated. If we find wrongdoing, the culpable officers will be taken to task, regardless of seniority. There are established channels for officers to raise grievances or report wrongdoing, namely, the Channel for Formal Grievance Handling and the Channel for Confidential Ethical Disclosure. All MHA officers can confidentially report grievances, workplace discrimination and any issues relating to inappropriate conduct or behaviour to any level of management directly. This includes their direct supervisor, unit Commander or Director, and senior leadership of their Home Team Department and the Ministry headquarters. This can be done in writing or in person. There are also clear escalation guidelines and processes to ensure that all reports of workplace discrimination, unfair treatment or misconduct, are looked into objectively, professionally and expeditiously. For example, depending on the nature of the reports, the unit Commanders and Directors may inform the Deputy Head of Department or the Head of Department. An independent review of the case will then be conducted by the Department’s Human Resource Division or an internal investigation body. The review findings will be reported to the Deputy Head of Department and the Head of Department. Where substantiated, appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the Civil Service Disciplinary Framework. If an officer is not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation, he or she can escalate the matter up to higher levels in the chain of command in the Ministry or to the Head of Civil Service.”
“A Clearance Certificate allows a Singapore entity to acquire and retain residential properties subject to the provisions of the Residential Property Act (RPA). To qualify for a Clearance Certificate, applicants must meet the strict definition of a Singapore entity under the RPA. Clearance Certificates are not issued to foreign persons.”
“The Police may impound the passport of an arrested person if he or she poses a flight risk. In assessing flight risk, the Police consider, among other factors, the gravity of the alleged offence, the extent of the person’s roots in Singapore, the behaviour of the person during investigations and whether the person has attempted to abscond previously.”
“The amount of money lost due to concert ticket scams was about $84,000 in 2018; $66,000 in 2019; $9,000 in 2020; $3,000 in 2021; and $175,000 in 2022. Between 1 January and 10 July this year, losses from concert ticket scams amounted to more than $518,000. With regard to the measures to educate the public and prevent the occurrence of concert ticket scams, the Member may refer to my reply to Question No 6 for Written Answer on the Order Paper for 2 August 2023. [Please refer to "Measures to Pre-empt Rise in Concert Ticket Scams on E-commerce Platforms", Official Report, 2 August 2023, Vol 95, Issue 109, Written Answers to Questions section.]”
“Returning graduates from UK universities are required to submit documentation to the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE), which administers the admission regime, in order to ascertain their eligibility to take their next steps towards admission to the Singapore Bar, such as taking Part A of the Singapore Bar Examinations or commencing their relevant legal training. This includes producing the relevant certification that a graduate has completed the degree programme in an approved school and met the necessary academic requirements. My Ministry is monitoring the situation closely in consultation with SILE. In the event that graduating students seeking to do their Part A Examinations or embark on their relevant legal training are unable to produce the necessary certifications, SILE will consider administrative arrangements to assist on an exceptional basis. This includes looking into allowing the students affected by the boycott to proceed with their Part A Examinations or relevant legal training first, and then submitting their certifications subsequently. Students who face issues in this regard can approach SILE or the Ministry of Law for assistance.”
“The Police conducts roadblocks daily, in different locations. This is to deter and detect crimes, including drink-driving offences. The Government last reviewed and enhanced the penalties for drink-driving offences in July 2019. The enhancements were brought into force in November 2019. The Member may wish to refer to the Annual Road Traffic Situation Report on the Singapore Police Force's website for the detailed statistics on driving offences.”
“Approval under the Residential Property Act (RPA) is required if a foreign person is seeking to acquire land that is zoned "Commercial" but where the permanent approved use is restricted under the Act. As an example, approval is required if a foreign person is seeking to acquire an entire mixed-use development with a permanent approved use that has a residential component of at least 60% of the total Gross Floor Area, which is within the current planning parameters for land zoned "Commercial and Residential". Under RPA, a foreign person is generally not required to obtain approval to acquire individual strata units in a non-landed development.”
“The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)’s trial to install one fire extinguisher at the lift lobby of every two Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks will commence later this year. Implementation will take place progressively over the next five years. As part of this trial, we are also targeting to have more than 80,000 residents trained to use fire extinguishers. This initiative is part of SCDF’s continual efforts to improve fire safety. Greater awareness and public education are key to this. SCDF has been educating residents on the use of fire extinguishers through public engagement programmes, such as the Community Emergency Preparedness Programme and Community Resilience Days. At these platforms, SCDF encourages the voluntary installation of fire extinguishers in homes and shares information on where hose reels can be found in common areas. Members of the public can access the SCDF website or download the latest edition of the Civil Defence Emergency Handbook to get fire safety tips and information on what to do when a fire breaks out. SCDF will continue to engage and work with the community to further improve fire safety and response.”
“Under the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018, the Official Assignee (OA) must convene a meeting of creditors to review the debtor’s debt repayment plan before approving it. This allows the debtor and the creditors to express their views or raise objections to the proposed debt repayment plan before the plan is approved. Any creditor who is named in a debtor’s statement of affairs may choose to attend the meeting. There is, however, no legal requirement to do so. Creditors can also submit written questions or raise any objections he or she may have on the proposed debt repayment plan for the OA’s consideration. The current system allows for the views of both the debtor and the creditors to be taken into account while giving the creditor the flexibility to decide if he or she wishes to attend a meeting. There is, therefore, no need to mandate the creditor’s attendance at the meeting.”
“The Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) recorded 79 cases of “causing excessive smoke” from 1 January 2018 to 30 June 2023. This covers second-hand smoke and other smoke-related activities. CDRT does not track second-hand smoke cases specifically. Out of these 79 cases, as at 30 June 2023: (a) 31 CDRT orders were made; (b) 37 cases were withdrawn; (c) seven cases were dismissed; and (d) four cases are ongoing. From the 31 CDRT orders that were made, seven applications for a Special Direction were filed. CDRT granted the Special Direction in two cases. Out of the two Special Direction applications that succeeded: (a) a Compliance Bond was concurrently sought and granted in one application; and (b) a subsequent application which was filed for an Exclusion Order was withdrawn.”
“From 2016 to 2022, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) processed an annual average of 7,200 applications from foreign spouses of Singaporeans for the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP). Of these, an annual average of 3,000 applicants had completed the Pre-Marriage LTVP Assessment (PMLA) prior to applying for LTVP.”
“From 2016 to 2022, an annual average of: (a) 3,900 applications for the Pre-Marriage Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) Assessment (PMLA) were processed by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA); and (b) 3,000 Letters of LTVP Eligibility were issued. Of those who had received a Letter of LTVP Eligibility, about 1,900 annually were eventually granted an LTVP or LTVP-Plus (LTVP+). This is because not every person who has obtained a Letter of LTVP Eligibility goes on to apply for an LTVP. Those with a Letter of LTVP Eligibility, which is valid for one year, will generally have their LTVP or LTVP+ approved if their circumstances were unchanged from the time at which they completed the PMLA.”
“Where possible, arrange for a physical meet-up with the seller to verify the authenticity of the tickets, before making payment. Third, “Tell” your family and friends about scam encounters and report fraudulent advertisements to social media and e-commerce platforms as well as to the authorities.”
“To tackle e-commerce scams upstream, the Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams launched the E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings (TSR) in May 2022. TSR informs consumers on the anti-scam measures that major e-commerce marketplaces have in place, such as user verification and secured payment options. We encourage consumers to transact only with the marketplaces with better ratings. For example, Facebook Marketplace is rated the worst in the TSR. They have not implemented the safeguards we recommended despite repeated engagements with them. Shopee and Carousell, on the other hand, have stepped up their measures and we are glad also for the sake of their customers. In July 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs passed the Online Criminal Harms Act, which will allow the Government to issue Directions to online platforms to disable online criminal content and activities, including scams-related ones. The Government can also require providers of designated online services to introduce upstream measures, such as user verification, to prevent scams from occurring in the first place. Ultimately, the best defence against scams is a discerning public. We urge the public to adopt precautionary measures through the three simple steps of “Add”, “Check”, “Tell”. First, “Add” the ScamShield App, anti-virus software and other security features, such as multifactor authentication for digital accounts and transaction limits for Internet banking. When transacting online, use secure payment options and never take transactions or payments off-platform. Second, “Check” the reviews of the seller and look out for potential red flags when making online purchases. For concert tickets, only purchase from authorised sellers and legitimate resellers, such as Ticketmaster.”
“The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has observed an increase in e-commerce scams involving concert tickets. In this scam variant, victims would come across advertisements for concert tickets on e-commerce websites or social media platforms, such as Carousell, Facebook, Telegram and Twitter. When victims approach the scammers to purchase the concert tickets, scammers would often claim that the tickets are selling fast to pressure victims into making payment quickly. Once the payment is received, scammers would claim to be unable to transfer the tickets to the victim and thereafter become uncontactable. In some cases, victims may receive their tickets via email or WhatsApp, only to realise that the tickets are invalid on the actual day of the concert. To combat this scam variant and scams in general, no single measure alone is adequate. Instead, we require a multifaceted approach, including blocking scam content, enhancing the safeguards on digital platforms and public education. SPF worked closely with social media and e-commerce platforms to take down scam advertisements for concert tickets, as well as accounts involved in such scams, as soon as they were detected. SPF also worked with the platforms to prevent such scams from happening, such as through pre-emptive detection and blocking of scam accounts. To raise awareness of concert ticket scams, SPF partnered ticket retailers, concert organisers and online platforms to issue advisories to the public. For example, SingPost displayed these advisories on digital screens within their outlets for members of the public who were queuing to purchase concert tickets. Ticketmaster placed similar advisories on their website.”
“As mentioned in our earlier reply to the Member on 5 July 2023, over the last five years, the number of people who refused conveyance was about 10% to 12% of the total number of calls received for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)’s emergency medical services (EMS). [Please refer to "Persons Refusing Conveyance via SCDF Ambulances to Hospitals", Official Report, 5 July 2023, Vol 95, Issue 107, Written Answers to Questions section.] While the absolute number increased annually, this increase was in line with the increase in the overall EMS call-load. We had also explained to the Member that SCDF does not track the reasons for refusal of conveyance. Ambulance services and healthcare institutions worldwide are guided by the same set of medical ethics, which includes patient autonomy and informed consent. As such, SCDF respects the patient’s right to refuse conveyance. As mentioned in our earlier reply to the Member on 5 July 2023, the only exception is when the patient is assessed to be mentally incapacitated. Our officers will counsel patients who refuse conveyance on the potential medical consequences. This includes engaging their family members or next-of-kin, where possible. For patients who continue to refuse conveyance, SCDF will advise them to seek medical treatment on their own or call 995 again, if necessary.”
“The State Courts have shared MOF’s guide with its officers and incorporated these additional good practices into its processes.”
“Specifically, the project consultant was primarily responsible for assessing the cost reasonableness of star rates independently by obtaining one or more quotation(s) from other sources to assess the sub-contractor’s quotations. The superintending officer from the project consultant was responsible for confirming the star rates and had certified the amount due to the contractor for the variation. The independent project manager was responsible for verifying that the requested sum for these star rates was in order before recommending to the State Courts to proceed with payment. In the design and development of its contract management process, the State Courts were cognisant of past AGO findings relating to star rate items concerning other public sector agencies and had, therefore, put in place the segregation of roles and independent checks before payment was made. The goods and services that were the subject of this observation were delivered. The State Courts have been conducting engagement sessions with its officers to share best practices on internal controls as well as lessons learnt from AGO audits and AGO’s Annual Report. The State Courts also regularly briefs its consultants and contractors of ongoing development projects to reiterate and remind them to adhere to the requirements for submission of documents for star rate items. In addition to its existing controls, the State Courts also consulted the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on additional measures that could be put in place to strengthen the management of star rate items. MOF recently shared a good practice guide that was issued in July 2021 containing tips on detecting irregular and fraudulent quotations.”
“Based on information provided by the State Courts on the abovementioned project, the quotations for star rate items in relation to the State Courts Towers development project were provided by sub-contractors to the project consultant of the project in accordance with the contract requirements. In this regard, the project consultant would refer to four quotations – three quotations obtained by the sub-contractor and one quotation obtained independently by the project consultant. The quotations were assessed by the project consultant and thereafter used to price the star rate item. As the Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) had expressed concerns over the authenticity of the quotations received by the project consultant, the AGO recommended that the State Courts carry out internal investigations. The State Courts lodged a Police report as there may be a potential conflict of interest should investigations disclose any criminal offence(s) and the case comes before the Courts. As Police investigations are ongoing to determine if there was any wrongdoing, it would not be appropriate for the State Courts to comment further. The Courts have informed that processes were put in place in accordance with the principles in the Government Instruction Manual, with clearly segregated duties and independent layers of safeguards and validation checks performed by various parties, including the project consultant, superintending officer, the independent project manager and State Courts officers, to ensure that star rates used for variations were reflective of fair market prices.”
“Sir, as I was listening to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Singh, I thought we better have it clear on record, because Mr Singh said here, on the record, that he did not reveal the identity of the source to Mr Leon Perera. At the same time, he also has said, "Leon also shared with me that he was in an ongoing dispute with his driver and was about to terminate his services and had sought legal advice on the allegations of his driver", and a few other statements. So, I think, just to be clear, Mr Singh's position is that he did not reveal the identity of the source – that is what he just told us – to Mr Perera. Thank you, Sir, for the clarification through you.”
“I would say, Sir, through you, that if Mr Leong and the PSP believes that there should be no videos taken of anyone, as a matter of procedure and law, perhaps he can table a Private Member's Bill. Because, as far as I am aware today, there is no legislation. Last Saturday, PSP came to my constituency, as is usual, they sat in a corner and had their coffee. Many people were there, welcomed them. Then, I did my usual walkabout and PSP sent someone to video me. Obviously, they did not think that they were breaking any laws and I have a photograph of that if Mr Leong wishes. So, certainly, your party does not think that there is anything wrong in constantly videoing us. So, if you believe that — I think if my recollection serves me right – Mr David Ong was an MP here and was subject to a private investigator's video by the husband of the lady involved. So, I think on the reference to Private Security Industry Act, I would just say this, Sir, through you, which I have said before. If a question is to be asked, we as Ministers have a duty to answer. But I think, equally, MPs have a duty to do some basic checks before they throw questions. I mean, if you referred to a legislation, then tell us which provision you are referring to. I mean, something must have gone through your mind that the Private Security Industry Act is relevant. I did a quick check. I do not see anything there that is relevant. So, maybe, I thought you knew something that I did not know. But it appears that, perhaps, you know even less even though you ask the question. So, I think it would be a waste of very important Parliamentary time if MPs do not do some basic research. That is all I have to say, Sir. I do not believe any section of the Private Security Industry Act applies.”
“I want to know which provision. If I can have that, then I can proceed to answer.”
“I suppose the question, I think, is directed indirectly to me. Sir, can I ask, through you, which provision of the Private Security Industry Act is Mr Leong referring to? I just want to understand the provision so that we can be clearer, then I can answer the question. I just tried to pull it up as he was speaking.”
“" "In addition, Ms Khan had told the DP on 29 November that whilst her therapist had said that she might have symptoms of PTSD, she clarified that this was not something she was going through. Mental health issues had to be approached with sensitivity. She expressed concern that using a person's mental health to discredit them, as Mr Singh and Ms Lim had done, would set back the movement to progress mental health awareness and support. Attributing such labels on people would discourage them from seeking help when they needed it." And, Sir, on the record is also expert testimony that Ms Khan did not have those issues. The third point is, Mr Singh, the Leader of Opposition, suggesting that I knew – because let us not make innuendos – that I knew of Mr Vivian Balakrishnan's statement and deliberately kept quiet?”
“Ms Lim also gave the evidence that at the DP hearing on 29 November, Ms Khan explained that the anecdote was not in the first draft because she was disassociated and did not know what she was doing. Ms Lim also said that she was worried because as far as she and senior Workers' Party (WP) leaders could understand, Ms Khan was doing things without thinking." "Mr Singh also said that the statement in Ms Khan's 8 August WhatsApp message – 'they've agreed that the best thing to do is to take the information to the grave' – was a lie. When Mr Singh was asked why Ms Khan would lie about this, Mr Singh said that Ms Khan had told the DP on 29 November that she suffered from disassociation. He said that Ms Khan may have a problem. His position was that Ms Khan could be predisposed to lying because she had mental health issues. Mr Singh asked the Committee to consider asking Ms Khan to go for psychological assessment." "When Mr Singh was asked to explain his earlier evidence that there was nothing unusual about Ms Khan's performance as a Member of Parliament between August and September which was in contrast to his evidence that she could be suffering from disassociation, Mr Singh confirmed again that there was nothing out of the ordinary about Ms Khan's performance as a Member of Parliament at the material time." "Ms Khan was given an opportunity to respond to the assertions made by the three senior Workers' Party leaders regarding her mental health. Ms Khan said that it was extremely out of line for Mr Singh and Ms Lim to have used mental illness as a means to discredit her. Mr Singh had tried to paint a picture of her as someone who was mentally unstable when she was of sound mind.”
“I pulled up what the Committee said since Mr Singh has made reference to it. I think we should have on record what exactly happened. This is the Committee of Privileges (COP) record. I think it is 7294. This is Mr Singh saying, "This is where I think circumstances, in my judgement, were of such a nature that I was prepared to give the Member time, in view of her" – again, I respect what you said earlier, I used the word "rape", but the Committee, in its record, changed it to "sexual assault" and put it in square brackets – "...earlier because this was the word Ms Raeesah Khan used when she described herself, but if Chair and the Committee would want me to use 'sexual assault', I am happy to use that word. I just used that word..." – meaning "rape" – "... because that was the word Raeesah Khan used." Mr Edwin Tong says, "Yes, and I would prefer not; that we don't go into any other details unless they are strictly necessary." Mr Singh says, "I don't really know the details." Chairman says, "I am quite happy if you can just use 'sexual assault'." Mr Singh then said, "Okay, I will use 'sexual assault'. Just remember that, on record, that was what Ms Khan told us, that she was raped when she was 18." Then, on the other point on mental health, this is what the COP report says: "In the course of their testimony before the Committee, Mr Singh, Ms Lim and Mr Faisal made some assertions about Ms Khan's mental condition. Mr Singh in particular emphasised this. He said that Ms Khan might be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and disassociation. Mr Singh said that on 4 October when he met Ms Khan in the Leader of Opposition's (LO) office, she was in a dazed state, suggesting that she was somewhat disoriented.”
“I will repeat both. On the first, I think the Leader has missed the point. I believe the Committee suggested that we do not need to expressly talk about rape and Mr Singh insisted on talking about rape. Not only that, he insisted on bringing in her mental condition. I think most observers felt a considerable degree of disquiet at this – attacking a young lady on the basis of her mental condition and also insisting on putting on record that she had been raped. I think everyone could see why that was done. The second point was this. The serious issue was lying in Parliament and then lying again, and that had nothing to do with her sexual assault. She could have come up and said, "I didn't tell the truth" and her seniors in the party could have advised her. That is a matter that the COP had gone into extensively and it is a matter, some of it, that is now the subject of investigations. That is the point I am making.”
“I believe when the Prime Minister said – and he will speak for himself – about sensitivity, it is about how it affects everyone. And I think if we had applied the same degree of sensitivity, no one would have insisted on recording that Ms Khan was raped.”
“For a clarification on what he meant, because I am sure he does not mean it, but his statements are misleading on Ms Raeesah Khan. My recollection was that the facts are as follows – and we need to be very clear on what the facts are when we speak in this House. There was a Committee of Privileges (COP). Mr Singh gave evidence. My recollection, and he will correct me if I am wrong and there are others here who were in that Committee, was that the Committee was very sensitive about not describing what exactly happened to Ms Khan. But it was Mr Singh who insisted that the word "rape" ought to be mentioned. I hope he can clarify and confirm that. Otherwise, we can check the record. So, when someone stands up here and says, "We want to be sensitive", I think we need to look back at what each one did. The word "rape" – my recollection was that it was insisted upon by Mr Singh. So, so much for sensitivity. Second, what was the point in relation to Ms Khan? It was that in August, Mr Singh, Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Faisal Manap were told by her that she had lied in Parliament. This is not about rape. This is not about sexual assault. This is about her lying in Parliament. She says Mr Singh told her to take it to her grave. It was a serious matter – lying in Parliament – serious enough for her to be out of Parliament. September came, October came, she repeated the lie in front of Mr Singh and no correction. That was the issue. Thereafter, what happened? Mr Singh, Ms Lim and Mr Faisal Manap sat on a disciplinary panel to decide why Ms Khan did not tell the truth and sacked her. But if she was telling the truth that she had told them, and they admit they had been told, well, the public can judge for themselves. But I think we should be very careful about putting out the facts.”
“The Ministry of Home Affairs, in consultation with the Ministry of National Development, is reviewing whether to include wildlife trade offences as serious offences in the Schedule of the Organised Crime Act 2015. We are studying whether there is a law-and-order need to do so, as well as the operational arrangements that need to be put in place. We aim to complete this review by early 2024 and will provide an update when ready.”
“The number of people who have refused conveyance, in each of the last five years, is set out in the Table below. This is about 10% to 12% of the total calls received for the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The annual increases are in line with the increases in the overall EMS call load. SCDF does not track the reasons for refusal. Should patients refuse conveyance to the hospital, SCDF cannot compel them unless they are assessed to be mentally incapacitated. SCDF requires them or their next-of-kin to sign an indemnity form. SCDF will also explain the potential medical consequences and advise them to seek medical treatment on their own or call 995 again if necessary.”
“The Home Affairs Uniformed Services INVEST Fund is a superannuation fund with a long-term focus to achieve returns that exceed the rate of inflation over time.1 The returns for the last five and 10 years and since the inception of the three plans in the INVEST Fund are shown in the Table below:2”
“As mentioned in Parliament on 8 May 2023, we do not track the number of instances when an Appropriate Adult was not activated for an interview. [Please refer to "Clarification by Minister of State for Home Affairs", Official Report, 8 May 2023, Vol 95, Issue 102, Clarification section.]”
“The Automated Passenger In-Car Clearance System (APICS) is jointly developed by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX). It integrates features, such as contactless biometric scanners, sensors and cameras to provide a secure, seamless and comfortable clearance experience for drivers and their passengers. ICA and HTX completed a live trial for APICS at the Old Woodlands Checkpoint in 2022. During the trial, 94% of travellers were able to self-clear without officers' assistance. ICA and HTX are working to further improve the system and processes before deploying APICS progressively at Tuas Checkpoint from 2026 and the redeveloped Woodlands Checkpoint from 2028. Beyond cars, a similar system for the clearance of commercial goods vehicles will also be introduced progressively in the same timeframe.”
“Since 2013, the Police has been deploying self-help kiosks at Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs) and redesigning Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs) to be fully automated. The aim is to provide self-help options for Police services, such as lodging of Police reports and submission of lost-and-found property. This is part of the Police's efforts to leverage technology to improve operational efficiency, optimise resources and better serve the community. The outcomes have been good. For example, the proportion of the public who use self-help options, including the self-help kiosks at NPCs and NPPs and Police e-services, has steadily increased. The public has now also been able to access these services around the clock. The Member asked whether there is evidence of a displacement of workload from redesigned NPPs to other touchpoints like 999 calls or NPCs. Workload changes can be due to many reasons, and it is not possible to isolate increases or decreases in workload to just one factor.”
“The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) does not have the household income of applicants granted permanent residency or citizenship. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) only collects the income information of the applicant and/or sponsor at the point of application. A household could comprise other individuals who are neither an applicant nor a sponsor.”
“Credit reports are issued by credit bureaus licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for the purpose of facilitating financial institutions' assessment of a borrower's creditworthiness. The data used in credit reports are provided by the members of the credit bureaus, such as banks. Government agencies, including the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), are not members of the credit bureaus and do not contribute data to them. It would not be appropriate for GRA to share any data with them.”