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.”
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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 63 of 92.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank Mr Christopher de Souza for moving this Motion. I thank Members for their views. Many constructive suggestions have been made, which my Ministry will study. I also thank the Members from the Workers' Party, many of whom have made very constructive suggestions and we will look at them. I will set out the types of threats we face, our response, and what the Government and the community can do. First, what are the types of terror threats that we face? If you look at world and regional events − Marawi, Rakhine in Southeast Asia and, of course, the Middle East, these attract would-be fighters and others who feel angry. If you look at the Southern Philippines, if the situation is not dealt with, it could become an operating base for fighters from the Middle East, who would go from this region and, eventually, they would then radiate out back into this region again, well-trained with fighting skills. And that can take the problems in this region to a level very different from what it has been up to now. This general situation has been made much worse by the mixing of politics and religion in this region and the rise of politicians and religious leaders who openly advocate intolerance. So, quite frankly, Sir, the direction, the trajectory of where this region is going is quite worrying. And sometimes I wish we can be more frank and share with the people of Singapore what we know. But both foreign policy considerations and security considerations make it very difficult to let everyone know what it is that we are facing. That is one type of threat: regional situation, world events. The second is the release of radicalised prisoners. Mr de Souza spoke about it.”
“The youth crime situation in Singapore is under control. The number of youth offenders arrested has gone down in the past decade by about 35%, from 4,280 in 2006 to 2,788 in 2016. Shop theft, bicycle theft, other forms of theft, rioting and sexual penetration of minor under 16 years old were the most common offences. The age and gender distribution of youth offenders from 2013 to June 2017 is in the table below. There is an over-representation of minority races among youth offenders. The Police work with self-help and community groups, including the Council on Education for Muslim Children (Yayasan MENDAKI) and Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), to address these concerns. Indeed, youth crime is a multifaceted problem that requires a multi-agency approach for effective and lasting results. Educational institutions, other law enforcement agencies, the social services sector and parents all have a role to play. The Police will continue to work with relevant stakeholders and partners to keep our youths away from crime.”
“Over the past three years, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to road traffic accidents that required rescue operations (such as the extrication of trapped victims), within eight minutes, 90.1% of the time. SCDF responded to other road traffic accidents that required ambulances to attend to injuries but did not require rescue operations, within 11 minutes, 84.6% of the time. These were within SCDF's target response times for rescue and ambulance calls respectively. An eCall system involves the installation of an in-vehicle device, which will automatically contact and send its location to a helpline in the event of an accident. The eCall system can help to improve response time, but it also faces implementation challenges, such as high false alarm rates. SCDF will continue to monitor the development of the eCall system as well as other technologies and study their applicability to Singapore. SCDF must always be ready to respond to emergencies promptly. False alarms, non-emergency and nuisance calls bog down SCDF's "995" call centre, impose additional load on SCDF's resources, and deprive persons in distress of timely intervention from SCDF. We urge members of the public to exercise civic responsibility and call "995" only when necessary.”
“The majority of motorists who committed traffic violations were not repeat offenders. For the most common traffic violation of speeding, in the past three years, 4.7% of all licensed motorists were first-time offenders, 0.6% had offended twice, while 0.1% had offended more than twice. The numbers are lower for other violations. In the past three years, for running a red light, 1.6% of all licensed motorists were first-time offenders, while 0.02% were repeat offenders. The proportion of taxi drivers who were traffic offenders was higher. For speeding, in the past three years, 8.9% of all taxi drivers were first-time offenders, 2.2% had offended twice, while 0.8% had offended more than twice. For running a red light, 2.7% of all taxi drivers were first-time offenders, while 0.1% were repeat offenders. The Traffic Police (TP) has continually engaged motorists, taxi drivers, the taxi companies and National Taxi Association (NTA) on safe driving practices. For example, TP has collaborated with taxi companies to remind taxi drivers of accident-prone and enforcement areas through the Mobile Data Terminals in taxis. To reduce speeding and beating of red lights, TP has erected more prominent warning signs of the use of enforcement cameras. In respect of appeals, it has to be noted that traffic violations impact on the safety of other motorists and pedestrians. Very few appeals are acceded to, and only where there are very strong extenuating factors, such as a medical emergency.”
“Drivers who have accumulated demerit points can attend the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS) Retraining Course or the Safe Driving Course. The DIPS Retraining Course is a two-day course for motorists whose licences have been suspended because they have accumulated a certain number of demerit points. These motorists are required to pass theory and practical tests at the end of the course, whereupon they can have their suspension periods shortened. The Safe Driving Course is an early intervention measure that provides corrective education to motorists, even before they become liable for suspension. Participants go through a three-and-a-half-hour classroom session and a 30-minute practical session before taking a quiz. Upon the successful completion of the course, three demerit points will be expunged from the participant’s driving record. These courses are not mandatory. They offer an opportunity for motorists to come forward to correct their driving behaviour and refresh their driving skills. This will foster greater ownership of their driving behaviour.”
“Between 2014 and 2016, a total of eight traffic accidents on the part of the Causeway within Singapore's jurisdiction were reported. None of these accidents involved pedestrians. The part of the Causeway within Singapore's jurisdiction has been designed such that there is no need for pedestrians to cross or walk on any vehicular roads. Traffic Police work closely with the relevant agencies to ensure safe traffic flows. For example, during periods of high traffic volume, Woodlands Checkpoint has special support teams to augment the deployment on the ground. We urge pedestrians to use the footpaths and refrain from walking on the roads. Motorists should also drive safely.”
“We do not have the specific numbers requested. However, our discussions with both the Courts and the Bar indicate that while this is not yet a serious problem, such conduct does take place.”
“We do not track the number of pre-trial remandees who have been offered the option of being released on bail but do not avail themselves of it.”
“The proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code will set out the duties of an expert witness, whether psychiatrists or otherwise, consistent with existing norms. A panel of psychiatrists will also be set up, such that members of this panel will be allowed to give psychiatric expert evidence in criminal cases.”
“In a case where psychiatric expert evidence is adduced, the judge may accept or reject it for various reasons. The same goes for any other expert evidence, and, indeed, any other evidence which is tendered in Court. Not all of these instances and reasons may be recorded in written judgments. The most common reason for rejecting such evidence is that the judge did not accept the expert’s evidence in the light of the specific factual context of the case. This could be because of other evidence adduced, or because a different expert's opinion was more convincing when applied to the facts and the existing state of medical knowledge, or some combination of similar factors. The precise reasons for rejecting psychiatric expert evidence on purely factual grounds thus depends on the factual context of each particular case. They do not necessarily imply any fault on the part of the expert. For this reason, the number of such rejections are not necessarily related to the professional standards governing psychiatrists. There have been cases where the Courts have said that they rejected an expert's opinion because he or she failed to meet the minimum standards and objectivity expected of an expert witness. For example, in the case of Mehra Radhika v Public Prosecutor [2015] 1 SLR 96, the Chief Justice observed that the expert psychiatric evidence adduced in that case was "patently lacking in objectivity" and was "plainly erroneous". The Chief Justice also observed that the expert in that case "did not give … the sense that he had even a basic conception of the responsibility he owed the Court when he put himself forward as an expert".”
“To raise public awareness on the rules governing moneylenders, MinLaw has been issuing media releases with infographics on the moneylending rules and the RDs. MinLaw has also been working closely with the Moneylender's Association of Singapore to educate borrowers. In addition, under the Moneylenders Act and Rules, MinLaw requires licensed moneylenders to inform borrowers of the loan terms and conditions, such as the interest rate and fees of each loan granted. The RDs also require moneylenders to provide a cautionary statement in writing to borrowers before granting any short-term loans or split loans, or "rolling over" loans to refinance existing debts.”
“In October 2015, the Registry of Moneylenders (the Registry) under the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) implemented new controls on licensed moneylenders to better protect borrowers. The new controls included a cap on the total cost of borrowing to 100% of the loan's principal sum, which helps to ensure that fees and interest do not spiral out of control. To date, no licensed moneylender has been found to have breached this rule. Last year, the Registry received complaints and observed that some licensed moneylenders were making repeated short-term loans of less than one month and split loans. The former allowed them to charge the administrative fee several times in a month whenever an initial loan was renewed, even when no new funds had been disbursed. The latter meant that multiple late payment fees could be incurred when a single loan was split into multiple smaller loans. In response, MinLaw issued the Registrar's Direction (RD) No 1 of 2016, which prohibits licensed moneylenders from offering short-term loans or split loans to borrowers who are unable to keep up with repayment plans. The Registry also issued RD 1 of 2017 which prohibits moneylenders from repeatedly "rolling over" existing loans and re-charging the administrative fee, when a borrower is unable to pay an instalment. The Registry will continue to monitor the industry closely to eliminate abusive practices intended to circumvent the Moneylenders Act and the Moneylenders Rules 2009 (the Rules). It will issue new RDs when necessary. The Registry also conducts regular inspections at licensed moneylending premises, and investigates potential breaches of the Moneylenders Act, the Rules and the RDs. Errant licensed moneylenders will be taken to task.”
“The Fire Code stipulates that hawker centres need to have hose reels and fire extinguishers, and adequate, unimpeded access to facilitate escape in the event of a fire. There are also regulations on the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking, and cleaning requirements for kitchen exhaust ducts. Some common causes of fires at hawker centres are the accumulation of grease within poorly-maintained kitchen exhaust ducts which ignite during the cooking process, stallholders leaving their cooking unattended, and forgetting to switch off appliances at the end of the day. A large number of such fires can be prevented. As part of its Community Emergency Preparedness Programme, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) partners the National Environment Agency to educate stallholders on how to prevent and respond to fire emergencies. SCDF has also implemented mitigating measures to reduce the risk of fires in hawker centres. For instance, SCDF, with the Housing and Development Board and the Town Councils, have worked together to replace all individual LPG cylinders in hawker centres with safer centralised LPG pipeline manifold systems or Town Gas. Hawker centre owners and stallholders have a big part to play. They can prevent fires by thoroughly cleaning their kitchen exhaust ducts at least once a year, not leaving cooking unattended, and switching off all appliances when they leave for the day.”
“The late Mr Tan Lark Sye was deprived of his Singapore citizenship in 1964. He had engaged in activities prejudicial to the security and public order of Malaya and Singapore, in particular, in advancing the Communist cause. There has been no change in his Singapore citizenship status since then.”
“The enhanced Immigration Automated Clearance System (eIACS) allows Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, Long-Term Pass Holders and other eligible users with machine-readable passports, and whose fingerprints have been pre-enrolled with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to clear immigration via the automated gates. However, travellers with faded, scarred or excessively wet or dry fingerprints may face difficulties using the eIACS. On average, such cases amounted to about 3% of all travellers who used eIACS. These travellers are referred to the manned counters for immigration clearance. ICA plans to introduce iris scan technology progressively at our checkpoints over the next two years. Travellers who face difficulties with fingerprint matching will be able to use iris scan when they clear immigration via the automated gates. Iris scan technology will complement the current fingerprint matching process for automated immigration clearance and provide an additional avenue for ICA to verify a traveller's identity.”
“In the past five years, about 20,900 individuals were granted Singapore Citizenship (SC) annually. More than half of them were aged 30 and below when they were granted SC. About 85% were Permanent Residents (PRs) when they were granted SC. The others were children of Singapore Citizens born overseas who subsequently registered for SC, as well as the minor children of successful SC applicants. Under the Constitution, minors do not need to obtain PR status first in order to be eligible for citizenship.”
“Foreign spouses married to Singapore Citizens (SCs) may be granted Permanent Residence (PR) and, subsequently, Singapore Citizenship (SC), under the Family Ties Scheme. In 2016, around 4,600 and 3,400 foreign spouses of SCs were granted PR and SC respectively.”
“Public entertainment outlets are licensed by the Police under the Public Entertainments Act. As part of licensing conditions, operators must take steps to prevent crime on their premises, including outrage of modesty. They must, for example, ensure sufficient lighting and prevent overcrowding. The Police have also been working with nightclubs on additional measures, such as the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. These help to discourage commission of outrage of modesty. In public transport areas, officers from the Public Transport Security Command conduct patrols to project Police presence. The Police have also been active in their crime prevention outreach efforts to commuters, through posters, videos and crime prevention roadshows in areas, such as trains, train stations and bus interchanges. Such efforts heighten commuters’ awareness of and vigilance against crime, including outrage of modesty. Currently, the punishment for outrage of modesty can include a fine, caning and imprisonment of up to two years. If committed against persons under 14 years of age, the term of imprisonment can be up to five years. We are watching the situation closely and will continue to take a tough stance against outrage of modesty. We will enhance the legislation if necessary. We urge the public to be vigilant and to report incidents to the authorities as soon as possible.”
“Gaming arcades are regulated as amusement centres by the Police under the Public Entertainments Act. The Act regulates public entertainment to ensure that it is carried out in a lawful and orderly manner, in line with standards of public decency, and at suitable locations. This includes requiring operators of amusement centres to ensure that their establishments are not used for crimes. Gaming does not pose the same level of law and order concerns as gambling, and amusement centres are, therefore, not required to identify patrons who may suffer from gaming addiction. That said, amusement centres are not allowed to admit students in school uniform, nor persons below the age of 16 before 6.30pm on a school day. This provides a certain level of safeguard for our young. Beyond this, the Media Literacy Council (MLC) has been raising awareness of gaming addiction. It has resources on its website for parents and individuals to identify and manage online addictions among children and youths, including excessive computer gaming. MLC also reaches out to the online community via social media to raise awareness of the issue. Family and friends should also look out for signs of a loved one with a gaming addiction. They can encourage their loved ones to seek help at social service centres, such as Touch Community Services and Fei Yue Community Services, which offer counselling and support services. Those with more serious addictions can be referred to the National Addictions Management Service, which offers treatment programmes and services.”
“The Police adopt a tough enforcement stance against illegal gambling, whether it takes place in Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates or other places. The illegal gambling situation in Singapore is stable and under control. This is due to our strict laws on gambling. Gambling is prohibited unless specifically allowed by way of an exemption, a licence or a permit. It is an offence to gamble in a public place under the Common Gaming Houses Act and also the Betting Act. Offenders are liable to be fined up to $5,000, or imprisoned up to six months, or both. The Police are aware that some residents do gather at the common areas of their HDB estate to engage in gambling activities, and this may create social disamenities to others. When complaints are lodged, the Police will take enforcement action. However, enforcement alone is not sufficient. To achieve sustainable outcomes, enforcement must be complemented by public education and community partnership. To this end, the Police work closely with grassroots leaders and partners, such as the National Crime Prevention Council, to raise public awareness of the consequences of illegal gambling.”
“To support their reintegration, SCORE also assists these trained inmates to find related work in the F&B industry. This allows inmates to apply the training to their jobs after release.”
“The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) partners the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) to provide work and vocational training programmes in prison as part of the overall inmate rehabilitation programme. These work programmes help to keep the inmates meaningfully occupied during their prison term and enhance their work ethics, skills as well as employability upon their release. The work programmes also enable inmates to receive an allowance which is saved in their prison account and can be sent home to their families or withdrawn upon their release. Food preparation work and training programmes are available in prison. Suitable inmates are emplaced on work and training programmes at the kitchen facilities in prison. Besides preparing food for prison meals, the inmates are trained to prepare meals for external corporate and private functions. The Dining Behind Bars programme also provides opportunities for inmates to prepare and serve meals to invited guests in prison. The culinary skills training provided within prison is aligned with the Workforce Singapore (WSG) Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) framework. The training programmes also simulate the actual work environment to better prepare inmates to readily apply their skills to their future workplaces. Inmates are able to acquire WSQ certifications, which will help them secure better jobs upon their release. An example of such training is the Hope Cafe/Training Kitchen located in Changi Prisons. The Hope Cafe is a kitchen jointly set up by WSG, SPS and SCORE to provide inmates with the opportunities to obtain WSQ Certificates in Culinary Arts and Food and Beverage (F&B) Operations. Close to 200 inmates are trained at the Hope Cafe every year.”
“From January 2015 to May 2017, only two cases involving neighbour disputes concerning cigarette smoke were referred by the Courts to the Community Mediation Centre (CMC). In the same period, there were 45 such cases which were voluntarily registered by an aggrieved party directly at CMC. That makes 47 cases of neighbour disputes involving cigarette smoke registered at CMC in total. This is less than 2% of all cases registered at CMC during the same period. As mediation is a voluntary process, mediation can be proceeded with only if both parties agree to mediate. Of the 47 cases that were registered, eight cases proceeded to mediation. All eight cases which proceeded to mediation were successfully resolved at CMC. The terms of settlement included (a) the respondent agreeing to reduce the frequency of smoking; (b) the respondent agreeing to take measures to prevent cigarette smoke from drifting into neighbouring units; and (c) the respondent agreeing to be contacted directly by the complainant if smoke drifted in from the respondent's unit.”
“As part of its Community Emergency Preparedness Programme, SCDF partners NEA to educate stallholders on how to prevent and respond to fire emergencies. SCDF has also implemented mitigating measures to reduce the risk of fires in hawker centres. For instance, SCDF, with the Housing and Development Board and the Town Councils, have worked together to replace all individual LPG cylinders in hawker centres with safer centralised LPG pipeline manifold systems or Town Gas. Hawker centre owners and stallholders also have a part to play. They can prevent fires by thoroughly cleaning their kitchen exhaust ducts at least once a year, not leaving cooking unattended, and switching off all appliances when they leave for the day.”
“The Fire Code stipulates that hawker centres need to have hose reels and fire extinguishers and adequate, unimpeded access to facilitate escape in the event of a fire. There are also regulations on the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking and cleaning requirements for kitchen exhaust ducts. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) adopts a risk-based approach to conducting fire safety compliance checks. Hawker centres are generally assessed to be of lower fire risk as their open-sided design ensures that they are well ventilated, facilitating smoke venting and minimising smoke logging in the event of fire. SCDF conducts checks on hawker centres on an ad hoc basis in response to feedback from the public as well as other Government agencies, such as the National Environment Agency (NEA). Over the past three years, SCDF conducted 13 such checks on hawker centres. This is on top of routine inspections conducted by NEA and the Town Councils, and servicing conducted by their appointed contractors which ensures the exhaust systems and ducts are well maintained and in good working order. Common causes of hawker centre fires are the accumulation of grease within poorly-maintained kitchen exhaust ducts which ignite during the cooking process, stallholders leaving their cooking unattended and forgetting to switch off appliances at the end of the day. There were 32 hawker centre fires from January 2015 to July 2017. There were no fatalities. Five of these cases resulted in casualties and the fires were mainly caused by overheating because of unattended cooking. This could have been prevented. SCDF has also conducted comprehensive inspections to ensure the fire safety of these affected hawker centres. A large number of hawker centre fires can be prevented.”
“In addition to what has been done, we are also looking beyond the projects supplied by the distributor of the Alubond composite panels. We are reviewing them based on the testing that has been done, to consider whether any further steps will be necessary. The point is, sampling should be effective. But I have indicated to Members the two preliminary views on two possible reasons as to why this might have happened. When we have completed the investigations, we will relook at that to see whether anything else needs to be done. We have to be stringent. At the same time, when something like this happens, we need to find out why it happened. Is it because the rules were not adequate? Or is it because of a specific set of human errors which could not have been prevented by the rules? And, if so, then whether some additional rules are necessary. Sir, I have told the House what we have found so far. Once we have completed the investigations, we will consider what further steps, if any, are necessary. And if Members of the House have any other suggestions, they can send them to my Ministry. 3.36 pm”
“Yes, I will try to, Sir. I am taking three questions together plus one. Er Dr Lee asked if SCDF has checked whether lifts under the Lift Upgrading Programme use non-Class "0" on core cladding. Actually, the vast majority of Housing and Development Board blocks do not use cladding, or use only non-combustible cladding. A small number use composite panels as cladding on the exterior of lift shafts, and SCDF has checked that these panels meet the fire safety requirements. We will work with the relevant agencies, building industry, to review the processes. For example, we will explore whether composite panels of different classes of flame-spread could be more clearly differentiated using identifiable labels to, for example, reduce the possibility of the wrong type of composite panels being used. We have also issued an advisory to all QPs and Registered Inspectors to check carefully the intended cladding's Certificate of Conformity and test reports. If they have any doubt whatsoever that the cladding is Class "0" on core standard, they have been advised to send in the samples for tests by an accredited testing laboratory. Dr Chia Shi-Lu and Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked if there are plans to conduct a more thorough testing/extensive audit of all claddings. I have set out what has been done and what reminders have been sent, for example, to QPs and Registered Inspectors. But in order to understand this, you have to understand how the testing is done and what the processes are. For example, it is not possible to test every panel because, if you understand testing, it requires burning of the panel. So, by definition, if you test every panel, there will be no panels left to install. That is why sampling remains the international standard.”
“As a result, I think non-Class "0" on core composite panels may have, at times, been supplied for use on the external walls of buildings. It does not mean that all the panels would have been non-compliant, but some may have been non-compliant, or are non-compliant. And there seems to be a second reason. It appears that the composite panels which were certified to be Class "0" on core were not of uniformly same quality; some met the standard, but others did not. So, we are investigating if this is a manufacturing issue. In summary, on this point, it appears that non-compliant claddings may have been installed for a mix of these two reasons. For the public to understand, in addition to requirements on claddings, we have very strict fire safety requirements to minimise fire-spread and protect occupants. Those requirements, for example, fire-resistant floors, fire-resistant walls, exits which have to meet certain requirements − all of these, put together, will help us assess the fire safety of a building. Which is why SCDF said, looking at all the buildings, that is the first thing we did. We assessed the buildings to be safe, despite the non-compliant claddings. But at the same time, we required the non-compliant claddings to be removed within two months. So, that should be done by the end of October. SCDF's assessment is that those buildings remain fit and safe for occupancy and they have adequate safety provisions, including other fire protection systems. SCDF has also required the building owners to check their fire safety systems to make sure they are in good order. And, while the claddings are being removed, to enhance the vigilance of their personnel, remove any fire hazards. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked if SCDF has checked whether lifts under the —”
“It appears that some of the Alubond composite panels used as cladding on the external walls of the buildings were not of Class "0" on core standard as required under the Fire Code. When my Ministry discovered this, we decided to check how many other buildings had been supplied with Alubond cladding by the same distributor. That distributor happens to be the sole local distributor of this material. As of 24 August, we issued a press statement. We identified 40 affected buildings, or buildings we thought were affected. We took the approach that, with the exception of those that tested compliant, as long as the building had public access, and even if the cladding was low, 3% of the external wall, we will still identify it. So, we took a very zero-tolerance approach, because we felt the public ought to know. Since 24 August, and as of 8 September, more buildings have been tested and more QPs have contacted SCDF. As of 8 September, there are 37 buildings that may have used Alubond composite panels as cladding on their walls. Twenty of these have been tested so far, and the composite panels of 15 of them have been found to be not of Class "0" on core standard. Five comply with Class "0" standard. As I said, these 15 range from 3% to higher but, mostly, it is, if my memory serves me right, less than 25%. How did this happen? We will set out what we know so far. Conclusions are preliminary. What we know is that the distributor had sold two models of Alubond composite panels. One meets the Class "0" on core requirement for use as cladding on external walls, while the other model does not. It appears that stocks of both models may have been mixed together at the distributor's local warehouse.”
“They are responsible for selecting the correct materials, appropriate materials and products which comply with the Fire Code. On top of that, there is an independent Registered Inspector who is required to inspect the building when completed. Only then will the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) issue a Fire Safety Certificate, because every premises must get the certificate before the premises can be used or occupied. So, how does the process work? Some material will require testing to ensure that they meet the Fire Code requirements, like composite panels. They will have to be certified by local Certification Bodies. How do the Certification Bodies go about it? They will accept test results from accredited testing laboratories, which can be either overseas or in Singapore. If they are overseas, there is a certain number of them, which is accredited by us, accepted by us. We do not accept everyone. The Certification Bodies also will have to conduct periodic audits to ensure that certified products continue to conform to those standards. Of course, if you carry out any work which is unauthorised or if you allow any unauthorised works which have an impact on fire safety, that will be an offence and attracting fines of up to $200,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, or both. SCDF will take action against QPs and Registered Inspectors if they have not carried out their duties properly. In respect of 30 Toh Guan Road fire on 4 May, investigations were conducted. The investigations have not been completed. I want to be tentative about it, because, first, the investigations have not been completed, and second, you have to be fair to the people involved.”
“Miss Cheryl Chan1 has also asked a related question for a subsequent Sitting. I will also answer her question. When we look at these questions, it is useful, first, to consider how extensive the use of cladding is in Singapore. If you look at it from 1985, based on building plans submitted, less than 20% of these building projects used cladding. If you look at composite materials, they typically comprise two non-flammable layers with a core material sandwiched between the two non-combustible layers. The Fire Code requirements for these composite panels when they are used as cladding on external walls accepts three internationally recognised testing standards, the EN 13501-1, which is the European standard, the BS 476 group of tests, which is British standard, and the United States (US) standard, NFPA 285. So, we accept all three. In this case, the BS 476 tests were applied. For composite panels used as cladding on external walls, in order to meet the Fire Code requirement when using this British standard, you take the core material of the panels, and they have to be tested on their own. When they are tested on their own, they must meet Class "0" standard. What does it mean? When the core material is ignited on its own, the fire must not spread along the surface. So, whenever I refer to Class "0" standard or Class "0" on core standard, I am referring to this British standard, and the equivalent under the US and European testing standards. So, going to Miss Chan's question on conformance of building materials with fire safety standards that are stipulated, it works in this way. If you have a building project, you will have appointed registered architects or professional engineers. We call them Qualified Persons (QPs).”
“Sir, can I take Question Nos 19, 20 and 21 together, with your permission?”
“The Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s (A*STAR) Technology for Enterprise Capability Upgrading programme attaches its researchers to SMEs to help them develop in-house R&D capabilities. Its Headstart programme enables SMEs to license A*STAR's IP on preferential terms. To date, more than 650 researchers have been attached to SMEs and more than 60% of A*STAR's licences are to SMEs. Further, Intellectual Property Intermediary, a SPRING Singapore affiliate, assists SMEs to assess their technology gaps and helps them find the IP that they need. IPOS also runs IP legal and business clinics for SMEs, where they can seek preliminary advice from IP experts and lawyers for free. The advice sought can include advice on IP disputes and enforcement. MinLaw is also considering the recommendations made by the IP Dispute Resolution Review Committee chaired by Justice George Wei on how to increase access to the IP dispute resolution system, by reducing the time and cost required for IP enforcement.”
“As at July 2017, approximately 17,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore (8% of all SMEs in Singapore) own Singapore-registered IP, like patents, trademarks, designs or plant variety protection. Many companies, including SMEs, also own IP in the form of copyright and trade secrets, which do not require registration. Companies can also own IP which are registered overseas for their overseas operations. Data on ownership of non-registrable IP and foreign IP are not available. Generally, most developed countries do not track or publish the number of SMEs that own registered IP. However, in the European Union (EU), a 2015 Intellectual Property Rights and Firm Performance in Europe report showed that 9% of European SMEs own registered IP in the EU. This is slightly higher than in Singapore. The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) recognise that our SMEs need assistance to understand and utilise IP to their advantage. We are working with other Government agencies on several initiatives to assist our SMEs. IPOS leverages trade and business associations to organise activities like IP and innovation seminars. Local enterprises can also sign up for IP and IP management courses run by IPOS' training subsidiary, IP Academy. IPOS will be launching a business portal with guides and diagnostic toolkits on IP, to help SMEs understand their IP needs. In addition, IPOS' subsidiary, IP ValueLab, provides local companies with subsidised one-on-one assistance for IP audit and IP strategy development. This effort is supported by SPRING Singapore. SMEs can also obtain assistance in developing or acquiring IP.”
“Singapore Prison Service (SPS) currently publishes two-year recidivism rates, as this is aligned with standard international calculations for measuring recidivism and allows for meaningful comparison across time and jurisdictions. Compared to longer time spans, two-year recidivism rates are a more sensitive measure of the effectiveness of prison regimes, including the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) and Long-Term Imprisonment (LT). After the two-year mark, ex-offenders' behaviour would tend to be influenced more by other environmental factors. Recidivism rates over a longer time frame will hence be higher. The two-year recidivism rates for persons released from DRC, LT1 and LT2 from 2012 to 2014 are as follows. The two-year recidivism rates for 2015 and 2016 are not available yet.”
“Between 2014 and 2016, Police received an average of about 1.3 million "999" calls annually. This amounts to slightly more than 3,500 calls every day. About 40% of these calls required direct Police intervention and Police resources were dispatched. The remaining calls were either nuisance calls or misdirected calls that did not require Police attention. There was a wide range of misdirected calls, including complaints on municipal issues like the cleanliness of common properties and issues under other agencies' purview, such as illegal hawking. When Police emergency call operators receive misdirected calls, they will advise the callers on the proper channels to report such issues. Examples of such channels include the feedback lines of the relevant Statutory Boards or Town Councils. The Police also regularly educate the public on the correct use of the "999" hotline, through engaging schools and partnering the media. The Police must be ready to respond to genuine emergency requests. Nuisance and misdirected calls may deprive persons in distress of timely Police intervention as the Police emergency call operators would be bogged down by these calls. If Police resources were to be dispatched to false cases reported by irresponsible callers, this will take our officers away from real emergencies. Where necessary, the Police will, in consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, prosecute recalcitrant nuisance callers in Court. The Police will continue their efforts to reduce nuisance and misdirected calls.”
“Besides preparing our community to handle terror attacks, we also conduct regular Safety & Security Watch Group (SSWG) exercises at commercial and industrial premises. In these exercises, businesses, their in-house security as well as their Company Emergency Response Team (CERT) practise their contingency plans with responders from the Police and Civil Defence. This helps businesses validate their workplace crisis response capabilities and ensure that they are able to undertake critical functions, such as basic fire-fighting, cordoning and evacuation, in the initial phases of an emergency, before the authorities arrive. The level of preparedness of our population will also rise over time through combating national crises together. Our response to past emergencies, such as SARS, H1N1 and the haze, have made us better prepared and mentally more resilient should such emergencies occur in the future. Emergency preparedness is an ongoing, whole-of-society effort. We will continue to raise emergency preparedness among our community and mobilise our people to play their part.”
“There was also increasing alertness to suspicious behaviour, items and activities. Likewise, an increasing number of people are aware of what to do when they hear a SCDF public warning siren. Third, on unity and resilience, the survey found that 90% of our people believed that everyone has a role to play in ensuring our nation's safety and security and were willing to help others during emergencies. About 80% also believed that we will stand united, regardless of race or religion, and that Singapore will continue to function effectively in times of crisis. While these are encouraging findings, more can be done to raise our people's awareness of new threats and the responses required and help them to pick up the necessary skills. For instance, with Singapore continuing to face the highest terror threat level in recent years, we launched the SGSecure movement last September to raise preparedness among residents and galvanise a "whole of population" response to terrorism. To help members of the public pick up useful skills, the Home Team and our partners have introduced various advisories, tools and programmes. These include the series of revamped Emergency Preparedness Days which is being rolled out to all constituencies to give residents the opportunity to observe a live terrorist attack exercise in their neighbourhood and pick up relevant emergency preparedness skills. Crisis Response Exercises (CRXs) are also conducted at the constituency level for grassroots and other community leaders. Through these exercises, participants gain the knowledge and skills to assist the community and maintain social cohesion after a terrorist attack.”
“Emergency preparedness is fundamentally about building confidence in our ability to respond to an emergency. To gauge the emergency preparedness of our population, we can look at three facets: first, awareness and knowledge of the types of emergencies that we may face and what needs to be done in each scenario; second, whether the population is taking active steps to pick up the skills required to respond in an emergency; and third, whether the population will stay united and resilient in the face of crisis. In 2015, the National Security Awareness Survey (NSAS) found that our residents were generally aware of the range of possible emergency scenarios and were confident of our ability to respond to the emergencies as a nation. Between 80% and 90% of respondents felt that the Government is well prepared to deal with crises, such as a terrorist attack, communal riot, health pandemic and shortages of water, food and energy. While respondents generally felt that they were less prepared as individuals compared to the Government in dealing with crises, the NSAS findings suggested that they would be better prepared if they had encountered a similar emergency scenario before. For instance, our residents felt they were most prepared to deal with a health pandemic, likely due to their past experiences with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and the H1N1 influenza outbreak in 2009. On the second facet of skills, our residents have been taking practical steps to prepare themselves to respond to an emergency. The 2015 NSAS found that more than 50% of our residents have a First-Aid kit at home; for those without a First-Aid kit, 80% of them knew where to find the essential items in their homes for use in first aid.”
“The recent case of an unattended bag at Hougang MRT station led to the temporary closure of the station. Although it turned out to be a false alarm, our security agencies had to deal with it and it inconvenienced commuters. The subject involved in the case was found guilty of the offence of public nuisance and fined $1,000. We are reviewing the need to enhance the penalties for such offences, to deter future occurrences. Given the high level of terrorism threat, the Police will continue to take all security-related reports seriously. The public is advised to stay vigilant and to report suspicious activities to the Police.”
“MHA is aware that terrorist groups use social media applications like Telegram to spread their propaganda for recruitment and even operational planning. This is a challenge faced by many governments and security agencies worldwide. We are closely monitoring developments. To counter the spread of extremist and radical ideology, the family and community must play their part. We have repeatedly made this point because it is critical. They must alert the authorities if they notice any signs of radicalisation in their family members, friends or colleagues.”
“All Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) are screened by the Police to assess whether they are suitable to be employed for security work, which includes a person's criminal records. For operational security reasons, we cannot disclose further details. In addition, the Auxiliary Police Forces (APFs) also set stringent selection criteria for the appointment of all APOs. They must have a minimum education of GCE "N" level, or equivalent. They also need to be physically fit to be able to fulfil the requirements for their jobs. The APFs interview their candidates to ensure they have the right aptitude and temperament for the job. During the APOs' employment, screening is carried out and the APFs also actively observe and assess their performance and conduct. Despite our best efforts, it is not possible for the authorities or the APFs to detect APOs' errant intentions or behaviour in every case. Relatives, colleagues, friends and the community must also play their part to alert the authorities early when they come to know of such activities.”
“As part of the SGSecure movement, MHA is working with MOE to equip students with emergency preparedness skills through the "Dispatcher-Assisted first Responder" (DARE) programme. The DARE programme was introduced at 15 Secondary schools last year. A total of 3,000 lower Secondary students were taught to perform CPR and how to use the AED during their PE lessons. Following this pilot, CPR and use of AED will be taught to all Secondary 1 students as part of the PE curriculum from the fourth quarter of this year. Drills and exercises are also conducted by schools to equip students with emergency preparedness skills. MOE has also incorporated emergency preparedness lessons in its curriculum for Primary 5 and 6 students. Students learn simple first aid, such as treating minor cuts, burns and nosebleeds, and how to recognise and manage general injuries related to sports and physical activity. Students also learn basic fire safety, such as how to identify possible fire hazards and to stay low when trapped in a smoke-filled room.”
“Public nuisance offences typically involve acts that cause danger or annoyance to the public, obstruction to traffic in a public place, or disturbance of the public peace. Examples include intoxicated persons shouting vulgarities in public to the annoyance of the public, or minor scuffles. These acts may not necessarily have specific victims, but cause public nuisance more generally. Public nuisance carries a maximum penalty of $1,000 fine. In instances where hurt is caused or criminal force is used, the Penal Code prescribes harsher punishments. These are more serious offences, and imprisonment terms and community orders can be imposed. Where there are vulnerable victims such as children and the elderly, our Courts will take this into consideration in the sentencing of offenders. There is, therefore, no need to review the penalties for public nuisance. Depending on the circumstances of each case, offenders who commit more serious acts can be subjected to harsher punishments under different offences. The offenders can also be subjected to community orders where appropriate.”
“Event organisers generally engage licensed security agencies and security officers for large events. These security professionals are trained in event security and crowd-management. To raise awareness among event companies and freelancers, which include hosts and emcees, MHA supported a Counter-Terrorism Seminar organised by the Singapore Talent, Artistes and Resources Association in May this year. The seminar was attended by 180 event companies and freelancers. Seminar participants were briefed on the security threat situation and advised on how they could deal with an attack and recover quickly in the aftermath. MHA is also working with MOM and key associations in the entertainment industry to prepare industry practitioners to respond to emergency situations. The Police also work closely with event organisers to ensure the security of large events. The Public Order Act was amended in April to require events that attract large crowds, or are of higher-risk, to put in place necessary security measures. The Police will also be issuing guidelines on event security best practices as a reference for all event organisers and security companies. Evacuation plans are essential for any large-scale event. For large events designated under the Public Order Act, Police will require organisers to inform participants about the evacuation routes where practicable. Beyond Government regulations and security agencies, members of the public can also play their part. This is why we started the SGSecure movement. Everyone should stay alert to security threats, pick up relevant knowledge and skills – such as our "Run, Hide, Tell" advisory and know what to do if one is caught in an attack while attending a large-scale event.”
“Between 2014 and 2016, the Traffic Police (TP) issued, on average, about 450 traffic summonses each year to motorists who had stopped their vehicles in yellow boxes and caused obstruction to other road users. TP has deployed cameras to deter and detect serious traffic offences, such as red-light running and speeding. We do not rule out using cameras for other types of offences in the future, if the need arises.”
“With the enactment of the Liquor Control Act in 2015, we have taken significant steps to control the supply and consumption of liquor in public places to mitigate public disorder and disamenities caused by public drunkenness. We have restricted the sale of alcohol at retail outlets and consumption of liquor in public places to 7.00 am to 10.30 pm daily. Stricter hours are imposed in the designated liquor control zones in Little India and Geylang. The result is positive. There is an island-wide decline of public order incidents related to liquor consumption, from 251 cases in 2014 to 135 cases in 2016. This includes offences like rioting, affray and serious hurt. We, therefore, see no need to set up Government-run liquor retail stores and to only allow such stores to sell liquor. This is best left to the private sector, with the Government putting in place laws to regulate such sales. The Police will continue to monitor the situation and conduct regular compliance checks on licensed liquor retail outlets.”
“All holders of car and motorcycle driving licences are required to pass a medical examination when they turn 65 years old and every three years thereafter. A medical practitioner will assess the licence holder’s physical and mental fitness to drive, including reviewing his medical history, vision, hearing and mobility. This medical examination remains suitable for assessing the fitness to drive of elderly who are 75 years or older. Those holding heavy vehicle driving licences are subjected to a stricter regime. They have to take and pass the medical examination every year after turning 65 years old. The medical examination for those aged 70 and above includes a wider range of physical and mental fitness tests. Their heavy vehicle licences will cease to be valid when they turn 75 years old. Ultimately, the onus is on the individual to take responsibility for his own safety, as well as the safety of other road users. Licence holders should refrain from driving or riding when they know of conditions that may render them unfit for doing so. The Traffic Police will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments to the licence regime for elderly licence holders if required.”
“Countering vehicular terrorist attacks is a challenge that security agencies around the world have to plan for. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is working to enhance timely information sharing between private hire car owners, such as vehicle rental companies and the Police, including information on the identity of persons renting vehicles. However, checks on the identity alone will not prevent vehicles from being used for criminal purposes, or in terrorist attacks. For example, an unattended vehicle could be stolen and used by persons with ill-intent. The perpetrator can also ask someone else to rent a vehicle. As such, drivers, especially heavy vehicle drivers, and members of the public will also need to be vigilant against such a threat. The Police have engaged the Vehicle Rental Association of Singapore (VRAS) on these risks and will continue to reach out to more vehicle rental companies and heavy vehicle companies under the SGSecure movement. The Police will share useful tips and lessons with these companies and their staff on how to prevent their vehicles from being used to commit crime or acts of terror. These include (a) securing the premises where vehicles are stored to prevent unauthorised entry, through measures, such as perimeter fencing; (b) reminding drivers that they should never leave their vehicles, together with their keys, unattended; and (c) notifying the Police immediately if they notice anything suspicious about the drivers, or if vehicles are missing or stolen.”
“To prevent vehicle-borne threats, organisers may be asked to install physical barriers, screen incoming vehicles, or plan crowded events away from areas that vehicles can access. For example, for major events involving large crowds, such as the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown, Police will work with various stakeholders to put in place security measures to prevent vehicle attacks. Some of these measures include checks on vehicles seeking entry into the event area, road closures, creating buffer zones between spectators and active roads, as well as installing barriers. We will also introduce a new Infrastructure Protection Act later this year. This will require new, large-scale developments to incorporate security measures when they are being designed. These may also include measures against vehicle-borne threats. The Act may also require owners of premises to adopt additional protective measures, such as bag or vehicle checks, in the event of a heightened security climate. These legislative amendments will help protect Singapore against terror attacks by improving security at key events and buildings. They complement the Ministry of Home Affairs' ongoing efforts to improve security response as well as community vigilance and preparedness against terrorism threats.”